Field Notes Dinner & Dialogue Series:
The Chocolate Edition
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In the top photo, dinner guests gather; bottom right captures Jinji Fraser treating a guest to her exquisite drinking chocolate, while bottom left showcases a dessert plate with delectable treats.
📸 Photos courtesy of Denzel Mitchell III.
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On March 17th, we took Field Notes to the Hampden neighborhood to enjoy cacao in all its various forms and celebrate the legacy and craftsmanship of Caesar the Chocolatemaker. good neighbor graciously hosted us, allowing us to utilize their courtyard and design garage for the evening. It was a delightful gathering filled with music, culinary delights, laughter, cocktails, art, and stimulating conversation.
Dre Barnhill (Bar Clavel) amazed us with four distinct cocktails, while Chef Rosalyn Vera (Cocina Luchadoras) presented a fantastic menu, highlighted by the unforgettable barbacoa served on cacao-infused tortillas. Jinji Fraser (Jinji Chocolate) brought the evening to a close with not one, not two, but four delectable desserts, including a drinking chocolate paying homage to our esteemed ancestor. Artists Pierre Bennu, Kenya Miles, and Michelle Lorentzen shared their remarkable pieces for auction, adding to the vibrant atmosphere of the evening.
We extend our deepest gratitude to all the supporters, entrepreneurs, volunteers, sponsors, artists, professionals, and attendees whose contributions ensured the success of "Field Notes: The Chocolate Edition." Thank you, thank you, thank you! We can't wait to see you all at the next one!
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FAB staff, board, and members enjoy their new Farm Alliance bandanas and a game of bingo!
📸 Photos courtesy of Shae McCoy.
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We held our annual member social, celebrating the arrival of spring on Tuesday, March 26th at the beautiful space of Local Color Flowers in Waverly! Delicious pizza, refreshing drinks, lively BINGO, and gifted bandanas were all part of the celebration. (You can snag a bandana for yourself through our merch store)
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all who attended. It was wonderful to see everyone and hear about your hopes and expectations for the season ahead. Our network is truly blessed with such a special and supportive membership!
Special thanks to Shae McCoy for capturing the essence of the event in her talented photography. We'd also like to express our gratitude to Local Color Flowers, Mend Acupuncture, B. Willow, and The Black Butterfly Farm for their generous donations of prizes. The delicious pizza was provided by Verde, and Manor Hill Brewing generously donated the beer, adding to the enjoyment of the evening.
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FAB staff and Agroecology Commons team at the Agroecology Farm and Wild Goat Collective in El Sobrante, California.
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A few weeks ago, FAB staff members Alison, Myeasha, Andy, and Denzel traveled to Agroecology Commons (AC) in the Bay Area of California, seeking inspiration, fun, thought partnership, and food!
Myeasha and Denzel first met the remarkable people of AC during the 2022 National Incubator Farm Training Initiative (NIFTI)'s Field School, which serves as a gathering point for farm incubator programs nationwide. Our organizations connected through shared values and have stayed in touch since.
AC, a cooperative non-profit organization, champions farmer education, knowledge sharing, community action, and global solidarity for decolonized land stewardship within the food movement. Among their many initiatives, they host a nine-month Bay Area Farmer-to-Farmer Training (BAFFT) program.
During the weekend visit, our team delved into the heart of AC's work, participating in a BAFFT field day. We discussed farming practices, training program models, and enjoyed good food with new and old farm friends. We also found inspiration at Urban Farm Oasis, a worker-owned urban farm store selling everything from cover crop seed to baby chicks to beekeeping supplies. At Raised Roots Farm, in the Sunol AgPark, we explored fields of garlic, purple fava beans, and soon-to-be-planted specialty peppers for Jamil Burn's outstanding fermented hot sauce. It was a wonderful trip!
The FAB team returned home inspired and eager to (re)launch our own training program and promote small-scale agroecology in the region.
