On July 20, from 9 AM to 12:00 PM, volunteers from the AYLUS Great Neck Branch came to the organic farm at Bayard Cutting Botanical Garden to remove plants that were harmful to the onions. In the past, volunteers would visit this farm to cultivate onions. However, on this occasion, they found numerous weeds surrounding all the onion plants. The abundance of these weeds raised concerns as they could obstruct sunlight and steal nutrients crucial for the healthy growth of onions. The weed removal was essential to ensure the proper development of the onions.
Before we started, George, one of the organizers, instructed us not to shake the dirt off the pulled weeds. During the process, we came across small tomatoes among the weeds. Upon inquiry, we learned that these tomatoes were not intentionally grown there; rather, they were likely the result of birds eating tomatoes elsewhere and then dispersing the seeds in the farm.
In the middle of the task, Mike provided us with guidance on when and how to properly remove the onions. He also explained the next steps, mentioning that once the onions were pulled out, they would be stored in the barn next to the farm to dry, just like the onions found in supermarkets.
During our time at the farm, we also noticed squash plants and flowers. George informed us that these were edible, including the leaves! It was fascinating to learn about other edible plants coexisting in the farm.
Before concluding the volunteer activity, we had the opportunity to go inside the barn and collect some vegetables. The overall experience was delightful, and we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly.
Participating members (3 hours): Zoe Xia, Feier Xu, Max Zhang
