One of my favorite local partners that I do programming with is Mt. Carmel Healthy Living Center in Franklinton. I have a class on Seed Starting coming up on February 27th, 2024 @ 2pm at the center. While the class is free and open to the public, they do ask for registration to ensure enough space. They offer a ton of other programs as well.
Are you a beginning farmer trying to nail down all the resources and information you need to be successful? This series is designed to introduce you to some of the most important topics and resources of which a farm should be aware. OSU Extension, USDA and Farm Credit staff will present critical information on each of these topics allowing attendees to build relationships with these critical partners.
This series of events is free and open to the public but we do ask for pre-registration for planning purposes. You can click the QR in the flyer or THIS LINK to register.
I want to remind everyone that the newly established Franklin County Urban Agriculture Critical Infrastructure grant is accepting applications until February 1st!
This grant aims to address a significant funding gap that small growers face when looking to scale up their operations. The current City-County Community Garden Grant continues to be very successful in its purpose, however, the total request amount for this existing grant is capped at $3,000 per applicant and it is only available for nonprofits – so another source of support is needed for local growers who have outgrown the Community Garden Grant and want to scale up their operations. Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District will also provide technical assistance, education, and key third party connections to grantees while ensuring equitable support for socially disadvantaged growers, including BIPOC growers, women growers, and low income growers.
I have been working with local partners on a great opportunity for urban producers to capacity build. This is applicable for both profit and not-for-profit producers. There will be an information session for potential grant awardees to learn more about the grant and get questions answered on Monday December 11th @ 5pm. It will be recorded as well.
Info Session for Urban Agriculture Critical Infrastructure Grant
Monday, December 11, 2023
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Please join us virtually for info-sessions related to the upcoming Urban Agriculture Critical Infrastructure Grant! (https://www.franklinswcd.org/urban-ag-grant) If you are interested in applying for the grant and have questions, this event is for you! You can access this info session via the Teams link below. This session will be recorded and posted publicly for anyone who cannot make it. If you have any questions or need accommodations, please reach out to Annabel Spranger at aspranger@franklinswcd.org .
Interest in keeping backyard poultry has been increasing steadily with a huge jump in growth around the COVID pandemic and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza outbreak due to egg price increases and egg shortages. We have also see a big jump in the number of 4H kiddos who want to keep chickens and turkeys for 4H livestock projects. Many cities and municipalities require a certification before they allow you to keep backyard poultry. Lots of people just want to learn more about this for their own family and personal food security. Maybe this is the perfect holiday gift for that hard to buy family member. Whatever your reason, we have you covered.
The course costs $25 dollars. (Super cheep!) Click on the QR code or head to go.osu.edu/chicken
This self-paced course is expected to take 2-3 hours to complete and includes the following 6 modules:
Getting Started
Brooding, Basic Husbandry & Nutrition
Housing
Egg Production
Maximizing Health
Biosecurity
After completing this course, learners will be able to:
Identify rules and regulations relevant to raising backyard poultry in their state, city, or municipality
Source healthy birds to raise in their backyard
Apply concepts of basic husbandry, nutrition, and housing to successfully raise backyard poultry.
Explain how eggs are produced
Practice safe handling of birds and eggs
Recognize health-related abnormalities of poultry through physical examination
Describe the roles of of veterinary care and biosecurity in maximizing poultry health
There are NO refunds issued for this course.
If you have questions about the course, contact Tim McDermott at mcdermott.15@osu.edu for assistance.
Join me at The Scott’s Miracle Gro Community Garden Campus at Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens on Sunday October 1st @ 8am for Coffee in the Garden, a fall garden walk! Coffee and refreshments will be provided. There is still lots to talk about with vegetables and a good amount of growing season left. The event is free and open to the public but does require registration so bring your friends and your questions.
This is a weekly look at what is happening in the school garden to assist teacher educators engage their students in agriculture. It can be used by garden students of all ages however!
Welcome Back!! I am excited to get started growing with you and your kiddos. Lots of information in this post will be similar to last weeks as I know that many of you are just getting started in your growing. You can always email me with any questions to mcdermott.15@osu.edu
Let’s check out the forecast.
Wow is this great planting weather or what! Check out the planting recommendations below. Not a lot of rain forecast this week so make sure you water as needed. To get great germination, water every day until your seeds germinate in your raised beds.
Outside in the raised beds:
There are some tasks we are looking to get started outdoors this week if possible. Not a lot of rain in the ten day forecast so make sure that you water every day until you get germination. Some action items for those who are using GTS:
Uncover your raised bed by removing the black plastic if you covered the beds over the summer. Add soil if needed to bring the level up.
Save the black plastic! Fold it up and store it for use at the end of May next year.
Add some fertilizer according to the label on the package.
For GTS we are planting radishes, cilantro, and peas outdoors in the raised bed. Other veggies that could be seeded if you have the seeds would be leafy greens, carrots, and green onions.
Plant according to seed size. We plant seeds about 3 times as deep as the seeds are large. Radish and cilantro seeds are tiny so they are planted only about 1/4 inch deep. Peas are larger so they are planted about 1 inch deep.
Make sure to thin your seedlings when they come up so that they end up about 3-4 inches apart.
Water as needed after germination, but likely once or twice a week based on rain until harvest.
For CCS teachers if you need soil, seeds, or fertilizer let Katie know.
If you did not cover your raised bed make sure to remove all the weeds in the bed before you start!
Do you need to get raised beds started and want to learn how to do that? I made a quick little video to walk you through the process.
Here is a quick and engaging video with information on best varieties to seed or plant directly.
Outdoor planting recommendations:
Planting can be done any day this week.
With no rain forecast this week, make sure you water your seed bed every day until your seeds germinate.
No need for season extension right now.
Inside in the Aerogarden:
It is time to get some herbs started in the Aerogarden! Make sure you have seed pods and fertilizer. Any CCS teachers who need supplies should contact Katie.
Make sure you have all of the pots, seed starting mix, lights, cord and timers needed for indoor planting. We can direct sow cilantro in 2″ pots for either growing and harvesting indoors or for transplanting outdoors. You can do comparisons with your students about how they grow in each system. I have a video below that will help you with direct sowing seeds in pots.
Even though the video shows kale being planted, the technique is the same for cilantro.
Remove the humidity dome after germination.
If you do not have a humidity dome, you can use plastic wrap to lightly cover to provide humidity for germination. Uncover the plastic wrap after seed germinate.
Thin to one seedling per pot as shown in the video.
Let me know what questions you have! Make sure you engage your kiddos in the process. Looking forward to a wonderful Ag in the Classroom season!
I had a great time talking what to plant to maximize your healthy fall harvest and live your best garden life with The Nature Conservancy. If you missed the webinar, here is the recording to enjoy.
Is there any better event than a garden walk? There will be a Garden Walk on Wednesday August 16th @ 6pm at the amazing Urban Farm Church. I cannot wait to see all the progress they have made! We will be talking summer harvest and fall planting plus many more topics as well as taking your questions.
The event is free and open to the public although registration is required. Bring your friends and your questions!
I am excited to continue my many year partnership with the Bronzeville Growers Market to celebrate National Farmer’s Market Week by partnering with them for an in-person class at the Market on Thursday August 10th @ 5:00pm. We will talk about what you can plant right NOW! to get a Fall harvest. The market is open from 3-6pm and will have a fabulous assortment of produce and products. Bring your friends, your questions, and your wallets for some learning and shopping!
This self-paced course is expected to take 2-3 hours to complete and includes the following 6 modules:
