Author, ag expert to have 'kitchen table' conversation during Carson City Farmer's Market

New York Times author Novella Carpenter will be at the 3rd and Curry Street downtown Carson City Farmer’s Market on July 19 at 11 a.m. to chat about her bestselling memoir, Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer.

Carpenter and northern Nevada agriculture expert Mark O’Farrell, of Hungry Mother Organics, are set to engage in a kitchen-table visit. Under a large tent, with seats for 100, the conversation will be led by northern Nevada’s KTVN news anchor Erin Breen. The special event is aimed at raising awareness about the vital role farmers play in our lives.

“We hope the message promotes the importance of area food sources and educates people about where they can buy locally grown food. We also want to talk about ways all of us can contribute to sustainability with green habits especially related to water conservation,” says Library Trustee and Library Foundation Chairwoman, Pam Graber.

As a part of the library’s 8-week summer reading series for adults, the special event is presented in conjunction with the Friends of the Library and the Library Foundation. Tickets are $20 per person and include the hour-long program, coffee/tea and a generous slice of home-made farmer’s market zucchini bread and fresh fruit. Seats are limited to 100 people.

Tickets are available online from the library’s website at www.carsoncitylibrary.org, at the Friends of the Library Browser’s Corner Used Bookstore at 711 E. Washington St. (across the street from the main library), the farmers market Saturday July 12, or at the door on July 19 from 8:30 – 11:00, while supplies last.

The proceeds benefit the Friend’s and Library Foundation's support of summer reading programs for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Nevada.

“Novella Carpenter and Mark O’Farrell will be discussing issues about farming in northern Nevada and Oakland, California – city farmer / country farmer – in an interesting ag discussion from two very different environments. Erin Breen is a widely trusted voice in journalism throughout northern Nevada. She’s leading this conversation on the 19th and will synthesize important issues as well as help the audience engage with the experts. We hope people bring their questions,” says Graber.

The 2014 book selection of Farm City for the Library’s first ever summer reading program for adults was chosen to appeal to the thousands of Saturday morning Carson City farmer’s market goers. Carpenter’s mentor, Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma, informed many of Carpenter’s practices and her book. She writes daily and can be found here.

On Friday, July 18 from 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. Carpenter will be signing books at the Friends of the Library Browser’s Used Bookstore at 711 E. Washington Street. The public is invited to bring previously purchased books for an autograph, and some copies are available for sale and signing as well.

“Carpenter’s story is an unbelievable (but true) recount of her work that ultimately resulted in converting an abandoned and blighted city parcel into a fully operating, farming enterprise in an area of Oakland, California that was so dangerous grocers would not locate in the area, creating what urban planners call a food desert,” says Carson City Supervisor Karen Abowd, “I just loved the book and looking back on our community journey to get The Greenhouse Project going I can relate – laughing and crying. I love the way she chooses to tell a tough story in a funny way,” says Abowd.

Abowd was the driving force behind The Greenhouse Project (TGP), opened in 2012, that provides a year-round source of locally-grown agricultural and horticultural products for the Carson City community and area food banks. Operations rely on renewable energy sources for power and use ecologically sustainable growing methods to cultivate vegetables, flowers, and bedding plants. Located on the campus of Carson High School, the greenhouse also produces food for the school’s culinary program and its restaurant that is open to the public. More information about the greenhouse project is at www.carsoncitygreenhouse.org. Carpenter will enjoy a full tour of The Greenhouse during her Carson City visit.

For their part in the food supply chain, Hungry Mother Organics grows certified organic plants and produce for folks in the dusty high desert of Northern Nevada.

On five leased acres at the Northern Nevada Correctional Facility, Hungry Mother has a greenhouse, several hoop houses and certified organic fields where they grow a variety of organic plants and produce, selling at local farmers markets and restaurants.

