August 1: Fodor Farm Speaker Series

We are excited to announce that on Wednesday, August 1 at 7:00PM, Nick Mancini will be giving a presentation at the Main Branch (Belden Avenue) of the Norwalk Library on ORGANIC SOLUTIONS FOR PESTS AND DISEASES.

Those of you who have been lucky enough to hear Nick speak at Fodor Farm can attest to his expertise as a master gardener. If you haven’t heard Nick speak, do not miss this opportunity. Nick has created a power point presentation for us and will be happy to answer questions on any gardening subject.

This presentation is open to all, so bring a friend (even if they don’t have a garden at Fodor Farm).

See you on Wednesday August 1 at 7:00PM at the Main Branch of the Norwalk Library (Belden Avenue).

Guest Speaker Series: Success with Tomatoes and Peppers!

Join us on Saturday, May 12 at 11 a.m. for the next in our Guest Speaker Series. Jim Hunter will be presenting Success with Tomatoes and Peppers!

Jim is a Biology and AP Environmental Science teacher at Wilton High School who has installed a student-farmed organic garden at the high school that will be supplying fresh produce to the school's cafeteria. Jim was formerly a naturalist and educator at Earthplace in Westport.

Guest Speaker Series: DIRT on April 28

Join us on Saturday, April 28 at 11 a.m. for the first in our 2012 Guest Speaker Series.  Master gardener Teresa Mucci will be presenting DIRT: 10 Dirt Simple Things You Can Do to Enrich Your Garden.

Teresa Mucci is an ecological landscape designer working in sustainable design and land restoration.  A graduate of the New York Botanical Garden, she specializes in Native Meadows.  She represents the Connecticut NOFA as an Organic Certified Professional Lecturer on organic lawn care.  She is a member of the Connecticut Invasive Plant Group, the Connecticut Environmental Leaders and a Trustee of the Wilton Land Trust.

Opening Day 2012

Opening Day for Fodor Farm Community Garden is Saturday, April 21.

You can plant these herbs and vegetables in the ground in April and May:
Arugula                   Chives                      Cilantro
Dill                          Parsley                     Watercress
Beets                      Broccoli                    Broccoli Raab
Cabbage                 Carrots                     Chard
Kale                        Leeks                       Lettuce
Mache                     Scallions                   Pak Choi (Asian greens)
Peas                        Radishes                   Spinach
Salad Greens           Stir fry greens

End of Season

Dear Fodor Farmers,

After a very rainy start and ending this season at Fodor Farm, our thoughts turn to the coming winter months and beyond. Over the next month there are several steps that must be taken to assure that our community garden continues to flourish into the future.

Fall Harvesting

Many plot holders still have plenty of vegetables to harvest, but we have noticed a high number of plots with vegetables falling off the plants and being left to rot on the ground. Not only does this create an environment for plant diseases to flourish, it attracts unwanted animal pests to the garden. Please keep your beds clean of any rotten plants and vegetables.

Fall Cleanup

Every farmer is responsible for both cleaning up their own plot(s) as well as helping to clean up the entire garden area. The official fall cleanup days are Saturday and Sunday, November 5 & 6, and all plot holders are required to participate in at least one day. Plants that are still producing may be left in the ground, but the remainder of the plot must be cleaned. All beds must be re-edged back to the original size (4 x 12). Personal items may not be stored over winter in the garden.

As of December 1, the garden will be locked for the winter. Any plot that has not been cleaned/prepared for winter will be forfeited, and will be reassigned to those on the waiting list.

Putting your planting bed to rest for the season

If you are intending to participate in the community garden next year, there are two good options for putting your bed to rest, as follows.

Option 1:  Remove all plants, weeds, etc. Add compost and granular fertilizer (we recommend Garden Tone) and turn into the soil. Rake out and re-edge to create nice uniform planting bed. The benefits of this option are that all of the beneficial micro-organisms in the soil will have all winter to break down the compost and fertilizer, giving you a really healthy plot to return to. The negative is that you will probably have quite a bit of weeding to do when you return in the spring.

Option 2:  Remove all plants, weeds, etc. Rake out and re-edge your bed. Cover your entire bed with plastic sheeting (must be pinned down well enough to withstand winter weather). This will prevent most weeds from growing; however, the heating affect will also damage many of the soil organisms. Compost will need to be added to your bed in the spring to create a healthy planting environment.

