Help Us Find Our New Home!
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We're currently in the market for new office & storage space, as we must sadly leave our Remington location by November 30th, 2024.
Here's what we're in search of:
- Office space to comfortably accommodate a team of 10 (~2,000 sq. ft).
- A classroom or spacious meeting area
- Dry, secure storage space or a garage
- Cold storage exceeding 1,000 sq. ft. (open to this being a separate location)
- Nearby parking, including two overnight spaces for our company-owned vehicles, and un/loading space for large truck deliveries
- Central city location
- ⭐ Bonus points for street-level space convertible into a retail or market area.
While our primary interest is in leasing space, we're also open to discussing purchasing options. Whether move-in-ready or requiring some customization, we're eager to explore creative solutions that align with our mission and values.
Do you know of a property or own one that could suit our needs? Drop us a line at info@farmalliancebaltimore.org.
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🌏 Welcoming Our YSEALI Fellow: Rivan Rinaldi 🌿
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FAB is excited to host Rivan Rinaldi from Aceh, Indonesia for a month-long fellowship through the YSEALI program. He's wasted no time diving into farm work and exploring Baltimore. More adventures to come!
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We're thrilled to welcome Rivan Rinaldi from Aceh, Indonesia! We're hosting him for a month-long fellowship through the State Department's YSEALI (Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative) Professional Fellowship Program. This marks our second time hosting a YSEALI fellow (read more about our experience here.)
Rivan is a plant scientist with a wealth of knowledge and expertise in natural resource management, plant production systems, crop system analysis, and plant biotechnology. He's deeply engaged in supporting coconut farmers in Indonesia with best management practices, coconut agronomy, intercropping, and organic certification.
In his first week here, Rivan wasted no time diving into hands-on farm work at our Black Butterfly Teaching Farm. He also participated in the 🌾 Regenerative Grain Agriculture Field Day hosted by the Common Grain Alliance at Next Step Produce and explored Baltimore's farmers' markets and festivals. His first visit to a LUSH cosmetics store was particularly exciting, as LUSH is a key buyer of raw virgin coconut oil from his workplace, Aluan Coconut.
Stay tuned for more exciting events and adventures planned for Rivan! We're eager to make the most of this knowledge exchange program. 💚
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Field days are back! We've planned several exciting on-farm & hands-on workshops for you:
- Post Harvest Handling at Kitchen Girl Farm 5/21
Learn about infrastructure, washing, inventory management, packaging, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to keep your harvest fresh and market-ready.
- Urban Flower Farming at Hillen Homestead 6/3
Discover how to maximize flower growing in small spaces using sustainable practices. Plus, create your own flower arrangement to take home!
- Pest ID & Management at The Black Butterfly Farm 6/12
Bring your magnifying glass! Join us as we scout the fields, learn to recognize pests, assess damage, and discuss sustainable control methods.
Don't miss the chance to visit these wonderful farms, meet fellow growers, and learn directly from experts in our network!
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- Mothers Day Bouquets at Motzi Bread
Shop for bouquets from Hillen Homestead at Motzi Bread, loacated at 2801 Guilford Avenue this weekend!
- Bon Secours is Hiring & Seeks Volunteers
Urban Farmer job description & application here
Interested in volunteering? Email gerilyn_lackey@bshsi.org
- Volunteer with Real Food Farm
Visit their events page for upcoming opportunities
- Acres4Change Stewardship Program Graduation & Ag 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 & tastings prepared by guest chefs! Location: Green Street Academy, 125 N Hilton St. Baltimore, MD. RSVP here
- Next Waverly Market 5/18
We're counting down the days until we return to the 32nd Street Waverly Market full-time. Catch us at the market on 5/18, and then every week starting June 1st!
- Hillen Homestead Lecture 5/31
Cutting Gardens: Bouquets, Small Spaces, and Lots of Blooms with Maya Kosok of Hillen Homestead for the US Botanic Garden. May 31st 12pm, free, register here.
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- Want to learn more about our amazing members?
Click through our interactive map to explore over 30 farms and gardens blooming across Baltimore City. View photos of our members' farms, learn about their mission, and connect with a site near you!
