April News, Updates, and Looking Forward
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What are you going to find here?
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In this edition of the MCF Newsletter you will read about the happenings on the farm and in our education programs. We talk about our budding relationship with the Master Gardeners Association and some news on that front and about our new and in-progress website.
We also have some important asks to make. One such ask is for volunteers this season and the other is our growing wish list of items that we're hoping some of you may have laying around or know someone who can donate.
There's a lot going on, so read on and please contact us with questions, desires to volunteer, and any donations you may have. And don't forget to share on your social media networks - links are at the bottom.
See you around the farm!
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Growing, Growing, Growing - Farm New
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Welcome Spring! And welcome to Medway Community Farm's 2019 growing season. Yes, we're there already with plants growing in the ground! We're planting in the greenhouses and prepping the fields for the return of that beautiful summer season. Which fresh veggies do you miss the most? I'm partial to tomatoes, though I know a few folks who miss the greens, and there is nothing more refreshing than fresh kale, spinach, and chard after a winter of root vegetables. Topped with baby radishes and some lemon? Yes! Let's get this veg started.
Field Happenings
This spring has been a wet one for us. Field prep has been slow but we're doing as much work as we can with what the ground will allow. Why is it important to consider the wetness of the ground? Soil is structured so that it traps air and water within it. Water acts as the membrane for all nutrient transfer, and all plants need to uptake oxygen to grow. When you drive (or even to a lesser degree, walk) on too-wet soil, it compacts it, eliminating the space that is available for that air and water. When that's gone, growing is much more difficult. And doing so over many seasons will utterly destroy the soil.
That means, we wait a little so we do as little damage as possible.
Along with our plants, we're also growing our community. We've partnered with several places to bring our veggies to them. We're inviting people from Gold's Gym in Milford, and Timeless Crossfit in Franklin to participate in our new Fitness Farm Share program and have already garnered some good participation and support. In addition, we're launching our Workplace Farm Share program at Moseley Mill in Franklin, with 35 businesses at the Mill and over 250 people working there. We're excited for both programs. If you have any ideas for who may be interested in either program, please drop us an email to let us know.
Farm Store Additions
in terms of bringing veggies to our community, we're also planning continued progress on our Farm Store this season. With the beautification of the grounds being handled by the Master Gardeners, we're planning on making more improvements to the look, feel, and functionality of the store as well. We'll have shop attendants for open hours and CSA pick ups, with more shelving, and a checkout counter complete with cash and credit card processing. Very exciting. A full build out of a front deck and roofing is also planned but most likely won't happen this season.
We'll also be offering a
Farm Bucks Card
, which can be used in the Farm Store and at our farmers markets. Essentially, it's a prepaid card and for every $100 you put on the card, you get 10% more on the card. This is especially useful for those who would like to support the farm but can't eat all of the veggies that come in a share. This way you can purchase a card and get what you'd like in the store. You can also purchase them for smaller amounts without the bump which would be great for gifts for Mother's Day or birthdays or end-of-year for teachers. Those will be for sale on the website soon and in the Farm Store and at our markets when we open in May.
CSA Sign Ups
Our CSA lists are still open for signing up, and we have some new offerings for all you lovely folks. Check out our coffee subscription, or try the improved cut flower garden share this year, which is a collaboration with the Master Gardener Association and will be lovely.
Please check out our new website (read about it below) for an easier way of purchasing a share.
We have all sorts of doings in the works for this season and we're glad you're joining us!
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April showers bring an education update
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April brings green growth back to the farm after a wet winter. We are excited to get growing with our community this season. This year Medway Community Farm is rolling out some new and exciting classes, workshops and youth programs throughout the growing seasons. Registration for our spring classes and April vacation youth program “Farm Explorers” is available through
Medway Community Education
.
