The gardens are starting to show some color.

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Posted by kathy Reblogged by Old Roses to community_garden on 2008-04-29, 06:41:09

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Posted by Susan Reblogged by Old Roses to community_garden on 2008-04-18, 17:55:13

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Check out the nice article in this week's San Francisco Bay Guardian about school gardens in the bay area, including Urban Sprouts'.

If there's a downside to teaching children how to nurture a green, nutritious school garden, it's hard to fathom. The list of touted benefits is lengthy: students reap fresh air and physical exercise, hands-on participation, awareness of the natural environment, so called "school bonding," and an unprecedented taste for raw spinach. For school faculty, there are welcome breaks in the classroom regimen, an engaging outlet for unruly pupils, and a bridge to involvement with volunteers in the community. And parents get to share skills and experience, from farm expertise to carpentry, that once felt irrelevant to an academic setting. . . .

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Posted by Abby RJ Reblogged by Old Roses to community_garden on 2008-04-18, 06:18:32

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I thought I was going to fall and kill myself, but no, I survived perching on a tall thin stump to take this photo. I think from this view you get a good sense of the plot and surroundings. You can see the meadow to the right. The surrounding plots. And you can see all of my plot. I have now finished turning the soil, and I've marked out the plot perimeter, doorway and the beds. Now I have to try to stay away from the plot for a few days to catch up on my work and the yard work at home. It won't be easy....

Here's a slide show of some photos from my plot today.

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Posted by kathy Reblogged by Old Roses to community_garden on 2008-04-16, 18:07:45

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Here are photos of my plot from all angles. (Plus the plot's guard dog.) My plot is just bordered by rocks so far. (My rock garden.) I hope to put up a new fence this weekend. I've turned about 2/3 of the soil so far. . . .

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Posted by kathy Reblogged by Old Roses to community_garden on 2008-04-15, 06:15:10

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This is the community garden where I hope to get a plot this weekend. There was lots of gardening activity over the past weekend.

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Posted by kathy Reblogged by Old Roses to community_garden on 2008-04-09, 05:37:14

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Lately garden blogging has been so interesting…although I am coveting the weather either on the west coast, England or further southern states, there are still gardeners who live north of me, which means they are pretty much in the tundra. All kidding aside, no matter where you live, or what your growing conditions are, there will always be a gardener who would love to live in your climate instead of theirs. We all just suck it up and do our best with what we have to work with, though, don’t we?. . .

reBlogged to community_garden on Apr 7, 2008, 9:39AM

Posted by Amy Reblogged by Old Roses to community_garden on 2008-04-08, 17:59:15

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Actual hands-in-the-dirt gardening has been a bit thin on the ground of late around Horticultural Towers, for various reasons I shan't bore you with. The rabbit issue, not surprisingly, remains extant, although I really liked the idea of rubber snakes as bunny scarers, suggested by the Patient Gardener. In the meantime, here's a bit of fun for you: I discovered recently via this interesting piece in the Indie (this site is down as I write, though) on allotments around the world that Albert Einstein had an allotment*. He even received an untidy plot letter, apparently. So, aside from George Monbiot,...

reBlogged to community_garden on Mar 31, 2008, 3:54PM

Posted by Jane Perrone Reblogged by Old Roses to community_garden on 2008-04-01, 18:17:44

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I spent three hours today clearing a new bed and forked over the smaller 7foot x 4foot bed digging out weeds and devil grass roots.It was suuny though and warm for part of the day. . .

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Posted by snappy Reblogged by Old Roses to community_garden on 2008-04-01, 18:17:24

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Cuba's agricultural revolution an example to the world:

Laura Enriquez, a sociologist at the University of California-Berkeley, who has written extensively on the subject of Latin American agriculture, said: 'What happened in Cuba was remarkable. It was remarkable that they decided to prioritize food production. Other countries in the region took the neo-liberal option and exported 'what they were good at' and imported food. The Cubans went for food security and part of that was prioritizing small farmers.' . ..

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Posted by Central FLA Gardener Reblogged by Old Roses to community_garden on 2008-03-31, 04:39:54

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Mud, mud, glorious mud.. It rained virtually the whole time I was up at the allotment today. The third bed has been forked over.It needs double digging when it drys up.
I added some sand to the boggy first bed by the compost bin. Even simple turning the soil has made the drainage improve slightly.It needs to be dry before I can remove the weed roots and devil grass that is encased in clay... ..

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Posted by snappy Reblogged by Old Roses to community_garden on 2008-03-27, 06:22:57

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Posted by Rosengeranium Reblogged by Old Roses to community_garden on 2008-03-27, 06:22:18

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Garten Rosa Rose, in Berlin, before.

