Our 3rd Annual Summer Community Day
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Top: Kids having fun cooling off in the sprinkler. Bottom left: Executive Director Denzel Mitchell slices up our farm-grown watermelon to share with the community. Bottom right: Attendees of Community Day enjoy playing with a colorful parachute.
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It was wonderful to see all our neighbors and friends at our 3rd Annual Summer Community Day at the Black Butterfly Teaching Farm a couple of weekends ago! We gave away a variety of farm-grown produce, including eggplant, tomatoes, squash, and the first watermelon of the season. Our neighbors enjoyed making bouquets with farm-grown flowers and playing yard games, while the kids had fun coloring and cooling off in the sprinkler.
Holistic Health and Wellness led an excellent cooking demonstration using our farm's summer squash. We were also joined by The Nature Conservancy, who presented the poem and film “To the Jungles That Be” by Kondwani Fidel, along with an interactive survey that encouraged attendees to reflect on the role of nature in their own communities.
Thank you to everyone who came out to support and enjoy the day! We’re excited for our Fall Community Day in October—stay tuned for the announcement with details!
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Welcome Our Market & Sales Coordinator
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Introducing our new Market and Sales Coordinator, Peter Sparklin! Photo credit: Laura Ferrera
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We’re thrilled to welcome our new market and sales coordinator, Peter Sparklin 🌟 Peter brings a wealth of experience in sustainable agriculture and a love for plants, animals, and the outdoors. Peter is an avid gardener, puzzle-solver, and cat fosterer with a passion for vibrant flowers and cooking.
In his dynamic role, Peter is leading our stand at the 32nd Street Waverly Farmers Market, coordinating the aggregation of produce from our member farms, and overseeing deliveries from the Black Butterfly Teaching Farm to local food pantries.
Come by our Waverly market stand every Saturday from 7am to 12pm to meet Peter and enjoy our urban farms' summer bounty, including watermelon, cantaloupe, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, pears, honey, flowers, mushrooms and much more.
Interested in learning more about our collective marketing program or acquiring our Black Butterfly Farm's produce? Contact Peter at markets@farmalliancebaltimore.org.
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Top: A new flyer for the Black Butterfly Teaching Farm describes what we are growing and where we are distributing our produce. Bottom: August brings a bounty of produce including watermelons and okra!
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With Peter now on board and the summer bounty in full swing, our harvest and distribution efforts are reaching new heights. We are thrilled to announce that we are sending thousands of pounds of produce grown on the Black Butterfly Farm to local food pantries, thanks to our partnerships with the Maryland Food Bank and The Y in Central Maryland. Our produce is also featured at some of Baltimore's favorite restaurants, including Artifact Coffee, Woodberry Kitchen, Blacksauce Kitchen, Foraged, and Mera Kitchen Collective. Additionally, we've supported our members by providing produce to enhance their market stands.
With major harvests like corn, sweet potatoes, and pumpkins still to come on the farm, we’re excited to keep up our momentum. Our team will continue working hard to ensure that our farm-grown produce reaches food banks and restaurants throughout the fall, reinforcing our commitment to the community.
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In the midst of these accomplishments, we want to share some important news. Myeasha will be stepping down from her role as Farm Manager, with her last day being August 16th. Myeasha has made invaluable contributions to our network of urban farms and the Farm Alliance of Baltimore.
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We are deeply grateful for her dedication and the impact she has made, especially as a teaching farmer for the Black Butterfly Urban Farmer Academy. Myeasha will be returning to school and is exploring new opportunities.
Although we will miss her presence at the farm, we know she will continue to be an influential part of our urban agriculture community. We extend a heartfelt thanks to Myeasha and wish her all the best in her future endeavors!
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Dreaming Out Loud's farm team joined us for a successful potato harvest, yielding 750 pounds of La Ratte, German Butterball, and Red Sangre.
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Last week, we had some friends help with our big potato harvest at The Black Butterfly Farm. Farmers have a long tradition of coming together for "crop mobs" to tackle large harvests and tasks, showcasing the strength of community support.
We've been excited to carry on this tradition with Dreaming Out Loud. Earlier this season, FAB traveled to Washington D.C. to assist DOL with installing plastic on their hoop houses. In return, DOL graciously offered to come to our farm and lend a hand. Together, under the hot July sun, we harvested an impressive 750 pounds of La Ratte fingerling, German Butterball, and Red Sangre potatoes!
