Clintonville or Worthington Farmers’ Market Saturday mornings

Uptown Westerville Farmers’ Market Wednesday evenings

City Folk’s Farm Shop

Clintonville Community Market

Bexley Natural Market

This year, we are offering the following varieties, all heirloom and open pollinated:

Beefsteak Tomatoes – Delicious, Caspian Pink, Sarah Black, Goldie, Green Giant – Download .pdf of Beefsteak descriptions

Paste Tomatoes – Hungarian, Grandpa Nick’s, Roma, San Marzano – Download .pdf of Paste descriptions

Slicing Tomatoes – Honey, Rose de Berne, Black Russian, Valencia, Annanas Noir – Download .pdf of Slicing descriptions

Salad Tomatoes – Glacier, Indigo Rose, Japanese Black Trifele, Juane Flamme, Pixie Peach – Download .pdf of Salad descriptions

Cherry Tomatoes – Peacevine, Tsunshigo, Sungold, Yellow Pear, Aunt Ruby’s German Green – Download .pdf of Cherry descriptions

Hot Peppers – Maya Habenero, Jalapeno, Hungarian Wax, Korean Dark Green, Pasilla Bajilo – Download .pdf of Hot Pepper descriptions

Sweet Peppers – Topepo Roso, Corno di Toro, Jimmy Nardello, Orange Bell, Olympus, Yankee Bell, Shishito – Download .pdf of Sweet Pepper descriptions

Herbs - Basil (Genovese, Thai, Lemon), Rosemary, Sage, Italian Oregano, Parsley, Dill, Chives, Chives, Spearmint, Chocolate Mint, Peppermint, Lavender, Catnip, Lemon Verbena

Specialty Plants – Tomatillo Grande, Purple Tomatillo, Sunchokes

Spring has sprung and our organic seedlings need room to spread their roots before moving in to the hoop house. With thousands of tomatoes, peppers, and herbs already growing, many hands and lively conversation make light work!

We are offering a small group learning experience at our urban farm in Clintonville in exchange for volunteer assistance with transplanting. We will work Sundays (11 am – 2 pm or 2 pm – 5 pm) and Wednesdays (4 – 7 pm) through April until the seedlings are potted.

To facilitate the work-flow, all volunteers must be available for the whole three-hour session and must register their commitment by calling Joseph at 614-557-8902. We will notify volunteers if the day is cancelled due to inclement weather.

Volunteers will want to dress to get dirty and pack a beverage or snack as desired. We’ll chat local food and gardening while we work – bring your questions and experiences to share!

Update 4/8: We had an amazing response to the first Sunday and this week Wednesday is full. We can only accommodate a small group at a time – please remember that volunteers must call 557-8902 to reserve a spot. Thanks!

Find us together at the Clintonville, Westerville, and Worthington farmers’ markets beginning this spring.

Our mission includes encouraging people to grow their own food at home. To that end, we’re partnering with friends across Central Ohio to provide educational experiences this winter. We hope to see you there!

Seed Starting for the Home Gardener

Join Joseph Swain of Swainway Urban Farm for a hands-on advanced seed starting workshop. Starting your own seeds at home is not only empowering, it can save annual costs and allow you to grow diverse varieties of vegetables that may not otherwise be available. In this workshop you will learn step by step how to starts seeds like a pro and provide yourself with transplants for your garden. Best practices and planting schedules will be shared. All equipment and supplies needed to ensure strong, healthy plants will be available for purchase. Gardeners of all experience levels welcome.

Sunday, February 3 from 2-4 pm at City Folk’s Farm Shop, 4760 N High St. Columbus OH 43214.

Cost: $20/person

Register in person at City Folk’s Farm Shop, 4760 N High St Columbus OH 43214, by calling Shawn at 946-5553 or email shawn@cityfolksfarmshop.com.

OEFFA Conference – Reflections on Terra Madre

Joseph will join other delegates to Slow Food International’s Terra Madre 2012 event in sharing what inspired and excited them.

Saturday, February 17 1:45 – 2:40 pm. at Granville High School, Conference registration required.

Hoophouse And Season Extension Workshop

Join Joseph Swain of Swainway Urban Farm and Rachel Tayse Baillieul of Hounds In The Kitchen on March 3 from 10am- 2pm for a hands-on season extension workshop and hoophouse build. With the addition of a simple hoophouse, home gardeners in Central Ohio can extend the growing season from early spring to late fall and right on through the winter months. For around $300, a hoophouse can provide a warm space to harden seedlings and get a jump on summer crops. In this session, participants will construct a hoophouse while learning best practices on growing food for themselves year round. Pricing and sourcing for equipment and hardware will be provided. The workshop will take place at Rachel’s homestead in North Central Columbus.

The cost is $25 per person including a locally-sourced lunch sponsored by City Folk’s Farm Shop. Dietary restrictions can be accommodated with advance notice.

Register in person at City Folk’s Farm Shop, 4760 N High St Columbus OH 43214, by calling Shawn at 946-5553 or email shawn@cityfolksfarmshop.com.

For the first time ever, Swainway Urban Farm will offer a CSA for the winter 2013 season!

Our CSA will cost $120 for a 12 week season from January 12 to March 30, 2013. Each shareholder may choose from the following four options:

• 1/4lb mushrooms (shiitake or oyster) & 2 bags microgreens (kale, radish, arugula, or pea shoot)
• 1/2 lb mushrooms (shiitake or oyster or a mix) & 1 bag microgreens (kale, radish, arugula, or pea shoot)
• 4 bags microgreens (kale, radish, arugula, or pea shoot)
• 3/4 lb mushroom (shiitake or oyster or a mix)

To sign up, simply print the CSA order form (link opens .pdf) and mail to the farm at 285 Canyon Dr S Columbus OH 43214.

The primary pick-up location will be at the Clintonville Farmer’s Market 10 am – 1 pm at St. James Episcopal Church at the corner of Oakland Park and Calumet.

Shares are limited – order soon to enjoy fresh, local, organic food all year round.

To raise money for the delegation, Joseph is hosting a movie night and open house on September 22.

Conversation with some of Central Ohio’s finest young farmers will begin at 6:30 pm, fueled by locally-sourced snacks from Terra Madre delegate Chef David MacLennan and Edible Columbus editor Trisha Wheeler. At sundown, guests will view the film Grow!, a documentary about young farmers.

Purchase $20 tickets online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/275075 or at the Swainway Urban Farm booth at the Clintonville Farmers’ Market Saturday mornings from 9 am – noon.

Before the Urban Farm, our urban lot was a deep green grass yard.

After a few years, we added a hoop house, beds, and straw bale compost bin in the back.

Later we added deep beds for root vegetables and row covers for season extension.

The front yard now features a small garden, raspberry bushes, and sunning spots for the microgreens.

We constantly pursue maximum growing production from our small lot.

In 2011 we were pleased to welcome a group of children several times throughout the growing season to work alongside us. They planted their own garden and prepared produce for sale.

Please view our calendar for the next public tours and events.

Seed starts at Swainway are treated with the utmost of care. They start their life in the basement grow room under lights. When the time and temperature is right, the seedlings move to the greenhouse.

The heartiest stock is repotted several times. Before sale, seedlings are transfered to a four inch pot filled with organic soil less mix.

Quality, healthy starts like ours make for strong, productive plants.

Find Swainway seedlings at Saturday Clintonville Farmer’s Markets and City Folk’s Farm Shop beginning the last week of April.