Can you farm in Stratford? Why, yes, you can.

Spotlight on: The Farm at Stratford

The Farm at Stratford is a local sustainability project of Soundkeeper, Inc. with the Town of Stratford. It's a community garden located at Pirhala Fields Park on Connors Lane in Stratford.

Low-cost garden plots are available now for Stratford residents to rent for the spring garden season. Experienced gardeners and newcomers are both welcome to get their hands in the soil and raise some fruits, vegetables and flowers on their own plot of land. See the Farm's website for details and an application.

You may ask, "Why a community garden?" Organizer Terry Backer says, "Our hope to help you reduce your food bills, your pollution footprint, learn sustainable practices and get healthier all at the same time... We hope to make The Farm at Stratford a place where we learn from each other."

The Stratford Library has how-to information to help you on every step of your journey down the garden path, from planning, to planting, to pruning, to preventing pests. And just in case you were wondering about keeping your own chickens.... yeah, we have books on that, too.

	Just starting out as a gardener? The Complete Idiots' Guide will start at the very beginning and lead you all the way to harvesting your own vegetables.
	Does your heart skip a beat at the thought of planting new flower beds? Does the smell of freshly tilled ground make you weak in the knees? This is the book for the green-thumb wizard who knows his or her way around a rototiller and is ready to move up to the next expert level.
	The Library has DVDs on gardening, too, from popular experts like Martha Stewart and Jerry Baker. See for yourself as they demonstrate on-screen just how much mulch is too much mulch.
	And finally... chickens. Judging from how popular our books on chickens are, there are a lot of fresh eggs in Stratford's back yards. How about making an omelet from your own eggs, with fresh herbs from the community garden? That would be a fantastic Stratford speciality.

You could meet your new best friend this weekend

We love stories about the friendship between dogs and people. And some of the best dogs we know are those "mutts" with sweet faces and big hearts who are gazing through the bars at the animal shelter waiting for the right person -- their person -- to come along and take them home.

If you've been thinking about adding a dog to your family, you probably would guess that the library has dozens of books and DVDs on naming, training, and caring for your dog. But did you know we have books all about adopting a rescued dog?

Community Event alert! The Stratford Animal Rescue Society & Stratford Animal Control will be having an adoption event and Pet Boutique on Saturday March 27, 2010 from 11 am-3 pm at the Stratford Animal Control Facility, 9 Frog Pond Lane, Stratford, CT 06614 (map) Dogs and cats will be available for adoption to homes that meet AC guidelines. See the Animal Control website for details: www.stratfordac.org/

These books are available at the Stratford Library for those special people that want to bring a special dog home:

	The Adopted Dog Bible is the one-stop handbook on the needs of these special dogs and covers every detail of daily life. --Where to find your perfect canine companion --How you can adopt any type of dog --Smart guidelines for adoption success --Realistic expenses of dog care
	Your Adopted Dog is a thorough guide to discovering the one-of-a-kind personality and one-of-a-kind love each rescued dog wants to share, if he is only given the chance. It's filled with helpful advice and successful techniques tailored to each dog's needs -- a complete and total resource.
	Saved: Rescued Animals and the Lives They Transform isn't a how-to book about pet care. Instead, it digs deep into the emotional reasons between human and animal can be so strong. One reader said, "You’ll be crying--and laughing--as you read about the powers pets have to heal people.”

Snapshot Day Statewide results

PEOPLE NEED LIBRARIES….LIBRARIES NEED YOU IN JUST ONE DAY – FEBRUARY 18, 2010 ◦80,616 people walked through the doors of Connecticut libraries ◦99,537 books, movies and more were borrowed from Connecticut libraries ◦988 new borrowers were registered at Connecticut libraries ◦ 8,960 reference questions were answered at Connecticut libraries ◦12,982 people used computers at Connecticut libraries ◦591 programs/classes were offered at Connecticut libraries ◦9,599 people attended programs/classes at Connecticut libraries ◦113,143 people visited Connecticut library websites See the pictures from that day - http://www.flickr.com/photos/ctlibrariessnapshot2010/

Stratford Library - Stratford Library eNews

Stratford Library - Stratford Library eNews