Handicapped Accessible Plot in Fairfield Community Garden to be Dedicated Today, Friday, May 4 at 4pm

Friday, May 4 -- A dedication ceremony will take place today at 4pm at Fairfield Community Garden, recognizing the completion of a handicapped accessible garden to be used by The Kennedy Center and elderly residents of the Parish Court senior housing complex across the street from the Garden. The Garden is located on Warde Terrace, in Fairfield.

Creation of the new plot was led by Eric Friske, the Garden's managing gardener and a recipient of the Hummingbird Award given to him by the Fairfield Organic Teaching Farm. Friske already uses a portion of the garden to raise food for Fairfield's Operation Hope organization, aiding the homeless and needy. He also uses the gardens for teaching purposes, leading groups of young people in vegetable garden growing.

Friske received a grant that enabled construction of raised vegetable gardens in the Community plot for use by The Kennedy Center and Parish Court residents. Construction began a week ago and completion is scheduled for today, with the aid of local Girl Scouts, who will fill the raised beds.

An additional Eagle Scout project, led by Fairfielder Nick Anagnost, incorporating a 16x4 foot compost bin, is expected to be completed within the next week or two.

Herb Gardening Talk at Fairfield Woods Library Sat. April 14

Gene Banks, owner of Catnip Acres Herb Nursery, will present a program focused on the Joys of Herb Gardening, at the Fairfield Public Library Woods Branch, 1147 Fairfield Woods Road, on Saturday, April 14, 10:30 am.

Banks has a strong passion for the plant kingdom. She loves sharing her gardening and herb knowledge, and inspiring others to develop their own passion for all things natural. She will discuss how to choose a site, prepare the bed, and decide what to grow. Do you want a formal, culinary, fragrant, medicinal, colorful or “simple” garden? Words cannot describe the flavors that come only when cooking with fresh cut herbs and how they enhance your culinary adventures.  Growing herbs is easy to do.

All programs at the Fairfield Public Library are free of charge. For more information and to register for this event call 203-255-7308, or visit www.fairfieldpubliclibray.org . 

Westport's Wakeman Town Farm Offers Seed to Harvest Workshop Sat. April 14

With the garden planned, it’s time to get outdoors and prepare the garden for planting.  The second of Wakeman Town Farm’s ‘Seed to Harvest’ workshops, scheduled for this Saturday, April 14, 9am to Noon, will cover everything you need to know to do just that.  A garden is only as good as its soil, so instructor Mike Aikenhead will cover the basics of good soil quality, along with soil testing.  In addition, he’ll walk you through the construction of a framed raised bed, the most practical backyard gardening type, and even show you some tricks for extending your growing season by weeks or even months!  To wrap things up, the day wouldn’t be complete without doing some actual planting,  so you’ll get a chance to help plant the first seeds and seedlings of the season at the Wakeman Town Farm.

Register early, as space is limited. Save $5 and register online! Please click here: 

http://www.westportct.gov/

Visit the Wakeman Town Farm website or call 203 557-9195 for more information.

Fee: $30 (On-site registration is $35)

Sport Hill Farm Offers Seed Sowing 101 Program Sat. March 31

Spring is here and now is the perfect time to begin those seedlings for a healthy, delicious & bountiful harvest. Head up to Easton's Sport Hill Farm Saturday, March 31, from 2pm to 3:30pm, for "Seed Sowing 101". Learn how to start your tomatoes, lettuce, kale, onions and basil seeds -- a great variety if this is your first attempt at a small garden.

Leading the program is Shira Friedman, an experienced and passionate gardener. After leaving the corporate world behind to stay home with her two small children, Shira returned to school to study Gardening and Horticulture at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. Completing her training in 2008, Shira has designed and cultivated vegetable and ornamental gardens for private residences, commercial sites, and community gardens. Shira's greatest joy in the garden is teaching new gardeners to grow their own food, and take care of plants in their landscape using organic methods. You can also find her blogging at www.inmygardencountryedition.com.

All materials/seeds included to take home & germinate. $20 pp - (1) child may be accompanied with an adult for n/c. Pre-payment is required. Space is limited. Pass it on!