A group of people, interested in learning the basics of starting vegetables from seed, came together on March 30, 2013 for Three Part Harmony Farm’s Seed Starting Workshop.

There are many reasons why plants need to be started indoors, but the act of doing it is fairly straightforward for most kinds of plants. Starting seeds before the last frost gives you a jump start on the season! It also helps you select for the healthiest plants. Some plants are trickier than others to directly seed into your garden so starting them in pots is actually the only way to grow them. Some flowers and herbs or difficult to germinate vegetables have slightly different requirements, but for the most part once you know the basics, that knowledge will come in handy each year until you stop gardening!

In this workshop, Gail explained the basic requirements for the seed and plant that it will become (soil less medium, temperature and water for germination; feeding, watering and light requirements for growing plants). We also discussed what to do with fluctuating spring temps and how to create the ideal conditions if you are doing it in a basement or other location that doesn’t get sun. We made potting soil together, seeded trays, and practiced watering.

Click here to view more photos from the workshop.

You can still order your seedlings from Three Part Harmony Farm: http://threepartharmonyfarm.org/buy-local-seedlings/

On Saturday, February 23, 2013, Three Part Harmony Farm participated in Rooting DC, a forum about urban food production and consumption. We had a great time networking with new and old allies, we participated in workshops, discussions and set up a table at the information fair.

Many thanks to Favianna Rodriguez for letting us use her amazing artwork for the Three Part Harmony banner, that we painted the night before the forum.

Cooking for Self Determination – poster by Favianna Rodriguez

A few years ago, Favianna collaborated with Bryant Terry, author of Vegan Soul Kitchen, on a set of posters dealing with food justice. The posters Green Our Communities and Cooking for Self Determination are available for sale on Favianna’s webpage.

Connecting with so many great people who were interested in urban farming was really energizing. Three Part Harmony Farm is part of a community that grows, sells and eats healthy food. Urban Farming in Washington, DC contributes to food security and food safety by increasing the amount of fresh vegetables and fruits available to people in DC. Local food production through urban farming saves energy and promotes food sovereignty by taking a step towards breaking the dependence on a fragile and increasingly unwieldy global food system.

Three Part Harmony Farm is growing a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers using organic production techniques. We are currently taking orders for seedlings that are growing in our greenhouse.

Our products are grown for everyday people who care about providing healthy food for their families. The farm is an integral part of a vibrant multinational, multicultural city and has a strong long-term presence in the community. We collaborate with small start-ups and nonprofits that share a broader vision of self-sustaining, cooperatively run projects and engage the community around the environment, food, and health while utilizing vacant plots and creating local jobs.

Just in time for spring. This year, skip the hardware store and buy local. http://threepartharmonyfarm.org/buy-local-seedlings/

Click here to place your order.

Three Part Harmony farm would like to thank the volunteers, customers, friends and supporters who made this first year so wonderful!

I could never have predicted everything that happened. And I never anticipated being part of such a community-driven “Community Supported Agriculture” project. The customers were also the volunteers and not to mention my friends and family. Thanks to all!

The last vegetable pick up happened the week after Thanksgiving. The sun was going down just as the table got set up. In the biting cold and with the help of a table lamp, 3PH shareholders chose 9 bunched or bagged items from an array of options.

I promised a journey and I think I’ve delivered that! Stay tuned for news about the farm’s expansion in 2013.

Stay warm, safe and healthy,
Gail

Earlier this months, Three Part Harmony Farm was part of Bustin’ Loose, a party in support of autonomous urban agriculture projects in DC (click here to check out the new video with some of the presentations during Bustin’ Loose). Xavier Brown of the Green Scheme was also involved in the party, which became a great networking opportunity for people from all over the city, who are involved in food justice issues. The Green Scheme is now organizing for Code Green, a big event in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood of Washington, DC and has invited Three Part Harmony Farm to participate. The event on Saturday, July 28 from 10am – 3pm (400 50 Street NE) is centered around the creation of a community garden as an avenue for people in Lincoln Heights to cultivate their own vegetables. Code Green will also include a community brainstorm about food deserts in Ward 7, food, live music, a DJ, face painting and a moon bounce. Three Part Harmony Farm is going to set up a farm stand with fresh locally grown produce and information about urban farming in the District.

For more information about Code Green and the community garden in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood, contact Xavier Brown

Bustin’ Loose for Heal our Hood, Three Part Harmony Farm and the Green Scheme. The community came together on Saturday, July 7, 2012 for a BBQ, speak out and dance party in support of autonomous urban agriculture projects in DC.

