Growing Your Own- Part 2: Herb Cultivation and Uses - Tues. April 9th, 7:30 at Harvey Wheeler

Hello Gardeners,

 Just a note to let you know about another garden-related event about herbs. Hope you might consider attending...

 Thanks,

Kitty

   

Growing Your Own- Part 2: Herb Cultivation and Uses

Cathy Hansgate, Ladybug Farm Produce

Tuesday, April 9, 7:30 PM at Harvey Wheeler Community Center, West Concord

What are the top 10 herbs you like to grow? Can you grow herbs in the shade? Which ones are good companion plants for vegetables? How can I grow herbs in containers?? Find answers to these and other questions, as we take a closer look at herb cultivation and uses with small farm owner Cathy Hansgate, Ladybug Farm.  Cathy specializes in cut herbs, vinegars and other herbal products. She now uses organic, nutrient-dense, sustainable practices to grow veggies, herbs and fruit, and is a member of NOFA-Mass., NOFA-NY, New England Hops Alliance, and the Mass. Farm Bureau. 

The program is free though donations are welcomed. Please help spread the word by sending this message to your friends...or members! You are our best ambassadors to gardeners of all skill levels. THANK YOU!  

RSVP to ensure your seat at the table. RSVP by April 7 to  deb01742@comcast.net For details, go to. www.concordfood.ning.com

Seedy Sunday at Concord Fowler Branch Library 4/7/13 from 1-3pm

Hello Gardeners,

We hope you can join us next Sunday at the Fowler Branch Library for a "Seedy Sunday" event to help get the Seed Lending Library ready for it's opening on Earth Day, April 22nd. Please see the details below:

Welcome to Seedy Sunday!

Sunday, April 7^th

1:00pm to 3:00pm

Concord Fowler Branch Library

1322 Main St. Concord MA

Learn about our new Seed Lending Library

Donate open pollinated, and/or heirloom seeds to the seed lending library

 Sign up to help get the library ready to open on Earth Day, April 22^nd

We need helping hands to sort seeds, package seeds, and to stock the seed cabinet

Volunteer to be one of the maintenance crew ensuring that the cabinet is always stocked

Tell us what kind of seed saving and gardening classes you need and want

Meet area gardeners and we’ll have a fun, sharing afternoon together

Light refreshments will be served
www.concordseedlendinglibrary.org

"One Seed at a Time" Event at the Museum of Science 3/13

Hello Gardeners,

The Concord Seed Lending Library will be represented at a table by Enid Boasberg and myself, after the speakers presentation, from 8-9pm this Wed. 3/13 at the Museum of Science. Hope some of you may consider dropping by!

Kitty

A RENO FAMILY FOUNDATION SYMPOSIUM

One Seed at a Time Wednesday, March 13 | 7:00 - 9:00 pm Admission: $15 | Buy Tickets With Cary Fowler, PhD, special advisor, executive director of the Global Crop Diversity Trust and The Fruit Hunters creative team. Tucked away beneath the snow of the Arctic Circle is the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. Sometimes called "the doomsday vault," it's nothing less than a backup of the planet's horticultural biodiversity. Inside the vault, Dr. Cary Fowler and his team work with seeds from hundreds of crops that have nurtured humanity since our ancestors began tilling the soil. Their goal: to ensure that the world's food supply can survive the dangers of disease, famine, climate change, and identical GMOs. Nearer the equator, documentary filmmaker Yung Chang shows us how intertwined we are with the fruits we eat in The Fruit Hunters. Guided by devoted exotic fruit lovers, he takes us on a cinematic odyssey through nature and commerce, changing not only the way we look at what we eat, but how we view our relationship to the natural world. Following the program, taste a selection of exotic fruits and enjoy a cash bar, featuring tropical Bellinis. Learn how to extract and save seeds, where to trade, exchange or swap, and make seed "bombs" for random acts of gardening--just throw and grow! Funding provided by the Reno Family Foundation Fund

LAST CALL: SEEDS OF CHANGE: RECLAIM THE LEGACY OF SEED SAVING

This week, Thursday, March 14, 7:30 PM  

Bryan Connolly, field botanist, State Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program 

Thoreau Farm, 341 Virginia Road, Concord. 

Add "how to save seeds" to your gardening skills tool kit!  

Collecting locally adapted seeds is part of our agricultural heritage and an essential part in growing our own food.  We will learn about the history and utility of seed saving in the context of climate change,  including the seed sowing and saving cycle, self pollinating crops to grow, methods to isolate cross pollinating plants, seed borne pathogens, seed cleaning and storage. We may still buy seeds from companies and swap with friends...but it is possible to start saving seeds this growing season! Come learn how. Bring a friend...or come on your own! 

Connolly is a homestead farmer, FEDCO seed producer, and author of the Northeastern Organic Farming Association seed production handbook, the "Wisdom of Plant Heritage". 

Please consider bringing your leftover open pollinated seed from last year to donate to the Concord Seed Lending Library.

The program is free though we welcome donations to offset program cost and/or contributions of seeds for the opening of the Concord Seed Lending Library in April. Space is limited!   Please RSVP to deb01742@comcast.net. For details, go to www.concordfood.ning.com.

Gardening for Life, ConcordCAN!,  the Concord Seed Lending Library and Thoreau Farm are co-sponsors of this event.

