Its planting season. Each week our incarcerated students are preparing ground, turning cover crops and seeding spring annuals. Peas, radish, and lettuce have germinated. Heat-loving transplants will be the next wave of crops to go into the ground. Our students in state prison facilities remind us of time's deliberate passage in the garden and the satisfaction of watching our hard work come to fruition...
Notes from the Field
Erika Rumbley Featured in MA Farmer Network
This Spring, TNGS Co-Founder, Erika Rumbley, was profiled by The Beginning Farmer Network of Massachusetts. "She values the immersive, mindful experience of harvesting cabbage with her crew for seven hours in the fog. At the same time, she also values a more social practice, sharing the transformative power of her work with others. She is aware that on the inside and outside, she is deeply privileged to do this work." Read on for Erika's thoughts on stretching, social justice and building regional farm infrastructure for the long haul...
2nd Winter Horticulture Intensive at DOC
As the days getting longer, its a hopeful time of year to discover the interdisciplinary world of plants. 30 inmates are participating in the 2nd Annual Winter Horticulture Intensive, a 6-week classroom-based course in the fundamentals of horticulture. Our students begin with Botany and Soil Science and make their way all the way to Garden Installation and Maintenance. Our incarcerated students are learning the building blocks of working with plants.