Reflecting on our First Season of Field Notes
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"Service. Resilience. Innovation. Love. Each one of these Field Notes gatherings has revealed a profound legacy of a Black ancestor and a lesson to carry us through life. I am so grateful to them and trust that you are too. Stay tuned for season two."
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Our final dinner of the year, hosted at HEX Superette, celebrated the life and legacy of Abby Fisher. Pictured above are our guests, dinner menu by Chef Cieara Adams and our speaker Deb Freeman. Photos by Denzel Mitchell III
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On Sunday, we hosted our fourth and final dinner of the year in our Field Notes: Dinner and Dialogues series. Each dinner has been a unique and immersive experience that’s focused on a particular food we enjoy today thanks to the incredible work of a Black ancestor.
Our first dinner celebrated regenerative farming pioneer George Washington Carver whose outstanding peanut innovations and dedication to the land reminded us that growing food is about being in service to the earth. At our second gathering, New York City oyster king and abolitionist Thomas Downing Jr. taught us about resilience and the importance of mastering your craft. Our third dinner highlighted the brilliant mind of Norbert Rillieux, whose innovative chemical engineering revolutionized sugar processing and made the lives of millions of others beyond him easier.
Our final dinner honored Abby Fisher. Born on a South Carolina plantation, she journeyed to California and became the first Black woman west of the Mississippi to write a cookbook. A true labor of love, she catalogued more 150 recipes accumulated over 3 decades to share with others.
We look forward to continuing Field Notes in the years to come. We not only raised funds for the Farm Alliance, but also educated and inspired attendees to think more deeply about the origins of their food and the people behind it.
A huge thank you to EVERYONE who made this series possible.
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Photos courtesy of The National Field School Conference
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While work on the farm has begun to slow down, the farm team has been busy focusing on professional development. In the past month they have traveled to 3 farmer conferences! First up was The Black Farmers and Urban Gardeners Conference (lovingly called the Black farmer family reunion) in Philadelphia. It was a beautiful time to connect with Black urban growers from across the country and hear from the amazing keynote speakers, Dr. Marc Lamont Hill, Gabrielle Eitienne and Michael Twitty. We were also able to do some regional organizing with other Black and Brown led organizations and farms in the Mid Atlantic. The event was incredibly educational, inspiring, informative and ended with an epic dance party!
Next we traveled to Kansas city to attend The National Field School Conference organized by the New Entry Sustainable Farming Project and the National Incubator Farm Training Initiative (NIFTI). We visited five training farms within and around the Kansas City metro area, where we had the opportunity to connect with fellow incubator programs from nearly every U.S. state. During the conference, we established connections with organizations representing all corners of the country. Engaging in breakout sessions, goal-setting discussions, and fundraising prospects, we found ourselves in peer-to-peer exchanges with other training programs, gaining valuable insights into their successful approaches. This marked our second consecutive year attending this conference, which offers a comprehensive outlook on farm incubator programs, and is helping us shape the development of our own Black Butterfly Teaching Farm.
Finally, Farmer Myeasha attended and spoke at the UMES Small Farms Conference which empowers farmers and landowners in Maryland and throughout the Delmarva Peninsula by providing them with the tools and strategies necessary to enhance farm profitability and foster long-term farm sustainability. And this is just the beginning of conference season for farmers. Stay tuned for even more updates!
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- Hillen Homestead Annual Cookout & Tulip Planting
Sunday November 12th, 10am - 1pm at Hillen Homestead, 1913 E. 28th Street. Learn how we plant 12,000 tulips in one day, spread some compost and help us tuck in the garden for the winter. Planting will be followed by a free neighborhood cookout with veggie and meat options. Come to volunteer or come to eat lunch -- or both! Kids are welcome. Please bring gloves, water bottle, and close-toed shoes. Note there's no bathroom on site. Email maya@hillenhomestead.com to RSVP
- The 6th Branch The Hoe Down, End of Season Celebration
Friday, November 17th, 6pm - 8pm at Peabody Heights Brewery, 401 E. 30th St. Get tickets here
- Day 1 Supply Micro Greens Holiday Sale
2 for the price of 1, $5, 4oz container. Varieties: Kale, broccoli, radish, arugula, sunflower and pea shoots. Order online here
- Registration for winter and spring horticulture classes offered at CCBC is now open. View the schedule here: Spring 2024 classes . There are scholarships available for some classes! Please contact Program Director Dr. Bradley Thompson with questions, bthompson3@ccbcmd.edu 443-840-3754. For help with registration, contact Winny Tan in the CCBC Sustainable Horticulture office: 443-840-3787, wtan@ccbcmd.edu
- Ag and Environmental Law Conference
November 16th 2023 in Annapolis, MD
- 17th Annual Pesticides & the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Conference December 1st and 14th 2023 (virtual) Register here
- Maryland Agritourism Conference 2023 hosted by UMES Extension December 10th, 2023 Cambridge, MD
- PASA Sustainable Agriculture Conference
February 8th-10th 2024 in Lancaster, PA
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As the end of year draws near we're busy crunching numbers and evaluating the season's successes. We're thrilled to report a 15% increase in sales at our stand at the 32nd Street Waverly Farmers Market! This achievement wouldn't have been possible without the unwavering support of our loyal customers, our hard working farmers and the exceptional leadership of our market staff, Saj Dillard. Thank you for supporting Baltimore's urban farms!
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This year we had a total of 20 Field Days and Classes with a total of 321 attendees! Our members, beginner farmers, & the public participated in our diverse series of educational workshops. Featuring 14 guest speakers from our network, topics ranged from beekeeping to small engine repair to composting.
We're so grateful to all our hosts and partners for sharing their expertise with our wonderful attendees. Thank you to: Greg Strella, Baltimore Green Space, The Office of Sustainability, DHCD, Marvin Hayes, Baltimore Compost Collective, Maria E. Cramer, Maya Kosok, Hillen Homestead, Ted Martello, The Baltimore Orchard Project, Future Harvest, ECO City Farms, Maren Blohm, Shane LaBrake, Crystal Forman, Kimberly Raikes, Marc James, The Chesapeake Produce Safety Education Project, Lavette & Warren Blue, The Greener Garden, Nazirahk Amen, Purple Mountain Organics & Tools, Christy & Connor, Kitchen Girl Farm, Charles De Barber, Filbert Street Garden, Kiah Gibian, Our Time Kitchen, Shauna Henley, University of Maryland Extension, Kenya Miles, Blue Light Junction and Dana Rushovich, State Agronomist NRCS.
If you attended any of our classes or field days this season we'd appreciate your feedback so we can continue improving our logistics and content. Please fill out this quick survey and let us know your thoughts. We are looking forward to organizing next years events!
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Our online merch store is back and stocked with new designs by Motion Athletics. From beanies, shirts and sweatshirts to one of a kind naturally dyed napkins and fish pepper hot sauce, we're sure to have something for you, or a gift for a loved one. All proceeds support our work and you will too when you step into a room wearing one of our designs! Order today for pickup from our offices in Remington.
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