Fruit Tree Grafting 2.24.10

John on the ins and outs of grafting

Instructor Steve Quirt demonstrates to students

Wrapping the Graft

Grafting Tool and Scions

Instructor Wendy Johnson chats with students

February 17th, 2010: Updating

Hello everyone! Here's a list of the materials that were recommended by Wendy...

Have a copy of Pam Peirce's Golden Gate Gardening Guide for reading assignments as well as a general (and specific) go-to gardening handbook.

Hands on Agronomy by Neil Kinsey
A great followup to our discussions on soil ecology. In depth study of soil management, or in more welcoming words, how to intercommunicate with the interweaved systems involved in soil health.

Culture & Horticulture: A Philosophy of Gardening by Wolf-Dieter Storl
Understanding the art and practice of gardening. A deep and often lyrical text for the students of biodynamics and straight from the Biodynamic Press. For those who value the union between anthropology and botany. Ethnobotanists will love this!

Moon Calender (celestialproducts.com)

Tidelog 2010 from Pacific Publishers (http://tidelog.com/store/)

Farm to School Guide! Supplied by the Community Alliance with Family Farmers. This website has a lot of other great publications and resources that are–not surprisingly–accessible for download on the website. (www.caff.org)

Stella Natura Biodynamic Planting Calender (stellanatura.com)


Here are some upcoming events that were mentioned in class!

Thursday, February 25, 2010
The Novato Community Garden Project's Community Forum: Growing a Healthy Community from the Ground Up! This is a fundraiser at the Unified School District Offices in Novato. It's an awesome project that would really benefit from your support. The more people that know about this, the more power and lift off the community will have.
(http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache%3A1t-nD5Msl6QJ%3Awww.novatolivewell.org%2Fnlw-pdfs%2FGrowingAHeathlyCommunityFLYER2.25.10v3.pdf+community+forum+novato+february+25&hl=en&gl=us&sig=AHIEtbQIhDyxWzZ8wNYUW8oTLV-r2Hxhtw&pli=1)

Friday, March 5, 2010
The Farmer Veteran Coalition, a project of Community Partners and proud member of Coalition for Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans announces: The Food and Farming Veteran Career Fair.
Totally awesome idea for returning veterans to connect with jobs, internships, training, and college programs in the food and farming industry in Northern California. This free event will kick off the first regional agricultural veteran partnership fair and is located just up north in Santa Rosa at the Veterans Memorial Building.
(http://www.farmvetco.org/2010/02/food-and-farming-veteran-career-fair-2/)

Don't forget, our thriving baby farm's one year birth anniversary is in March!

Photos from 2.17.10 Farm Class

Breakfast Mix?

Transplanting starts

Sifting compost for soil mixing

Clearing the winter Cover Crop

The Farm Class talks Compost

Links to previous Farm Class Blogs

Spring '09 - ucanr.org/blogs/IndianValleyFarm/

Fall '09 - indianvalleyorganicfarm.blogspot.com

Valentine's Day Seed "Truffles"

Happy Valentine's Everyone!

Photos

Hello! This is Caitlin, one of your faithful bloggers from the IVC Organic Farm class. To help kick off the union of the biosphere-blogosphere experience, I want to share some of these photos with you! Here are a couple that I snapped on our February 3rd class.


Trasplanting peas!
A view from both ends of the row.

Here are some pictures from our class yesterday, February 10th

Wendy teaches us about clay ribbons... meanwhile, our lovely seedballs look on, awaiting the February 14th celebration in anticipation.

Preparing for a future bee box! Leveling out the playing field.


Craning necks for a glimpse of soil sifting and six-pack stuffing.
Tender lovin' six-pack-stuffin' technique: planting peas by tickling metaphorical ivories!

If anyone has pictures or comments to share, please feel free! We'd love for everyone to be able to post their thoughts. If photo uploading is not possible via the comment box, don't hesitate to email me at caitlinfate@gmail.com. I can post them for you.
Much love and and health to you all this weekend! See you all next Wednesday.

Week One, January 27th

Hey Classmates,

I’d like to thank Wendy, Steve and Henry for a very insightful class on Wednesday 1/27. What an amazing start to the semester. If anyone is interested in learning more on Eco Farm Conference held in Santa Cruz, Jan 20-23, Wendy brought back lots of material to look at in the internet cafe. Percy Schmeiser’s drawn out victory against Monsanto was celebrated at the conference. Although losing almost everything, he did not give up and ultimately won! When traces of roundup were found on Schmeiser’s farm, Monsanto accused him of violating patent laws, To learn more go to: http://truefoodnow.org/2009/11/18/a-message-from-michael-pollan// After donating money to Haiti, send some support to Schmeiser or to The Center for Food Safety.

Don’t forget, we will be having grafting workshop on February 24^th with Steve.

I read an article the other day I thought you’d all appreciate. I actually found it on Oprah’s website while searching for her segment with Michael Pollan. Read A Delicious Revolution, http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/The-Sustainable-Food-Movement-A-Delicious-Revolution.

With buzz circulating films like Food INC, to hoop houses in DC, I think it’s pretty clear how profound our movement is becoming. Yet, as global corporations continue to fight for the removal of our freedoms, and control of our food supply and water, we must maintain our persistence, The Indian Valley Organic Farm & Garden is exemplary of how successful a small local farm can be.

For this week, our assignment was to write a paragraph describing yourself and your connection to farming. For next week, read the Down to Earth chapter in Golden Gate Gardening. We should have access to copies for $30 through Point Reyes Books and Wendy has copies of Gardening at the Dragon’s Gate for $25 with all the proceeds going to the Zen Center. Bring a soil sample to class Wednesday;) Arbor Day this Sunday 2/7, at the Green Gulch Zen Center from 2-5. Come for an afternoon of tree planting, sharing and reflection with tea and cookies at the end. Have a beautiful week everyone!

Cheers!

Kellan

Harvesting Strawberry Plants 1/27/10