During lunch, we enjoyed watermelon, exchanged farm stories, and chatted about our favorite farm gear (an inevitable and popular topic among farmers). It was wonderful to share the field with so many skilled and dedicated farmers, and we're grateful for the support from the DOL crew.
If you'd like to get your hands on some of these tasty taters, you can find them at our stand at the Waverly Farmers Market on Saturdays from 7am-12pm!
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From the Field: Tool Sharpening Recap
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Field day participants are all smiles as they learn how to sharpen farm and garden tools.
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A few weeks back, our farmers gathered under stormy skies at the The 6th Branch barn for a Field Day workshop on Tool Care & Sharpening. Experts from the Station North Tool Library taught us the basics of maintaining tools to ensure they last longer and work better.
We learned how to clean and rust-proof our tools and got an introduction to using files, whetstones, and grinders for sharpening various equipment, from hoes to pruners and knives.
Attendees brought some of their own tools, and the team demonstrated how to safely and effectively sharpen and restore them. After learning the techniques, attendees were ready to sharpen the rest of their equipment on their own. Everyone left with clean, oiled, and sharpened tools, ready to take on the rest of the season!
Thank you, Colin, Jenn, and Ben of the Station North Tool Library, for leading this informative workshop. We’re also excited to share that The Farm Alliance now has an inventory of sharpening stones and files to assist with tool care for FAB members as needed!
Be sure to check out all the amazing classes and tool lending opportunities at the Tool Library. You can even learn to make your own knife!
Want to join in on the fun? We've got more hands-on Field Days scheduled! Details and registration info below.
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Save Some September Dates!
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On Sunday, September 15th, join us at Juniper's Garden for a late summer farm tour and talk followed by dinner and libations. Learn about growing and processing medicinal plants, tour Earth-Bound Building's mill and workshop, and enjoy a festive meal from the wood-fired oven to celebrate this summer's harvest! Transportation will be provided to and from the event.
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Join us on Thursday, September 26th, for another wildly popular Flower Happy Hour at Local Color Flowers, hosted in partnership with Hillen Homestead! Come create your own bouquets, sip wine, nibble on treats, and hear the latest updates about our work. All proceeds benefit the Farm Alliance of Baltimore. We expect this to sell out, so don't miss the ticket drop on Eventbrite.
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Follow our Evenbrite page so you're the first to know when these events go live!
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- Upcoming events at Black Yield Institute, 638 Cherry Hill Rd.
8/10 - Art Build - 12-3pm Register here
8/16 - Black August: Honoring Our Freedom Fighters - 5:30-8pm Register here
8/24 - BYI Cherry Hill Food Apartheid Study Release - 4-6pm, stay tuned for details
- The 6th Branch Workshops!
From Tie Dye T-Shirts, to Canning and Herbal First-Aid Kits, Check out T6B's amazing line up of workshops - Register here
- FAB Member Markets & Farm Stands
Want to support local farms and enjoy the freshest products? Check out our member market flyer to find a market near you!
- Hillen Homestead Fall Flower Subscription
Sign up now for beautiful fall bouquets
- Maryland Producer Cold Storage Grant
MARBIDCO's Maryland Producers Cold Storage Grant Program provides matching grants up to $2,000 for farmers and watermen wishing to purchase cold storage equipment to continue or expand operations. Apply by August 30, 2024. Application and information here.
- Project FEED (Fresh Eats in Every District) Grant
Supports urban gardening to boost food security and local food production. This pilot program offers up to $12,000 to qualified non-profits in four districts to start or expand community gardening. Grantees will also participate in educational workshops. Deadline extended to August 9th, 2024. Application and guidelines here.
- Fayette Street Outreach (FSO) is hiring an Urban Farmer - The role requires a self-motivated individual with at least one year of farming or gardening experience, knowledge of small-scale year-round vegetable production, and the ability to manage farm tasks independently. The position offers $25 per hour, typically involving 5-hour workdays, 4-5 days per week. Full job description here. Applications should include a cover letter and resume sent to Ednamanns898@gmail.com and peter_bleich@bshsi.org.
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From stylish tote bags to practical (and still super stylish!) rain jackets, we've got a wide range of merch designed to showcase your love for urban agriculture.
Check out our online store now and grab yours while supplies last!
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Your support helps us cultivate powerful communities and build a more resilient Baltimore.
With 48 members strong and growing, we are strengthening Baltimore's network of urban growers. Thank you for your generosity!
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