today

today we cut up the remaining tomatoe plants for the compost .The winter wheat is starting to come up already .We also planted more winter wheat today..Last week we planted garlic for the spring..We had lunch and talked about upcoming events and opportunities.

preparing the garden for winter

Today we harvested everything, the tomatoes ,the swiss chard ,collard greens ,also what was leftover, from the root ,we chopped it up and turned it back into the soil, we also put Staceys magic compost in the soil too.

Our Harvest Festival

We had a harvest festival on Tuesday October 28 2008 to celebrate the urban farm experience and to prepare to put the farm to sleep for the season. The food was very good as were the desserts which were mostly pumpkin based and delicious. We had corn on the cob, sweet potato soup with chicken and spinach and cheese quiches and they were also delicious. Residents from Morris Ave. and Sheridan Ave. and Bridge administration came and they seemed to enjoy the experience. All in all it was a good way to end the season. See you next year.


-Stace Van Rossum

Our attempt to make lotion

In our most recent workshop we attempted to make lotion. We used ingredients like lanolin, beeswax, a calendula oil infusion, sweet orange oil, and peppermint oil. Unlike last season's attempt to make crab-apple jelly this one was a success. Even though I know the other ingredients are in there, I can mainly smell the beeswax. I used beeswax a long time ago when I first started on my dreadlocks. Both smell similar but the beeswax is lighter in color than our lotion. So far I have used the lotion on my hands, feet and face. I feel it will do good for my body.



Stace Van Rossum

whats up lately

Weve been steadily harvesting every week,lateley weve been preparing the beds for next year,by chopping up the remains of the crop that was there and adding some of Staceys magic compost .We also made some lotion for our hands and faces ,out of beeswax ,shea butter, vitamin E and lanolin.

The Off Season Begins

We have been doing more workshops and activities indoors now that the season is ending and the weather is getting cooler. We have attempted to make infusions using lavender and calendula by soaking them in olive oil, almond oil and sunflower oil. So far they smell really good. We also have started drying basil, rosemary, mint, calendula and oregano. We probably will do more interesting workshops until the official end of the season. So far I have learned much outdoors and now I am learning much indoors. We have accomplished much as a team. I have taught my co-workers much and I have learned much from my co-workers and with my co-workers.




- Stacey Van Rossum

A Visit to a Museum and an Urban Farm

For our past two workdays we went to a Museum in Queens, New York and to an Urban Farm in Queens, New York. To me the Urban Farm was more enjoyable than the Museum. We saw a lot of produce at the Urban Farm. What I enjoyed the most was seeing the animals at the Urban Farm. We saw roosters, hens, a cow, goats, sheep, ducks and turkeys. The roosters were walking freely around the farm. I took a lot of pictures of both us and also the animals. They were preparing for a state fair on the day that we visited so there was a lot of work going on that day. It was a good break from the work that we do at our Urban Farm.




- Stacey Van Rossum

our trips

We went to an urban farm museum ,with alot of far out films ,the idea of planting in cardboard barrels is a good one espcially in the city,Its only for the tomatoe -lovin city folk We also went on another trip on wednesday out in Queens .The Queens Farm Museum. We saw a huge cornfeild and vineyards,for which their going to make wine. We saw animals and roosters and went on a hayride .It was a pleasure to see a real working farm.




tara

The Season is Nearly Over

As Summer ends and Fall begins we are preparing for the off-season. Until recently, I did not realize that horticulture is seasonal work in the Northeast so I am beginning to look at other options once the weather becomes colder. Overall, I learned much this season and enjoyed my experience on Our Urban Farm. Places like the New York Botanical Garden, where I took the Master Composter class, have work that is full-time all year, regardless of the season, so I am trying to increase my knowledge at places like this. Perhaps I will do horticulture work in the future or maybe not. It really is hard work that requires patience. One thing I do know is that I will keep my house plants and get more in the future.



