Garden Guide: How Much to Plant, and When

It's already the second week of March! That means all you gardeners are getting geared up to start some of your plants indoors, get your peas going outside, turn your compost, and plot out your grow beds. But where to begin?

We're here to help you with your timing, seed selection, compost, and everything else involved in growing your own food.

Your spring-planting calendar will vary according to your planting zone. At the

Farmer's Almanac website you can plug in your zip code

to see exactly when you should be planting what in accordance with your plant-hardiness zone.

Click here to give it a try

. Knowing when to start your seeds is a major game-changer for home gardeners. Gardening smarter, not necessarily harder, will save you a bunch of time in the long run and increase your success rate exponentially.

For loads of information for you to access year-round, click on the "gardening" tab on the right of this page. If you'd like a more personalized approach, get in touch with us about a private garden consultation. We will come to you and go over garden mapping, seed selection, landscape design, compost, and answer all your specific questions.

But how much should you plant? Well, it depends. How much food do you want to produce? Enough to garnish your dishes? Enough to feed your whole family? And for how long? Here's a basic guide to figuring out how much you should grow to feed yourself for a year, gleaned from the classic homesteading book,

Reader’s Digest: Back to Basics

:

Asparagus: about 10-15 plants per person

Beans (Bush): about 15 plants per person

Beans (Pole): 2-4 poles of beans per person (each pole with the four strongest seedlings growing)

Beets: about 36 plants per person.

Broccoli: 3-5 plants per person

Cabbage: 2-3 plants per person

Cantaloupe: figure on about 4 fruits per plant (estimate how much your family would eat)

Carrots: about 100 seeds per person (1/4 oz would be plenty for a family of six)

Cauliflower: 2-3 plants per person

Collards: about 5 plants per person

Corn: start out with 1/2 lb. seeds for the family and adjust as needed

Cucumbers: 3-6 plants per family

Eggplant: 3-6 plants per family

Lettuce: 4-5 plants per person

Okra: 3-4 plants per person

Onions: 12-15 plants per person

Parsnips: 12-15 plants per person

Peas: about 120 plants per person

Peppers: 3-5 plants per person

Spinach: about 15 plants per person

Squash (including Zucchini): about 10 per family

Sweet Potatoes: about 75 plants per family

Tomatoes: about 20 plants per family

Turnips: about 1/4 lb seeds per family

Watermelon: about 1/2 oz. seeds per family

For more help planning your garden,

contact us

—or check out

this great resource at Farmer's Almanac

.

DIY Sustainability Center

A sustainable act is one you can repeat forever in the same way. That's it. For all the new schools of sustainability springing up, workshops, and even events, the concept itself is so simple and obvious, it's amazing the practice eludes even our most educated politicians and world leaders.

Sustainability is literally to lend oneself to infinity.

Turning away from unsustainable practices globally is going to take a long time. But incorporating change on your own can be a piece of cake when done right. Here's a quick and easy DIY guide to making your home, workplace, and backyard a little more sustainable. Doing so promises to create a ripple effect that, with enough momentum, will spread and inspire the large-scale change we all so desperately need.

By clicking on the sustainability projects below, you'll be redirected to complete instructions for creating your own rainwater catchment system, simple garden designs, and green decorating tips so you can bring elements of sustainability into your daily life without an engineering degree or expensive home overhaul. Contact us with your questions or tips at

info@betterfarm.org

.

For the Green Thumb:

• Start Your Own Mulch Garden

• Learn About Companion Planting

• Make Your Own Topsy-Turvy Planter

• Chemical-Free, Totally Organic Pesticide

Building and Construction Projects:

• Create Your Own Rainwater Harvesting System

• Build a Greenhouse with Junked Windows

• Make a Mobile Chicken Stagecoach Tractor

Green Home:

• Make Your Own Biodegradable Haircare, Biodegradable Laundry Detergent 

• Choosing the Right Insulation

• Canning Your Leftover Veggies

• Guide to Compost

• The Eco-Friendly Bathroom

• Energy-Saving Tips

About Us

Better Farm, 1970

Better Farm, Inc. is a sustainability education center, artists' colony, and organic farm founded in 1970 on the principles of the Better Theory—a belief that every experience brings with it an opportunity for exponential personal growth. Its incorporation in 2009 as a for-profit LLC ushered in a new era for Better Farm, which now offers year-round educational workshops, artist residencies, work-shares, space for events and conferences, and an ongoing commitment to sustainable living and community outreach. At Better Farm we strive to apply the Better Theory to all our endeavors while offering the curious an opportunity to expand, grow, and flourish.

Better Farm is located in Redwood, N.Y., a hamlet of just 584 people located 23 miles north of Watertown, 10 miles from Alexandria Bay and the Thousand Islands, and just 20 minutes from the Canadian border. The area—known for its pristine lakes, outdoor activities, and open spaces—is perfect for a country retreat or escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

For more information about lodging and to make a reservation to visit, please click here.

 31060 Cottage Hill Road

Redwood, NY 13679

info@betterfarm.org

(315) 482-2536

Our Projects

Here is a list of current projects we're working on at Better Farm. E-mail us at info@betterfarm.org or call (315) 482-2536 with any questions or to get involved.

betterArts
betterArts is a nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization dedicated to increasing access to arts and culture to Redwood, N.Y., and outlying areas.The organization currently hosts artist residencies, workshops, performances, and gallery openings at Better Farm. BetterArts is also in the process of starting a radio station called Better Radio. BetterArts is made possible through the support of people like you who believe in our mission of offering free and low-cost art and music education, New Media training, concerts, events, gallery openings, exhibits, and art supplies to the public. Donations to betterArts are completely tax-deductible. Contact info@betterarts.org to make a contribution or volunteer.


Better Radio
Better Radio is a low-power FM station run and managed by betterArts, being broadcast in the near future out of its location at Better Farm in Redwood. That station, in conjunction with betterArts' website, will provide content to individuals living locally (via FM) and worldwide (via podcasts, live streaming, and sound files). In addition to this recent news, betterArts has received a community grant from Best Buy; the funds of which have been designated for New Media training for teenagers in the North Country. Funds from this grant are used to purchase recording equipment and train young adults in a variety of disciplines. In this community, there are few resources for students interested in the pursuit of New Media and production careers. Better Radio programming educates students on principles of recording, uploading, syncing, mixing, digitally editing, creating podcasts, and producing content in a way that draws attention to our community. Content will be transmitted via the web and FM radio. To become a sponsor, partner, or volunteer, contact us at info@betterarts.org.

Spotlight On: Grassroots Seed Network

Whether you're looking to get seeds or share seeds you saved from your garden last year, a new start-up called the Grassroots Seed Network is a great resource for the radicals among you with a vested interest in spreading the open-pollinated love.


Many fruits and vegetables sold today in supermarkets are hybrid varieties that will either not reproduce from seed, or will revert back to an earlier variety of that plant. Open pollination refers to plants that are pollinated by insects, birds, wind, or other natural mechanisms—in other words, the opposite of controlled hybrids, self-pollinators, or chemically treated plants that can not reproduce at all. Open pollination is great because it increases biodiversity and produces new generations of plants—however, open pollination may produce offspring that varies greatly in size, quality, and coloration breeding is uncontrolled.

As you can probably already guess, the crew at Better Farm is in serious favor of open pollination. Who needs generic peppers or tomatoes that all look the same? We'd rather have an eclectic assortment that promotes diversity among plants. That diversity is what allows you to not lose all your plants to one pest or disease; and what allows for a greater variety of plants in the future. Good all-around for the environment, animals, and plants. For information on how to save your own seeds, be sure to visit the Vegetable Seed-Saving Handbook.

The mission of the Grassroots Seed Network is to provide a participatory, member-governed, democratic network through which those who preserve and maintain the treasured heritage of open-pollinated vegetable seeds can share those seeds with each other and can encourage and help educate the next generation of seed savers.

Here's the skinny on how the Grassroots Seed Network functions:

Grassroots Seed Network is a member-governed organization, and its vitality will grow from the participation of all those dedicated to the preservation of open-pollinated seeds. Here are several ways you can become involved: 

Lister: Listers offer seeds and may request seeds from other Listers through our Source List. Listers have voting rights in all Board of Directors elections if they have offered seed in two of the preceding three years. Listers are also eligible to run for a seat on the Board of Directors. Annual dues for Listers are $15. 

Sustainer: Many of you will not yet have seed to offer, but will want to support the organization by making a contribution toward our daily operating expenses. As a Sustainer you will have access to and be able to request seed from the Source List, but you will not have voting rights. Annual dues for Sustainers are $25. 

Donations: Like any new organization, we have start-up costs, therefore we welcome and are very grateful for donations in any amount that will help us with a
smooth launch and with meeting our financial obligations right from the beginning. 

