Renaissance Polyculture Farm hosts 3rd Annual 4-Weekend Plant Sale

Starting Saturday, April 21, 2012 and running the next 3 weekends (through Mothers’ Day weekend), from 9am to 5pm, Renaissance Polyculture Farm will host its 3rd Annual Plant Sale.

This event offers a chance to select high quality locally-grown plants while visiting with the growers, leaders in the field of permaculture.

Saturday April 21: Monroe County Master Gardener Association Annual Garden Fair

Harriet Kulis and Emilie Schwen at the Bloomington Garden Club table at Garden Fair 2011.

The Monroe County Master Gardener Association Annual Garden Fair is 9am to 4pm on Saturday, April 21, at the Indiana National Guard Armory, 3380 S. Walnut St., Bloomington, Indiana.

There will be more than 35 vendors of lawn and garden products and services. Lunch and snacks will be available at Garden Thyme Cafe. You’ll find door prizes, handicapped accessible parking, free parking, and free educational programs, too.

9am — Preventing Pain and Injury while Gardening

10am — Protecting Trees from Emerald Ash Borer

12:30pm — Shrubs and Woody Vines

2pm — Identifying Shrubs and Woody Vines

Proceeds fund grants to a variety of community gardening projects. Entry fee $2, children younger than 12 are free. Contact the Monroe County Extension Services Office at 812-349-2575 for more information.

Middle Way House seeks rooftop garden interns

Middle Way House is looking for dedicated people to take part in a summer internship. The MWH Rooftop Garden initiative is looking for people with interest in and experience with gardening, vermiculture, sustainability, urban agriculture, bookkeeping, site and demonstration design, construction, child education, photography, and journalism. Anyone with a desire to learn about this project, and about rooftop gardening in general, is encouraged to apply.

The unpaid internships will require approximately 5-7 hours each week. The dates for summer work are May 7 to August 27. Please contact Garden Coordinator, Ricca Macklin, by email at richmack[at]indana[dot]edu to discuss this opportunity.

“Establishing a Local Food Hub in Bloomington” at GDB on April 25

Jodee Ellett of Gener8 Farm

On Wednesday, April 25 at 6 pm, Jodee Ellett and Megan Hutchison of the Local Growers Guild will give a presentation entitled “Establishing a Local Food Hub in Bloomington.”

This half-hour talk is part of a monthly meeting of Green Drinks Bloomington, a social gathering on the fourth Wednesday of most months that takes place at the banquet facility of Upland Brewing Company.

For many reasons, access to quality local food is one of the most important issues communities will need to solve in the coming years. For an individual consumer in Bloomington access is excellent, but what is the long term goal  for a sustainable food distribution program? What are the obstacles toward reaching this goal and how can we overcome them? The Local Growers Guild has studied these questions in depth and has now begun a grassroots distribution project.

Megan Hutchison, Guild Manager of the Local Growers' Guild

 A special thank you to Bloomingfoods for sponsoring this April 2012 meeting of Green Drinks Bloomington.

There’s a $5 suggested donation, with food catered by Upland Brewing Company. This donation makes it possible for Green Drinks Bloomington to bring together people from all walks of life who are interested in making a greener world. Beer and wine will be available to those over 21, with identification required.

For more information about GDB, contact Marcia Veldman at 812-988-4956 or marciaveldman[at]gmail[dot]com.

Fields of Agape profile in Edible Indy magazine

Fields of Agape, a cooperative farm near Carthage, Indiana, was recently featured in an article by Erica Sagon in the magazine Edible Indy. We’ve written about Fields of Agape before, when their beans were used in a local foods chili at the 2012 Super Bowl.

Located 40 miles East of Indianapolis, the farm is owned by Anna and Keith Welch. They partner with neighbor Judith Avery (from nearby Henry County) and Patty Reding of Langeland Farms.

Tim Shutt, owner of Hanover Grist Mill in Morrison, grinds Fields of Agape’s cornmeal and flour. The Welches lease space at a historic lumber mill in Carthage, owned by Anna’s sister. They keep their grain cleaner there, along with commercial kitchen equipment to package their goods. Their hands-on approach to all dimensions of their business is indicative of the care they take with their products.

Fields of Agape’s certified organic beans, flax seeds, wheat, and popcorn are carried by at LGG retailer member Bloomingfoods. They are also available at Pogue’s Run Grocer and Good Earth in Indianapolis, at the Indy Winter Farmers’ Market, and the Green Market at Traders Point Creamery.

You’ll find a recipe from Anna Welch at the Edible Indy website, too—for Bernie’s Wheat Bran Muffins.

You’ll also find a short profile of Vanessa Caruso in the spring issue of Edible Indy. Vanessa recently retired as Guild Manager of the Local Growers’ Guild, accepting a position as Draft Animal Manager at Turner Farm in Cincinnati, Ohio. Megan Hutchison has been appointed as our new Guild Manager. Congratulations to them both!