Garten Rosa Rose after.

As a member of the Vancouver Guerrilla Gardening Group, and of course, through this blog, I am often privileged to be in contact with guerrilla gardeners around the world - a very cool feeling! The similar challenges we all face - and of course, the differences - are fascinating to me. . . .

reBlogged to community_garden on Dec 31, 1969, 6:59PM

Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to community_garden on 2008-03-26, 18:15:00

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San Francisco Chronicle's March 22nd paper featured a series of articles on urban farming. The many innovative approaches to growing food in an urban setting, such as school gardens, appear to be attracting the attention of city planners. The series ends with an invitation to us readers to share our own thoughts on urban farming with the Chronicle's Kitchen Gardener. Email them and share!

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Posted by Esperanza Pallana Reblogged by Old Roses to community_garden on 2008-03-26, 05:59:41

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I am just back from two weeks in Canada and feeling somewhat jetlagged in addition to a head cold, so forgive me if this post is a little less coherent than usual. I have lots of posts buzzing around in my head, including my thoughts on my local council's new food waste collection scheme, an update on the wormery (find out how did the worms got on while I was away!) and a couple of book reviews, plus a look at the new Wiggly Wigglers catalogue, to which I am a contributor. But for the moment what's got my attention...

reBlogged to community_garden on Mar 20, 2008, 4:46PM

Posted by Jane Perrone Reblogged by Old Roses to community_garden on 2008-03-21, 06:25:42

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End of the day today. Its back to work tomorrow so thats it for this week I think.I am doing the wilderness clearing between hospital shifts. Two dug beds that need some edging and two ghostly beds that are outlined but not cleared or dug. The paths are visible that will need clearing of grass and weed supressing membrane laid down, so I can get around the vegetable beds.. . . .

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Posted by snappy Reblogged by Old Roses to community_garden on 2008-03-20, 19:05:12

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I was extremely honored to be asked to give the keynote speech at last Saturday's School Garden conference held by the UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley. The conference theme was successes and best practices, so I shared the Program Model and the story of how Michelle's research study on school gardens led to this framework that guides all Urban Sprouts' work. If you haven't yet visited this amazing botanical garden, go now!. . .

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Posted by Abby RJ Reblogged by Old Roses to community_garden on 2008-03-20, 19:03:00

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OK. Here's my summary from a daylight read through:

- There is a new Commission overseeing the Gardens this year.
- New plots are assigned at noon April 12 (not April 1 as I was told before).
- All gardeners must attend Garden Clean Up Day (April 12) to remove trash and invasives in and around the Gardens. Free coffee, free seeds and information.
- There is a waiting list for plots this year. (I gather this is new. I hope I am still #2.)
- This year they want to make sure all plots are actively gardened. If not they will reassign.
- There are upcoming improvements to be made at the Gardens.

So, I need to add 12 days to my countdown timer. But its fun to receive the information and to mail in my application.

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Posted by carletongardener Reblogged by Old Roses to community_garden on 2008-03-17, 00:03:09

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I'll have to read this over again in the daylight. Its my letter from the Garden Coordinator. Sounds like there have been some changes in policies... Garden assignments April 12 around Noon.... dues due March 28.... waiting list....

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Posted by carletongardener Reblogged by Old Roses to community_garden on 2008-03-16, 23:53:45

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The photo yesterday from the Bottom of the Allotment plot looking up. The compost bin to the right belongs to Mr Saddiq, the guy who wons the first third of the plot!
At the top left is the most enormous bramble bush that runs for eighty foot across. . . .

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Posted by snappy Reblogged by Old Roses to community_garden on 2008-03-11, 00:10:04

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Yesterday I had some time to draw out my vegetable garden plans for 2008. Again, I will be gardening in the back yard and at the Bowmanville Community Organic (Ecology) Garden nearby. This year I will be sharing the community plot with a friend who recently moved into town.

On both plans, I have indicated only a couple of specific varieties…I want to wait until after Seedy Saturday to narrow down what exactly I am going to grow this year. I know that I am going to cut back on the tomatoes this year. Last year I was overwhelmed. . . .

reBlogged to community_garden on Mar 5, 2008, 2:04PM

Posted by Amy Reblogged by Old Roses to community_garden on 2008-03-07, 06:12:57

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Its my Birthday today. I have been out to meet the Lady about the two thirds of the allotment. The weeds are as tall as me.I have walked from my house to the Allotment in ten minutes. The key is for the Allotment gate which is padlocked. It was cold and I never saw anyone else up there besides Jenny. She said I could borrow some black Tarpaulin to cover some of the plot.It is maybe twenty feet long and about ten feet wide.There was no visible soil at all! . . .

