http://microecofarming.com/wordpress/?p=742

The owner of the buildings told me I could have free reign of what I did. I sure hope to get some pictures soon, but for now I would encourage you to stop by and check out all the herbs, the volunteer tomato plant, and abundant marigolds.

In addition, I was able to use fertilizers from Nitron, a local organic gardening store to fertilize everything including the shrubs.

I feel so grateful to have this little job, and the owner tells me he is grateful, too!

One of the ways that Fayetteville Grows Local can serve is by helping people start Victory Staple  Gardens comprised of staple crops, and quickly help others to do the same. sp1. We already have two training facilities–Janie Schuman and Mary Lightheart have agreed to host classes and gatherings so that we can learn and practice skills to grow Victory Gardens comprised of staples we can live on.

2. People sign up to have Victory Staple Gardens planted in their yards. For $100 plus minimal expenses of compost, seeds, roots that I have to buy–I will help you and your group prepare, plant, and teach you to maintain and expand a basic victory garden which will contain at least 25 staples that might be able to sustain you in case of emergency, and will definitely be healthy wild and domestic plants which will save you money and enrich  your diet. I am in the process of figuring out minimum and maximum costs for materials.

3. I will work with you to schedule the date of preparing and planting your Victory Staple Garden, and then you can invite friends, neighbors and family members to help.  You can ask for a small donation to defray the expenses, and host a pot luck as well. Garden diggings can be scheduled all summer up until August. The later the garden, the less the food and variety–but you will be ready for next year. People who have spring gardens planted might want to reschedule for fall garden. We are working on 4 season gardening techniques as well.

4. All who attend the garden party will learn and be inspired to get their own planted.  They can then invite their friends so that they can get their garden paid for and inspire others to get a garden dug.

5. The gardens will be adapted for small balconies and patios, as well as larger parcels. If you want a larger amount developed,this will cost extra. We are in the process of determining the size of the plot that we will train on. We will also be planting in nooks and crannies of yards–creating edible landscaping.

5. I am still in the process of determining the plants that will be offered. You can find a list of the ones we will choose from here.

6. I am in the process of identifying people who can duplicate the gardening party facilitation so that if things get busy, lots of people can be teaching. The goal is to have a victory garden feeding every household generously.

7. If you have a community garden plot, you can have a Victory Staples Garden dug and planted in the same manner. If you have friends and/or neighbors willing to let you use their land, you can do the same. There will be a website and other methods set up so that you can find share cropping opportunities.

8. If you want to start a neighborhood sustainable agriculture business, please check out the information here. I would encourage you to grow the staple crops and teach people how to prepare them to eat as well as plant, and store.

9. Other classes that can be offered in addition to the Victory Staples Garden parties are composting, making a worm composter, mushroom growing, food storage, healthy food preparation, and nutrition. They can be offered the same day as the Victory Staple Garden party/class for substantial discount.

Here are some services and skills I am needing right now for people who want to get involved with this project:

1. People to donate to help lower income people have Victory Staple Garden parrties. They will need to invite people to come and pay for the garden, and the money can go to fund another low income family, thus giving this donation a lot of power!

2. People who have root starts, seeds, plants, and knowledge of the staple plants that we are going to grow. I will be starting a forum so that people can add their knowledge of each of the plants.

3. People with trucks who can help haul soil amendments.

4. People who want to fund this operation so that it can move forward quickly. If 20 people paid me $100 in advance for their garden, then I would be free to work full time on this endeavor, with the goal of having everyone who wants a Victory Staples Garden to feed every person in Fayetteville. People who want to be part of a dynamic team who can help spread this far and wide quickly–who are dependable and respectful and knowledgeable.

