Getting Started with Hydroponics is an introductory workshop designed to teach you the basics growing plants hydroponically. It includes a brief history of hydroponics, the different systems out there and suggestions on hardy crops that are perfect for first-time growers. The best part? You’ll build your own Drip system! Getting Started with Hydroponics is taught by our Chief Hydroponicist, Lee Mandell.
The workshops will be held at Boswyck Farms in Bushwick, Brooklyn. The fee for the workshop is $40; the fee for materials is $55. Register for the 9/7 workshop or Register for the 9/16 workshop
Note: If you’re interested in learning about hydroponics but aren’t ready to build a system, the materials fee will be waived.
August 23, 2010
By Joanna
Who doesn’t love a good radish? (Actually I don’t but that’s a whole other story.) We’ve had our first radish harvest! Some are sweet, some pungent and some right in the middle. Planted a little over a month ago, they grew up to be quite healthy and happy in our flood & drain system. Lee decided the radishes are so good that he’s done another round of planting. These new ones are slated to be part of our hydroponic systems demonstrations and will make their premiere Sunday, September 12, 2010 at Farm City Fair.
August 19, 2010
By Joanna
This report is a little late in coming. The beginning of August found us waist-deep in workshops, not to mention planting, harvesting an incredible amount of Fine Verde basil and experimenting with a bucket flood & drain system.
Thanks to Growing Leaders, who are partnered with BK Farmyards this summer, for being the first group to participate in the soda bottle workshop in our space. Up to now we’ve always held our workshops off-site. You showed us that our magical, expandable kitchen table isn’t just for dining. It transforms nicely into a workbench. We’d also like to give a big thanks to Heather Butts for bringing several young adults from her program, H.E.A.L.T.H. for Youths.
For more information on our educational program contact joanna@boswyckfarms.org.
Our friends over at the Bushwick Starr have an outstanding line-up tonight, featuring the mind-blowing Reggie Watts, along with Sharon Van Etten, Springs, and Matthew Varvil. Our rooftop installation is growing strong, so grab a beer in between sets and check out the tomatoes, basil, and other summer bounty we have growing up there.
August 2, 2010
By Joanna
We just wanted to say many thanks to everyone who attended this past Sunday’s workshop, Getting Started With Hydroponics. We had people from all walks of life including teachers, architects and even a lactation specialist. Our participants asked great questions and were pros at building drip systems.
If you were at the workshop (or attended earlier ones), please take pictures of the plants growing in your systems and send them to us!
July 31, 2010
By Joanna
We’ve had some ups and downs on the roof this week. Let’s get the downs out of the way first. Sadly the sunflowers look like they’re to become the latest victims of high winds. They fell over several times and aren’t looking so hot. Lee just added some sturdy stakes to keep them up but I’m a little worried about them. They are pretty hardy so maybe they’ll be able to recover. The high winds also snapped off some of the beautiful Fine Verde basil.
Now for the ups: the sudden snapping of the basil=Chloë’s delicious pesto. We have butterflies visiting the roof pollinating our cucumbers and long beans which have pretty purple flowers and a brand new bud. (A recent article on urban farming counted 24 different species of butterflies in gardens across Harlem and the Bronx.) There’s an apiary on a neighboring roof and we hope we’re getting some bees from there. We’ve been dodging yellow jackets. They don’t have brushes or baskets to carry pollen but their presence is helpful in keeping harmful insects away. So to sum it up…each new event up on the roof helps us learn what to do and not to do.
Indoors Lee planted carrots to replace the chocolate peppers and the radishes in the flood and drain system are thriving.
July 24, 2010
By Joanna
We’ve had a very busy week at the farm. The heat wave a few weeks back took its toll on our rooftop installation but thanks to Lee’s quick thinking and ability to lug pounds of ice up some steep stairs, everything is back on track. I’m loving the sunflowers which are now enormous. Our cumbers are kicking right along and the Fine Verde basil is busting up out of the NFT system. We also had our first lady bug sighting. Win!
New to the farm this week are our carrots which have just sprouted. Our pea shoots are back. There was a sad turn of events for the peas when it hit 103 degrees on the roof so we’re happy to see them again.
July 20, 2010
by Joanna
We met husband and wife team Jason Hait and Ayelet Prizant a few weeks back at the Crown Heights Health Fair. Jason is the owner and Executive Chef at The Pour Gourmet. They were selling some of their amazingly hot sauces, marinades and mustards. Lee and Jason got to talking about peppers and viola! he offered to take the plethora of Habaneros we recently grew off our hands. Jason will be concocting something most delicious with them. We’re desperate for a taste and we’ll let you know as soon as it’s whiped it up. In the meantime, don’t miss out on other Pour Gourmet treats. I’ve got my eye on the Beer-B-Q sauce. I’m betting it’s fabulous on veggie burgers.
Summer is here and we know you’re looking for a fun morning or afternoon trip. We’re open for visits year-round but why not schedule one now? You can see our indoor R&D lab and we’ll also take you to our rooftop installation at the Bushwick Starr. Email lee@boswyckfarms.org to set up a time. Hope to see you soon!
6/20/10
About a month ago Lee built a vertical system which we planted with strawberries. They are happy in their new home and about 2 weeks ago began to flower. Even though they aren’t quite ready we did a small tasting this past Tuesday. The result? A little tart but a lot delicious. Our Caribbean Red Cabanero peppers have ripened and they are…hot. We’re looking forward to pickling! Our Red Zebra tomatoes were harvested and are pretty and delicious.
June 7, 2010
Bushwick Open Studios was this past weekend. Hot and humid as it was we threw open the doors to the farm, inviting people in to see our seven different hydroponic systems. Those who came got to eat a little of our arugula, watercress and lettuce, not to mention Lee’s homemade and perfectly salted popcorn. (Our peppers and tomatoes were not quite ripe enough to sample but should be there momentairly so make arrangements to visit if you want a taste.) The recently planted strawberries have taken to their new vertical system and we were happy so many people admired how pretty they looked. Several people made hydroponic planters out of recycled soda bottles, seeded them with the basil of their choice and took them home to start a windowsill garden.
A tip of our hat to the peeps over at Arts in Bushwick for organizing another fabulous event. We’re looking forward to next year’s open studios!
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