The plots will not be tilled by Recreation and Parks over the winter.

August 6: Qigong and Tomato Lecture

We have a double header this Saturday, August 6 at Fodor Farm!

At 10:00AM, Bill Wrenn will be leading a Qigong exercise class/demonstration.  Qigong includes gentle dance-like movements, and deep breathing.  Scientific studies have shown that practicing Qigong for just a few minutes daily can lower blood pressure, reduce the chances of stroke and heart disease, and speed healing.  This is the low-impact stretching you keep promising yourself you'll start.

Then at 11:00AM, educator and naturalist Jim Hunter will be on hand with info and advice about tomato plants-- caring for them, cutting them, getting the best yield.  Jim will also be available to take any gardening questions you may have.  (Jim was rescheduled from an earlier date due to illness.)

There is no charge to attend – FREE!

See you Saturday August 6 at 10:00AM at the Fodor Farm pavilion for this double event.

July 16: Tomato Advice

On Saturday, July 16 at 11:00AM, educator and naturalist Jim Hunter will be at the Fodor Farm pavilion with info and advice about tomato plants-- caring for them, cutting them, getting the best yield. Jim will also be available to take any gardening questions you may have.

There is no charge to attend – FREE!

JUNE 11: Saturday Lecture on Herb Gardening

The Friends of Fodor Farm is pleased to announce our third speaker for the 2011 gardening season.

On Saturday June 11 at 11:00AM, Master Gardener Candice McCullum will be our guest at the pavilion at Fodor Farm.  Candace will talk about growing herbs and their many uses--culinary, medicinal, fragrant and economic. There will be a question and answer session. As a Master Gardener, Candace is able to answer any questions you have regarding your garden.

There is no charge to attend – FREE!

See you June 11 at 11:00AM.

2011 Free Lecture Series at Fodor Farm

The Friends of Fodor Farm is pleased to announce our first FREE SPEAKERS for the 2011 gardening season.  All lectures will take place at the Pavilion.

On Saturday APRIL 30 at 11:00AM, Edward Henrey will explain how to take a SOIL SAMPLE. This will let you know exactly what fertilizers—if any—you might want to add to your soil to achieve the best results in your garden.

Then on Saturday MAY 14th at 11:00AM, Jeffrey Deorio of Reynolds Farm Nurseries will explain the do's and don'ts of PLANTING SEEDLINGS.

These gardening experts are able to answer any questions you have, regardless of their discussion topic.

Potluck at Fodor Farm

Join us this Saturday for a

Presentation & Potluck

featuring

Melissa Henry

"Organic Gardening and Closing Your Bed for the Season"

Saturday, September 18

11:00 a.m.

Please bring an appetizer, salad, entree or dessert to share!

This week at Fodor Farm

Fall is in the air, the leaves are starting to turn. Gardening is almost over... or is it? The garden is open still for another couple of months, and there's still time for fall crops. For things such as leafy vegetables, you still have time to get seeds in the ground. If you're interested in growing garlic, now's the time to start thinking about what type you'll want to grow. It's not quite time to plant garlic, but it's getting there, and if you're ordering seed garlic, you'll want to leave time for shipping. In the area, Reynold's sells garlic for planting, as do many vendors at the farmer's markets in the area. Don't plant garlic from your grocery store though, as those are usually treaed with chemicals to inhibit sprouting. (Same thing goes for potatoes, though those are planted in the spring only.)

Please remember to properly dispose of all diseased plant material - leaves, veggies, stems, etc. Anything that is diseased, or that you might think is diseased, must be thrown out. Fungus, mold, blight, mildew - all of these things have been seen around the farm, and they all count as disease. Also, if your plant has been infested with harmful pests, it's better to trash them rather than compost. As the pile isn't a "hot" pile, it might not kill every egg.

We have our potluck coming up this Saturday, so keep your fingers crossed for good weather. If you attend, please bring a little something to share with others. The potluck will come after our speaker this weekend, probably about noon. As previously mentioned, our speaker this Saturday - at 11am, Fodor Farm picnic pavillion - will be Linelissa Henrey, and she will be talking about organic gardening and closing your garden for the season. This will be a great time to learn a little about gardening while meeting your fellow gardeners and noshing on some tasty treats. Hope to see you there!

