Tippecanoe Urban Farmers

What is TUF?

Tippecanoe Urban Farmers is made up of 5 individuals excited about food, sustainability, and community.

Together we have created a new way to get local produce: from your own backyard! TUF offers the expertise of its gardeners to you, creating a beautiful and bountiful food garden. We use organic methods to ensure your garden produces the most nutritious and environmentally friendly fruits and vegetables possible.

We hope to be a resource for the Lafayette area's urban agriculture through creating dialogue and educational opportunities. Our passion is to build a delicious world for all people everywhere. And we're starting with your backyard! 

SO! You want a TUF garden? Click on I Want a TUFgarden! Here you can find all the information you'll need to get started. We can't wait to start working with you this season. Let's make beautiful tomatoes together! And peppers and green beans and carrots and turnips and beets and...well, you get the picture!

 

Find us on Facebook and we'll keep you up to date on news in urban farming and food culture.

What do we do? We do THIS!

 

Mary never met a 2x4 she didn't love taking a saw to... 
 

Cara and Mary and the apple tree...

 Cara rocks the compost.

All spring long, from March through the end of this month, TUF builds gardens. We consult with clients about what they want to grow, how it can be grown, and give advice on everything from "Where do I plant those raspberries?" to "What is wrong with that sad, sad tomato plant?!" 

We've braved frigid temperatures, pouring rain, and just enough sunshine to keep us going. Thank you so much to our clients, we have really and truly loved working in your yard! 

If you are still thinking about a garden and think you've missed out already, don't distress! We can still help you this season, so drop us a line and we'll discuss your options. 

 

 
5 TUF Gardens in a row! And some fruit trees! YES, that is how it's done.

 
A custom-built lattice a la Ian Thompson. Nice. Very nice.

 
4 TUF garden beds, an arbor, AND some fruit sticks. I mean, trees. And still there's more to plant!

 
High Five! 

 

We hope you'll check out our Facebook page to see even more photos: 

TUFarmers is on Facebook!!!

Keystone Kids Update

 

TUF’s outreach with the Lyn Treece Boy’s and Girls Club sprouted in early spring and is growing stronger each week. The Kids broke ground on their N-10 plots in mid-April. With some help they have been preparing beds, mixing in compost and amendments. They've been planting kale, lettuce, broccoli, radishes and other spring-time favorites. The kids were amazed to see the seeds they planted in March turn into recognizable seedlings, and were impressed with the color and texture of lettuce varieties not often seen at the store or in school lunches. A little seedling snack has prepared them for the new flavors they'll be experiencing soon!

From here on out, good weather days will mean working in the garden, rainy days will mean indoor instruction or making food from the garden. The kids have listed pizza, sandwiches, and salsa as some of the food they would like to prepare from what they grow, and melons as a favorite direct-from-the-garden treat. The latest lessons taught about various nuisances in the garden including insects, weeds, diseases, and the dreaded two-legged punk…

TUF Outreach: A Partnership with Lafayette Boys and Girls Club

Above: Ian Thompson talking to the Keystone Kids about their garden at the N-10.

Below: Planting seedlings.

    One of the most significant, important, dearest things to the hearts of TUFfers is reaching out to the community. Especially when it’s so much fun! Once a week Ian Thompson and fellow TUFfers have been hanging out with the Keystone Kids at the Lafayette Boys and Girls Club.

    TUFfers help guide these young adults as they tend to a couple of 10’ x  10’ plots in the North 10^th Street Co-Op Garden. For the last several weeks we’ve been learning what we like to eat, what we want to grow, planted some early season veggies indoors, and discussed that foundation of good gardens and healthy food: soil! All season long we’ll be showing the Keystone Kids how to manage, grow, cook (and eat!) from their garden.