Monday, 14 February 2011 10:18

Hello everyone! This is Steven writing--farm manager for the Fondy Farm Project. I am both excited and honored to join the folks here at the Fondy Food Center. Born and raised on the North side of Racine, it feels good to be close to home and near the lake. This is the first entry of "Fresh from the Field," and this is the first blog I have ever written--new territory for me, so I humbly ask for your patience...

This will be the inaugural year for the Fondy Farm Project. We have five farmers signed up for this season, all of whom have sold at the Fondy Farmers Market for several years. They are excited about having a tractor and irrigation this year--and eager for the weather to warm so they can get food growing for you.

Planning for the season has begun! I have met several times with the farmers involved in the project, and they have shared their time, insight, and enthusiasms in envisioning what the farm will look and feel like. Many of them have begun ordering seeds.

I've been working hard on developing an irrigation system flexible and powerful enough for us (at an affordable price), researching tractors and implements that will best suit the farm, creating an inventory of what is needed, and planning a cover crop rotation and schedule. An example garden, farm manual, and training materials focused on record keeping and production are also in the mix.

On February 4th and 5th, Jenni (Fondy Market Manager), four Milwaukee-area farmers, and I attended the 6th Annual Immigrant and Minority Farming Conference in St. Paul. We learned a lot from the presentations, shared good conversation with other farmers and farm-supporting organizations, and the farmers won a garden hoe, rubber bands, and harvest crate during the raffle!

More meetings, more planning, and more preparation are in store for the near future. I get antsy looking at the computer so much, but I know how essential all this planning will be come August when the farmers and I are up to our ears in tomatoes to pick and greens to weed.

I look forward to meeting more folks involved in the Milwaukee Local Food Movement, addressing the needs of our farmers, and working hard with the farmers and Fondy to produce the most delicious food you have ever tasted. Stop by for this season's Opening Day Celebration on June 25th and check us out!