Thank you, and see you around the garden.

Sincerely,
Shari Reilly

This Week at Fodor Farm (7/30)

Hello everyone, As many of you know, the members of the board do walk-throughs in the garden from time to time, noting what plots haven't been planted and which plots are in need of care.  Last week several of us did another walk through, and compiled a list.  We've given the list to the city, and hopefully we'll see some of these empty plots get filled.  The board will be e-mailing farmers who need to get their gardens back under control.  In the lower level, despite there still being people on the waiting list, the city has assumed care for most of the community plots as well as a couple of farmer plots.  We've asked the city to halt planting in farmer plots, and we're trying to help fill the community plots.  If you have a group or school that would like a 4'X16' plot, please talk to Mike, as there are still plenty of spots available. That's all for this week.  Remember, the bugs and weeds are in full force, and there are many plots that are showing bug and weed infestations.  Please get out there and do some maintenance in your garden, especially if it's been a while since you last did so.  Your garden and your neighbors will thank you. See you around the garden. Sincerely, Shari Reilly

Weekend Lecture Series

Sal Gilbertie, of Gilbertie's Herb Gardens of Westport, gave vegetable gardening tips at Fodor Farms Community Garden in Norwalk on Saturday, July 17. Copies of Gilbertie's newest book were available for sale and signing at the conclusion of his presentation. The book is titled “Small-Plot, High-Yield Gardening: How to Grow Like a Pro, Save Money and Eat Well by Turning Your Back (or Front or Side) Yard into an Organic Produce Garden.” Sal's talk was fascinating...not only did he give growing tips, we also got a funny behind-the-scenes look at gardening and gardeners from a nurseryman's perspective. Be sure and check out the nursery's web site (http://www.gilbertiesherbs.com/) for a guide to herbs and listings of their great talks and workshops.

The lecture series continued on Sunday, July 18, when Colleen Plimpton -- popular garden author, coach, and lecturer -- discussed her new book, "Mentors in the Garden of Life." This very personal book is equal parts memoir and gardening guide--each chapter focusing on a specific plant and its significance in Colleen's life. Colleen's web site is http://www.colleenplimpton.com/ and her blog is http://www.colleenplimpton.blogspot.com/. Sign up for her mailings to get handy, informative monthly reminders of seasonal garden tasks. Colleen is a regular guest columnist in the Connecticut Gardener magazine.

What crazy weather we're having! At least Mother Nature is taking care of watering everything for you. With all the rain that we're having, lawns and gardens everywhere should be happy now.


A big thank you goes out to Tamar Fischman. She worked hard to arrange our most recent speakers, getting the farm two speakers in one weekend! If you missed the speakers, there should be more coming up. Keep an eye out for announcements, and please take the time to come and see one of the talks. They don't last too long, are full of information, and are a great way to meet your fellow farmers. Thank you Tamar!

With the damp weather comes things such as powdery mildew. There are several solutions out there, including using a milk solution or baking soda solution. One solution goes: 10% milk, 90% water. mix, spray on both the tops and bottoms of leaves. Let dry, apply every couple of days until mildew is controlled.

Or you can try:
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 quart water
A few drops of liquid soap
Again, mix and spray. Test this on a small patch of your plant before you spray your entire crop to test the sensitivity of the plant.

There are a couple of commercial sprays available, too. If you choose to use one, make sure that it's organic approved. Local nurseries such as Reynold's and Stew's and shops on-line carry organic sprays.

If you'd like to know more, you can find more information here:

http://www.gardenguides.com/778-keeping-ahead-powdery-mildew-garden-pest-tip.html

http://www.gardenguides.com/779-using-milk-control-powdery-mildew-garden-pest-tip.html

http://gardening.about.com/od/gardenproblems/a/PowderyMildew.htm

Don't forget, fall-planting time will be here soon. Planting crops in late summer extends your growing season. Carrots, parsnips, beets, broccoli, Swiss chard, kale, collards, cabbage, Brussel sprouts, peas, and all kinds of salad and Asian greens. Choose disease-resistant varieties that mature quickly.

