HWS Fribolin Farm

Many things in life are in a stand still, pause, or no longer. However, gardens are being created and farms are tending their fields and animals to ensure we have nourishment. Consider making and donating masks, as we did, to your local farmworkers.

Just Plant It: COVID-19 Victory Garden Series Coming May 1, 2020

In the spirit of the World War I and II era Victory Gardens Cornell Cooperative Extension, Ontario County is offering a free online gardening course series that starts May 1st and continues throughout the gardening season. Our goal is to help you become more self-sufficient and better gardeners. Gardening provides more than food for the table. It gets you outside for some fresh air and exercise, and allows you to turn your mind off about the pandemic for a while. There are numerous studies that show gardening reduces blood pressure, depression and anxiety, helps the immune system better ward off disease and improves self-confidence and self-worth. Gardening reconnects you to the soil and the spirits that it holds. Like magic you cross into a different world when you enter your garden. Gardening also provides an opportunity for science exploration for youth and adults. Learn interesting concepts such as: Why after you plant a seed the roots go down and the stem and leaves come up? Do pole beans always grow and climb in a clockwise fashion? Will melons planted next to cucumbers taste like cucumbers? What country did the potato originate from? Do purple carrots taste better than orange carrots?

There is much to learn in a garden and it need not be all work, for there is fun to be had as well. Some friendly competition might be in order. Like who grew the biggest beet, who had the first ripe tomato or who had the tallest sunflower?

Whether you are a beginner or a more experienced gardener (youth or adult) you are sure to find this course series helpful. We will be covering a wide range of topics such as garden site selection, soil preparation and fertility, raised beds and container gardening, vegetable selection, planting plan design, when and how to plant, succession planting, w**d management options, strategies for watering, insect and disease pests and options in managing them, harvest tips, composting and more.

Through this course series you will have direct access to our gardening specialist and Homes and Grounds educator, Russell Welser. Throughout the growing season he will help you with any problems you may encounter and answer any of your questions. He will be providing helpful growing tips throughout the gardening season.

So come join us in the spirit of past Victory Gardens by planting your own COVID-19 Victory Garden. To register email [email protected] with your name, address and phone number. You can register even after the May 1, 2020 start time.

If you are not interested in a course series but would like some gardening resources check out our gardening page on our website at www.cceontario.org. You can also contact Russell Welser, [email protected] with your gardening questions year round.

The 'Wake The Farm' Alternative Spring Break trips took place before we had a campus farm! Of the ~16 participants, at least three became grower/farm entrepreneurs after college! Some of the content, stories, instructions, and recipes written by Sarah Meyer and students may be helpful now to many people living, or wanting to live, more self-suffiently.

Finger Lakes Institute's Wake The Farm Alternative Spring Break Reflections of farming, self sufficiency, food discovery, and culinary confidence

Making gardens accessible and inclusive important to Master Gardener Stephen Cantu is a Master Gardener with the Master Gardener Association of San Diego County