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Summer Solstice Update

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Happy Summer Solstice!

It’s been a little while since we’ve posted and the garden is exploding with life rejuvenation, seed, welcome critters… so we thought it a good time to catch you up on this first day of summer. In this post:

2nd Bee Swarm!

Matthew Richards, NFF’s venerable garden tech, has been patiently tending to the local honey bees for a couple years now. He built the api-centric hive with his father, designed and had 3-d printed a winter bee feeder (that also serves as a summer waterer) after a 9 iteration process, insulated them from winter frosts and summer heat, we’ve been letting the coriander, giant mustard and brassicas flower, while the hive is nested in a sea of calendula.  Needless to say, they have been a happy hive, and Fort Bragg owes some thanks to Matthew for supplying the local farms with all these healthy pollinators!

Last week on Thursday, the bees swarmed for the 2nd time this spring. Below are images of the event!

The queen is in the middle of that swarm Click on image to get a closer look!

 

Matthew reaching right in there to hold the branch that the bees are swarming on so that it can be cut and placed gently into a box. Not a sting, they know who he is. Be sure to click on the image for a closer look! Thanks Kyle of Nye Ranch, for the great image – the lucky new keeper of this swarm.
…safely in the box.

Summer Interns and NFF Farm Stand!

Addie trellising cucumbers in the south hoop house. Image by Matthew Richards

New interns are ramping up in the garden as we grow, trellis, and prepare for our summer farm stand right here at Noyo Food Forest!

We will have up to 10 interns in the garden this summer and a lot of food to share with the community. Every Thursday from 12:30p – 3:30p we will be selling produce right here from the Learning Garden, at the north east end of Fort Bragg High School parking lot.  So stay posted for our opening date!!

Abi and Rosendo watch as the bees enter a new hive. Abi was terrified of bees before starting here at NFF. With a gentle introduction to bee behavior she no longer is afraid. A bee landed on her forehead while swarming and she said in a whisper to me “I think one just landed on my forehead.” Then it flew away and Abi’s smile shined like the sun! Image by Matthew Richards

 

New Grant Opportunity!

We are sad to report that we were not selected for the Seeds Of Change grant that you all so graciously voted for us each day to be judged. BUT we have another opportunity for a $15,000 grant through Gardens for Good!

  • Here’s the DIRECT LINK to vote for NFF
  • This is a community driven grant competition
  • Voting is encouraged every day so granters can see our community supports us in an ongoing way!
  • Voting began June 23 and will run until noon on July 7, 2017 Pacific standard time
  • WE CAN DO THIS!!!

NFF could not sustain these wonderful programs without your ongoing support. We thank you!

Happy Summer Solstice!!

our tool shed frog. We tried to remove her twice but she seems to like it on that charger… Image by Matthew Richards