All posts in urban agriculture category.
Apparently separate from the Sustainable DC meeting on Nov 29 (though I suspect there will be some overlap from Sustainable DC’s “food” working group…): What: A public oversight roundtable on community gardens and urban agriculture When: Thurs, Dec 15, 2011 from 1–5pm Where: 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW (Room 412, John A. Wilson Building)
Seems a few departments of City government are interested in discussing sustainability these days. This is the first in a series of working meetings led by the Depts of Planning and the Environment…. Of note, one working group is to focus on food issues in DC. Anticipated topics include: local food production; commercial distribution; access [...]
Imagine a forest that is open to all, providing food and sanctuary, right in the middle of Washington. While it might sound like a fairy tale, Ecolocity D.C. is developing a miniature version in the Pleasant Plains neighborhood and hopes to expand this vision throughout the city. While the sun powers the growth of the [...]
We’re not just growing vegetables on our rooftops here at Bread for the City. We’re growing gardeners.
Some of our clients have never really seen a garden before, let alone worked in one themselves. Many people, however, have fond memories of gardening in their youth (as part of family and community traditions), but no longer have access to green space these days. For all, our rooftop gardens are an opportunity to learn about food at its source, and to develop some capacity for growing it ourselves.
So in addition to our daily open hours (Monday through Thursday, 9-11am), we’re also conducting gardening workshops to learn and practice together. In these workshops, a mix of staff, volunteers and clients learn how to make their own containers, how to plant them, and facts about different herbs. We learn the science behind the plants and then we our hands dirty. Participants also enjoy lunch prepared with fresh ingredients grown right there in the garden. At the end of the workshops, clients receive both produce and potted plants to take home for their own budding gardens!
Brenden Armstrong, a local professional horticulturist, has been joining us to share best practices and ideas for how to grow vegetables and herbs in containers. Here’s what Brenden says about the class:
During the first class clients had the opportunity to plant basil, tomato, and pepper plants. For the second class they planted more herbs including thyme, oregano, lavender, and mint.
All of these plants were chosen because they are easy to grow both within and outside of the home, and they also provide good yields. Most herbs will supply plenty throughout the year when harvested correctly; basil, for instance, can be harvested every few weeks. Tomatoes and peppers can also be grown easily and grow enough that a couple of plants will suffice for each person in the household.
Throughout the workshops we emphasized the opportunities to use materials around clients’ homes to reduce the costs of gardening. We talked about how you can make everyday items such as yogurt cups and plastic juice jugs into containers for growing vegetables and herbs.
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“Eating local” is nothing more than a turn-of-phrase without defining the word “local.” Although some corporate natural foods stores label blueberries from Northern New Jersey as local to D.C., most agricultural advocates define local as grown or otherwise produced within 100 miles of the buyer. This range is often referred to as a region’s “foodshed.” [...]
GET YOUR GROW ON with the Edible Urban Garden Tour, hosted by Loulies.com, Friday, July 15th from 5-8PM. Explore city spaces and residential gardens that will open their doors and gates for the public to see what growing good food in our own backyards, front yards, rooftops, and empty lots is all about. It’s a [...]
After many, many requests from urban farmers, cyclists, and food activists for information on a rescheduled DC Urban Farms Bike Tour, I am elated to let you all know that you can break out your bikes (and helmets, ahem) in less than two weeks. And there are two exciting new additions to the tour, bringing [...]
Did you know that the Field to Fork Network tracks and compiles recurring volunteer opportunities with farms and gardens in DC? Check out this post from the Field to Fork Network’s Bea Trickett:
Check out DC Field to Fork Network’s recently updated events calendar, now featuring recurring volunteer opportunities where you can get involved with DC’s local urban farm and non-profit garden projects!! Different sites have different policies about volunteering and whether you need to go through a volunteer orientation, whether you need to RSVP, or whether you can simply show up day-of – so be sure to click on the event listing for more info on the specific project you’re interested in. Some sites can take large groups of volunteers and others are seeking just individuals.
Depending on the weather, the project, and the season, you could expect to be:
You can be sure that wherever you volunteer, you will definitely get your hands dirty and your hard work will certainly be appreciated!
For more information, or to add events, visit the DC Field to Fork Network website or email dcfieldtofork@gmail.com