Hardship Exemption: We want to encourage participation in the Grassroots Seed Network, especially among young gardeners or anyone dedicated to
seed saving, but who may be on a fixed or limited income and for whom the membership dues present a challenge. To those we are offering a hardship exemption. You are, of course, welcome to make any small contribution commensurate with your ability. 

To join, please send a check, made out to Grassroots Seed Network, to 

Yaicha Cowell-Sarofeen 

 2470 Industry Road 

 Starks, ME 04911 

 207-491-4259 

 Email: grassrootsseednetwork@gmail.com 

Be sure to indicate your level of membership, and include your full address, phone number, and email address if you have one. Please let us know if you have no internet access at home. As soon as it is feasible, we plan to generate a printed version of the Source List. In future years a printed version of the Source List will be published annually. If you are joining as a Lister or Sustainer you will be given a member number and be assigned/choose a password for access to Lister contact information and guidelines for requesting seed. If you are joining as a Lister, you will find guidelines for submitting seed listings on the How to List and Request Seed page. 

Grassroots Seed Network will be applying for nonprofit 501(c)(3) status as soon as they have an elected Board of Directors. The group's preliminary draft by-laws can be read here. These will be voted on for approval by the Board and the Membership. In order for donations to be tax-deductible, the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association has agreed to act as financial umbrella organization.

Visit the Source List page to view the seed listings. The Source List is available to the general public for reading. If you are a Lister or a Sustainer you will need your password to access the Lister Profile page or to see guidelines for offering or requesting seed.

Thinking Differently About Demolition

Salvaging windows.

By outsourcing a lot of renovation and demolition work, a person will often miss the opportunity to salvage perfectly good materials that can be saved for other projects, donated, recycled, or even cashed in at redemption centers for money.

In New York City alone, 19,000 tons of demolition and construction materials are discarded daily. That's a huge amount of garbage being added to landfills that doesn't have to be. Organizations like Build it Green! NYC salvage materials such as furniture, wood, and windows from construction sites for resale at a shop in Brooklyn.

Each of us at some point or another will come across a renovation project that provides a wonderful opportunity for salvage if you're willing to take the time to be a little green. My chance came with the recent purchase of a small cottage around the corner from Better Farm that is being totally renovated and rebuilt for year-round use.

Instead of having a crew demolish the structure for rebuild, an unbelievably wonderful group of friends joined me in a salvage project that kept almost all of the original structure from a landfill.

Here's the salvage list from a 24x27 seasonal cottage structure, gleaned from 3 full days of demolition work:

• 600 square feet of tongue-and-groove pine
• 200 square feet of facing stones (to be used for raising the chimney)
• three bed frames
• three double-hung, insulated windows
• 1,000 feet of electrical wiring less than 1 year old
• two antique exterior lanterns
• four interior lighting fixtures
• 1,000 pounds of scrap metal for redemption
• lamps, ceiling fans (2), and kitchen supplies for donation
• six sound-system speakers
• six 4x4 posts
• metal corrugated roofing (80 square feet)
• wood stove
• 15 feet of double-wall, insulated metal chimney pipe
• exterior walls

In addition to salvage materials, there are inevitable treasures to be found in each renovation project. At the cottage, we discovered an American flag painted across the entire ceiling:

Treasure!

New construction for this house starts in mid-April—but demo in winter allows us to get materials off the island while we still have tons of ice. For your own renovation/demolition projects, check with your local thrift shop, Habitat for Humanity, and other organizations to see how the materials from your project can benefit people in your community—and keep some waste out of landfills.

You can check out the full island-renovation album here.

BetterArts to Host Children's Room at Irish Fest March 15, 16

For the second year, betterArts will host the Children's Room at North Country Goes Green Irish Festival to provide arts 'n' crafts and games to kids of all ages.

The three-day event, which draws thousands of people to the Dulles State Office Building where festivities are held, features a parade, entertainment, activities, and food all weekend long. BetterArts will host children's events Saturday and Sunday. The festival opens up at 5:30 p.m. Friday, March 14 with Irish folk music, a beard contest, and lots of other live entertainment.
 


Entertainment is slated from 11 a.m.-midnight on Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday on two floors of the Dulles State Office Building. The parade is scheduled at 1 p.m. Sunday, beginning on Flower Avenue East and ending at the state office building. For the full schedule of events, click here.

