Field and Garden: Urban farm gives opportunities to young people

A teacher in Carrington recently commented to me that although we live in an agricultural community, many of her students don’t know where food comes from.

If that’s true of our students, imagine how difficult it is for young people who grow up in urban environments.

Last week I toured a project that is attempting to address that issue in a neighborhood of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The non-profit group New Neighbors offers employment to 20 to 25 high school students each year.

Half of the students are responsible for planting, weeding, and harvesting vegetables on about four acres of land located within the city. They produced about 20,000 pounds of vegetables in 2023.

The other half of the students work in a café operated by New City Neighbors, using vegetables from the garden project to prepare soups, salads, and wood-fired pizzas.

Fresh vegetables from the farm are also distributed to about 300 customers who pay a fee to subscribe to the program.

I was impressed by my tour of New City’s program. Participants not only understand where food comes from, but also possess skills in growing and preparing it.

The program emphasizes the importance of hard work and collaboration. Established in 2007, I look forward to hearing of New City’s continued development.

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Here are two recent lawn and garden questions that I’ve encountered:

Q: Why didn’t the buds on my peony open properly?

Your plants likely have grey mold, a disease caused by the fungus Botrytis.

To reduce infection rates next year, remove all flowers once they finish blooming. Avoid overhead watering this summer.

In the fall, remove all aboveground foliage and add two to three inches of wood mulch to minimize soil splash from raindrops.

Peonies don’t like to have their roots disturbed, but if the bed is overcrowded, then some plants should be removed to improve air circulation.

Two fungicide applications in spring may also be of benefit. The first application should be done as new shoots emerge.

Q: Why are the leaves dropping from my crabapple tree?

Wet springs favor the development of scab disease on both apples and crabapples. The primary symptom is grayish to olive-green spots on leaves, which can lead to defoliation. The fruits can also be affected.

Trees may lose 20 percent or more of their leaves, appearing quite distressed, but they are likely to survive.

To prevent or reduce infection next year, it is crucial to rake up fallen leaves and remove them from the area, as 90 percent of infections originate from the previous year’s leaf litter.

Pruning the trees in March can help reduce disease by improving air circulation within the canopy.

If scab becomes a recurring issue, fungicide application may be necessary.

If you have questions about your lawn or garden, please contact me in the Extension office (652-2581, [email protected].