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We're thrilled to kick off field days for the season! Our first event of the year, a Movement Workshop For Farmers & Farm Workers on Wednesday, May 1st, has sold out! However, there are still spots available for our upcoming Field Day on Tuesday, May 21st, focusing on Post-Harvest Handling with Kitchen Girl Farm.
Join us for an on-farm field day where we'll explore the fundamental practices of post-harvest handling, ensuring that your harvest remains fresh and market-ready. Facilitated by seasoned experts in sustainable agriculture, this workshop will cover:
- Infrastructure, Equipment and Workflow
- Harvest, Washing and Sanitizing
- Inventory Management & Quality Control
- Packaging and Presentation
- Cold Chain Management & Storage
- Staff Training & Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
Don’t miss this opportunity to visit Kitchen Girl Farm’s wash/pack barn and learn best practices in successful post harvest operations!
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- Call for Vendors: Oliver Community Farm Spring Festival 5/4
The 6th Branch is preparing for the Oliver Spring Festival on May 4th, 11am-2pm in conjunction with the Historic Oliver Community Association and The People's Association of Oliver. They are looking for vendors to participate. There is no fee and all are welcome, however, if you plan to sell food you must have your permits submitted to the City. Please consider joining for a day of fun! Vendor Registration Form.
- Next Waverly Market 4/20
Spring is in the air and we're counting down the days until we return to the 32nd Street Waverly Market full-time. Catch us at the market 4/20, 5/4, 5/18, and then every week starting June 1st!
- Acres4Change Stewardship Program Graduation & Agricultural Expo on 5/11
Featuring activities and workshops on indoor mushroom cultivation, composting, soil health and remediation, hydroponics farming, farm tours, food sovereignty, And cooking demos and tastings prepared by guest chefs! Location: Green Street Academy, 125 N Hilton St. Baltimore, MD. RSVP here
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Welcome New Staff Members!
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Market Assistant Janeé Harris (she/her) is a recent Denver, CO transplant living in Baltimore. She has worked in food justice as a former food bank recipient and mutual aid program coordinator. She's now working on becoming a farmer and envisions a more grassroots approach to farming, prioritizing the well-being of farm workers and the earth.
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Farm Crew Member Claudia Torrieri (she/her) graduated from the Institute of Applied Agriculture at UMD in 2020 and holds a sustainable Ag Certification. Over the past year, she has gained valuable experience working on various farms that grew flowers, vegetables, cannabis, and herbs. This summer, Claudia is excited to establish connections and learn from all the farmers in her community.
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Farm Crew Member Claire Green (she/them) is a New Orleans native, a farmer and a student of herbalism. Claire is a mother and partner who has a deep passion for plant medicine and animal husbandry. She enjoys dancing as a form of therapy when she's not working. Claire has been living in Maryland for three years and is thrilled to be building a community here.
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A soil sample shows Rockrose Food Justice Farm's soil transformation (left) while FAB equips members with seedlings for spring planting (right.)
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Our programs are springing into action at the Farm Alliance! In recent weeks, our Farm Manager has been hard at work in the fields, collecting soil samples for FAB members. We conduct soil tests bi-annually to enable our members to monitor the improvements in soil health resulting from practices such as composting, cover cropping, and crop rotation. These tests also help identify any nutrients needed for the upcoming growing season. The image above shows a sample from Rockrose Food Justice Farm, highlighting the stark contrast between the original soil and the dark, nutrient-rich topsoil they have cultivated over the years.
At the beginning of the month, we distributed 4,700 plants, 78 pounds of cover crop seed, and 45 gallons of fertilizer to our Farm and Garden members to jumpstart their planting for spring. We can't wait to see these veggies sprout up around Baltimore!
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New Farm Alliance Merch & Spring Sale
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Want to support AND represent urban agriculture? We got you!
Visit our online merch store for limited edition apparel and goods.
Just in: Beautiful Bandanas in Goldenrod and Burnt Orange designed by our talented farm friend SJ Brekosky.
Our special *Spring Sale* is now live! Don't miss out on the amazing discounts, order today for pickup from our office in Remington.
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