Farmer Jenni Shares Tips About Raised Bed Planting at Chestnut Ridge
Jenni Smith, Farm Manager of Phoebe Organic Farm, spoke to residents of Chestnut Ridge at Rodale on March 25 in a presentation about raised garden beds and personal planting.
A little over two dozen residents took their seats in the multipurpose room for an informational session, during which Farmer Jenni shared tips and tricks for growing personal crops. The campus has several designated raised gardening areas for residents, which will see more activity as the spring months progress.
Farmer Jenni divulged helpful advice about watering, when to plant certain foods, draining methods, and types of soil, among other topics. She also passed out papers detailing which foods benefit the flavors of other foods when grown near each other.
A common theme of the presentation and one of the main pillars of the Rodale Institute was sustainable, organic farming. Farmer Jenni emphasized the importance of growing organic for health and planetary reasons.
Residents took notes and asked questions, sharing Farmer Jenni’s enthusiasm for gardening. Farmer Jenni hammered home the idea that gardening can be a community activity just as much as a solitary one. Sharing food is a great way to bring the community together, and gardening with someone can be a great bonding process. Growing according to what you want to eat is essential to enjoying the experience as well.
Farmer Jenni also shared a bit about her personal gardening projects and how she’s bringing that same passion to Phoebe Organic Farm.
There are many opportunities for Chestnut Ridge residents to get involved with Phoebe Organic Farm in the coming months should they want to lend a hand. Keep an eye on the Chestnut Ridge website for future updates about the farm.
Written by Dominic Trabosci