Also new for 2019 are herb walks with Christine Terramane, herb and flower gardener here at MCF. Join her to learn about common plants and weeds in this area that are edible and traditional medicinal plants. The first herb walk will take place on Tuesday, May 7 at 6:30 pm. Participation is by donation, with a suggested contribution of $15. Please
contact Alison
for more details.
With growing on our minds we would like to share some information about community garden plots available for this season. We have a few openings this year. Large plots, small plots and half season options. If you would like more information about renting a garden plot at the farm this season please
contact Alison
to learn more.
Gardening Workshop at MCF
Are you curious about growing vegetables, herbs and flowers at the farm or at home but not sure where to start? Come join us for a 6 session Gardening Workshop during the spring growing season at the farm. We will explore a variety of the choices available to grow here in Massachusetts/Zone 6b. We will learn about the ideal soil for different crops and what companion crops are all about. This workshop will encourage you to feel confident and comfortable learning from the land. Growing food and flora is fun for everyone, extremely rewarding and a never ending learning experience.
Saturday afternoons at the farm 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm. Dates are: 4/27, 5/4, 5/11, 5/25, 6/1, 6/8. Cost $65
to register
contact Alison Dempsey
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We'd also like to announce that Medway Lumber has donated all the lumber to rebuild the garden beds at Burke-Memorial Elementary School! After being successful in helping to teach our students about growing, food, compost, and the science behind plants and soil, the garden beds have diminished and needed replacing.
Thank you to Medway Lumber for stepping up and helping to continue the education of these youngster!
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MCF & Master Gardners Assoc.
Grants and Vision
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Back in January, Medway Community Farm was excited to announce our partnership with the Massachusetts Master Gardeners Association to step up the beautification aspect of the farm. This initiative is being spear-headed by two CSA shareholders – Carol Collord and Rosemary Conway. In the short-term, the vision is to improve the general appearance of the farm entrance, improve the cutting/pollinator and herb gardens, and begin to create small display gardens. The public entryway near the farm stand is a priority, as this is the first area most visitors encounter. This space will be reconfigured to create a welcome entrance to the farm while simultaneously creating a pollinator space for educating students who use the farm for gardening. This will also be a community gathering space for those who enjoy being in a green space. The bed will be redesigned to create rows of walking paths with a central seating area. These paths will be laid with bark chip donated by the town.
To assist in this goal, the Farm was selected as a recipient of a
Gro More Grassroots Grant from Kids Gardening and Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation
. This initiative is to connect more children with life-enhancing and transformative benefits of gardening. Medway Community Farm was one out of 175 gardens selected throughout the United States for funding. The grant will allow the farm to purchase plant materials to begin transforming the area.
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Our long-term gardening goal is to inspire and encourage more people to explore the farm’s many facets, including learning paths, native plants, and local food production, as well as the educational programs.
Through this process, we’ve learned that many neighbors drive by Medway Community Farm and think, "What's it all about, really?". Most people have never seen beyond the Winthrop Street facade, except students, farmers and educators. As we
launch our multi-year initiative to ensure the farm stand and farmhouse community grounds encourage much more exploration of your community farm, we would love your help!
As a nonprofit Medway service farm, our budgets are constricted. So, this year's WISHLIST includes items and plants of many kinds. Please think of us as you’re doing your spring cleaning. If you (residents and local businesses alike) can support Medway Community Farm's work in any of these ways, THANK YOU!!
To see the farm WISH LIST, scroll to the end of this newsletter, but here's the specific list of what the Master Gardeners need.
- Donated native plants of all kinds
- volunteers for laying paths and beds; weed suppressant fabrics
- decorative seating area furniture, for the center of the new flower cutting garden
- weatherproof working tables for volunteers and 4-6 weatherproof chairs for volunteers and workers
- shade umbrellas (and stands) to shade volunteers working in rainy or humid, 85 degree+ heat conditions
- extra-large portable, insulated water coolers with spigots for staff and volunteers
- solar "wash lights" and "path lights"- currently, the farm has little to no lighting, for signage or any other purpose
- extra-long, durable hoses in good condition
- tools in good condition, particularly shovels, garden rakes, trowels/planting knives, bypass pruners and loppers, deep-root extractors
- plant divisions and bulbs: especially, grasses, bulbs, corms. Hostas, daylilies, irises, etc.
