Derek Christianson of Brix Bounty Farm in Dartmouth led a session on vegetable plant and seed selection on March 24, 2009 in the Community Room of the Fall River Public Library. The program was part of the Healthy City Fall River effort to promote the establishment of community gardens in Fall River. Mr. Christianson offered information on each of the vegetable families: alliums, brassica, chenopods, compositae, cucurbits, legumes, solanaceae and umbels along with recommendations for planting times and conditions. He also touched on soil preparation, crop rotation, succession planting and companion planting. Participants posed a number of questions pertaining to their own gardens and planting experiences before the 90-minute session closed. Participants also had the opportunity to look over catalogues, books and other materials, as well as taking sample seeds. To see videos of this session, click here for Part I, click here for Part II, and click here for Part III. Click here to see photos and videos of Mr. Christianson's session on soil analysis. For further information, contact Dr. Weed at 508-324-2411.
 

(Top row, left) Penny Phillips of the Fall River Garden Club, Cathy Cleare, Children in Balance Project Manager Marcia Picard and Cindy Garant sign in for the session in the Fall River Library community room. (Top row, right) Derek Christianson of Brix Bounty Farm in Dartmouth outlines the topics in his presentation that covered vegetable plant selection. (Middle row, left) Rev. James Hornsby, Pastor Emeritus at St. Luke's Church and an active member of Green Futures, talks about his gardening experience as Cathy Cleare and Cindy Garant listen. (Middle row, center) Mr. Christianson displays a copy of The New Seed Starters Handbook by Nancy Bubel. (Middle row, right) Marcia Picard, Nilsa Garcia-Rey and Kate Marin listen to the presentation. (Bottom row, left) Penny Phillips, Cindy Garant and Cathy Cleare laugh about their gardening experiences. (Bottom row, right) Nilsa Garcia-Rey, Penny Phillips and Rev. Hornsby chat with Derek following the presentation.