We’re feeling pretty at the farm, like Westside Story pretty.
We know the farm already has its own rugged beauty, but this summer we took on projects to add new areas of interest and art work to our little piece of land in Tampa. The Native Plant Trail, shed mural, tire garden, new drip irrigation in the herb garden (the most beautiful of all the projects), watermelon garden, office reorganization, and new fencing are all completed or near done– whewwww!
Giant hugs and thank you’s to our TLC4TNC volunteers for coming out the second Saturday of each month to work on our projects and baring the summer weather. This Sunday volunteers helped finish laying the gravel for the Native Plant Trail as well as weeded and worked in the mulch for the education garden, pick up trash around the area, and valorously cleaned the outdoor kitchen.
Native Plant Trail in Progress
If you are interested in getting involved making this farm as charming as it can be we welcome you to come out and volunteer (the next volunteer day is September 12th and we’ll start up normal weekly volunteering in October), or contact us if you are interested in becoming a Farm Intern or Education Intern/ Field Trip Guide (interns earn a weekly CSA share for their time).
Malabar Spinach in Tire Planters
In other summer news, as school is starting remember to tell all your teacher pals and the kids’ new teachers about the Splash! grant. This grant provides funding for “hands-on freshwater resources education” that can mean field trips for students around the Tampa Bay area to learn about our water resources and environment. Our friends at Nature’s Academy offer three outdoor trips that can be used with this grant–Coastal Connections, Myakka Mysteries, or Organic Earth Edventures.
Hope to see you at the farm soon!
Best,
Kaitlin Hennessy
Program Manager, Market Manager
Sweetwater Organic Community Farm
programs@sweetwater-organic.org
813-887-4066