Ahead of Reno Garlic Fest on July 30th, the Desert Farming Initiative, the agricultural program established in 2013 at the University of Nevada, Reno, recently held a Garlic Harvest and Braiding Workshop with Reno Food Systems and Katy Chandler of Be The Change Project.
The workshop was one of their community connection events which occur every other Saturday. Fifteen attendees showed up, interested in bettering their skills in growing garlic in the Reno area.
Chandler, who grows garlic on her urban homestead, instructed participants on how to identify suitable “soft neck” garlic for braiding and how to weave it correctly. Braiding garlic is a traditional way to store garlic both functionally and decoratively.
It took most attendees a handful of tries to make a suitable braid. Attendees were given the choice of leaving their braids with DFI or taking these home for a suggested donation of $15, to fund student wages in the fall. Garlic is one of DFI’s main “cash crops” or revenue sources.
"Locally grown food, regionally grown food, is an important solution to a lot of the challenges we’re going to be facing going forward," said Jill Moe, DFI's Director for the past four years.
DFI sources funding from grants, donations, and farming revenue, such as the sale of their organic plant starts and produce. “I think DFI has so much potential as a public resource to provide education… I feel like we provide a great platform for that now but going forward I only envision us doing more,” Moe said.