LibraryFarm

Sign up here to get involved.

PDF map of individual plots here.
The LibraryFarm is an organic community garden on one-half acre of land owned by Northern Onondaga Public Library in Cicero, NY. Anyone can “check out” a plot for no cost. It’s purpose is to teach and learn “food literacy,” as well as to preserve knowledge that our grandparents might have had but that never got passed down, and to provide fresh organic produce for local food pantries.

If you check out a plot (see a PDF map of individual plots here), you plant whatever you want to do whatever you please with the harvest. By signing up, gardeners agree to follow organic growing practices, meaning no one can spray pesticides or add chemical herbicides or fertilizer to the soil. Don’t know how to make stuff grow without juicing it? No problem, we’ve got people involved who can help. Learning is whole point, so you’ll find support. Organic gardening works: one of our gardener’s cucumbers won first prize at the State Fair last year (Congrats again, Patti Herrmann).

Just under half of the lot is dedicated to a shared, public plot, where anyone can plant, work, and pick from. This shared lot allows people who can not commit to maintaining a garden here to still benefit from and be involved in the LibraryFarm. Most of the harvest from this area will get donated to local food shelters, but anyone can forage in it. The guiding rule is that you simply contribute the amount of labor that is commensurate with the food you pick. It’s such an easy, honor-based ethic. It works because think about it: are you comfortable mooching? Neither are the rest of us.

Upcoming Classes

Saturday, February 18, 1:00pm. Terry Ettinger will speak at the Cicero Library at 1:00pm in a talk he’s calling Food Isn’t Ugly: Fitting Edible Plants into Your Existing Lawn, Landscape & Garden

Terry is the manager of the SUNY-ESF teaching and research greenhouse complex, with more than twenty-five years of experience in the field of landscape horticulture and year hosting Channel 10’s “Garden Journeys.” This talk may be a great way to recruit new members into the CNY Edible Gardening program and/or the LibraryFarm.

Earlier that day (2/18), at the normal 10:30am meeting time, we’ll meet to create the list of guidelines and expectations for the LibraryFarm this year. Read the minutes from last month’s meeting to decide if you’d like to attend.

Previous 2011 Classes

With special thanks and credit to Edible Gardening CNY

January 8 Succession planting. Ordering seeds.

February 19 Starting seeds indoors.

March 19 Compost, Compost, Compost!

April 9 Watering, fertilizing.

May 2-4, Master Composting Class, with OCRRA’s Greg Gelewski

May 14 Pests and other problems.

May 21 LibraryFarm Kickoff event.

Sat. August 20, 10:30am: What do I do with all this squash?
Sample recipes using this crop at each stage of ripeness, from the little babies to the overripe monsters. Zucchini is much more versatile than you may think.

Wed. August 31, 6:00pm: Garden Fresh Cooking
Speedy Greens owner Cathleen Kelly will lead a hands-on cooking demo using all fresh, healthy foods in season. Cathy has just published a cookbook, so she will be signing books as well. It’s okay to show up hungry for this. Additionally, feel free to bring any items from your garden that you might like to share or swap with the other attendees.

September 10, 10:30am: Edible Gardening CNY
LibraryFarm Workday

December 10, 2011: Chef Abigail Henson of spoke on the Slow Food movement and how Central New Yorkers are involved. She demonstrated her favorite holiday recipe of green eggs and ham, shared samples with us.

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