Thanks to everyone for a wonderful Holiday Season at TALMAR!
Farm Manager Position
We are looking for an even tempered Farmer for the 2012 growing season at TALMAR Gardens, located on ten acres within a 365 acre park in Baltimore, MD. This position requires a minimum of five years experience in organic farming methods, both in the growing of produce and specialty cut flower production. They must be knowledgeable in plant pathology, IPM measures, and using OMRI certified products. Farmer must also posses organization and management skills and be able to provide hands on knowledge to interns or first year farmers. Preference will be given to a Farmer with experience in CSA’s, farmers markets and medium scale production. Maintenance on equipment and vehicles will be an added plus. A good driving record with a clean criminal record is mandatory. This is a salaried position with housing and benefits negotiable. Send cover letter and resume to CSAFarmer@gmail.com or fax to 410-321-1466. Interviews will begin immediately.
A New Year…
Thanks to everyone for a wonderful Holiday season at TALMAR.
Talmar is closed for the season. What a great year of flowers, vegetables, Christmas trees, and so many wonderful people. Thanks to all of you for making it so great! We will re-open February 27th, looking forward!
Visit TALMAR This Holiday Season!
Fresh cut Christmas trees in all sizes, wreaths, garlands, swags, centerpieces, pointsettias, and more! We also offer holiday “how-to” workshops for children and adults (all ages and abilities). Click here for specific dates, times and costs! Click on this to register for workshops! REGISTRATION FORM-christmas 11
Opening November 25th
7 DAYS A WEEK
Experience an old fashioned holiday at our farm!
TALMAR Summer Youth Employment Program and the Towson Times
Experience in work and life at TALMAR Gardens
Center takes part in scaled-back youth job program
By Jon Meoli, jmeoli@tribune.com
1:56 PM EDT, July 19, 2011
“It was barely 10 a.m. Monday, July 18, supposedly the coolest day in a week that could see temperatures reach triple-digits, and the crew at Talmar Gardens and Horticultural Therapy Center, on Cromwell Bridge Road, was already feeling the effects of the heat.
Mark Fitch already needed to change his clothes, and Ronnie Hamilton held an empty Gatorade bottle in his hand as he wiped sweat off his brow with his hat.
But for the two teens, the experience gained this summer in the fields of Talmar Gardens, both social and work-related, will make the long, hot days more than worth it.
Fitch, 18; Hamilton, 19; and two other county teens are participating in this year’s edition of the Summer Youth Employment Program, a Baltimore County government program that facilitates job opportunities for the county’s special needs and at-risk youth.
Though the program is helping 124 teens this summer, the 2011 edition is smaller than previous years because of cutbacks in funding, primarily from the federal government.
Still, for those who have jobs though Summer Youth Employment, the program is a chance to gain some experience, self-esteem — and $8 an hour, for 30 hours a week.
Though they both qualify for the program because they are developmentally disabled, there’s no painting the two Parkville teens with a broad brush.
Hamilton, with a purple hat low on his forehead, is gregarious, finding time to talk with other volunteers and staff members at every turn.
Brindley Fisher, managing director of Talmar Gardens, said that one of the most exciting parts of her summer has been watching Hamilton work with groups of other volunteers.
“Relating to people is a strength of his,” Fisher said. “He can be put with a group of five volunteers, and we can count on him to show them what to do. He’s always done a good job, but he can also lead people and get them excited about the work.”
On July 18, Hamilton was so excited about the work that he couldn’t stick to a single task for very long. After beginning the day mowing the fence line of the large flower garden, he spent time weeding and cutting flowers before requesting a “more masculine” task, a request Fisher received with a smile before sending him back to the garden for more flower-cutting.
Fitch is the quieter of the two. He spent Monday meticulously mowing around the smaller produce patch, showing a work ethic and dedication that has earned him admirers among the staff. He cuts flowers, pulls weeds and lays mulch: tasks he became familiar with while cleaning up a park behind his church, St. John’s, for his Eagle Scout project.
“He can be quiet sometimes, but when he sees something that needs to be done, he does it,” Fisher said. “He can finish things on his own.”
Other than the air-conditioned trailer where participants have lunch and get a break from the heat, he said the best part of his days is cutting flowers.
“It’s easy and relaxing,” he said, “just sitting there and snipping flowers.”
Cuts to the root
Fitch and Hamilton are two of 124 county youngsters participating in the program. That’s much fewer than the 326 teens last year, when the program benefited from $253,615 in federal money that was part of the federal stimulus package.
Last year, with that federal grant and money from various state sources, the program had $523,932 overall, according to county officials.
This year, funding came only from the Maryland’s Department of Social Services and State Department of Education’s Division of Rehabilitation Services, a total of $242,748. All participants were selected through those two agencies.
Still, the program provides a chance for what Barbara Moss, director of youth services in the Workforce Development Division of the county Department of Economic Development, called, “the most underserved population in the community.”
“We know how to run a program like this,” said Edward Fangman, chief of the workforce development division. “Folks in this office, at their cores, have a desire to serve those who need it most.”
It was the workforce development division that was responsible for sticking with the program this summer — even with the funding reductions.
