The days are warming and many of us in the community are out in the garden, pulling winter weeds and getting our spring transplants like lettuce in the ground. It’s great to be in the fresh air engaged in my favorite form of exercise.

This year members of The Farm launch a new Community Garden Project, breaking ground on a plot that will be shared by several families. Most people prefer to have gardens near their homes, but the small cleared spaces we have made in the forest are receiving decreasing amounts of sunlight as the surrounding trees grow taller. The new garden space will also allow beginning and experienced gardeners the opportunity to work together, including participants in our garden apprentice program.

With the slowing of the economy and the rapid increase in food prices, I am personally making a greater effort to grow as much of the food that our

family uses as possible. Moving out to the fields along the Farm’s main road will allow us to expand the number of different crops we grow and give plants like sweet corn, watermelon and cantaloupe the room they need.

Along with my Gardening Workshop on May 15-17, this year apprentices at the Ecovillage Training Center will receive hands-on training and play an active role in the garden project throughout the summer. They’ll gain experience in organic weed and insect control, rotation planting, tips on how to put up food for winter and be able to experience the fruits of their labors!

The apprenticeship revolves around a weekly rotation visiting three to five farmers and gardeners, including permaculturalist and biodynamic growers.

Field trips to the surrounding community, farms, towns, and cities provide space to gather information and stories. Come sing, clown, dig, sew seed, harvest, design and transform!

Grow Your Garden Now! May 15 -17 - http://ourorganicgarden.com Douglas@villagemedia.com

Apprenticeships - http://www.thefarm.org/etc/appfaq.html