This Saturday, June 25 is our second farm tour of the season. We will be visiting the Dr. Matthew Bonzo’s CSA called Small Wonders Farm. Dr. Bonzo, outside of his summer farm career, is a professor of Philosophy at Cornerstone University as well as a scholar on Wendell Berry. It will be interesting to hear about Dr. Bonzo and his families agrarian lifestyle as well as experience his quaint farm in Sand Lake, MI. The cost of the trip is absolutely free and EVERYONE is welcome to come and learn. If you would like to come please sign up by responding to this email by this Friday telling us if you would like to come, if you’re bringing a friend and if you would like to volunteer to drive. We need an estimated number of who’s coming so we can arrange rides. Here is our schedule:

Leave from the Garden at 9:30 am this Saturday (June 25).
Plan on arriving at the farm around 10:00 am
Wear work clothes and sunscreen
Plan to arrive back to the garden sometime around 12-12:30 pm

Dr. Bonzo has been a great friend to the BVG and a great role model to our community. We are really excited to learn from other gardeners as well as see how local food systems are functioning. Children are welcome as well (bring car seat as necessary)!!!

Again, please RSVP if you’re coming. See you soon for another work day this Thursday and for an awesome farm tour this Saturday.

Sincerely,
Barefoot Victory Garden Leadership

Touring the Community Garden

Lettuce

Touring the new farm

Chard

Greenhouse

Chicken Coop

Chickens

Q&A

We are having our next farm tour on June 25 to see Small Wonder’s CSA farmed by our friend Dr. Matthew Bonzo.  Sign up now by emailing barefootvictorygarden@gmail.com with your interest.

Our first farm tour is this Saturday, May 28. We will be visiting the Blanford Nature Center to work on and learn from their new CSA farm. We will be having farm tours the last Saturday of every month throughout the summer. We are doing this because we feel that it is important to build relationships with our local farms as well as gain from their valuable knowledge as we ourselves are learning how to do this whole gardening thing. We encourage anyone to come with us to visit the new CSA this Saturday at 9:30 am. We will be touring the farm, taking some time to do some work and learn from the farm guide. There is no cost for this visit.

Those interested please sign up by this Friday, May 27 by emailing barefootvictorygarden@gmail.com and letting us know your interest in the tour, any friends or children you are bringing and if you are willing to volunteer to drive.

Here is the schedule:
Arrive at the Barefoot Victory Garden at 9:30 am
Leave to arrive at the BNC at 10:00 am
Plan on arriving back to the garden around 12 or 12:30 pm

For any questions you may e-mail us at barefootvictorygarden@gmail.com

Today!  May 12, 5-6:30 pm

WORK DAY: Today we will be doing a lot of work.  We will be building trellises, finishing our new bed which we will be experimenting with the “three sisters” (corn, beans, and squash) and painting the shed.  In the weeks to come we will be planning out something to do with the front portion of the lawn.  Oh, and strawberry buds are forming!!!  Come on out and see what we’re doing.

Thursday, May 19, 6-8 pm

POTLUCK & DR. MATT BONZO!!! During our kick-off week we had arranged to have Dr. Bonzo come out and speak but we had a rainy, crummy day and decided to reschedule.  So next week Thursday Dr. Bonzo will be coming to the garden to talk about “Food and Gratitude” from his new book coming out in August on Wendell Berry. Dr. Bonzo is the Professor of Philosophy at Cornerstone University and also runs Small Wonders CSA with his wife and son.  He is the co-author of the book “Wendell Berry and the Cultivation of Life: a reader’s guide”.  We look forward to hearing his inspiring words amidst our journey to grow good food.  We will also be having a potluck so bring a dish to pass, blankets, utensils and a beverage.  We may even have a bonfire and roast marshmallows!! This is an event you won’t want to miss. No work day.

Saturday, May 21st

PICNIC IN WILCOX PARK:  The Eastown Community Association will be hosting their annual “Picnic in the Park”.  The picnic will take place at Wilcox Park and the Barefoot Victory Garden will be there handing out flyers and talking about organic gardening.  Stop on by for some info and some hotdogs.

Saturday, May 28, 9:30 am

FARM TOUR- BLANFORD NATURE CENTER’S NEW CSA!!:  We are having our first ever farm tour!!!  The Blanford Nature Center has started a new CSA this year and has graciously set aside time for the Barefoot Victory Garden to come out, look around, learn some new things and do a little work.  Come to the garden at 9:30 am ready to work.  We will be carpooling to the event.  This event is totally free and we encourage you to bring your friends.  To sign up for this event please e-mail us at barefootvictorygarden@gmail.com with your name and contact information.

They were designed by local artist Rick Beerhorst, and printed by the lovely folks at Ambrose. They will be for sale this Saturday at our benefit concert.

BVG May 2011