Farm & Food Teen Training Program Blog
Greenhouse
Have you opened up your greenhouses and begun your spring plants? We will be Saturday. Our newest group, "THE" Group, will be out at 2 p.m. to start seeds in the greenhouse. They will learn all the parts of a greenhouse and how it works. They will be making a special mix to help the seeds succeed in germination. This mix helps hold moisture in around the seeds to encourage germination of each and every seed. Each time we do it this way, we have a higher success rate. Would you like that secret? It may not be much of a secret, but several people I have shared it with, are unaware of it. We mix peat moss (that has been moistened ahead of time), vermiculite, and perlite. We line our trays with this mix, sprinkle the seeds across the top, then top with a light layer of moss. These items provide high moisture content for the seeds. Each of these are used to absorb the moisture and release it as it becomes dry. What better way to start seeds. With planting the seeds directly into potting soil, the soil dries out much easier and quicker than this mix. Now, we do not keep the seedling sprouts in their very long. They are in there just until the seed leaves come in. Then we move them to our potting mix. Our potting mix will be the next layer of talk about the greenhouse. Until then, our seeds will sit in this special mix under our misting water system that will ensure the mix stays moist until they sprout and get transplanted into their nutrient rich soil mix.
Farm work begins!
HERE WE GO!!!! We are ready to start rolling up our sleeves, get dirty, and get back to the natural beauty of the farm. We will have teens out Saturday, 2/4/12, to begin waking the farm up with their chatter and with fresh weeding and seeds. It is time to wake up for spring is around the corner. WE have lots to do! We will be working in the hoop house with American Farmers - they will be weeding out beds from winter and planting new seeds for fresh greens early this spring! Mini Farming Ninjas will be out to decide what type of business they will want to do - catering or cake decorating. Then we will spend the year learning what we can to run this type of business and preparing a business plan so they can act upon it next year. Next weekend we will open the green house and begin starter plants with our new group "THE" Group. The farm cannot wait for this grand awakening!
New Beginnings
Another new year means another new group of 10 teenagers from across Greene County. We welcomed new teens to the farm on Saturday, January 28, 2012. They were given a grand tour of the farm and explaination of what adventures they will be going through this year. The group sat down and spit out ideas for a group name. They found one they felt would set them out from the others. "THE" Group is what they will be forever more referred to as. Welcome teens to what will be one of the most exciting adventures in your youthful years!
Teen Promotion Dinner
Saturday, December 15, 2011, we promoted 32 teens in our program. 5 of these teens have graduated and can know start their own business or owning livestock. The remainder 27 teens will begin a whole new level in our 4 year program, plus we will welcome 10 new teens in January. We had a wonderful year with over 220 hours of training revolved about growing and eating food!
Mission Kitchen Christmas Baking
Do you dread the baking for Christmas but love the home baked pies and breads? Give us a chance. The teens are taking orders for Christmas baking. Place the orders by Monday, December 19th, and we will bake your freshed baked items in time for Christmas. We will also deliver them to you on Friday, December 23rd. Local orders only. Call Debbie, 426-6171, with your orders.
Christmas Baked items:
9” Apple Pie……………………………………………$10.00
9” Pecan Pie……………………………………….….$10.00
Pumpkin Roll………………………………………….$10.00
Gingerbread Bundt Cake………………………..$10.00
8” Red Velvet Cake……………………………..….$10.00
Banana Nut Bread……………………………......$ 5.00
8”Jello Cake…………………………………………..$10.00
