Ready, Set, Grow!

Community Update April 2017

Course Updates

Carpentry

Earlier in March, our Carpentry course finished building raised beds at New Roots Community Farm , pictured below . Students also practiced planning a school garden and ordering supplies in addition to using a chop saw at Mayday. Thanks to our instructor, Sandy , for yet another incredible course!

Student Reflections

"I enjoyed having the hands on experience such as building the raise beds, measuring wood, and learning the language of carpentry."

- 2017 Carpentry student

"The one-on-one time with the facilitators and being able to get comfortable with originally overwhelming power tools was great."

- 2017 Carpentry student

Dividing and replanting irises at La Finca

Propagation

Our current course, Propagation, is lead by our very own Molly Culver and Onika Abraham . The course focuses on aspects of plant propagation and best practices for raising healthy seedlings from seed to transplant. This includes plant reproduction, the use and management of propagation tools such as greenhouses and hoop houses (managing microclimates, pests and diseases, and record keeping), creating and using propagation media such as soil mixes and common containers, and proper watering techniques for different types of seedlings and stages of growth. Students visit The Youth Farm and La Finca del Sur, all while currently raising seedlings at home!

What's Next?

Later in April, our Growing Soils course will begin. This five-week investigation into healthy soils covers everything from basic soil science, soil remediation and the current state of NYC soils, to soil fertility, proper growing techniques, and compost systems. Students can look forward to numerous visits to urban farms, including Snug Harbor, Know Wastelands, and Earth Matter!

We'll also send out registration for our Irrigation and NYC as an Ecosystem courses in the near future. If you're interested in more information or receiving the registration for these courses, pre-register here !

P r e - r e g i s t e r

Recap: Conferences

From Making Brooklyn Bloom at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, to GrowTogether with GreenThumb, it has been a busy month full of conferences. We are thrilled to unite with organizations that are dedicated to building communities and would like to recognize all of the energy that goes into making these events happen. We looking forward to continuing to connect with all of the individuals and organizations engaging in urban agriculture and food justice.

A big shout out to Farm School alumni Ali Jacobs and Sheryll Durrant for speaking at the Just Food Conference, and to all of the industrious folks at Just Food for making it happen. If you missed it before, be sure to c heck out footage from the Just Food Conference here .