Community Garden Update

Owen is discing the plotted area today trying to smooth out the chunky soil as much as possible.

Our TENTATIVE plan is to mark plots tomorrow (THURSDAY) morning—-until the job is finished.

I will send out another message later today, after I visit with Owen, and let you know what time we will be there. The more hands we have, the faster it all goes, so I hope some of you will be able to help out.

President’s Message

It has been a great year for the Probstfield Farm Living History Foundation, Inc! With the help of dedicated volunteers and community supporters, we made “historic” progress protecting some of our buildings. The barn, c.1920s, received structural repairs and a new, historically-appropriate cedar shingle roof. Two smaller out-buildings also received new roofs and fresh coats of paint. Likewise, the Probstfield Organic Community Garden experi-  enced yet another year of growth (14%) in the number of plots cultivated.  As we continue to plan for the farm’s future, it is important to keep talking about the reasons why it is so important to preserve this historic landscape. In my message here today, I would like to share my personal top three: Open Space, Community History, and Healthy Children. As many of you know, the city of Moorhead is making its own plans for future growth. For those of us who care about retaining plenty of open, recreational spaces in our city, we would be wise to do the same. The approximately 118 acres of land owned by the Foundation offers our community a unique kind open space that is refreshingly peaceful and undeveloped, as well as a place to learn more about our shared past. As one who teaches history inside a classroom, I know well how much more fun it is to learn history at an actual historic site, rather than from books alone. We ought to recognize also the value of this cultural resource for its potential to impart community history and values to the next generation, thereby preparing them to take their place as informed, community leaders. Finally, it is getting hard to ignore just how many of our children think food comes from a microwavable box. And,  sadly, their health and well being are suffering as a result. The Probstfield farm with its community garden can help reverse this trend by teaching children about historic food production in the Red River Valley, as well as provide them with a hands-on experience of growing some tasty and nutritious fresh vegetables in garden plots of their own.  Won’t you please join with us in 2009 to protect and promote: Open Space, Community History, and Healthy Children at the historic Probstfield Family Farm?

May 2009 Newsletter

The Probstfield Farm Messenger (May 2009) has been added to our resources page for download (PDF, 1 MB).

2009 Probstfield Farm door prize winner

Winner of the $25 Olive Garden gift certificate at the 2009 Probstfield Farm picnic is Tim & Cecelia Fruhwirth.

Community garden update for May 13, 2009

THE LAND: I just spoke to Owen yesterday and we are going to do everything we can to have the garden open for Mem. Day weekend. The soil is still very wet and because it didn’t get plowed in the fall, it needs extra attention this spring. One of the perks that comes with gardening at POCG is that you may leave vegetables (carrots, cabbage, and other things that get sweeter from light frosts) in your plots as long as possible. Other community gardens give an exit date. The downside of this policy is that when you have an unusual fall, like we did last year with tons of rain, this prevented us from plowing the land before winter hit in full force.

MARKNG PLOTS/VOLUNTEERS: Somtime next week I will put out the call for volunteers to help mark off the plots. The more volunteers we have, the faster it all goes. Marking plots involves holding rope lines, measuring off plot lengths with a tape, and marking the corners with wooden stakes. Hope you will consider helping—this takes about a half day but even an hour or two of your time will help.

I’m still holding reserved plots for some of you, please get your dues/forms into me when you can.

We now have a nice plot map posted at the bottom of the garden page.