This year's children's room will feature the following activities hosted by betterArts:

• Games: Ring Toss, Pin the Hat on the Leprechaun, Bean Bag Toss, Fishing Game, Corn Hole
• Arts 'n' Crafts: Egg-Carton Caterpillars, Coloring, Build-Your-Own Leprechaun
• Face Painting
• Jewelry Making
• 'Go Green' arts 'n' crafts project

Tickets will be available on-site and are as follows: $6 admission Friday and Saturday, younger than 12 is free. Sunday is family day with $6 admission for family and $2 individual admission. The Dulles State Office Building is located at 217 Washington St., Watertown.

Proceeds from the Irish Festival will go to “Project Children North” which brings kids from Ireland for 6 weeks in the summer. Children stay with local host families and get the opportunity to experience the United States The proceeds from the festival also goes to scholarships and other charities such as Wounded Warrior, USO, Credo Foundation, Watertown Urban Mission and food pantries within the tri-county area. 

Local Act 'Bad Husbands Club' Added to Better Festival Roster

Bad Husbands Club perform at Chippewa's ice-fishing derby in February.

The Bad Husbands Club has been added to the stunning Better Festival roster for 2 p.m. Saturday, June 21, at Better Farm.

The Bad Husbands Club is a rock and blues band formed in 2000 by bassist/vocalist Len Senecal. The band has had many incarnations leading up to the current one consisting of:

Emilie Cardinaux, keyboards/vocals
Bill Hill, bass and vocals 
Bryan Honeywell,  guitar and vocals
Bill McGillvray, drums
Glen Pickert, guitar and vocals
Len Senecal, bass/vocals
Anthony Ubriaco, guitar 

What started out as a party band has become a premier North-Country rock band. Playing cover songs from 5 decades and throwing in some originals (including the song that bears the band's name), the Bad Husbands Club is a crowd-pleaser that always leaves fans begging for more. 

The Bad Husbands Club will perform at 2 p.m. on the main stage at Better Festival, the annual open house, fundraiser, and alumni weekend for Better Farm and betterArts. All funds raised at the event will directly fund art- and sustainability-related community outreach initiatives in and around Redwood.

 

The day-long event features live performances by local and regional bands, a gallery showcasing artwork by painters, sculptors, photographers, and more, booths featuring art and handmade items for sale, tours of the Better Farm campus, information about Better Farm and betterArts 2014 programming, arts and crafts for kids (and adults!), freshly prepared and locally sourced food, a refreshments tent, games, bouncy castle, and more! To introduce betterArts' latest endeavor Better Radio, there will be a booth set up for people to create content for that station. Music will also be recorded for live-streaming and podcasts.

 

Camping is available for $10/person/night. Accommodations are available Friday through Monday, or any night therein.

The Bad Husbands Club covers everything from the Allman Brothers Band, Duran Duran, David Bowie, Bob Dylan, the Stray Cats, Coldplay, Traffic, Clapton, the Clash, Neil Young, the Stones, Warren Zevon, the Tragically Hip, the Band, Santana, BTO, and even Johnny Cash. The group is always learning new stuff too—so you can expect to hear songs you love but don't hear every bar band play. No matter your musical taste or age, good music is good music!

Learn more about the Bad Husbands Club:

• Jambase page
• Facebook page
• ReverbNation page

"Art is a jealous mistress; and if a man have a genius for painting, poetry, music, architecture or philosophy, he makes a bad husband and an ill provider."—Ralph Waldo Emerson

Introducing betterArts Resident John Dunsö

 

John Dunsö, a guitarist and singer from Malmo, Sweden, last week joined us Better Farm for a month-long betterArts residency.

He's  the former guitarist and back up vocalist from a Swedish pop band called Billie the Vision and the Dancers (check out their amazing music here!), a band that released five records while Dunsö was on board from 2004 on and toured extensively throughout Sweden and Europe. John left the band a few years ago to pursue his own, solo music; taking off to travel throughout South America and the United States, write, and gig. While he traveled, he wrote what would become the beginnings of his solo album.

During his betterArts residency, John is working on the completion of his solo album. He's also working all the marketing for these songs; which involves daily Skype calls to Swedish radio stations seeking placement. After this, he will go on tour and perform the album live. His goal is to start and finish at least two or three songs and record them to bring home to Sweden for proper studio recording.

So why choose a betterArts residency at Better Farm? This guy loves open space, and he loves physical work. Perfect for us! "I would so much want to avoid distractions and really concentrate and get inspired by other artists," he told us in his application. "When I traveled in South America I spent a lot of time working on farms far from the big cities. I wrote so much there, so I know that isolation together with physical farm work really helps my creativity."