The following description found at www.communityrootsboulder.com is the most sensible, simple, fast and cooperative way I have found to grow lots of food in Fayetteville or any city that can be accessible to many people.  This is truly a win-win-win situation! I encourage you to check out this website and learn more, and then start your own Neighborhood Supported Agriculture (NSA) Farm. I may be starting one of my own! Here is the excerpt:

Community Roots is founded upon the need for:

• Local, sustainable models of food production
• Creating and strengthening community cooperation
• Utilizing valuable resources within our urban environment

Contrary to common thought, agriculture is not exclusive to rural areas. In fact, using intensive growing techniques, commercial scale vegetable production is possible in urban contexts. Whether by using a single, large urban plot or by piecing together a collection of smaller plots, urban farmers can grow enough produce on under one acre to supply their close community with a great deal of food and themselves with a healthy income. Along with the development of small business and the availability of healthy, local produce, the community benefits through new vigorous interaction and cooperation. It is with these ideals in mind that Community Roots has been created.

Community Roots is based in south Boulder in the Martin Acres neighborhood. With a collection of backyard plots totaling less than one-half acre, we strive to produce enough food to operate a successful community supported agriculture organization that supports our neighborhood and ourselves, and creates motivation towards other local urban agricultural efforts.

The operating principles of this project are very simple: landowners (homeowners, businesses, schools, public lands, churches) offer space for vegetable production. The grower (Community Roots) will develop this land into an intensive, productive micro-farm. Harvested produce will be shared between the landowner and the grower. The grower is free to market their share of the produce, which could be done a number of ways including: farmer’s markets, CSA (community supported agriculture), roadside stands, direct marketing to local restaurants, neighborhood cooperatives, etc… In very basic terms, this is a form of modern day sharecropping!

As desire grows for healthy, locally produced food, and heightened community interaction, we will naturally find ways to utilize our underused natural resources. Community Roots believes that these values are inherent and alive and we’re ready for Boulder to stand behind them. So keep your eyes open for your next neighborhood micro-farm, maybe you can even start your own! Please come to the market, buy local urban produce, get involved….let’s turn boulder into an urban garden and see what kind of city we can grow.

And I, Patricia, say, “Let’s turn fayetteville in to a food secure city where everyone is fed–we can be a model that can be easily duplicated so that next year the same thing can be happening in every city and rural area in the world!” That’s my vision–what is yours?

http://www.sustainabletable.org/home.php

http://www.wikihow.com/Grow-Your-Own-Food

I hope you will write about your successful potato planting experiences here–leave a comment okay?

I have a history of starting businesses that sustain me very quickly. I remember when I started my first business, Music for Life, at age 26 (almost 3 decades ago), I had been a bit reluctant to have my own business. My father had always worked for other people, and I didn’t really experience entrepreneural behaviours in my family.

I guess I had a knack, though. I loved selling the ten cent ice cream social tickets when I was in third, fourth, and fifth grade. I would get a free ticket for every ten I sold, and that really motivated me. I also sold girl scout cookies and candy bars for our band. I recall that I consistently had less money than I was supposed to–so perhaps I did have a bad experience with business that affected me. I was a member of Junior Achievers, and even took micro and macro economics in college.

So back to my first business. I had attended a three week raw food retreat at the Hippocrates Health Institute in Lemon Grove. While I was there I did a self-taught workshop called INSIGHT ON TIME MANAGEMENT by Charles Hobbs. The combination of getting in touch with my values combined with goal setting and creating an action plus the clearing out of physical toxins with a great diet and exercise regime–made fertile ground for me to take a quantum leap and create a job in music.

I started out writing a story about Kristina the Elf, an unsatisfied Santa’s helper who wanted to break out of toy making and make people happy with singing, story telling, cooperative game playing, and movement. Santa ended up supporting Kristina, and the rest is history! I got jobs at shopping malls, business parties, churches, and private home within a month of creating this character and business. I made over a thousand dollars my first month–which back then in the eighties was a lot.

Soon I had all kinds of requests for performing and teaching, including getting paid for singing at convalescent homes, a psychiatric treatment center, school assemblies, children’s parties, and retirement homes. I taught voice, guitar and music to developmentally differently abled adults. Any time anyone asked me to do anything in the realm of music, I said yes, even if I wasn’t sure I could do it. I had never taught developmentally differently abled adults–but I managed to be super successful at it.

