"Locally Grown" is theme at Tomato Fair at Farrand Farms

The Tomato Fair brought out a sizable crowd to Farrand Farms at 5941 Noland Road in Kansas City, Missouri on August 1, 2009. The full parking lot was a testament to the crowd size. The nursery farm is located in the Little Blue River valley between Raytown, Independence, Lee's Summit, and Kansas City. The event was well-organized by the nursery gardens owner as they had a lot of activities focused on the featured vegetable -- the tomato. There was a tomato tasting area, salsa tasting, tomato cooking demonstration, tour of a large demonstration tomato garden, several booths from local groups, and activities for kids.




Locally grown produce, was one of the themes that several people talked about during the morning festival. Festival-goers heard Chef Jasper Mirabile, Jr. talk about using locally grown garlic and basil in his Italian recipes used at his south KC restaurant, Jasper's. Ginger Johnson, a master gardener with the new Heartland Harvest Garden at Powell Gardens in Kingsville, Missouri, spoke about how the produce from the garden will show residents techniques in growing, plus provide area food pantries with the harvest. A Grain Valley grower sold produce inside.

The highlight of the festival was tasting and seeing the tomatoes provided by area tomato growers. The taste of the many varieties was unbelievable -- Roma, Roadrunner, Celebrity, Early Girl, Sun Leaper, Cherokee Purple, to name a few.

I came for advice in preventing squirrels from getting to my tomatoes (see photo to the right) -- they seem to have taken an interest in the tomatoes now that the tomatoes are turning red. I applied some "Hot Pepper Wax" on the plants this past week and no tomatoes have been eaten since. However, I am guessing I need more protection.

Jason Watson with the Missouri Dept. of Conservation shared information about protecting gardens from common wildlife -- deer, raccoons, and squirrels. One method he showed at the demonstration tomato garden there was to place a series of horizontal wires with reflective or bright tape strung across. Another method he suggested was placing containers of water in the garden to ward off squirrels.

These two methods should help me protect my small vegetable garden -- better options than the one a friend suggested which is to protect your garden with a pellet gun.

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