Fwd: Newark SAS & 3BEEZ Program Urban Farming Day
Alinkage APS
Purpose
This program aims to facilitate hands-on
learning of agriculture in an urban environment to help local youth better
understand plant cultivation and encourage awareness of their personal
relationship with nature.
When
Saturday, April 20, 2013 (9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.)
Rain date: Saturday, Apil 27, 2013 (9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p..m.)
Location
112-114 South 8th Street on the corner of 11th Avenue, Newark, NJ 07102
What to bring
- Your community spirit;
- Gloves and gardening tools such as rakes, shovels, etc.;
- Food and beverage donations are appreciated (fruit, salad, sandwiches, etc.); and
- Sturdy comfortable outdoor footwear.
What to expect
- Create several raised beds and fill them with soil to grow plants;
- Create a sitting bench;
- Plant produce (seeds/plants) into raised beds and flowers (seeds/plants) throughout the garden;
- Spread wood chips/mulch throughout the area.
Tentative Itinerary
9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.: Meet and greet in the hoop house. We'll use 30 to 45 minutes to basically meet all those who will be attending.
9:45 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.: Give an introduction as to why we're here and what we will do and what we'll be learning.
10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.: The day's activities.
1. Give a complete tour of the space and discuss the layout--what it was when urban farmer Carla Green first arrived and how it has transformed.
2. Go through the process of what causes a plant to grow.
a. Soil -- Why is soil important and what should one look for regarding soil?
b. Light (sun) -- Why is this important and what should one know when growing plants outdoors and how does this differ from growing plants indoors.
c. Water -- Why is this important and is there anything one should know about water and watering plants?
3. Composting -- What is this and why is it important?
4. Mulch – What is it and its benefits.
5. The significance of bugs. What bugs are beneficial and what bugs are harmful to the soil and plant?
6. Ecological Construction -- What is this and how can it be used in our local communities?
a. Discuss the plan to construct a shed. Why and what will it be used for and what's needed to complete this project?
b. Construct a bench and raised beds.
7. Planting and plant identification
8. 2:30 p.m.: Wrapping up. Review what we've accomplished and what was learned.
Tobias A. Fox
Newark Science and Sustainability [SAS]
SAS Organizer
Cell: 646-399-0337