Visit our member map here
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From the Field: Centering Farmer Wellness
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At our Health & Safety Workshop, farmer Myeasha placed stickers on a 'body map' to identify common pain points (top.) At our Movement Workshop for Farmers, participants stretched and determined their range of motion (bottom.)
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We're kicking off the season by centering the hard-working folks who grow the food for your table. In response to member feedback, we have developed programming aimed at supporting the well-being of our farmer members.
- During our April member meeting, Linda Delp, a FAB member and worker health advocate, led a Health & Safety workshop with the assistance of co-workers Janice Ruggles and Darryl Alexander. Together, we completed a 'body map,' marking areas where we've experienced discomfort, and discussed how our work environment and repetitive motions impact our bodies. Then, we divided into groups to delve further into topics such as heat safety, ergonomics, and injury prevention. Our members shared plenty of helpful tips for staying cool in the heat and discussed systems they've implemented on their farms to ensure work is done safely. We departed with useful tips, resources, and informative posters to display at our farms.
- On May 1st, we kicked off our Field Days by hosting a Movement Workshop for Farmers led by Cynthia Flores of Labor-Movement. Cynthia guided participants through various activities aimed at refining body mechanics and movement patterns to reduce the risk of injury and increase efficiency. She reminded us that farmers are athletes in overalls, relying on both strength and endurance daily. Emphasizing the importance of self-care, Cynthia urged us to prioritize hydration, balanced meals, rest, and relaxation.
We are committed to prioritizing farmer wellness and are so grateful to these experts for leading such informative workshops for our network. Ensuring the health and well-being of farmers is essential, not only for their welfare but also for sustaining their farms and the wider communities they serve. We look forward to a safe and successful season ahead and future events centering farmer wellness!
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Recent photos from the Black Butterfly Farm of our farm team hard at work prepping beds and planting.
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At the Black Butterfly Teaching Farm, our dedicated team has been hard at work preparing for spring planting.
- We start by enriching the soil with compost and necessary amendments, followed by light tilling to ensure thorough mixing.
- Drip tape lines are then installed for efficient hydration, while biodegradable plastic covers help suppress weeds.
- Next, we carefully transplant seedlings and install insect netting to deter pests like cabbage moths, avoiding the use of pesticides.
Stay tuned for updates as we nurture these seedlings, which are destined for the Maryland Food Bank and the Waverly Farmers Market!
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Blooms & Bites: A Happy Hour Recap
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Highlights from our recent Flower Happy Hour event celebrating local blooms and agriculture. Attendees immersed themselves in the art of bouquet making, while enjoying an array of delicious treats and learning about the Farm Alliance. 📸 credit: Julie Hove Anderson
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We’re still buzzing from our Flower Happy Hour hosted in collaboration Local Color Flowers and Hillen Homestead a few weeks ago! Our community came together to celebrate an evening of local blooms, enjoy delicious drinks and snacks, and catch up on all the latest updates about our work.
Attendees had the chance to unleash their creativity by crafting their own floral arrangements using an assortment of flowers and foliage. Whether folks brought their own vase or opted for one from Local Color Flowers' collection, everyone had everything they needed to craft stunning bouquets or centerpieces to take home.
We extend heartfelt thanks to the following local businesses whose generosity made this event possible:
- Food & Drink Donations: Chachi's, Doppio Pasticceria, Off the Rox, Manor Hill Brewing, and The Wine Collective.
- Flower Donations: Juniper Farm, Farmer Clayton, FLORXEIGHT, Hillen Homestead, Local Color Flowers , Monocacy Valley Flower Co-Op, and Two Boots Farm.
Our deepest gratitude to Local Color Flowers and Hillen Homestead for hosting this memorable gathering!
Thanks to the generous donations, all proceeds from this event directly supported us, furthering our mission to promote sustainable urban agriculture and equitable food systems.
📅 Mark your calendars now, because we’ll be hosting another one on Thursday, September 26th.
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Farm Alliance Merch & Spring Sale
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New merch alert! Beautiful bandanas designed by our talented friend SJ Brekosky. They’re sweat bands, hair ties, makeshift tool pouches, dust masks, harvest basket liners, fashion accessories…the list goes on!
Grab yours for $20 online! Plus, don’t miss out on our special spring sale on other items while they last. Order today for pickup from our office in Remington.
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