HIGH TUNNEL After a long and checkered history, this facility is finding its highest use producing onions, carrots, strawberries, eggplants, peppers, beets and tomatoes as companion plants, along with alyssum flowers whose sweet fragrance attracts bees and ladybugs. The strings attached to the rafters allow crops to grow vertically for high-volume harvests nourished by regenerative no-till cultivation methods, including cover cropping, cardboard mulching and surface composting, which enrich rather than disturb soil microbial activity. The High Tunnel forms part of a Carbon Farming Practices (CFP) study carried out in collaboration with the Coastal San Luis Resource Conservation District and the City of SLO. |
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Youth Empowerment Program students took part in a hands-on Tree Grafting Workshop presented by Joe Sabol and members of the California Rare Fruit Growers during their May 15 four-hour session at City Farm. So far, classes have covered the basics of farming and organic ag, field safety, and irrigation (in addition to a myriad of life-skill building workshops!) |
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On May 8, students planted their own transplants, laid down sprinkler and drip irrigation, harvested other crops, and planted seeds. THEN they took a field trip to see our friends at The SLO Food Bank for insight on the ins and outs of food banking, and to learn where their produce is going (more on this to come...) **We are now accepting applications for our Summer YEP Session. Learn more and apply at the link below.** |
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JUNE 9 - PRODUCE COOLER GRAND OPENING |
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Join us at our Pop-Up Farmers' Market to celebrate the grand opening of the Coolbot Produce Cooler on Wednesday, June 9th from 4 - 6 PM. Concluding a year-long Cal Poly senior project, volunteer Construction Management Major Connor Morinini, assisted by Farm Manager Shane Lovell, flip the switch on the Coolbot Produce Cooler. It will allow City Farmers to store vegetables for sale at a new Farm Stand and elsewhere. Save the date and please stop by to take home some goodies. This project could not have been accomplished without the generous technical and financial support of Thoma Electric. |
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Welcome to Kent Bailey (left) and partner Paula, who will grow Peruvian Apple Cactus, Passion Fruit and other exotic perennial crops along with heirloom vegetables on their parcel "to showcase responsible, small scale, and second-prototype regenerative agricultural systems with the intention of marketability and addressing hunger facing at-risk communities." And welcome to Katy Heil and partner Eric, certified in Korean Natural Farming (KNF) and Permaculture Design, who will grow vegetables using these techniques to promote fertility and soil health and offer education about them to the public. |
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Tucker is a Suffolk cross that was bred and raised to be shown at the fair... but due to COVID-19 and fair cancellations, he wound up with us instead!. This fluffy wether will be sheared for wool by students, like the rest of our herd. He’s also halter-trained and docile, which makes him popular with the kiddos. Here, a student at our subtenant, Mariposa Education, offers him an alfalfa treat during their Mayday Maypole dance festival. |
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ANNUAL REPORT TO SLO CITY COUNCIL |
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Associate Director Kayla Rutland presented our annual milestone report to the City Council at their May 18 meeting via Zoom. It included a presentation of the promotional video produced last fall and updates. Watch the presentation here, minutes 23:45-33:00. |
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There are many ways to volunteer with us! Join our volunteer email list to receive invites and updates. Starting in June, we will host weekly Harvest Days from 9 AM - Noon. Visit our website for more information and to sign up! | | |
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For the whole story in pictures, check out our Flickr site and or our Instagram feed. City Farm News monthly newsletter is archived here. |
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