Urban Strawberry Project
This week marked another busy and productive period with Cornell’s Urban Strawberry Project. Although we didn’t apply any fertilizer this week, there were still plenty of tasks to keep me engaged and learning.
During my visit to the Community Access community garden, I noticed that some of the strawberry plants were showing symptoms of leaf blight. This discovery was concerning, as leaf blight can significantly affect the health and productivity of the plants. To confirm my suspicions, I used the Berry Diagnostic Tool, a valuable resource developed by Professor Marvin Pritts. This tool helped me accurately diagnose the issue, ensuring that we can take the appropriate steps to manage and mitigate the disease. Addressing this issue promptly is crucial to maintaining the health of the garden and ensuring a successful strawberry harvest.
In addition to monitoring plant health, I spent time observing the overall condition of the garden, weeding, pruning runners, collecting data on relative humidity and temperature, and ensuring that the plants have optimal growing conditions.
Looking Ahead: Farmers’ Market Interviews
Next week marks the beginning of a new and exciting phase of my internship: conducting interviews at farmers’ markets. These interviews are a critical component of our Integrated Pest Management (IPM) outreach efforts. By speaking directly with community members, particularly those in Spanish-speaking communities, I aim to gather insights into their needs and preferences regarding IPM programming.
I’m very excited about this opportunity to engage with the community and learn from their experiences. Understanding their perspectives will help us tailor our IPM programs to be more effective and relevant. These interviews will also strengthen our connections with the communities we serve, fostering a collaborative approach to both pest management and urban agriculture.
Strawberry plants at Community Access garden
Time, temperature, and relative humidity at the Community Access garden shown in the HOBOConnect monitoring app