Some of his work in South America included constructing a greenhouse at a place called Finca Biodinamica Cosmos out of the adobe straw-bale method:

 

Here's the short list of John's upcoming contributions during his time at Better Farm—all in addition to creating lots of wonderful music:

• Cooking
• Performing live at various locations throughout the North Country
• Helping with assorted construction/demolition projects slated this month
• Providing chicken care
• Volunteering in kids' arts 'n' crafts room at North Country Goes Green Irish Festival March 15 and 16

We will be archiving his song tracks for distribution through Better Radio, on-air and online.

We'd like to extend the warmest welcome to John! Stop in at 8 p.m. Monday, March 24, at the Redwood Tavern to see John perform live! There is no cover charge for this performance.


To learn more about betterArts residencies and to apply, click here. The music video posted above was recorded in Saxemara, Sweden where John grew up. The video is mixed with old, filmed material his father shot of his family 26 years ago. 

Spring Chickens!

Each Spring at Better Farm, we address, expand, revamp, and otherwise improve our flock of hen

s, roosters, c

hicken tractors and coops

.

Now coming into our FIFTH spring (!!), we've got a rotating system for adding

new members to the group by hatching, adoption, rescue, or purchase. One year we adopt, rescue, and/or purchase new birds, and the following

year we

hatch some of our own hybrid babies. With the tas

k of

rehabbing birds from factories

(and keeping all our b

irds free

-range, su

sceptib

le to

any number of wild threats

)

come inevitable losses

; so each spring is an opportunity to replenish the flock and diversi

fy the gene pool.

In addition to adopting and reha

bbing birds, we provide rehoming services to bir

ds we've r

aised and

/or rehabilitated. If you're interested in adopting a rooster or

rehabil

itated factory hen

, plea

se contact us at info@betterf

arm.org.

When you're figuring out what kind of chickens to get, there are three very important considerations: weather hardiness, temperament, and egg production/meat. It does you no good to get a Silky in the North Country (they hate the cold!), or a decora

ti

ve bird that only lay

s

two or three eggs a week when you're

trying to

produce your

own eggs for eating

or selling.

With all these factors in mind, here's the

lowdown on the feathered friends we'll be adding to our flock

From

Meyer Hatcher

y

. Keep in mind we'll also be adopting about 10 more leghorns from a local egg factory to be r

ehabbed and rehomed as free-range he

ns.

German Spitzhauben

The German Spitzhauben is an active, ornamental bird

originating from Switzerland that actually flies fairly well for a chicken. Originally bred for steep mountainous terrain

, they are good climbers and foragers

, they will forage most of their food if given the chance to. They like to roost in trees especially during cold snaps. They boast a single pointed hood, with feathers defined as crazy in a “Cruella

De Vil” sort of way. Their average maturity weight is

5.5 lbs. for a rooster, 4 lbs. for a hen.

Class:

Europe

Origin:

Switzerland

Comb Type:

V-Shaped Comb

Egg Color:

White

Egg Size:

Meduim

Production:

Fair/Good

Matures:

Early

Bird Size:

Small 4 - 6 lbs.

Broody:

No

Hardiness:

Very Cold Hardy

Personality:

Active, Flyer

Light Brahma

Introduced in the mid 19th century from China, they were imported to England in 1840. The American Poultry fanciers refined the original stock into a large stately breed. They make a good dual purpose breed and though they may only lay 3 or 4 eggs a week, they are known for good winter production. Brahmas do alright in confinement but do much better if they have access to an outdoor run. They are mellow, quite hardy and make good pets. Brahmas are comfortable in heat and cold.  

Class:

Asiatic

Origin:

India/China/ U.S.

Comb Type:

Pea Comb

Egg Color:

Brown

Egg Size:

Medium

Production:

Good

Matures:

Slow

Bird Size:

Heavy 9 1/2 - 12 lbs.

Broody:

Frequently

Hardiness:

Hardy in Cold and Heat

Personality: Gentle, easy to handle

Buff Orpington

Buff Orpingtons are a popular dual-purpose variety and are sometimes called "Big Bufffs."

This is a friendly and affectionate breed which would be good for children. Since they are so calm and quiet they can become bullied by an aggressive breed.

Because

they are loosely feathered, they appear to be heavier than their true weights. Their golden buff feathers are broad and smooth-fitting on this deep-bodied breed. They have quiet dispositions, make excellent mothers, and are one of the most broody of standard breeds. Their white skin is a cosmetic

disadvantage for use as meat birds.