When someone suggested that I record some of my songs, I went ahead and figured out how to produce tapes, eventually producing 7 tapes for children an adults. There were no handbooks that I knew of–like HOW TO CREATE A UNIQUE CAREER IN MUSIC FOR DUMMIES.  I gained a lot of confidence by just doing my best at whatever I did, and getting mentors when I could to help me out.

When I moved to Arkansas, it was pretty hard because I didn’t have the time or energy being a mom of a four year old to start a new career in music. But I was a great  mom (and still am) even though I never thought that would be a talent of mine!

The next business I created quickly was a cleaning business. I had tried working for other people for about two years, but found that I really had a hard time working for supervisors who were not respectful or empowering. When someone suggested that I clean houses, where I could make almost twice as much as I was, I decided to go for it. I had great cleaning training in Eureka Springs where I had worked for the pickiest bed and breakfast folks you can imagine. Within a month I had all the jobs I wanted because I networked and focuses.

I gave up my cleaning jobs when I got an inheritance. I needed a break! My next successful business endeavor was organizing. Once I set my mind that I would be a professional organizer. I got nice inflow of rather steady organizing jobs within a few weeks. For about a year I was able to make a living doing mostly organizing.

When the economy started slowing, slowly my jobs dried up.It seemed like people were less ready to part with their money. So I decided to do a gardening business and help people grow vegetable gardens. That seemed like a recession proof job. I liked the idea of working outside, too. And, I could promote something I was passionate about–growing food locally–and get paid for it! Plus, it was a way of helping me get support for my vision–every neighborhood a thriving, self-reliant community.

Within a week of putting up my flier and sending out notices, I had work. It isn’t steady yet–but I am getting more and more interest, and as I get more clear on how to encourage people to grow staples such as sweet potatoes and blue berries, I know I am going to be really successful!

So far, I have dug one bed according to Calvin Bey specifications, prepared a bed for planting by tilling the soil, helped a Janie Schumann start planning the layout of her yard, including where the compost pile will be, pruned 250 blue berry bushes and mulched/weeded another 20.

I consulted with Seajay Crosson about where to put her herbs because she is moving. I will be digging up herbs and helping her prepare soil and replant. I did a one hour consultation with someone about what to do with their garden and gave many valuable ideas for the family to work on. If they have the money, they will hire me to help with the family work party. I picked up straw and plastic for Jamie’s garden so we can mulch the seeds we plant early, covering with plastic to warm the soil and protect with frost.

I am working with Katy of Ozark Backyards in Janie Schuman’s yard to make a model urban homestead from scratch. Mary Lightheart and I are discussing plans to make a model staples garden at her place, and planning to have a weekend of skill sharing and stategic planning for a food secure Fayetteville and NW Arkansas.

One of the tellers at my bank who I hadn’t seen for a while said, “I heard you are doing a gardening business.” Another teller said, “I need your help.”

Lots of people tell me what I am doing is a great idea. People are telling me that they have land they are willing to have people cultivate if I want to do it, or find others who want to.

I am discovering many gardens in the Walker Park area, and I’m planning a garden walk and potluck and wild edible walk in the near future.

I am connecting with the folks who are sponsoring the Community Garden Coalition, and figuring out how I can support them.

It is really funny. I was motivated to start this business because I was passionate about the idea of local food growing–but also because my other work was drying up and I was getting nervous about being able to buy food to eat. Now all kinds of people are calling me about cleaning, organizing, and even painting jobs. I might even work at a White Oak Station near my house where an acquaintance is manager. Or, it might be that my gardening business takes off so much that I have to do it full time! We shall see–I am excited about it all.

stevia- 2nd most nutritious herb known, and stops bleeding and infections topically. an almost unbeatable, easy to grow sweetner that balances blood sugar.
chia- edible greens and seeds…seeds nearly tied for first place with most nutritious food known and a superb donar of extra protein (hemp is #1). omega 3′s far better than the best fish oils.
mediterranian oregano- a great all around spice and hard to beat, growable antimicrobial. for any illness or infection, try juicing oregano and stevia together with some ginger…powerful medicine.
ginger- great tea, food flavoring, digestive aid, intestinal gas expeller, herbal enhancer,and anti-inflamatory (internally and as a poultice).