Saturday, August 28, 2010

Julia found a bee swarm!


Julia found a swarm of bees and called Paul


there is the swarm, the bees need a new home!


Paul suits up Yael, Julia, Sarita and Anthony


Thumbs up with bee gloves on


We're almost ready



Everyone is ready


Paul's going in with the bucket


Slowly but surely, he cuts the plant the bees have swarmed onto


Paul is a smooth operator, he got the swarm



everyone gets a good look


finder's keepers!


Paul puts the bees in the bucket and then puts a canvas on top


then he taped the canvas down


happy bee suit girl Yael


Now the bees are on their way to their new home!

Anthony and the dino kale

Cindy and the hidden watering can

Marco and the pumpkin

Brandon & radishes

Abby enjoying summer's corn

Yael getting some compost, this is where the magic happens

Sarita & corn

Seeds at City Summer 2010!

Super farmers Paul and Julia cultivating future farmers Yael, Marco, Abby, Anthony, Brandon, Sarita and Cindy during the summer session at the garden. Here are some photos of everyone at work!




Tuesday, August 24, 2010

long hot days of summer

Here is a lovely picture of a dragonfly kickin' it on a dead stalk of sunflower. We love all of the insects who visit our garden- well, maybe not ALL insects- but beneficial insect who help play an important role in the health of our crops- whether they be pollinators or predators who feed on the pests who eat our plants....
We don't particularly love grasshoppers- they're ferocious eaters who have been found nibbling many a dino kale leaf, or other such delicious greens we enjoy dining on ourselves.....
That said- I feel compelled to share one of my favorite poems with you by Mary Oliver called "The Summer Day"- it's about more than grasshoppers- it's also about wonder, and courage and tenderness....

Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
The grasshopper, I mean-
The one who has flung herself on the grass,
Who is mobbing her jaws back and forth instead
Of up and down-
Who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down into the grass,
How to kneel down in the grass, how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
Which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Sowing Seeds of Plenty!




More Fabulous Pictures!

Homemade bread and Sweet Potato Pie!

It finally feels like Summer at the farm


It's early August and we've had seven glorious apprentices work in the gardens here at Seeds at City Farm over the last nine weeks. Between planting Mexican Sour Gherkin Cucumbers, Yellow Crookneck Squashes, Purple Japanese Eggplants, Kentucky Blue Beans, and a grip of Heirloom varieties of tomatoes we've been harvesting Sweet Potatoes, Chioggia Beets, Purple Haze Carrots,Thai Hot Peppers, Gourmet Salad Mix, Dino Kale, Chocolate Mint, Lemon Verbena and so much more! Our Tuesday Markets from 9:30-11:30am on the City College Campus have been a big hit with students and staff alike.

This Summer the apprentices helped to install a garden at Art Produce Gallery in North Park, a home garden with Victory Gardens San Diego, and have been going out regularly to help with the new farm that Roots has begun in South San Diego along the beautiful Tijuana River Estuary. They have worked tirelessly in helping their areas of the farm grow and have brought delicious edible treats to share with the group during breaks. I will always remember Yael's Sweet Potato Pie and Cindy's Chocolate Chip Cookies. They have been encouraged to always feel free to use us as guinea pigs when they need to trial a new edible masterpiece! May the Summer Bounty continue!