NOFA/RI CRAFT Workshop - All About Alliums

Rain date: September 11, 5:15 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.

Directions: To find this urban farm, enter through the front of Galego Court, wind your way to the back and park behind the 80/90 building.

The allium family of plants offers many varieties from scallions and leeks to shallots and onions. Alliums naturally resist deer and rodent predation. Farmers Emily Jodka and Bleu Grijalva will discuss when and how to plant French Grey shallots and garlic and starting onions from seed. Learn how to care, harvest, cure and store your alliums. See the 2014 harvest and help plant next season’s and you may even learn to braid onions!

A farm tour will include three geodesic dome greenhouses with an aquaponic systems. Emily will discuss the nitrogen cycle and the relationship between fish and plants.

Since the spring of 2010, New Urban Farmers (NUF) has operated their urban farm within Galego Court, a public housing community for families. Residents even have community garden beds to grow their own and NUF runs adult and youth programs during the season. The farm also has a mini fruit orchard and a “mushroom house.” The farm team also grows in Seekonk, MA and Warren, RI on over 20 total acres.

Everyone is welcome at this free workshop thanks to a generous Specialty Crop grant from the RI DEM, Division of Agriculture.