Bees love kale

We are noticing how much the bees love the yellow kale flowers at this time of year, when there are not so many other flowers yet for foraging.  The kale (which we are letting go to seed from last year) in our grow tunnel bed is in full bloom, and constantly covered with a loud buzzing frenzy of gorgeous bees (many types of bees too, we saw loads of bumbles, a few honey bees, some small native bees, a sweat bee).  And I get to continue my fascination with bees, and trying to capture their energy on camera.

To learn more about bees and urban beekeeping (the top bar method) consider taking our Beekeeping with Intention workshop, Sat June 11.  Register here.

A few snapshots from this year's 14th annual organic seedling sale

Thanks to everyone who came out to Little City Farm on Saturday and made our 14th annual seedling sale such a busy successful event.  We wish we could have moved the line a little more quickly, but are also inspired that there is such a huge interest in our community for organic gardening - yay!  We also want to note that this will be the last year we hold this sale here at our location, as it has clearly outgrown our space.

We do have some assorted seedlings (heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers, basil, kale, peppers, herbs) still available for those who missed the sale - please contact us directly through Little City Farm.

• thanks to the many cashiers who helped keep customers happy and moved the line through the payment area, keeping track of a huge volume of sales in a very short time
• thanks to the musicians who kept the crowds happy with relaxing music on the back porch stage
• thanks to Kelly for the fun and interactive kids pollinator pledging activities by the pond
• thanks for the Rempel family for firing up the oven and baking delicious pitas (and fresh warm muffins and sweet drinks for all of us first thing in the morning)
• thanks to Karin's mom and dad for the innumerable ways they helped leading up to the event, also handling the baked goods table, and scooping more than 150 dandelion icecream cones!
• thanks to Angie and interns for growing beautiful seedlings, and helping promote this event in such a huge way on facebook and beyond
• and we are also thankful for all the hopeful gardeners who came to buy our seedlings and want to grow great food this summer!  

14th Annual Organic Seedling Sale at Little City Farm Sat, May 21 from 9-12

14th Annual Organic Seedling Sale!

Saturday, May 21, 2016

9:00am to 12:00pm

Find more information about this event!

Our 14th Annual Seedling Sale at Little City Farm (co-hosted by Fertile Ground CSA) is coming up the Saturday of the Victoria Day weekend.

As usual, we'll have lots of heirloom and organic vegetable and herb varieties: tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, cucumbers, chard, lettuce, kale, broccoli, basil, perennial culinary & medicinal herbs, flowers (incl native pollinator attractors) and plenty more. Always a fantastic morning & almost always sells out so come early for good choice.

Specializing in Heirloom Tomatoes - over 50 varieties!*



Rain or shine, cash only, bring your own boxes or crates to carry your seedlings in!

Little City Farm is at 508 Duke St. W. Kitchener

*Tomatoes include cherry, beefsteak, saladette, plum and container varieties.

Mendfulness Eco Retreat - at Little City Farm this fall - Early bird sign up until June 1st

Early bird special rate sign up until June 1st!

This retreat is filling up so don't miss your chance to take part.  Limited space.
If you are interested in fibre arts, gaining (or renewing) skills in sewing, creative mending, thrifty ideas for your home, repurposing clothing, and connecting with other like-minded folks, this is the retreat for you!  
 
More details here at www.mendfulnessgathering.com

New classes! Wild Plant Medicine (in the city)!

We're excited to host a series of Wild Plant Medicine workshops at Little City Farm this summer & fall. Learn about common local so-called weeds that are extremely beneficial to us as nutritious and healing plants. In each session we will focus on one specific wild medicinal plant that is in season locally, learn the plant history, folklore and traditional uses, harvest the plant, and make one herbal remedy together with the plant (participants will take home samples of the remedies). Sign up by class.

June 4 from 1-3 pm: NETTLE, Herbal Infusions & Herbal Pestos 
Learn about nettle (Urtica dioica). How to identify, harvest, dry and store nettle leaf, folk traditions and benefits of nettle, making a strong medicinal infusion with both fresh and dried nettle, and making herbal nettle pesto.

July 9 from 1- 3 pm: PLANTAIN, Herbal Oils & Bug Lotions 
Learn about plantain (Plantago major). How to identify, harvest, dry and store plantain leaf, folk traditions and benefits of plantain, making a solar infused herbal oil with plantain, and creating an anti-itch bug lotion with this oil.

Aug 13 from 1- 3 pm: COMFREY, Herbal Poultices & Healing Salves
Learn about comfrey (Symphytum officinalis). How to identify, harvest, dry and store comfrey (leaf and root), folk traditions and benefits of comfrey, making comfrey poultices and an all purpose healing salve with comfrey leaf.

Sept 10 from 1-3 pm : GOLDENROD, Herbal Vinegars & Shrubs (Sipping Vinegars)
Learn about goldenrod (Solidago canadensis). How to identify, harvest, dry and store goldenrod, folk traditions and benefits of goldenrod, making goldenrod vinegars and shrubs (traditional delicious sipping vinegars).

Oct 1 from 1-3 pm : ROSEHIPS, Herbal Tinctures & Decoctions
Learn about wild rosehips (Rosa canina). How to identify, harvest, dry and store rosehips, folk traditions and benefits of rosehips, making rosehip tinctures and decoctions for winter.

Register here or learn more...