Camp & Events
The Backyard Farmer Seminar Series
While Whimsy Brook Farm is primarily an equine facility, it is also a working farm with a large vegetable garden, flower gardens, rock gardens, perennial gardens, fruit trees and extensive landscaping, as well as an organic compost operation. Our Backyard Farm Seminar is suitable for both beginning and more experienced backyard farmers.
Your teachers will be Dr. Candace Benyei, and Alison Mann. Dr. Benyei is a life-time farmer, a Director and Past President of Fairfield County Farm Bureau, a former Director of Connecticut Farm Bureau, and a former President of the Fairfield County Extension Council, as well as a Redding resident for 53 years. Alison Mann is a graduate of UC Davis with a degree in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems.
In the Spring Backyard Farmer Seminar Series, you will learn how to best locate, create or improve, and maintain your vegetable garden and flower gardens. In our Fall Backyard Farmer Seminar Series you will learn how to acquire, plant and prune shrubs, fruit trees and specimen trees; and landscape your yard.
Because more gets done in small groups, we limit the Seminar to a maximum of 12 participants. During the cold months we will meet inside in our Group Room, and when the weather is warmer we will move outside. Please bring a survey of your property if you have one, and a note book with a pen or pencil. Once we move outside, you may also bring lunch (or buy it at the Redding Ridge Market at the top of our road) and picnic on the Farm after the seminar.
Syllabus 2024
Saturdays 11:00-1:00 | April 20 - June 22
SESSION I
April 20 vegetable & flower garden location, the planting calendar, hardiness zones
April 27 raised beds, fencing, garden planning, seed catalogues, annuals & perennials
May 4 soil types, drainage, pH, soil amendments, fertilizers, lime, gypsum, magnesium, and other nutrients
May 11 garden tilling, seeds or sets, mulching, watering
May 18 planting the seeds and sets, kitchen gardens, container gardening
SESSION II
May 25 planting tender vegetables, effective weeding, mulching, & weed prevention
June 1 flower garden planning, borders, the all-season flower garden, shade gardens
June 8 deer protection, deer resistant flowers, shrubs, and bulbs
June 15 pests and pest control strategies, row covers
June 22 staking, trellises, towers, pruning tomatoes, planting second crops & Fall crops
Spring Backyard Farmer Seminar Dates & Info
Dates and Time: April 20 – June 22, Saturdays, 11-1:00
Cost: $50 per session, or $200 for five sessions paid at sign-up.
Click here to download the Backyard Farmer Seminar Registration Form.
Or for more information email us or call our Secretary, Michelle, on Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday from 9am-12:00pm at (203) 938-3760 for registration materials and to ask additional questions.