By Michelle Waltos
Librarian
The LibraryFarm on the grounds of the Northern Onondaga Public Library (NOPL) at Cicero is springing to life. Plotters — individuals who have “checked out” a plot of land for the season — have begun tilling the soil and preparing to plant their favorite herbs, vegetables and flowers. With a new growing season also comes a new schedule of unique LibraryFarm programs that will appeal to do-it-yourselfers, gardeners, and outdoor enthusiasts. Here are two such events happening in May at NOPL at Cicero:
Creating a Bird-Friendly Yard: 1 p.m. Saturday, May 14. Bird watching is a relaxing and fun activity that the whole family can enjoy, and you don’t even have to leave home to do it! Janet Allen of Habitat Gardening CNY will join us to talk about steps that can be taken to enhance your yard to make it more appealing to birds in our area. Join us for this event and receive a special bookmark to commemorate International Migratory Bird Day, which is also on May 14!
Raising Backyard Chickens: 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 18. Have you ever considered raising your own chickens? With increasing concern over where our food is sourced, a growing number of people have turned to raising their own chickens as a hobby. But how much space do you need? What do you do with the chicken manure? Erin Hull from Lucky 13 Farm will lead this workshop, answering questions like these and covering the basics of selecting, raising and caring for your own chickens.
Registration for these programs is recommended. To register, visit nopl.org or call 699-2032. To find other upcoming home and garden events or to learn more about the LibraryFarm, visit nopl.org/libraryfarm.
