Growing Small Fruits and Specialty Vegetables with Conservation Practices

The and Bloomin' PGC Partners invite you to participate in our upcoming Urban Farmers & Growers Open Mic Night! This event is a platform for the urban farm community to collaborate and share useful information. While the focus is on urban ag conservation, any topic is open for discussion. All farmers (not just PGC urban farms) and growers are welcome to join us!

Must have at least 12 farmers registered BY NOON the day before the Open Mic Night or it's subject to cancellation.

*** THIS MONTH ....IN-PERSON ONLY***

Networking and refreshments begin at 4:30pm. Program to start promptly at 5pm.

Growing Small Fruits and Specialty Vegetables (Unusual colors and varieties) with Farmer Jams of Sun Goddess Farms

Join us for a tour and discussion focusing on growing strawberries, other small fruits, and specialty vegetables, from planting to harvest with conservation practices.

Topics include:

• Strawberry Types (June Bearing, Day Neutral)
• Sourcing Plants (Seeds, Bareroots, Plugs)
• Preparation and Conservation (Crop rotation schedule, cover cropping, water, and nutrient management)
• Growing methods (Plastic Mulch vs Matted Row, Spacing)
• Plant Management (Nutrient needs, planting times, pests and disease)
• Harvest Schedule (Time of year, Time of Day, Frequency)
• Wash-Pack and Storage (How to clean, how to store)
• Distribution (Direct to Consumer, Retail, Wholesale)

If time allows:

• Other fruits: Blueberries and types (Maturity times, better pollination)
• Other crops: Heirloom vs Hybrid (Plant genetics)

Q&A

About Jasmine Bestul-Taylor and Sun Goddess Farms:

Sun Goddess Farms is an urban farm currently operating on a 1/2 acre space at the Watkins Park Urban Farm Incubator (UFI) in Upper Marlboro, MD. The farm is run by Jasmine Bestul-Taylor (aka Farmer Jams) with help from family members. In 2025, Sun Goddess Farms expanded operations from a ⅛ acre space in their front yard to the UFI.

The ongoing mission of Sun Goddess Farms is to feed and educate the local community about alternative and specialty varieties of fresh produce. We aim to provide low- to no-cost, organically-grown fruits and vegetables to those with little means, while maintaining a profit via multiple streams of revenue—wholesale, direct-to-consumer sales, social media sponsorship and ad revenue, and paid teaching opportunities. Our main products will be antioxidant-rich foods (crops high in anthocyanins), cultural foods (methi, shiso, canary melon, etc.), and small fruits (strawberries), eventually expanding into a full orchard in the next 10 years.

Networking begins at 4:30 and the program will begin promptly at 5:00pm. Light refreshments will be provided. Please refer to your confirmation email for additional instructions and the Zoom link for those attending virtually. If the event is sold out, please email us at [email protected] or 301.574.5162 x3 so that we may add your name to the waiting list.

For more information on the Bloomin’ PGC Urban Farm Initiative: https://www.pgscd.org/urban-agricultural-conservation/urban-farms/bloomin-pgc/

is an initiative launched by the Prince George’s County Food Equity Council in partnership with the Prince George’s Soil Conservation District, the University of Maryland Extension in Prince George’s County, ECO City Farms, Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission, the Prince George's County Department of the Environment, the Office of Food Security, and The Capital Market to support the growing urban agriculture movement in Prince George’s County.

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