Hello Friends of the Gainesville Organic Blueberry farm,
Glory, soggy glory, it finally rained! Twice! This a big prayer answered – THANK YOU RAIN! And THANKS to all who have been coming out to pitch in – if we keep getting such great attendance we will surely have to buy more tools 
The bees are doing their busy work, the 20 year old berry bushes are stretching their roots, thriving without irrigation, or fertilizer for years, and turning soil and water and air into exquisite organic fruit (almost 1/2 size already, and the branches are loaded), with only the care that we have been giving them for the past few years – congratulations friends, you have helped to maintain and preserve a precious resource in our community, and soon it will be picking time!
The bees are doing their busy work, the 20 year old berry bushes are stretching their roots, thriving without irrigation, or fertilizer for years, and turning soil and water and air into exquisite organic fruit (almost 1/2 size already, and the branches are loaded), with only the care that we have been giving them for the past few years – congratulations friends, you have helped to maintain and preserve a precious resource in our community, and soon it will be picking time! And Thanks to the folks at the Citizen’s Co-op, and Chain Reaction and everyone else responsible for arranging the first annual Gainesville Garden Bike Tour, and including the farm as a featured stop! Almost a hundred signed up – amazing! It was really great to have droves of bicyclists show up, and check out the work we and the Edible Plant Project have been doing at the farm, and to meet so many great members of our vibrant community, Welcome all who joined our groups that day! To find out more about our groups go to www.GvilleBlueberryFarmFriends.org and www.edibleplantproject.org ‘about’ pages. We look forward to working with you! Bikers love the Gainesville Organic Blueberry Farm because its such a quick and pleasant ride from campus or downtown!
Spring is in full swing and its time to get to work again, cutting vines and weedy trees, but trying not to disturb the ripening berries. The season starts in about a month, so c’mon out and get your hours in before June! I will be by the barnyard gardens this Thursday at 9 and 4,and Sunday at 4 with hand tools. You bring gloves and plenty of water (and snacks if you bring kids). Kids are very welcome but please leave pet friends at home. For those of you who have been out before, we will be working in the bee patch or the 2 bridges patch in case you arrive late, if you’ve never been out working with us before please arrive within a 1/2 hour of start times so you’ll know where we are working. Work as long as you like – there will be a few more work parties before the season starts. But now we are having great weather – its not sweltering yet – a great time to get those hours in 
And next Saturday come and visit us at the May Day Farm Local Food and Music Fest out at Swallowtail Farm (see below and attached flyer for details) It looks like a great way to celebrate May Day and support local farms and community sustainability – and it looks like a blast for the kids - my son, Joey is very excited, as am I!
Hope to see you down on the farm!
maureen
Swallowtail Farm Local Food & Music Fest – May Day!Swallowtail Farm Food & Music Fest – May Day! An all-out celebration of Local Food & Music featuring the Local Food Roadshow from 1-3 pm, a sampling of local cuisine prepared by The Jones, Leonardo’s 706, The Top, and local chefs & cooks! Kick-off event for the Hogtown Homegrown Eat Local Challenge! Local Farm & Food Expo – Meet your Farmers, Meet your Food! Slow Food, CSA’s, Citizens’ Co-op, Comet Farm, The Family Garden, Glades Ridge Dairy, Cognito Farm, Shepherd’s Hill, Abundant Edible Landscapes, Gainesville Farm Fresh, Earth Pets, UF Organic Garden Club, and on and on! G’ville’s best Music – 3rd Stone, Patrick Koch, and a holy host of others for your listening pleasure! Kids Fair, with Hoops, Bubbles, Fountains & Hayrides! Raffle – Grand Prize: Sanctuary Yoga Studios 1 yr unlimited Membership! and of course, your best chance yet to visit Swallowtail Farm! $10 Suggested Donation to benefit the farm
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