First Garden School of 2021 at CommonWealth Urban Farms

2021 is Springing

All has not been quiet at CommonWealth Urban Farms even in the midst of a pandemic. Food Forest has been in the dedicated hands of volunteers who come each week to tidy the circles and clear away debris. Green rows of greens in the beautiful, moist air of the Hoop House have invited cut-and-come-again all winter. The compost-heated greenhouse has been a wonder to us all: On that minus-12-degree night the delicate seedlings atop the compost pile enjoyed a 47-degree bed! A new germination chamber urges seeds into life surely and quickly! Composting volunteers cheerfully do their amazing work every single week. Cover crops on the farm are nourishing the soil. Partner-farmers are gearing up for a new season. And we have scheduled a humdinger of a Garden School season. Check it out below!
Meet some of our incredible team members and see what all they do
on our urban farm!

First Garden School Class of 2021

 

March 13: How to Grow a Vegetable Garden Even if You’ve Never Planted a Seed in Your Life
11am to noon
1016 NW 32nd St.
$10 per workshop, $15 per couple/pair, unless otherwise noted. Or volunteer on a Saturday morning, and get in free!
(If this class gets rained out, we will offer it March 20.
Keep an eye on our fb page for last-minute info:
https://www.facebook.com/Commonwealthurbanfarms)

It’s actually pretty simple! Elia will cover the basics—soil, water, seed—that guarantee your first garden will be a delicious success. Participants will help plant a container garden that can be scaled up or down, and is suitable for backyards, front yards, decks, or patios. Each person will also have the chance to start several pots of seeds to take home. Here’s to a successful first garden!

Instructor: Elia Woods is a co-founder and partner-farmer at CommonWealth Urban Farms. She has been gardening and farming for over 30 years, and loves introducing beginners to the delights of growing food.
Veggie seedlings will be available for sale.

PLEASE NOTE
Covid-19 Consideration: in order to maintain a high level of safety, please be prepared to wear a mask and keep a 6-foot distance from others. We ask that you forego attendance if you are feeling sick or have a raised temperature.

See the full list of classes at the education tab on our website (subject to change.)Patreon Member Discount
You can sign up to be a CommonWealth patron at the level of $10 a month and up and receive discounted Garden School admission. Learn more here: https://www.patreon.com/commonwealthurbanfarms

Coming Next:

March 27: Success with Seeds: Tips & Tricks for Starting Transplants Inside

11 a.m. to noon
1016 NW 32nd St.
$10 per workshop, $15 per couple/pair, unless otherwise noted. Or volunteer on a Saturday morning, and get in free!

Get a head start on the growing season by starting seeds inside! We’ll show you several simple at-home set-ups for starting seedlings, and walk through the basics of growing seeds into healthy, vigorous transplants. If you’ve been dogged by poor germination or spindly seedlings, we have answers at hand! We’ll also demonstrate how to take cuttings and root them, a simple method for propagating herbs & many other plants. This is a hands-on class; each person will choose from a selection of vegetable or flower seeds as well as herb cuttings to plant & take home.

Instructor: Elia Woods is a co-founder and partner-farmer at CommonWealth Urban Farms. Nothing makes her happier than planting seeds and starting baby seedlings.

 

Partner-Farmer Opportunity

CommonWealth has space available for one or two more partner-farmers for the 2021 growing season! If you are interested, contact us asap. We have 2500 square feet of cultivated land available for persons with farming experience to utilize to grow crops! If you have farming experience and an interest in starting a farm business, but lack access to land, this would be the ideal opportunity for you. These beds have been lovingly cultivated, amended, and maintained using sustainable practices over the past 10-plus years.

 

 

Partner-Farmers have access to land and infrastructure for free. The only monetary obligation is a minimal monthly charge to cover water/utility access for the space. Partner-Farmers must agree to use only organic, sustainable practices. Preference given to BIPOC and young farmers. For more information, please contact info@commonwealthurbanfarms.com or call Mary at 405-795-2044.

Our neighborhood farmer’s market, The Paseo Farmers Market, (where our partner-farmers make their food and plants available) has moved its operation into a permanent location and extended its hours! Just across the street from this summer’s pickup spot, the new location is at 3020 N. Walker (just south, next door, to The Mayan.) Ordering is online and pickup is Saturday, Sunday, Monday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. AND, plans are in the works to open an in-person retail store, Paseo Food Cooperative.

It’s very exciting to have this great outlet and resource in our community, for growers and eaters alike! Check out all the possibilities at paseofarmersmarket.com.