By Bethany Fancher

Urban farming- in Nashville this can have a suburban feel, at least it does in my neighborhood. Our enclave has yards that are often 1 acre, so there is some ground to play with. We have a neighborhood group meeting once a month, not because we are an HOA, (we are not that),  it is just a way to get to know neighbors and organize some projects together. Sometimes it’s a trash pick up around the neighborhood, sometimes a porchfest or planting trees. Last week it was a seed swap. Besides swapping some seeds, we talked about all the upcoming plant related events fast approaching, as well as timelines for planting and preparing. Dormant oil was a timely topic- the weather is warming up and soon buds will pop open (perhaps by the time this is published) - read the label on the dormant oil container, it will advise for different kinds of trees and plants for what is the best moment to spray for each. Pick a non-windy day between 40 to 70 degrees.Thwart those mites! 

Another topic discussed was how to make a yard into an official farm. My main crop has been garlic, and I’ve been ramping up production for a few years. I also have some small cold frame beds for growing greens over winter. I registered my yard plot with the USDA and got a farm and track number. Now that I have that, I am eligible for programs through the NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE( NRCS), like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) grant to help me expand my growing season for winter greens by getting a hoop house (these are big enough to require a permit from Metro). Unfortunately, after a site visit from an NRCS representative, it was determined my yard has too much slope for a hoop house (needs to be 4% grade or less, I am told). If it had been less than 4% grade slope, I would have been a candidate for a hoop house grant. Also, due to sudden funding cuts, farmers are being backtracked out of grant money already promised to them this year. So I can’t say for sure what will be available for these EQIP grants right now. But if you are growing some crop and want to get a farm and track number, you can do that with a very small plot, just talk to someone at the USDA about what you want to be growing and what you have been growing- Also, just  fyi, getting a farm number does not change your tax status, in case anyone is wondering or getting excited about that aspect, zoning stays the same. 

Lastly, we talked about the Smart Yard program, in case you missed the memo: TN Smart Yards Festival in Davidson County is on May 10^th from 9am-1pm at the Demonstration and Education Gardens at Ellington. I have the Smart Yard certification, and I encourage my neighbors and beyond to take up the challenge, make it a group challenge, support each other, share equipment, make it easier!  It’s about  designing your yard to be a healthy ecosystem. Sequestering water into the ground or catching it in a rain barrel will create less water run-off, less flooding. Tree and plant roots help secure the soil from erosion. Creating pollinator gardens, and no-mow yards help the ecosystem thrive and can cut down on labor (no mow!). Root Nashville and the Nashville Tree Foundation are excellent resources. We planted almost 300 trees in my neighborhood! When the summer heats up, we’ll stay cool.