Stace Van Rossum

watermelon sunday

I picked a watermelon today it was big ,but it wasnt ripe .Thats alright dont get uptight
I found some beans which was really keen I can really dig this old farming scene.
I found lots of tomatoes still hoping on the sweet potatoes,and life in general ,lets see what the r
rain brings in.

We found some aphids on the collard greens ,we squished and sprayed till they were no more.Now were haunted by the ghost of aphids past. I wonder how long this curse will last.

Stacey did his thing with the worms and the compost bin,Joce harvested swiss chard and collard greens, James kept the front looking good . All is cool on the northeastcoast of the western world.

Lotion Potion

Today we discovered aphids on the collard greens and kale. We cut the infested part away and sprayed Neem on the remainder of the crop. Natalie says were going to take a trip to the Queens farm museum ,that should be interesting. We are going to make lotion out of the lavender and callindula flowers ,for the rest of the afternoon.

hot sauce

today we made a hot sauce to keep the squirrels and birds from eating the sunflowers , we also planted lettue .Hopefully we can make a nice salad for Erroll and every body at Sheridan .Im enjoying working in the garden more and more . I look foward to doing this kind of work throughout my life.
tara

today 8/27/08

We ate a watermelon today ,it was sweet, I think they should take some time to ripen though. Im waiting for the sweet poetatoes, I wonder how many well get? We started with two I wonder how hearty they are? We also planted a little spinach today and Stacey worked hard on the compost which will be ready for next year . I read that you can lay it down when its half done ,in the fall, and by the time spring comes around its ready. I collected watermelon seeds today, and callindulla seeds too

tara

Now a crazy poem from Stace

There isn't that much work now as the season nears an end. We recently planted parsley, lettuce, spinach and today radishes in areas where crops bolted or became unproductive and had to be removed. Today we harvested scallions, tomatoes, collard greens, kale, swiss chard and turnip greens. The wormbim is in its second time producing compost and the two outdoor bins are slowly but surely becoming compost. The End.

another crazy poem from tara

We cracked open a watermellie today, they were sweet I must say ,I wonder when we can break open the rest, that would be the bizzest.

Even more pictures of our workers

(Natalie & Liza hard at work)


(Roberto, Tara & Natalie in the kitchen preparing food for the barbeque)

(Stace, Caroline, Natalie, Tara & Roberto after the barbeque)

More pictures of our hard workers

(Tara, Roberto & Natalie in our uniforms)

(Roberto, Tara & Stace in the front yard)

(James T. in the Front Yard)

(Stace and James J. eating snap peas)

(Stace harvesting)

Finally, Pictures of our Workers

(Natalie,Tara,Roberto & Stace working the 3 bare beds and making the trellis)
(Stace, Tara & Roberto making the trellis)

(Roberto, Tara & Stace adding compost to bed # 3)
(1 worm from wormbin in Stace's gloved hand)

(Roberto, Tara, Natalie, James & Stace in our uniforms)

Whats new at the farm

Most of the plants remain healthy and productive even after being harvested repeatedly. We are still harvesting from the kale, swiss chard, collard greens etc. and they remain healthy. However, we had to uproot the cucumbers, yellow squash, snap peas and string beans. Fortunately, they were all somewhat productive and produced some plants that we picked, gave to our clients and also ate ourselves. I guess some plants live and some plants die during the growing season. The garden is colorful and is nice to look at. Our baby watermelons are continuing to increase in size but since they are starting to spread into the herb garden we are planning to build a trellis to hold and contain it.


-Stace Van Rossum

a poem by tara

today I helped John build a staircase,it was very interesting to learn something new .It was hot in the sun but we got it done and now we dont have to jump from space to space no more.