"Seeds of Change" event Thurs. March 14th at 7:30 at Thoreau Farm

 

Find out how you can easily save seeds this summer and help grow the Concord Seed Lending Library. Join us on Thursday, March 14 at 7:30 PM at Thoreau Farm, 341 Virginia Road, Concord.  

Hope to see you there!
Kitty

Lots of events coming up!

Hello Gardeners,

Please take a look at these interesting garden/food-related events from the Gardening for Life folks, coming up. We are all invited. I hope you find them interesting and get to attend several.

Kitty


GARDENING FOR LIFE NEWS

Come join us for Grow Your Food 101 with Meighan Mathews, Growing for Good and Linda Ugelow, Dancing Tomato Farm Tu. February 5, 7:30 PM @Harvey Wheeler Community Center. SPACE IS LIMITED. PLEASE RSVP TO deb01742@comcast.net

To help us bring our garden dreams to reality, join us for a presentation by two skilled speakers who will help you begin planning a small food garden before the growing season has begun. We will discuss compost, building the garden site, fencing, cold frames, seed ordering, starting seedlings at home, and lots more. Ideas - and handouts - presented to both inspire and educate. Grow Your Food: 101 has been a hit for the past three years with gardeners of varied experience. The program is free, though donations to cover costs are welcomed.  Space is limited.  RSVP by February 1 to deb01742@comcast.net.  

NEXT UP:

JOINT FEDCO SEED ORDER organized by Debbie Bier for home gardeners, community and small scale farmers is coming SOON. Deadline for the group order and details to follow at our February 5 program. Thank you Debbie!

UPCOMING EVENTS

January 17, 7 pm at Fenn School: the CONCORD MUSEUM FARM TO LECTERN SERIES PRESENTS 

JOEL SALATIN (Free, but you must RSVP!)

Joel Salatin is a full-time farmer at Polyface, a multi-generational, “beyond organic” farmYy in Virginia. Author of Folks, This Ain’t Normal -  Farmer’s Advice for Happier Hens, Healthier People, and a Better World (on the Concord Reads booklist),  Salatin speaks in defense of small farms, local food systems, and the right to opt out of the conventional food paradigm. His humorous and conviction-based speeches are akin to theatrical performances, often receiving standing ovations. Book signing to follow. 7:00 p.m. at Fenn School; RSVP  978-369-9763  ext. 216.

WINTER FARMER'S MARKET

Wayland Winter Farmers' Market takes place weekly on Saturdays from 10 AM to 2 PM through March 9.  The market is located in the greenhouses of Russell's Garden Center, 397 Boston Post Road, Wayland, Massachusetts. Questions?  Call:  508-358-2283 .

GO TO:  http://www.russellsgardencenter.com/wayland_winter_mkt.html to see which vendors will be there each week.  

FEDCO seed order coming up!

Hello all,

Debbie Bier is putting together another FEDCO seed group order which we are invited to participate in, if you like. I know I'm going to! Please see the details below and note the order is due by Feb. 25th! Thanks.

Kitty

I have opened 2 group orders for Fedco (http://www.fedcoseeds.com). One for seeds, the other for Moose Tubers (potatoes and onions sets, etc).  You may join in either or both to enjoy discounted prices and savings on group shipping. Our group is concordma

WHY FEDCO? They are a cooperative, have good pricing, are sworn to not get seed from any source that sells GMOs, are New England based, they have many heirloom varieties, and much of their seed is grown in New England.

DISCOUNT. What discount? We don't know yet.  Last year we saved 30%!  It depends upon the total ordered by the group. The more we order as a group, the higher the discount. Last year, we had over $600 in combined orders, so qualified for 30% off. 

Whatever discount rate we qualify for as a group will be the rate we get through mid-September for additional group orders. There is a minimum for a group order - something like $25 or $50. If folks want another order with a later closing date, I will open another one when this one is over... Let me know. 

DEADLINES. I have set the deadline earlier this year.  It takes a couple of weeks after the order is closed to get the seeds. I will let you know when they arrive. Please see the deadline info below. Use the order numbers when you check out instead of paying Fedco (you will pay me instead). 

PAYMENT. Here is how payment will work this year. I have in the past floated the group the total and had you pay me when you picked up your orders. I found that our big order is not something I can manage to float for the group. So this year I ask that when you check out your order, that you send me payment in full for it. Check, cash or paypal to this email address work fine.  I WILL OWE EVERYONE $ when the seeds come in. That will be for the group discount due you, and any out of stock items.  I'm sorry, but I cannot extend the group discount to anyone who doesn't pay me within 5 days of order closing (see dates below). 

FEDCO WEBSITE. You can save an in-progress shopping cart on their site, which is really helpful! Just sign in with your email address and zip code. You can finalize and check out your order any time before 5 pm on the dates below.  

This is what cooperation for mutual benefit looks like!  None if us could qualify for discounted pricing alone. Thank you all.

GROUP NAME: concordma Seeds: 99064, deadline Feb 25, 2013' 5 pm Moose tubers: 69037, deadline March 1, 2013, 5 pm

Best,

Debbie Bier

63 Prescott Rd, Concord

 978 884-4769  (cell)

 978 369-8454  (direct)