On Friday April 10, 6-8pm we will be discussing citizen Science and on-farm research! As usual it is a potluck.
I think the farm will be presenting on the on-farm research projects we participated in with Practical Farmers of Iowa last year, and what we have planned for the coming year. Also learn about other citizen science projects that we can all participate in, and give input into projects you think we should be doing on the farm.

This one is at Elena's house:
2615 Aspen Rd. Unit 5
Ames, IA 50010

Mark
(thanks Mark for posting a blog even after you've moved to DC! - alice)

We will have pictures up soon but work is underway.

The hole for the basement and drainage trench were dug last week. This week we had the footings formed and poured and drainage system established just before the rain yesterday. The walls will be formed and poured hopefully this Friday. After that its giving the walls some extra protection and backfilling. Then its the hard part - building the wall next to the existing footings of the house.

Come help Mustard Seed with spring planting! We'll have a lot of trees to plant, mulch and protect, as well starting the planting in the garden.

April 4th, 1-5 p.m.
April 11th, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
April 18th, 1-5 p.m.

We'd love to have your help in getting the growing season going and with our big tree planting project. The pond and storm shelter are underway! Rye cover crop is starting to grow again and there's a few plants greening up here and there. Also, our bees survived the winter! Its an exciting time at the farm.

Luckily for us, we have had a warm, dry spell early this year, and we have been taking advantage of it by starting our digging. We have these 2 big projects planned for the spring - digging and building a storm shelter with sun room on top, attached to our house, and digging a pond in our slough and planting about 80 trees and shrubs in the area around it. We will have SO MANY things to plant in april, so it is wonderful to get started on some of this work in march.
here's our house before the digging:

Hi Mustard Seed Friends!

No potluck this week or month. Cancelled as last Sundays event took its place. Stay tuned for April/May 'lucks. Summer Friday evenings will continue as well.
Work days April 11 and April 18th. Will be focusing on tree planting. More info coming.
Event last Sunday went really well. Thanks to everyone who was able to come and help make it successful and fun! And just thanks to everyone helping support the farm and its missions year in and out. In a myriad of ways!

Fun Benefit Event for Mustard Seed Farm

What; square dance, pottery sale, silent auction and soup supper

Why; help raise funds to build a storm shelter and pond/wetland this spring at Mustard Seed Community Farm, a local volunteer-run farm that grows food to help with local hunger needs

When; Sunday, March 8th from 4 - 7 pm

Where; St. Thomas Aquinas Church basement activity hall (Lower Lounge), 2210 Lincoln Way, Ames (http://staparish.net/)
**please park next door at Memorial Lutheran Church Lot**

We just want remind you about our potluck this week, CSA enrollment and announce a FUNdraiser. (Also a little farm news update.)

•Potluck - Come celebrate Friday the 13th with a get-together at 211 Howard Ave. We will have a roundtable discussion on how we live sustainably in our lives. Also your chance to wish Alice a happy birthday! Everyone welcome.
•CSA - We still have some spots in our 2015 CSA available, both paid and work shares. For more info call Alice 515-460-1467 or email mustardseedbee@gmail.com. We'd love to have you join us.

The farm's going to see a couple big improvement projects happening this spring. We're constructing a storm shelter and building a pond/wetland. These projects will take considerable time and money but they are very important to the continued mission of the farm