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The Newton Farmer
April 2024
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Dear Farm Friends,
Spring is officially here, and we have lots planned for the upcoming season. Our seedlings are growing well, kept safe from the unpredictability of our New England weather in our two greenhouses. Farmer Greg and Andrea test the temperature several times each day and monitor them carefully to ensure that the baby seedlings are nurtured properly. We are also preparing the fields for our upcoming growing season. We are hoping for optimal weather conditions this year, since last year was challenging, to say the least!
We have some great upcoming events to put on your calendar. You can find all the details below. Our biggest upcoming event is our Annual Seedling Sale on May 18 and 19. We are grateful to the Village Bank for once again being a generous sponsor of this important event.
Here at Newton Community Farm we take our community commitment very seriously, and there are lots of ways to get involved. You can attend one of our events, volunteer, join our CSA, or shop at our farm stand and farmers' market (both open in June). We are also accepting applications for our high school field crew internships. Spots are very limited, so if you know a young person who would love to learn farming in a supportive, hands-on environment, have them apply!
We look forward to welcoming you to the Farm in 2024!
Allyson MacKenna
NCF Director
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Sunday, April 21, 2024
Come visit us at Newton Earth Day Festival 2024!
Newton North High School
12 pm to 4 pm
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Sunday, April 28, 2024
4 pm
Enjoy a fun, informative presentation all about owls with expert Norman Smith right here at the Farm! Norman received the "Champion of Owls" Award for his lifelong work studying and protecting these majestic creatures. This event is free, but spots are limited. Click here to sign up!
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Annual Seedling Sale
Saturday, May 18, and Sunday, May 19, 2024
12 pm to 3 pm
Thank you to our generous sponsor, The Village Bank!
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Summer CSA - Only 3 Spots Left!
We only have 3 remaining spots for our Summer CSA Program! If you want to enjoy farm-fresh vegetables and herbs all summer, for less than buying at the supermarket, click here to sign up. Did we mention that fresh tastes best, too? You can buy a weekly or alternate week share,but act quickly before these spots are gone for good! Click here to apply!
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Flower Shares
NCF is partnering with Duck Hollow Farm to bring you fresh, local flowers all summer! Sign up for 15 weeks of floral bouquets, organically grown in Sherborn, MA.
Pick up weekly at NCF on Wednesday or Thursday, 2–7 pm from June 19/20–September 25/26.
Price is $300.
Please email laurel@al-freshco.com with any questions.
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Fruit Shares Coming Late Summer!
For 8 weeks starting August 28 and ending October 17 you can enjoy fresh, delicious fruit from Autumn Hills Orchard for only $110! Click here for more information and to sign up. Our fruit shares are very popular, so sign up now!
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High School Field Crew Internships | |
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Apply now to join the field crew!
NCF is currently accepting applications for summer high school field crew interns. This program offers the experience of working on an intensive market garden (the traditional term for small vegetable farms) for students entering 9th–12th grade in the fall of 2024. These unpaid internships last for four weeks and are three mornings a week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday), 8 am to noon. Applicants can indicate if they are available for session 1 (July 9–August 1) or session 2 (August 6–August 29). Check out our website for more details and to apply online.
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Starting a Container Garden | |
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If you want to grow your own vegetables or herbs but you don't have room for a traditional garden, give container gardening a try. Container gardening allows you to indulge your green thumb by growing your vegetables and herbs in pots or suitable containers above ground.
Benefits of Container Gardening
- Containers allow you to make the most of available space. You can place pots strategically where they'll thrive.
- Less work than traditional gardening: You have more control over growing conditions, including soil quality and nutrients. Weeding is minimal, and harvesting is easier.
- Easy to get started: Choose high-quality potting soil, some suitable containers, and you are all set up for success! Glazed ceramic or porous terra-cotta pots work well. Then all you need is sunlight and some water!
Getting Started
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Place containers in areas with full sun (6 to 8 hours a day) for fruiting plants like tomatoes, peppers, and squash.
- Ensure easy access to water.
- Choose a good quality potting soil.
- Consider your sunlight exposure and choose your seedlings accordingly. Full sun is the best for fruiting plants.
Container gardens require more water than in-ground gardens, so make sure you water regularly. You should also protect your containers from strong winds to prevent containers from tipping over or drying out.
Most important, remember that container gardening is flexible and forgiving of mistakes. Start small and have fun. You will feel a sense of pride when you pick your very own vegetables and herbs, and the taste can't be beat!
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Simple Veggie Stir-Fry
Ingredients:
- 1/2 tsp. olive oil
- 1 clove of garlic, minced
- ½ inch of fresh ginger, minced
- 1 cup of green beans, broken in half
- 3 large carrots, chopped
- 2 red bell peppers,sliced
- ¼ tsp. sea salt
- 2 Tb. vegetable broth
Instructions:
- Heat a skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil, minced garlic, and ginger. Stir frequently for 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
- Add the green beans, carrots, red bell peppers, sea salt, and vegetable broth.
- Cook for 5–7 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender-crisp.
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We're lookng for volunteers to help with our Seedling Sale. We need volunteers to work the days of the event as well as to help prepare.
Friday, May 17, 9 am to 12 pm - Help set up for the Seedling Sale here at the Farm.
Saturday, May 18, and Sunday, May 19 - Help out on the day of the event. Training provided.
Please click here to see shifts and to volunteer!
We are also looking for volunteers to display lawn signs advertising the event. Please email admin@newtoncommunityfarm if you can display a sign.
Thank you!
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Thank you to our recent donors listed below and to those who wish to remain anonymous. Apologies in advance for any names we inadvertently left off this list. (Please let us know if we made any errors.) We appreciate your support!
Patricia Rand* Liza Stern* Bill and Margaret Pappas, In Honor of Linda Chafets* Julie Gardner* Daniel Kovnat* Laurie Hackett* Kelly Solomon* Stuart Kolodner and Deborah Simonds* Sara Barcia* Nyssa Patten* Gordon Moriarty* Varsha Tanguturi* Maureen Kelley
Thank you to our hard-working volunteers!
Susan Tornheim* Nyssa Patten* Dede Vittori* Paul Holt* Deb Hall* Anne Simunovic* Linda Chafets* Laura and Adrian Bishop* Pete Roaf* Helen Jordan* Melissa Toulan* Marietta Joseph* Madelyn Betz* Russ Lopez* Stephanie Lok* Yael Ort-Dinoor
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Newton Community Farm is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, EIN #20-2482452. If you would prefer to donate by mail, please send a check payable to Newton Community Farm at the address below. Please also check with your employer if matching funds are available. | | | | |