Class:

English

Origin:

England

Comb Type:

Single Comb

Egg Color:

Brown

Egg Size:

Large

Production:

Good

Matures:

Moderately Early

Bird Size:

Heavy 7 - 8 1/2 lbs

Broody:

Yes

Hardiness:

Very Cold Hardy

Personality:

Docile, Quiet, Affectionate

Easter Egger

Commonly known as the Easter Egg Layer, these birds are good layers and produce eggs that range from olive green to turquoise blue

which their name comes from. They're derived from Araucanas or Ameraucanas (hence the green eggs), but they're not a recognized breed because their blood line is so mixed up and varied. Their small size allows them to do well in warm weather but they also do well in cold weather.

Like their eggs, they come in an assortment of colors. They are favored for their eggs, but are large enough to be used for meat.

Average mature weight: Roosters 5 lbs, Hens 4 lbs.

Class:

All Other Breeds

Origin:

United States

Comb Type:

Pea Comb

Egg Color:

Blue/Green

Egg Size:

Medium

Production:

Good

Matures:

Moderately Early

Bird Size:

Small 4-5 lbs

Broody:

Yes

Hardiness:

Very Cold Hardy

Personality:

Active, Friendly

Spotlight On: Beginning Farmers

Whether you're looking to start a commercial farm or simply to begin homesteading, it can be a completely daunting process to figure out all the ins and outs of land stewardship, animal husbandry, growing, and self-sufficiency.


Enter Beginning Farmers, a comprehensive online resource that compiles information resources on all kinds of farm know-how, including:

• Farm financing
• Finding land
• Business planning
• Agricultural production and marketing
• Farm-related jobs and internships

The site also features a blog with up-to-date information and news on farm policy, farming jobs and internships, agricultural research, and the changing face of American agriculture.

Taylor Reid, Beginning Farmers' founder, is a doctoral candidate in Community, Food, and Agriculture at Michigan State University. His dissertation focuses on the values and learning processes of first-generation farmers. His other research interests include agriculture standards, ag.  history, ag. politics, and ag. social movements. Taylor is National Policy Coordinator for Michigan Organic Food and Farm Alliance, and sits on the ANSI Sustainable Agriculture Practice Standard Development Committee. 

Check out Beginning Farmers here.

'Empty Bowls' Event at ACS March 4

Alexandria Central School (ACS) in Alexandria Bay is hosting an "Empty Bowls" event to raise money for the school's Backpack Club from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, March 4.

At Empty Bowls, a $10 donation buys you a ceramic bowl handmade by an ACS student and filled with spaghetti. After dinner, participants may keep their bowls as reminders of all the empty bowls in the world. 

The Backpack Club provides food on the weekends to ACS children whose families cannot otherwise afford it.

Alexandria Central School is located at 34 Bolton Ave. in Alexandria Bay.

Headliners Announced for Better Festival June 21

We are pleased to announce The Mighty High & Dry as headliners for Better Festival 2014!

The Mighty High & Dry's music is rooted in soulful blues, funk, and jazz. The band is comprised of Chris Teal on drums, Kyle Vock (a Theresa native!) on bass, Alan Murphy on vocals, and Mike Frederick on guitar. Soaring off a recently released, self-titled debut, band members are in the process of recording their second album.

You can visit their page at Reverb Nation to hear some of their tracks—or come down to Better Farm June 21 for Better Festival and catch them at 6 p.m. live.

Here's the 411 on the festival:

Better Festival, the annual open house, fundraiser, and alumni weekend for Better Farm and betterArts, is slated from 12-8 p.m. Saturday, June 21, 2014.

 

All money raised at the annual music, sustainability, and arts festival will directly fund art- and sustainability-related community outreach initiatives in and around Redwood.

 

The day-long event features live performances by local and regional bands, a gallery showcasing artwork by painters, sculptors, photographers, and more, booths featuring art and handmade items for sale, tours of the Better Farm campus, information about Better Farm and betterArts 2014 programming, arts and crafts for kids (and adults!), freshly prepared and locally sourced food, a refreshments tent, games, bouncy castle, and more! To introduce betterArts' latest endeavor Better Radio, there will be a booth set up for people to create content for that station. Music will also be recorded for live-streaming and podcasts.

 

Camping is available for $10/person/night. Accommodations are available Friday through Monday, or any night therein.

Entrance to the festival is free, but donations are strongly encouraged. To volunteer, sponsor, donate, or otherwise get involved, please email info@betterarts.org.