- a simple tool shed on the west side of the farm
- 4-5 "muck buckets," for transporting weeds, etc. to the compost area
Ultimately, we are also really looking forward to creating split rail and other fencing around several specific garden areas, particularly the cutting flower garden, for which an entrance archway covered by roses and clematis would be so enticing.
If you can help us with any of these much needed donations - whether large or small - please contact:
Carol Collard
. (clicking her name will open an email to her)
And THANKS!!!!!!!
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Medway Community Farm website gets a facelift
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If you've stopped by our website in the last few weeks, you might have noticed something different. Our website has a new and improved look with beautiful photos and more streamlined navigating. Now you can find information about us and shop our shares with ease and style!
We have great plans for the site hoping to make it the hub of our communication with the community and the curious. Things that will roll out over the next few weeks and months include
full service online farm store
where members can sign up for the different shares we offer and have that be an easy way to choose and pay - no more jumping around! We'll also have
forms
in place that allow f
amilies and kids to sign up for our amazing education programs
and volunteers to sign up to help in all manner of ways, a
community events calendar
with some awesome events coming up this year, a place to search and submit
recipes
, and a link to our physical farm store that will keep people up to date on what's going to be for sale. Loads of information, organized for easy use.
Check out our updated home online and visit often as new features, photos, and uses will become available.
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Volunteers make the difference
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We have many opportunities. Where can you help?
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As you may know from us or elsewhere, a community organization usually relies heavily on volunteers to help accomplish goals. MCF is no different and we are extremely thankful and blessed to have people who want to help. Below we have a few projects to choose from and spend some time to further progress our goals.
Spring seeding in the greenhouse is a wonderful time. We listen to music, discuss various topics, and of course start all the plants that will grow into the veggies we eat!
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As part of our education and summer programming, our animals are cute and playful but it takes a lot of work to feed, water, and keep their areas clean. Come say hello!
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All season, and especially throughout the summer, we have a lot to do! If you could help us plant, hoe, harvest, or wash we’d love to have you spend time with us in the field.
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This season, we're planning many building project to improve the infrastructure and functionality on the farm. These projects include finishing the
wash station
, an open sided
roof structures
for both the outdoor walk-in cooler and the off-loading and barrel root washer section. We may also be able to fit into the season building
small tool sheds
at different locations and new protected
tool storage on the back of the garage
. There are many projects, and it might seem overwhelming, but every little bit helps. If you're handy, have some building skills, or are a professional, please email
Seth
your interest and get hands on with the operation of the farm.
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Have you ever wondered what you could do for the farm? Listed below is a list of some of our needs and wants, with our thanks for your help! You are the community in Medway Community Farm, and we are so grateful for you.
- Decorative, durable benches for seating areas at the farmstand (Qty. 2-4)
- Heavy duty 10' square pop up tents similar to these (Qty: 4)
- Extra-long, heavy duty garden hoses and holders (Qty: 2)
- Garden tools: spades, shovels, garden rakes, pruners and loppers, deep-root extractors (Qty: 4 of each)
- Plant divisions and bulbs: grasses, bulbs, corms. Hostas, daylilies, irises, etc.
- Native plants of all kinds, seedlings or divisions
- A tool shed for the west side of the farm, similar to this (Qty. 1)
- Feedlot panels to expand the goat pen (Qty: 8)
- metal shelving for garage organization (Qty: 4)
- a push lawnmower (Qty: 2)
- standard lumber: 4x4, 6x6, 2x4, 2x6, 2x8, plywood (Qty: Lots)
- a gas grill
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