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Groundswell's monthly newsletter about food and farming in the Finger Lakes.
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From the Director


This month, our Incubator Farm Advisory Team met for its quarterly meeting. The main topic of discussion was the direction and focus of the farm for 2017, and beyond. With the program's first farmer ready to 'graduate' from the Incubator at the end of this year and run his farm business from acquired land, we will have open farm space available to offer to other aspiring farmers. We discussed the Incubator's needs, what's working well and where can we improve and the recruitment strategy that supports our mission and goals. 

To this end, the team agreed to reaffirm our commitment to refugee and New American farmers and to focus recruitment on working within these communities. Already, the majority the "Incubee" farmers are from these communities and we have strengthened our relationship with Ithaca Welcomes Refugees to be able to most effectively support these people. Next season, one of the two empty plots will be cultivated by a refugee from Iraq.  In the fall, we will visit ESL classes to share specifically designed materials about the Incubator Farm and we are currently re-designing the Incubator Farm section of our website and curriculum so it's more accessible to refugee and New American aspiring farmers.

The Incubator Farm is a crucial aspect of our core programming. We are excited to to support the programs first "graduate" and for the direction the Farm has taken. We invite you to follow our progress at the Incubator both in our newsletter and on our blog. 

Warmly,
Elizabeth Gabriel
Director

Programming Spotlight


Grazing & Pastures
Hay: An Integral Part of All Pasture Farms

Monday, August 15 • 5pm – 8pm • $45
Hay is crucial part of all grazing operations to get through the non-grazing months in the Northeast. Understand what goes into making hay, managing a hay stand, and how to evaluate the nutritional content and palatability of your hay whether your purchase it or make it yourself.
LEARN MORE/REGISTER
 

Homestead Farmer & Gardener Network Tour: Lee/Merwin Homestead

Sunday, August 28 • 3:30pm – 5:30pm • $10 or FREE for Members
Join us in Freeville to learn more about the Lee/Merwin homestead. Tour and discussion will be held from 3:30-5:30.
LEARN MORE/REGISTER
 

 

Lessons from the Land

Submission Deadline Approaching


In collaboration with Cornell Small Farms, Groundswell has launched a regular column titled "Lessons from the Land" which will appear in the Cornell Small Farm Quarterly and on Groundswell's blog, newsletter and website. The first topic is timelyWater: Woes & TriumphsThe submission deadline is Friday, August 12.
 

Water: Woes & Triumphs

To submit a story or read submission guidelines click here
 
We post Groundswell events as well as events hosted by our partner farms, members, and collaborating organizations and businesses. If you would like to submit an event to add to our calendar, please click here.
Go to Calendar
 

SUPPORT OUR AUCTION!

Recently, you may have received an email from us asking you do donate to our PIG-N-PINTS Silent Auction. Please consider making your donation by AUGUST 26 so we can be sure to acknowledge you in all of our auction materials.
THANK YOU!
Donate to the Auction


Shoshana Perrey

Owner & Chef, Liberation Supper Club

Inspiring Answers
Read more about Shoshana and all of her questions and answers on our blog.

If you could go back and tell your 18-year-old self one thing, what would it be?

Seek happiness, positive motivation and practice daily what helps your skills grow - you're likely to get really good at what you practice. Oh, and, pick up an instrument and start playing now! Music is one of the best languages you'll ever learn.

Are you an early bird or a night owl? What time of the day do you feel the most energetic and what do you usually do in those moments?

I'm a night owl, but I feel very energetic about a half-hour after I awake and I like to meditate, make love and do yoga in these moments.

What is something you love to make? 

I love to make connections between people, especially through interpersonal and historical meanings of food and sensory experience. To that end, I love to nourish people with food that satisfies their souls.


Instant Inspiration introduces you to an eclectic array of folks in our area connected with food and farming. We hope you find them and their work inspiring!  Contact us if you'd like to be featured!
Read More
Summer growing season is in full swing at the incubator farm. Even with the severe drought in the region, farmers are faring pretty well using irrigation and seeing less pest destruction than in other wetter years. 



(above) Paw works on trellising for his yellow cucumbers.

Incubator Farmers also take part in several training sessions and farm visits throughout the summer. On July 16 we held an Equipment Maintenance and Usage training where Incubator Farm Manager Devon and Mentor Farmer Dean reviewed usage and maintenance of items including the weed whacker, BCS tractor and hand tools. 

On July 30 we travelled to Three Stone Farm in Trumansburg to learn how farmers Roger and Youngihee operate their 60 acre diversified farm. Roger discussed drainage tiles and how they help fields drain, crop rotation and selection, soil quality and scale of production. 



Roger, owner of Three Stone Farm, discusses soil types with Incubator Farmers 

The Incubator Farmers will make one more visit to Muddy Fingers Farm on August 13, before harvest season begins!
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