Hope that this helps! Remember, the local libraries have many good books on gardening, and there's a wealth of information on-line. If you're new to gardening, or want to learn more, there are many places out there you can learn from.

See you around the garden!

Sincerely,

Shari Reilly

Weekend speakers (July 17 & 18)

Where: Fodor Farm Pavilion

When: July 17th and July 18th--both at 11:00 a.m. Books will be available for sale and autographing after the talks. Both events are absolutely free. All welcome.

On Saturday, July 17, 11 a.m., Sal Gilbertie will talk about his newest book: Small-Plot, High-Yield Gardening: How to Grow Like a Pro, Save Money and Eat Well by Turning Your Back (or Front or Side) Yard into an Organic Produce Garden. Gilbertie is the third-generation proprietor of Gilbertie's Herb Gardens (http://www.gilbertiesherbs.com) in Westport.

On Sunday, July 18, 11 a.m., Colleen Plimpton -- popular garden author, lecturer, instructor and coach – will discuss her new book, Mentors in the Garden of Life.

This Week at Fodor Farm

Hello everyone!


There is talk at the farm of unattended plots becoming available for "squatting" as of July. Please be aware that Mike has told the board that he did not approve the idea of people temporarily taking over an unused plot. We've been told by Mike that he will have every unused plot filled very soon. In the meanwhile, if you're unhappy with the unattended plots still not being taken, feel free to talk to Mike and let him know you feel. His e-mail is MMOCCIAE@norwalkct.org and his phone number is (203) 854-7725.

As many of you know, late blight last year wiped out almost everyone's tomatoes. There are a few things you can do now to help minimize the risk of your tomatoes becoming infected.

• Water your plants from below, not above. Also, water when there's still heat and sun left in the day, either in the morning or in the afternoon (but not during the heat of the day.) Fungus thrives in moist conditions, and keeping your plants dry makes them more inhospitable to the fungus.
• Lay newspaper around the base of your plans, 6 or 7 sheets worth. This not only helps keep moisture in the soil, it helps reduce splashing from below onto the leaves.
• Remove all dead and dying leaves. Especially remove anything that's yellow or green with spots.
• Sterilize you garden shears between cuts, so as to not infect healthy plants.

Here are a few links with more information regarding tomato blight:
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/okgard/msg0521172224078.html
http://www.extension.umn.edu/yardandgarden/AAMG/vegetables/tomatoblight.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9A09WRrLAg
http://www.5min.com/Video/Diagnosing-and-Treating-Tomato-Diseases-32075544

Keep in mind that Fodor Farm is an organic farm, and any treatments you might use must be organic.

Thank you, and see you at the farm!

Sincerely,
Shari Reilly

This Week at Fodor Farm

I wanted to start this letter off with a huge Thank You to two people who have helped the farm out recently: Jane Minnis and Frank Rubino. Jane conceived of the idea to have a seed exchange, and from its inception on through to the day, did all of the work in getting the seeds to give out to the farmers. Frank has been working hard to find us speakers, and was able to arrange two wonderful speakers, Nick Mancini and Becky Newman, to come and talk to us last weekend. Frank is looking to arrange more speakers over the course of the summer, so please keep an eye out for future speaker announcements. Thank you Frank and Jane!


One of the things our Organic Gardening speaker talked about was the importance of "housekeeping". To that end, I'd like to give this reminder to everyone out there - stay on top of your gardens as much as possible. We're seeing plots in need of weeding, and the beetles are starting to have their way with plants. Here are some steps every farmer should take during the course of the week to maintain their plot and help the overall health of the garden:

• Weed, weed, weed. Weeds compete with your crops for nutrients and sunlight. They're also a safe haven for pests and disease. Pull them out when they're small, stay on top of your plot, and weeding is an easy, two minute task.
• Remove all dead, dying, and diseased foliage. Dead and dying leaves are magnets for disease and rot. Diseased foliage is a foothold in the garden from which disease can spread. Remember, if you're cutting your plants, sterilize you scissors/pruners between cuts with rubbing or isopropyl alcohol.
• Keep bugs under control. We're seeing an increase in bean and squash beetles. These bugs breed quickly, so it's absolutely necessary that we all get out there and start killing them. Please do your part, and keep them in check in your plot. You'll be helping yourself, and you'll be helping your neighbors.