Tashira Halyard, Mac Gaskins, Gail Taylor and Xavier Brown (left to right)

Following a relaxed meal with beers, burgers and grilled veggies, representatives of different groups talked about their efforts for Food Justice, about the challenges they are facing, and their visions for the future of urban agriculture in the district. The speakers were Tashira Halyard of Heal Our Hood, an organization that was created in 2008 to respond to food and health disparities in low-income communities in Washington, D.C.; Gail Taylor of Three Part Harmony Farm; and Xavier Brown, a master gardener and the Green Scheme‘s Director of Urban Agriculture.

Zachari Curtis

Heal our Hood’s primary goal is to eradicate food deserts (areas with limited access to healthy foods) through community organizing, social justice initiatives, nutritional education, and community gardening. The Green Scheme is an organization designed to educate people of diverse cultural backgrounds about their role in the environmental movement. Zachari Curtis added additional information about the history of agriculture in Washington, DC.

Bustin’ Loose also featured a live performance by DC artist Sitali Siyolwe, a DC-based singer, songwriter, and guitarist, who spent his childhood crisscrossing the globe with stops in Egypt, Russia and England. At the age of 13, Sitali had his first recording session with veteran producer Glynn Johns (of Led Zeppelin and Rolling Stones fame). After stints in New York and Seattle, Sitali settled in Washington DC, where he formed the band christened with his name in 2005.

Watch a short video of some of the presentations during Bustin’ Loose:

Performance by Sitali Siyolwe

Community BBQ, Speak Out and Dance Party in support of autonomous urban agriculture projects in DC

Click here to for more photos from Bustin’ Loose.

“Food for the body is not enough. There must be food for the soul.”
- Dorothy Day

One of the plots where Three Part Harmony Farm is currently growing fresh vegetables is part of the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker House (DDCWH) in the Petworth neighborhood of Washington, DC. For thirty years the DDCW has served as a house of hospitality for mostly single moms and their children from D.C., the U.S. and around the world. It has also been a school where those, inspired by the Catholic Worker vision, have learned about community, solidarity, Gospel nonviolence, resistance, patience, compassion, forgiveness and so much more.

The farming efforts on the DDCWH plot have been undertaken by Amanda, Gail, Hendrik, Holly, Jennifer, JJ, Katie, Layne, Michael, Novella, Selina, Zachari, and others. We have planted artichokes, spinach, cabbage, kale, collards, tomatoes, cucumbers, basil, squash, peas, celery, eggplants, beans and more. Some of the produce that has been harvested was distributed to low income families and individuals in the neighborhood through the food pantry that the Catholic Workers are operating. Three Part Harmony also supported the Solidarity Cyclers 2012 with fresh vegetables during their bike ride.

For more photos of the Three Part Harmony Farm plot at the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker House, click here.

Three Part Harmony had its first farm stand on May 20, 2012 at the Grey Market, which took place at the Emergence Community Arts Collective in the Shaw neighborhood of DC. The market is being organized by Grey DC, an organization dedicated to building a stronger community in Washington DC. Grey DC is a small business incubator that provides opportunities for local entrepreneurs. The Grey Market provides opportunities for local small businesses to connect directly to potential consumers. Grey DC believes that all food can be locally and sustainably produced. All vendors make or source their food from Washington DC, Maryland, or Virginia and are committed to bringing local, healthful, and sustainable alternatives to the marketplace.

Three Part Harmony Farm offered lettuce, kale, chard, and bok choi as well as spring plant seedlings: spinach, cabbage, kale, collards, broccoli etc. and tomatoes, cucumbers, basil, summer squash, eggplant and peanuts!

To check out more photos from the Three Part Harmony farm stand at the Grey Market, click here.

A barn raising describes a collective action of a community, in which a barn for one of the members is assembled collectively by members of the community. Barn raising was particularly common in 18th- and 19th-century rural North America. A barn was a necessary structure for any farmer, for example for storage of cereals and hay and keeping of animals. Yet a barn was also a large and costly structure, whose assemble required more labor than a typical family could provide. Barn raising addressed the need by enlisting members of the community, unpaid, to assist in the building of their neighbors’ barns. Because each member was entitled to recruit others for help, the favor would eventually return to each participant.

Barn raising is an example of a fundamental form of human cooperation – indirect reciprocity. In contrast to direct reciprocity (“I help you and you help me”), indirect reciprocity follows the principle of “You help me and I’ll help someone else” or “I help you and someone else will help me.” It is also known as generalized exchange or pay it forward.

To view photos of the construction of the first Three Part Harmony Greenhouse, click here.

To view more photos of the construction of the first Three Part Harmony Greenhouse, click here.