Even More Pictures II

(Snap Pea)
(Yellow Squash)
(Collard Greens)
(Baskets of the Harvest)
(Growing top tier)

Even More Pictures

(Growing bed # 3)
(Growing romaine)
(Growing top tier)
(Kingsborough seedlings)
(Front Yard)

More Pictures

(3 bare raised beds)
(Seed Packets)
(First signs of arugula)
(1 worm from wormbin in Stace's hand)
(Many worms from wormbin in Stace's hand)

Some Pictures

(Kale, Swiss Chard & Collard Greens)
Lavender
Herb Garden
Basil

Changes at the Farm (Part 2)

We continue to harvest and continue to get positive feedback from those who have tasted the produce. Personally I have sampled some of the excess food and I enjoyed eating it also. I am sure my co-workers feel the same way. I have eaten most or all of the vegetables that we have planted but I never saw or knew the progression that they take from seed to plant. What fascinated me most is seeing that plants like cucumbers, beans and snap peas need a trellis to grow. I never even knew what a trellis was before this year. To see what a squash plant or zucchini or pumpkin becomes after its seed spends days within the soil is truly amazing to me. They each take up so much space. My co-workers told me this before hand but I didn't know what to expect. With hard work we have accomplished much.



-Stace Van Rossum

Changes at the Farm

Today was my first day back from my vacation in the Riveara ,the plants have gotten rather large . I was pleased to see this. The eggplants are just about ready to bear fruit.The watermelons are having little watermellies .The yellow zucchini is really the pride and joy of the farm We harvested two green zucchinis and also some collard greens for the kitchen at the Bridge


- Tara

The Summer comes and goes

To date, we have harvested arugula, swiss chard, kale, spinach, romaine, snap peas, collard greens, cilantro, turnip greens, cucumbers, green beans, squash, zucchini, scallions, spearmint, and basil. The zucchini that we harvested was probably the largest one I have ever seen, it was close to 2 feet long and at its widest point was close to 6 inches wide. Everything was grown organically without pesticides which is amazing to me since I was under the impression that you needed pesticides to keep insects away. Our previous insect problem seems to be under control. We used an organic pesticide on the few areas where we saw certain insects and it seems to be working. We used some of the wormbin compost on five plants that we planted in the front yard and have one more bucket to use on some late season transplants in the coming weeks. It continues to be a wonderful experience and I am glad to be a part of it.


Stace Van Rossum

Progress

We are continuing to harvest mostly greens like collard greens and swiss chard. The rest of the garden is growing and it is amazing to remember how most started from seed and are now large plants. Our three compost bins are also moving along. We are in the process of gathering the compost from the wormbin for use on seedlings we will be putting in the earth some time soon. I can remember the first day that I put fruit and vegetable scraps into the wormbin and when I look at the end result today I think what I was taught in the Master Composter class at NYBG is being put to good use. At first I did not know what to expect but I am satisfied with the results.


Stace Van Rossum

my worm my foe

today ,june 25 2008, we discovered cabbage worms which were eating the collard greens , kale and swiss chard. We tried to pick them off by hand, we are still trying now as I write this. Ithink if the problem continues we will use a pesticide which is called BT Wealso looked up another organic pesticide I think is good for cabbage worms , it is called Ryania. We also discovered leafhoppers on the cilantro, which sucks the juice right out of the leaf ,and leaves a dry spot on the leaf, so Caroline cut the cilantro back quite a bit. We harvested Swiss chard, colard greens,and the rest of the romaine lettuce we pulled up from the root and harvested.We also staked the tomatoes Italian style ( with rope and stakes).

--Tara

Our work for today

For the past few weeks we have been harvesting some of the plants that we have planted. So far we have harvested arugula, swiss chard, spinach, romaine lettuce, cilantro, snap peas, kale and collard greens. Even with as much as we have taken out of the ground, it is obvious by looking at what remains in the ground that we will be harvesting a lot for the entire season.

- Stace Van Rossum

I get a good feeling whan I work in the garden ,I can relax and get my head together.Im pleased with all the crops ,I am also learning alot ,which is what I wanted.
Tara McDonald

For the two days I were working around outside the garder I learned how to water the plants learn what the compose mean see how the the veagables are growing so fast Its something new for me because I never work around Plants I ejoyed It very much.

Joyce Anderson

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