hi Everyone,

Today it is officially spring, though it has felt like summer for a week. what a strange year!

email summary (1. ag-arts event. 2. prairie burn. 3. carpooling to the farm. 4. rough farm schedule)

(sorry, i've lost the camera - hopefully there'll be some pictures soon!)
the main thing i wanted to let folks know about was the ag-arts event this friday. We're going to have a proposal in, to see if we can get any money for our Slow Foods Music Festival this year. The festival was so fun last year that we want to do it again, and i would love to pay the musicians an amount closer to what they deserve for all their skills and time. So if you think that's a good idea, come to the ag-arts event and vote for us. However, there might be some even better proposals and then you should come and vote for them. Honestly, it's a cool arts fundraiser. for more info - see the bottom of post.

We're planning on doing a burn in our pasture in the next few weeks with the hopes of restoring/establishing some prairie. the time depends on the weather - it'll probably be in the evening. we need some helpers with this, so please call me if you would like to be called when this is happening.

things are starting a little early on the farm, so i wanted to invite anyone to come out and work a little if they were interested. We have a young college student who is doing some volunteer hours out at the farm and he doesn't have a car. if anyone would like to come out to the farm and help out on sat march 24, tuesday the 27, sunay april 1 or tuesday april 3 (all 1-5pm) Kyle needs a ride from ames and is able to pay your gas money.

We have a lot of events and work days on the farm because we love community (we are a community farm) and we think that working together is way more fun than entertainment by yourself. However, we are not fans of using lots of fossil fuels. So we love carpooling and are willing to help you carpool to the farm. Give me a call 515-460-1467 (preferably the day before)

thanks a million, and happy spring

-alice mcg

rough schedule
February
feb 10 – potluck- human trafficking
frost seed clover
start woody herbs and onions
start compiling spring edition of cw farmer
split and restack greenhouse wood
learn more about pruning – help out at hort station
March
March 3? - Pruning of trees, berries, grapes, shrubs –
start many transplants.....
march 9 – nicholas b-day and pot-luck: farm chemicals
clean and “remodel” shed
(march – april) -prairie burn: burn plan and prepare site for burning
Manure collection?
tree work – done!
Remove some more of larry's junk??
shower area garden preparation

April
first 2 weeks of april
first plantings of lettuce, peas, radish, spinach, turnips etc
april 6 – good friday – plant some potatoes
april 7 work day 1-5
third week
plant greens, onions, potato, beets, lettuce, first brassica transplants
april 14 work day 9-12, 1-4

may
may 19th workday 9-12, 1-4, planting tomato, pepper, warm seeded crops
end of may, csa starts

june – first week – plant sweet potato

july 7 – garlic harvest 9-4 workday

september 22 sweet potato harvest – and party?

AgArts presents the 2nd Bi-Annual Local Wonders Potluck Dinner

Contact: Xavier Cavazos - xcavazos@iastate.edu

Friday, March 23rd 6pm at Montebello Bed and Breakfast (directions below)

Enjoy a relaxing evening over food to learn more about the intersection of the arts and agriculture. If you have an idea for an artistic project related to food and agriculture and you want some funding for it, bring your ideas and present them at the dinner! Participants (farmers, students, etc. - NOT just artists) are encouraged to create projects that explore an agricultural/food theme or have a tie to the local community. Voting will take place during the dinner and awards will be given that evening. Interested participants should download and complete an application and bring to it to the Potluck: http://agarts.eserver.org/

Please contribute to Potluck in a creative way! Nancy Levandowski of ISU dining will be there to judge the most artistic food presentation and a prize will be awarded.

Tegan Swanson and Sue Jarnagin will discuss their recent eco-trip to the Yucatan Peninsula working on herbal medicine with a local women's social justice group. Last year's grant winner Jeanie Kirkpatrick will also share info on her apron exhibit. These are just a few ideas. Be creative, have fun, and bring your friends - every vote counts!

Montebello B&B
3535 South 530th Ave.
Ames, IA 50010
The MonteBello B&B Inn is located South of Highway 30 on University Blvd (formerly Elwood Drive), and West of the Highway 69 and Airport Road intersection in Ames, Iowa. It is accessible via the #6 Brown bus, Wessex apartments stop.