Gardeners Were Game Despite the Rain at This Year’s Plant Sale
The moist weather on the first day of last month’s Rare & Unusual Plant Sale hardly dampened gardeners’ enthusiasm. In fact, about as many people came to City Farm this year as in the recent past (we counted 2,140!). The weather didn’t deter our hardy volunteers or the fantastic musicians who make the Sale such a festive, one-of-a-kind event. To all we say a big Thank You for making it another successful year!
Throughout the weekend we heard people describe the Sale as “the best day of the year.” This makes all of the labor that goes into it worthwhile especially for Rich, Matt, Alexis and Nick, our City Farm staff who tended the 20,000 seedlings offered since early spring.
This year Massachusetts horticulturist Russell Stafford surprised us with a fresh batch of perennials on Sunday. His plants truly lived up to the rare and unusual promise, and caused a stir among gardeners looking for something new.
Perennials are the only plants sold at the Sale not grown from seed at City Farm. The vast majority come from gardeners like you, who dig them out of their backyards each spring to donate to the Sale. (The rest are given by local nurseries; see accompanying list.) We’re looking to expand the ranks of our perennial donors, as well as the volunteers who serve on the Plant Sale Committee, which helps plan the event. If you love gardening and want to share your passion for it, we invite you to contact Rich Pederson at cityfarm@southsideclt.org or 401-273-9419.
Plant Sale proceeds support community gardeners as well as beginning farmers, youth education and employment, and food growing and nutrition programs in economically challenged communities in Providence, Pawtucket and Central Falls. As the area’s largest source of sustainably grown vegetable, herb and fruit plants, our Plant Sale continues to play an important role in expanding our local food system. You can read more about its impact here.