The contract which we all signed when we received our plot(s) stipulated that we spend five hours per week working on our garden. We all have busy lives, and there are weeks where we won't be able to put in this amount of time. But the steps above, when you're in the habit of them, won't take five hours a week, and your garden will thank you.

Another thing Nick mentioned was watering. Gardens only need one inch of water per week to do well. Here's how to water:

• When watering, water slow and deep. Don't do a quick sprinkle of water here and there, take a few minutes and give the garden a good, long drink. Shallow watering encourages shallow roots. Shallow roots dry out more quickly and aren't as healthy.
• Water from below, not above. Go low, and water closed to the ground, not from above. This helps the leaves to stay dry, and discourages diseases such as blight.
• Don't over-water. You can actually drown your plants, as roots need oxygen. Know the water needs of the plants that you're growing.
• Be a good neighbor. If you use a hose, put it back coiled and neat.

While we're not in a water-restricted area, water is a finite resource for everyone. Let's all make sure to water smart. If it rained the day before, think before you water. How much rain fell? How does your soil feel? There have been gardeners out there watering after a good rain, which isn't good for the plants, and isn't good for the planet. (This rule goes for your home, too, folks! Smart watering is good watering.)

Deadline alert! If you have anything planted along the fence, you have until June 27th to get it moved. After that, it's fair game for the city's weed whackers.

Thank you, and we'll see you at the farm!

Fodor Farm Update

Would you believe we're not officially in summer yet? No, we'll have to wait until June 21st for that. But on some of the warm days we've had, you'd be hard-pressed to think that you were in spring!
As people on the waiting list get their plots, you'll be seeing new faces around the farm. Please take the time to say hello and help out if you can.

Here's what's going on at the farm:

• We have our first two speakers coming up this weekend. On Saturday we have Organic Gardening by Nick Mancini at 11am, and on Sunday we have Bees and How They Help Gardening by Becky Newman at 11am. Please come down and see these wonderful speakers.
• If you're in the lower level, please remember to keep whatever "fencing" you put up around your plot low - you should be able to bend over it easily. Mike has approved netting, not internal fencing. If you have a high fence, you will be asked to lower it.
• The Mexican bean beetles are back! If you're growing any kind of beans, please be on the lookout for them. If you have bean beetles, you'll see the leaves start to become riddled with holes or have entire leaves eaten. If you flip the leaves over, you'll find the beetles. They look very much like lady bugs - same size, similar coloring. The only good method of controlling them is physical removal and extermination. So stomp on them, squish them, place them in a bucket of soapy water. You may also start seeing a bundle of small yellow eggs on the underside of the leaves. Squish that, too, as we don't want to help the bean beetles breed. If we all take care of the bugs in our plots, the overall health of all gardens will improve.

• On Wednesday, June 16th, the Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Affairs Council gave its approval for $17,400 of taxpayer money (not DEP grant) to lay a concrete slab that will be the foundation for a three car garage. This garage will be built in the style of the existing building on Fodor Farm, and will be used to store city vehicles and machinery.

Thank you, and see you at the farm!

Sincerely,

Shari Reilly

Seed Giveaway!

Join us under the Pavilion on Saturday, June 12 for a SEED GIVEAWAY!  The Friends of Fodor Farm have received  a shipment of seeds from America the Beautiful Fund.  There are lots of vegetables that you can plant now.  Or, choose some for a Fall planting.  Remember that by mid-summer most stores don't carry seeds anymore.

Stop by and see if there's something you want to try.  Although they are from 2009, they have a 90% germination.

PLUS, we will be giving away nine pairs of Ladies suede gardening gloves (size small).  First come, first served.  One pair per person.

What to plant in May

Many of us think that the middle of May is already too late for the best planting possibilities. Not to worry! Now that temperatures are consistently in the 50’s at night and daytime weather is warm and settled, it’s the perfect time for sowing seeds right into the garden.

Here are some suggestions for vegetables you can plant directly in the garden:
Beans                    
Beets
Carrots
Chard
Cucumbers
Gourds
Melons
Pak Choi
Pumpkins
Salad Greens
Stir fry Greens
Scallions
Summer Squash
Watermelon
Winter Squash
Zucchini