Bloomington, IN Growers Co-op Weblog

Bloomington Growers Emerge from Hibernation

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 12:58:12 -0500

The growing season has begun!

Seeds are sprouting in the greenhouse along with salad greens. Our growers met to ponder the year to come and expanded our growing areas to meet the expected growth in demand.

Darren and Espri have added many valuable fruiting plants to their inventory. John Galuska, Keith Johnson, and new grower, Nate Harman, have expanded their growing space for greater production. Jami Reed is finding more clients who want her design services for edible landscapes and all of us are motivated to change the City Ordinances to permit more agriculture within the city limits.

We aim to expand the range of choices by adding soaps, baked goods, canned and fermented foods, crafts and many of the types of items exemplified by the market pages at http://athens.locallygrown.net/

This market represents the kind of diversity we’d like to see at our own.
Take a moment to consider whom you know that would enjoy shopping from a similar list and who might like to add their products and then INVITE THEM TO JOIN!!

Thanks,
Keith, Renaissance Farm

Gearing up for 2009 season

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:19:55 -0500

The first seeds have been planted and seedlings will soon be going into the earth. Stay tuned for further news about availability of early lettuces and greens. Mark your calendar for the May 9-10 Plant Sale at Renaissance Farm at 5421 E. Kings Rd, north off Hwy 46 E, 1 mile east of Bloomington.

There will be a meeting of growers on Sun March 1 at the Monroe Co Public Library from 3:30-5, Indiana Room 207

Items added / Mother's Day plant sale

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 14:28:36 -0500

Be sure to check out the Market page for new additions.

May 10 and 11, Mother’s Day weekend, there’s a plant sale at Renaissance Farm and Permaculture Center at 5421 E Kings Rd (off 46 1 mile East of Bloomington city limits). A few other growers from the Permaculture Guild will also be offering their selections. Two new growers, Joe McGibbon of Homegrown Gardens, and John Galuska of Rastazumska Productions have just joined up and will soon be adding product to the market page.

Joe describes his site thusly: “My “farm” is a medium sized vegetable garden in my backyard. I do everything as organically and sustainably as possible (using recycling, and low-energy permaculture methods), and am growing primarily for my own food needs, and secondarily for supporting others. I plan on selling radishes, beets, carrots, collard greens, kale, spinach, arugala peas, beans, herbs, tomatoes, peppers, potatos, and maybe some other things. Also, I will be making raw artisan sauerkraut and kimchee from my own and other locally-grown cabbages, and baking sourdough breads (made with locally-grown organic wheat), which will both be for sale throughout the season.”

John’s description is as follows: RASTAZUMSKA PRODUCTIONS is part of a recently established urban homestead in Bloomington. We are located on an acre of land and we consider ourselves urban farmers. We produce naturally grown (chemical free) produce and specialize in: cherry tomatoes, (hot and exotic) chilies, mixed greens, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, and wild flowers. We also offer an “urban compost” mix for gardeners. We encourage families to visit and to learn more about growing food efficiently and sustainably in urban settings.

Take time to read Richard Heinberg’s call for 50 million new farmers in Growing Food in the Post-Carbon Age at http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/Archives2006/HeinbergFiftyMillion.html

This market has opened!

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 14:11:36 -0500

This market was added to the LocallyGrown.net system on Thursday February 07, 2008 02:11 PM. On March 18 it opened for business. Other growers will soon be joining so watch the Market page for new items.

In addition to providing luscious food (and training in how-to-grow-luscious-food) we aim to offer classes in a number of subjects related to Permaculture and the Relocalization of our regional economy.

Watch for updates about hands-on classes in Cob and Clay-straw architecture to build a chicken coop / rabbit hutch / sauna addition to a greenhouse.

There will be another class in Ferrocement Architecture for a Root Cellar / Spring House addition to a 10,000 gallon water tank.

Anticipate classes in Fermented Foods, Edible and Medicinal Wild Plants, Plant Propagation, Pruning, Grafting, and much more.

Please take a look at these websites for news on national and regional sustainability issues.

http://kjpermaculture.blogspot.com/

http://bloomingtonpermacultureguild.blogspot.com/