AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi
and Lean on Dee Senior Home Care Services
Riding around Langton Green Community Farm on a UTV with farm director John Iaquinta on a sunny spring day was bound to be fun. Passing by several farm workers pruning blackberry bushes and a flock of hens, we headed for one of the farm’s hoop houses to meet new farm manager Sam Garrett.
Now that he’d completed transferring seedlings from the greenhouse to the long, perfectly formed rows in the hoop house, Garrett was keeping an eye on them – especially since the roof blew off its frame a few days ago in the recent winds and had to be wrestled back on.
Luckily, the atmosphere inside was warm and pleasant when we stepped in.
“In combination with moisture and light, our well-prepared rows with their balanced mix of nutrients are perfect for growing greens, ” he said. “We’ve planted tiny seedlings of leeks, kale, spinach, lettuces and arugula and they are loving it.”
We followed Garrett back to the farm’s headquarters where he and Iaquinta led the way to a room flooded with pink light from two layers of specially designed florescent tubes. Both men acknowledged that the lighting is an experiment – one that seems to be working well.
“These are dwarf tomato plants which only grow to about 12 inches,” noted the farm manager. “You can see that they are already flowering. We have an orange variety, a yellow variety and a typical red. The fruit will be standard cherry tomato sized.”
Iaquinta added that the dwarf tomato seedlings are one among many varieties of flowers and vegetables being grown for Langton Green’s annual Spring Plant Sale being held at the Millersville-based acreage on May 3rd.
Stepping past farm cat Atticus in the hall, we entered a room with dozens more plants that were hale and hearty thanks to an abundance of windows that provided optimum lighting conditions.
The busiest place of all was a nearby greenhouse where there were hundreds of flats of seedlings at various stages of growth. Garrett and farm assistant Madison Smith (also seen in the opening photo) were pleased with the progress of the tomatoes and super healthy lettuce they are growing hydroponically along with regular plantings of the Asian salad green tatsoi, multi-colored chard and mustard greens.
Allegheny blackberry transplants were easy for Garrett to grow from cuttings, but growing cotton as an experiment has him crossing his fingers. He said it takes up to 180 days till it’s ready for harvest. He’ll plant the cotton in a few different locations to see where it does best.
Rosemary, lavender, thyme, and primrose transplants gave way to adobo and golden Bell pepper plants and several purple potato plants. Even the youngest seedlings need attention from Sam and Madison with watering and occasional weeding.
Now in its 11th year of operation, Langton Green Community Farm has undergone many changes and made considerable progress according to John Iaquinta.
“We’ve had several different farm managers over the years, each with a different agricultural background and different set of skills. They’ve made a big difference in elevating our operation to the professional gardening level.”
When the COVID pandemic hit, there was more of a shift to environmental science. The farm brought in managers focused on soil process who established a blueprint for what is being done now.
According to Iaquinta, the farm managers, workers and volunteers initially concentrated on growing summer produce. But they are now pushing to grow produce 12 months of the year. They’re planning to sustain production by growing cool weather varieties, utilizing the greenhouses, and adding some hydroponically raised salad greens.
Garrett plans to experiment with the science of aquaponics wherein you introduce a fish or a shrimp to the irrigation water for whatever plant you are growing, using their waste as the main nutrient source.
With the arrival of spring, the farm will pick up the pace. Langton Green’s CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program will begin on March 17th. Participants will pay an initial flat rate of $200 to get an entire summer’s worth of handpicked produce. There will be six to eight things in each box ranging from salad greens, tomatoes, peppers and other vegetables to strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, and fruit from the orchard.
Iaquinta said the farm can now support up to 25 or 30 CSA customers, supply produce for farm donors and sponsors, and supply produce and fresh eggs for Langton Green’s homes for developmentally disabled individuals. They also partner with SPAN, Inc. to provide fresh produce for their clients.
As mentioned previously, Langton Green Community Farm’s Spring Plant Sale will take place on May 3rd when most of what’s being raised in the greenhouses will be offered to the public.
Between 26 and 30 community plots will shortly be made available to the public as well. There will be no charge for the plots, but participants are asked to volunteer four of five hours of labor to the farm.
Limited “Pick Your Own” days for strawberries, blueberries or blackberries are on the agenda for this spring and an online “storefront” is being launched where customers can order fruits or vegetables from the Langton Green website Langton Green Community Farm | (langtongreenfarm.com) or by visiting Facebook. The produce ordered will be handpicked on Fridays and be ready for pickup on Saturdays.
A visit to Langton Green Community Farm is always entertaining. Twenty-five adults with disabilities work there tending the livestock or working in the gardens or greenhouses. There are 35 to 40 chickens of various breeds, four goats and a similar number of pigs that children just love to visit. Artwork is woven throughout the grounds amidst raised flower and vegetable beds. Best of all, there are programs and activities to enjoy including “First Saturday” events featuring musical performances, storytelling or other forms of entertainment.
Though located off busy General’s Highway in Millersville, a visit to the farm feels like going to the country. The produce raised there is great throughout the spring, summer and fall and the prices are super competitive.
A reminder: Tickets still available for Severn Cross Roads Wine, Cheese and Chocolate St. Patrick’s Day fundraiser being held this Saturday, March 15
The Severn Cross Roads Foundation still has some tickets available for Historic Baldwin Hall’s annual event – the Wine, Cheese and Chocolate Fundraiser being held this Saturday, March 15th from 7-10 pm. Tickets for the St. Patrick’s Day themed event may be ordered by calling 410-409-0187, by emailing: gcampbell8185@gmail.com or they may be ordered online at https:PayPal.me/BaldwinHallMD.
The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center.)
and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.
