hi all,

This friday is our March potluck.6pm march 9 at Jennifer Garst and Steve Libby's house (708 brookridge in Ames - this is just north of 6th street by brookside park)

The topic is Farm Chemicals and their effects on human and environmental health. Since we couldn't find an expert on this topic, Alice (that's me!) will be our fearless leader. Right now, I'm learning about this topic, hoping to be a bit more knowledgeable by Friday. However, feel free to be more knowledgable than me. As always, invite anyone who you think might be interested (or might know something about this topic).

If you'd like to learn more in the meantime, check out the Pesticide Action Network's site:

http://www.panna.org/issues/food-agriculture/industrial-agriculture

Come prepared for discussion.

Also, this week I'm really excited about pruning. I spent a few hours with Lynn from the ISU horticulture farm getting pruning lessons (i learned a lot in a few hours!). He was very kind, patient, and an awesome teacher. Then, on Saturday we had a surprisingly large crew of 7 on the farm for a cold, windy few hours of grape pruning and raspberry thinning. Today it was like spring (for the 20th time this winter) and i spent the morning starting seeds and pruning the apple trees. it was great to work outside in short sleeves, without a hat or a face-mask or a parka. Unlike the many other balmy days this winter, I think today it really was spring, because the snow geese were flying north and a loud crowd of red-wing blackbirds passed through the farm.

we have a bunch of workdays coming up, especially the first 2 weekends of April, but there's other work going on, if you like working outside as much as i do. Give me a call, preferably the day before you want to come. 515-460-1467 . Espcially the first few weeks of April, there will most likely be tons of planting happening all during the week.