According to Barbara Woods, the county’s youth services manager, the program wouldn’t have happened at all without lobbying from the county to secure state assistance.
Yet, even in its trimmed-back model, participants have the chance to gain work experience and learn job skills at Talmar Gardens as well as other county businesses, such as the Pikesville Hilton and Atrium Village, both in Owings Mills.
Cultivating a partnership
Talmar participated in the Summer Youth Employment Program in its previous forms, with over a dozen at-risk youth participating in years past.
Officials there say they like the program because its easy to participate — the county takes care of the employees’ paperwork and payroll. That makes it a win-win: The flowers and produce grown and cultivated are sold, with the proceeds going back into operating the garden.
And in Fitch, Hamilton, and two others who work there through the program this year, Talmar Gardens has what Executive Director Cate Murphy calls her “best group ever.”
“They’re really focused and really want to be doing what they’re doing here,” Murphy said. “These guys love what they’re doing, and they want to succeed.”
When one of them is motivated and working hard, the rest will follow suit, she said.
“If you love the people you’re working with and love where you work, you’re going to be happy,” Murphy said. “That makes all the difference in the world.
“They feel good about themselves,” she added. “They’re showing that people with disabilities are employable.”
For more information about services provided through Baltimore County’s Workforce Development Division, contact Barbara Woods at 410-887-3398, or e-mail bwoods@baltimorecountymd.gov.”
A League of Their Own
Kathy, Michael, Cashmere, Tiara and Eric join us with their supervisor Sue, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays each week. We have been able to come alongside these five unique and wonderful individuals and witness them growing through challenges, through encouragement, and through a variety of tasks and circumstances. They all came here through the League for People with Disabilities with minimal work experience and limited knowledge of plants and flowers. They are signed up for 14 weeks of job training and experience with us and they come from all different backgrounds and all different ages, with a variety of disabilities. They are now on their last few weeks here and anyone who’s spent some time with them can tell you about the progress they have made. Not only have their wonderful, positive attitudes been contagious but they have also learned how to behave in a work environment while understanding the process of gardening and growing flowers and vegetables. We are thrilled about this group’s development and also sad to see them go, but excited to meet the next group from the League for People with Disabilities that will be joining us in a few weeks. Thank you for all of your help!
The Joy of Farmers Markets
There is just something about Farmers Markets, something special. Maybe it’s because there is a constant flow of people-laughing, chatting, strolling. Maybe it’s because there is a common theme of caring-caring about what you grow, caring about what you eat, caring about each other. Or maybe it’s a combination of things-good food, good people, good conversation, and of course, good flowers! Whatever it is, it makes the farmers market experience something special and I would recommended trying it out for yourself!
Join us every Tuesday at the Kenilworth market from 3:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. For directions and more information, please call us at 410-825-2020. You can also catch us at the John Hopkins Hospital market every Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. You may also make find us at the New Freedom Farmers Market in Pennsylvania every 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. For more information on this market, please visit this site.
No time to stop at a market? No problem! Stop by Wegmans grocery store in Hunt Valley or Mars Super Markets in Carney, Cockeysville, Middle River or Timonium for TALMAR’s fresh cut flowers. Stop by and pick up a bunch today!
A Story About Shane
Shane is all smiles!
Shane has been working with TALMAR for two years now. He comes in three times a week with a smile on his face and a ready to work attitude. Shane spends a lot of his time in the greenhouse doing a variety of different tasks, from planting seeds to transplanting plants, to organizing pots, he does it all. Shane is an inspiring young man who was born with cerebral palsy and has been in a wheelchair for all 24 years of his life, but this has never stopped him. He says that he loves knowing that the jobs he does makes a difference and he hopes that can inspire many people. He already has. He is a joy to be around and an inspiration for all. Shane has been a part of the TALMAR family for years now. We look forward to working with him and learning together for many years to come.
Volunteers Are Awesome!
We simply wouldn’t be able to function without them! The past few weeks have been a great reminder of how important the role of a volunteer is to us. TALMAR has recently hosted several big groups and lots of eager individuals who have donated their time and helped to keep TALMAR during the busy season. TALMAR certainly comes alive when we have large groups of 30 plus people coming in to help for a full day. Not only do we get so much accomplished, but we also get to meet truly wonderful people. We get to watch them learn and become excited about our mission here at TALMAR. A special thanks to T. Rowe Price, Target, and H.P.K for donating your time and energy, it was a pleasure to have all of you here with us!
TALMAR CSA
Our vegetable field full of our organic produce
With our first official month of the CSA here at TALMAR finishing up we are looking forward to the rest of the season as we continue to learn and become a great CSA. We hope all our share holders have enjoyed the harvest so far. We have harvested a lot and there is much more to come! Lettuce, bunching onions, kale, radishes, beets, herbs, collard greens, strawberries, sweet and hot peppers have all been a part of our first month’s harvest. Things to look forward to the next coming month are tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, onions, basil, beans, swiss chard, eggplant and much more! We are always striving to make our CSA the best around to support those share holders that support us. We appreciate your commitment to the TALMAR CSA and look forward to the months to come!
Our high tunnel filled with vegetables!
