Saturday, May 20th. CFAC is pleased to announce a collaboration with local farmers, which will result in 4 workshops that will provide practical learning and hands on experience in targeted areas.
Mark your calendars for May 20, 2017. While most farmers are slammed with work in May, several local growers are open to hosting workshops to teach practical aspects of their crops and to help with work on their farms. Volunteers can get back to their roots, commune with nature learn something useful and enjoy giving aid to some fine Montana farmers. This is a learning opportunity for the whole family. If you are interested, please contact your chosen farmer(s) and explore this adventure for a fun Saturday. Kids are welcome with parental supervision. Please no pets, as many of the farms have livestock and poultry. A $10 donation for each adult is recommended.
Flowers, Greenhouses
Harts Garden and Nursery Phone: 396-8245
Address: 4405 North Ave West, Missoula Time: 2:00 pm- when finished
Harts Garden and Nursery grows flowers, herbs, and (new this year), bedding plants. Marcia and George Hart grow commercial quantities of dahlias, ranunculus, tulips, delphiniums, peonies, lilies, daffodils, echinacae, iris, baptista, and some annual crops such as zinnias, celosia, pumpkin on a stick; along with a variety of non GMO produce and culinary herbs. See them at the Clark Fork River Market, stop by their farm, or call them to learn about their flower CSA program and other available flowers, herbs and produce.
Your time will be spent planting, transplanting, weeding, cultivating, general clean-up and eating pizza. Marcia and George will provide information about greenhouses, hoophouses, flower farming, marketing, and farm management. Call ahead or e-mail mghart@bresnan.net to reserve a place for you and your family to enjoy an afternoon on the farm.
Organic Crops, Vegetables & Animal Husbandry
Turner Farms Phone: 544-6600
Address: 606 Stallion Ln, Missoula Time: 10 am to 4 pm
Turner Farms is a local organic vegetable farm in the Orchard Homes’ neighborhood. With the diminishment of farms in Missoula, the Turners have made it their mission to open their farm to the community so kids know what local food tastes like, and what a farm looks (and smells) like! During the growing season, they offer CSA programs, sell at the Orchard Homes’ Farmers’ Market and also directly from the farm. Along with their vegetables, they also raise chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, goats, pigs, cows and sheep.
Erin and Jon Turner will provide information on raising chickens, weed management, small acreage farming and much more. Projects on May 20th will include prepping gardens, planting crops, animal pen maintenance, general farm chores, weeding and maybe chasing a goat or two! Participants are welcome to sign up for a block of time, or the whole day! And there will be food at noon. Please call or email turnerfarms406@gmail.com . Learn more about the farm from our website: www.turnerfarms406.com .
Apples & Raspberries
Green Bench Orchard Phone: 549-9017
Address: 4701 South Ave. West, Missoula Time: 10 am to 2 pm
Green Bench Orchard produces apples and raspberries using organic practices for U-PICK sales in the Missoula area. Fred Stewart will offer observations and insights into their selection of varieties and methods for apples and raspberries in their orchard. There are up to 6 slots for participants to help prepare and plant several areas in the orchard for native plants for pollinator insects. A pizza snack will be provided. Call ahead and reserve a slot for an outing at the orchard. Be sure to wear sturdy shoes, have sun protection and bring work gloves if you have them.
Berries, Fruit Trees, Vegetable Crops & Chickens
Red Hen Farm and Orchard Phone: 240-3813
Address: 3803 Spurgin Road, Missoula Time: 10 am to 3 pm
Red Hen Farm and Orchard is currently producing U-Pick strawberries, raspberries, peaches, apples, sweet corn, pumpkins, tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs and cut flowers. They offer a fruit, vegetable and egg CSA, as well as, Friday Farmer’s Market at their farm every Friday. No chemicals are used on their crops, so what you see is what you get, fresh and healthy fruit and vegetables that can be eaten right away. Find them online at redhenfarm.net or on Facebook @MontanaRedHenFarm.
Greg and Julie Peters will instruct participants about holistic orchard practices, raising strawberries and raspberries, and will answer questions about other crops as well. The work on May 20th will include planting out newly grafted apple trees, thinning raspberry rows, seeding flats in the greenhouse, and mulching orchard trees. Food and beverages will be served at noon.
We hope to see you there support our local farmers and learning new things. To sign up for one of these workshops, use the contact information listed in each section to do so. Happy Farming!
Leave a Reply