Founder, Mark O’Farrell has a master’s degree in vocational agriculture from Virginia Tech University. He taught for North Carolina State University’s Cooperative Extension, and also helped develop a two-year degree program at NC State in sustainable agriculture. He was also a water quality educator for the University of Nevada’s Cooperative Extension before starting Hungry Mother Organics.

“Mark O’Farrell is a linchpin authority on sustainability and Nevada agriculture. He’s passionate about community and walks his talk. His perspective and that which can be understood from Carpenter’s Farm City memoir seem delightfully similar. I can’t wait to hear them chat,” says Abowd.

More in the Market Librarians are also hosting a series of events informed by Carpenter’s book. In the library’s pop-up classroom at the market, between June 14 and August 9, seven mini farm clinics are being presented by local amateur experts about everything from backyard chickens to making kombucha and more.

“We are showcasing some of the common challenges all farmers face and at the same time working to raise awareness about food sources and what is really involved when enthusiasts take on backyard projects,” says library deputy director, Tammy Westergard.

For example, Carson City’s Lisa Keating-McEllistrem and her daughters Elia and Dahlia are well versed with the ins and outs of raising backyard chickens. The threesome hosted one of the mini ag clinics during the June 21 market and answered questions nonstop for nearly four hours about their award-winning birds and poultry practices.

“I think it’s important to really think about the pros and cons of a poultry project,” says Lisa. “We have learned a lot over the last few years.” Elia and Dahlia agree, “They make a lot of poo, but the eggs are really good!”

Remaining Series: 9:00 – 11:30 a.m. in the library’s “pop up” farmers market classroom, Saturdays in downtown Carson City

Saturday, July 12: The Secret Life of Bees Tucked away on an acre in Reno is Hidden Valley Honey and the home of the Foster family. While living in California in 1997, their property was invaded by a swarm of bees. They decided to turn a problem into a profit, and Hidden Valley Honey was born. Learn more about what it takes to bee keep in the backyard and turn your garden into a pollinator paradise to maximize flower, fruit, and vegetable reproduction.

*Friday, July 18: Note this event is on FRIDAY at the Friends Browsers Corner Used Bookstore – 711 E. Washington St. (across from the library)

BOOKSIGNING (!) get your copy of Farm City signed by Novella at the Friends of the Library Browser’s Corner Used Bookstore, 711 E. Washington St., 4:30 – 6 p.m.

Bring your previously purchased book or get a gently used one at the bookstore, while supplies last. Also, come visit with the Friends, browse the NEW bookstore and think about joining this vital group passionate about literacy, legacy and learning.

Saturday, July 19: Signature event with Novella Carpenter NY Times bestselling author of Farm City and Mark O’Farrell from northern Nevada’s Hungry Mother Organics Join acclaimed local broadcast journalist, Erin Breen, for coffee/tea, farmer’s market zucchini bread, fresh fruit and an hour-long program: country farmer / city farmer with Novella Carpenter and Mark O’Farrell. Seats are limited to 100 people. Tickets are available online from the library’s website at www.carsoncitylibrary.org , at the farmers market Saturday July 12 or at the door on July 19 from 8:30 – 11:00, while supplies last. Proceeds benefit the Friend’s and Library Foundation's support of summer reading programs for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Nevada.

Saturday, July 26: By the Book Mulching Mania with Library Trustee Chairwoman, Sandy Foley Dig it (!), but it ain’t that easy in northern Nevada … the soil that is. Sandy Foley and husband Jim specialize in creating edible landscapes, including container gardens and raised beds. Sandy will cover the basics of good soil, zone gardening, planting from seeds, transplanting from starts, weeds, pests, rotating crops and harvesting.

Saturday, August 9: Garage Brew (!) What? Garage beer brewing masters Rick Tinius and Joe McEllistrem will describe the beer making process from hops to bottle. Examine the raw ingredients; learn what wort is … maybe even taste a bit!

Novellabooksigning Flier 7 by Carson Now