The month of July was a brutally hot month. Global records were broken repeatedly; July 21st was the hottest day on earth ever recorded until the following day, July 22nd, usurped that title. Plants that went into the ground during this month got scorched badly by the sun and even those planted in the shade withered. However, despite the unrelenting heat, there was much to be joyful about. Our Summer Youth Employee's persevered under trying conditions and established walkways and pumpkin patches at Headwater Farm. Our BUFF (Bluegrass Urban Farm Friends) middle school students installed a pollinator garden with staff from the Fayette County Conservation District, chased after pollinators with nets and magnifying jars at Floracliff Nature Preserve and investigated Beaver Trails at Headwater Farm. Also, thanks to your generosity we raised $6300 during our summer fundraising drive. For it all, we are grateful. Starting this August we have a schedule of events to get you out at a Seedleaf growing space before the arrival of winter and the end of our growing season.
Thank you for supporting this work and we hope to see you soon,
The Seedleaf Team |
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This month our growers and interns at Headwater Farm were thrilled to have a new water pump with hoses to transport around the Farm! The water pump is helping us get water to all the growers at the farm efficiently.
We also concluded our 7-week Summer Youth Job Training Program on July 18th. We have tremendous respect for these young students who began their foray into farming during one of the most brutally hot and dry times in local memory. Despite these conditions, they worked hard, persevered, smiled at their accomplishments, and we believe (after much needed relaxation) they will look back on their experience(s) with Seedleaf fondly.
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Common Good students visited the North Pole garden to weed beds, water plants, and clean up trash. These students are regular volunteers in the garden and help keep it productive for the community.
London Ferrell is now open to visitors on Saturday mornings from 8:00 to 10:00am. One of our neighbors, Ms. Joy Harris is volunteering her time to open the garden gates.
We are also updating and upgrading our plant identification signs! Be on the lookout for those in August.
Save the date! Seedleaf will be having a Garden Walk and Bike Tour on September 28th. Participants will get to tour the gardens, learn about the history of Seedleaf and the gardens and learn about future plans for each of them. |
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Summer Youth Programming: BUFF |
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Bluegrass Urban Farm Friends is calling it a wrap on Summer programming this week. To celebrate our young growers, we are having a garden party at London Ferrell (245 E. Third Street) on August 1st at 6pm. Please join us as we celebrate these hard workers and how BUFF they have all become. Parking is available on Elm Tree Lane and Campsie Place
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Seedleaf Agroforestry Program (SAP) |
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Seedleaf's Agroforestry Program spent the month of July cutting back weeds around the nursery and burying woody material for hugelkultur beds. The developing food forest is still in the process of getting mulched. It was a busy month! Recruitment for the next iteration of the Seedleaf Agroforestry Program will commence soon! If you are interested in participating, please email sap@seedleaf.org
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July Newsletter Subscriber Highlight |
Kathy Howard, thank you for participating in our July newsletter garden showcase! Keep you eye out for a little something from us.
Kathy shared, "I’ve been interested in gardening from a very young age, following my grandfather around his garden and with my Dad in our backyard garden. After our gardening chores were done, we’d sit on upturned buckets among the plants listening to baseball games on my Dad’s little blue transistor radio. Gardening brings me closer to happy memories, makes me feel empowered and gives me a sense of peace. Not to mention all the good fresh fruits and vegetables I can pick!" Thank you for sharing pictures of your garden. It's lovely! |
What's Currently in the Gardens?
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London Ferrell: Brussel Sprouts (final harvest occuring the first week of August), kale, chard, parsley, tomatoes, thyme, oregano, sage, grapes, flowers.
Whitney Avenue: green beans, peppers, cherry tomatoes.
Bread Box: Cherry Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, chard, sage.
North Pole: Green beans, tomatoes, flowers, comfrey, carrots, tomatillos Roosevelt: green beans, green tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, basil, mint, shishito peppers Bryan Avenue: Chard, Beans and Cherry Tomatoes |
Tree Week Lexington is coming up October 11-20. To learn more, visit here.
Watch our socials for tips from Lex Grow Trees on how to best care for your trees in hot weather, when pests are spotted, and more! |
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Come enjoy an afternoon or evening with Seedleaf!
⦿ The Popcorn Theatre at Headwater Farm presents 'The Biggest Little Farm.' Come check out Headwater Farm and learn about the film that inspired Chad and Jill Walker to work with Seedleaf and provide 30 acres of farm land for community agriculture! Showing August 16th. Gates open at 7pm. $15 Tickets can be purchased online here.
⦿ Are you curious about the various Seedleaf Gardens in North Lexington and where they are located? Do you need an excuse to get back on your bike or go for a stroll? The Community Garden Walk and Bike Tour provides an excellent opportunity to meet new people and checkout Seedleaf's free u-pick community gardens. . The tour takes place Saturday September 28th at 10 am. $25 Registration fee can be paid here until September 14th.
⦿ Mark the end of Seedleaf's growing season with Seedleaf's Pumpkin Sorghum Jam. At Headwater Farm we will have light refreshments, products and produce on sale by Seedleaf Market Growers and music to jam out to. We will also have pumpkins from our pumpkin patch for sale. October 26th 3-6pm at Headwater Farm. Tickets to the event are $25 and can be purchased here.
For all events, Perennial Club Members receive a 10% discount (please email admin@seedleaf.org for discount code). |
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Become a Perennial Club member today and support your favorite community gardening non-profit! By becoming a monthly donor, you can help Seedleaf grow year round. Seedleaf has monthly giving plans that accomodates various income levels. |
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NOURISHING COMMUNITIES
Our Values
Seedleaf values the ongoing connection of people to land, the incubation of healthy
community interdependence and the cultivation of growers. We believe that this leads to the development of a robust local food economy and a just and equitable system of stewardship over urban land.
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