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Posted by snappy Reblogged by Old Roses to community_garden on 2008-03-06, 05:58:16

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Grass and Birch, Brooklyn Bears Community Garden Last Sunday, between the Brooklyn Blogade and the Atlantic Yards Camera Club, Frank Jump and I wandered for about an hour in the bitter cold. The Camera Club was meeting at the Brooklyn Bears...

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Posted by Xris (Flatbush Gardener) Reblogged by Old Roses to community_garden on 2008-02-14, 06:14:37

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...could be an allotment garden (if you want to grow stuff outdoors I mean). Here's a british movie from a place similar to the allotment gardens where I spent my childhood.

Sunday on the allotment



And the allotment idea is slowly seeping into the upper classes. Why, even Harrods got one - on the roof. How quaint!

A day in the life of the Harrods Allotment

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Posted by Rosengeranium Reblogged by Old Roses to community_garden on 2008-01-28, 18:15:28

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Posted by Susan Reblogged by Old Roses to community_garden, vegetables on 2007-10-18, 06:53:19

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The SF Examiner reports- San Francisco's Mayor Newsom, is supporting better nutrition options at schools with a $500,000 grant to the SFUSD Student Nutrition Services (SNS). What will be done with the money? SNS is planning to install salad bars at 25 SF schools this year, including three schools with Urban Sprouts gardens: June Jordan School for Equity, Excelsior Middle School and Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School. We hope it comes true. Our students have been organizing Salad Days to feature fresh salads with lunch for the past four years. Students have clearly demonstrated that they love fresh seasonal food. Urban Sprouts is looking forward to supporting the success of the salad bars at our schools sites.

garden and nutrition

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Posted by Esperanza Pallana Reblogged by Old Roses to community_garden on 2007-09-06, 18:32:10

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There's a great little article in the San Francisco Chronicle today about how the City of SF is teaming up with volunteer gardeners to turn weed- and garbage-filled abandoned lots into beautiful community gardens. Curiously, it's the gardeners who seem to be the instigators of the effort, now called the Street Parks Program, rather than the city. There's even a bit about how one intrepid gardener in his 70s rappelled down the side of a hill to clear away the weeds and wears cleats to work on the steep slope of the lot that he gardens. Take a look.

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Posted by Claire Splan Reblogged by Old Roses to community_garden on 2007-08-24, 18:03:02

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What does a pineapple tomato look like? Are Snow White cherry tomatoes red or white on the inside? Can paste tomatoes grow in Minnesota? What about sun-dried?

For the tomato curious, I highly recommend swinging by the Dowling Community Gardens this Saturday, Aug. 18 for their annual Heirloom Festival. From 10am to 1pm, you can try over 30 varieties of heirloom slicers, cherry, paste and sun-dried tomatoes. The volunteer staff is super friendly and super knowledgeable. Vote for you favorite heirloom tomato and get some tips from the growers. Last year, my friend Sandra and I were kicking ourself for not bringing along a crisp baguette and some fresh mozzarella.

Dowling Community Gardens are located at 46th Avenue and 39th Street, Minneapolis, MN. The garden is also a part of Saturday’s Parade of Community Gardens, so don’t be afraid to check out what other gardeners are growing.

reBlogged to tomatoes community_garden on Aug 15, 2007, 8:34AM

Posted by Jaime Chismar Reblogged by Old Roses to community_garden, tomatoes on 2007-08-16, 18:20:39

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The BF and I belong to three co-ops. We have three member numbers burned in our brains. We get three sets of member coupons. And every other month, we find three newsletters in our mailbox which I read cover to cover, sometimes twice. . . .

reBlogged to community_garden on Aug 10, 2007, 1:09PM

Posted by Jaime Chismar Reblogged by Old Roses to community_garden on 2007-08-12, 06:13:31

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It's almost school time. So it's time for teachers, parents and students to start planning next year's school garden. But how do you get started with a school garden. Start a School Garden gives tips and hints on how to get started with a school garden. . . .

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Posted by Katina Mooneyham Reblogged by Old Roses to community_garden on 2007-07-31, 00:29:31

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The last day of the Summer Program we hosted our most successful Garden Party yet! Youth participants in the program invited their families, friends and teachers to visit the Garden for the Environment and see all the amazing work the youth have done!! More than 75% of youth brought family to the garden - this is HUGE, compared to the less than 10% turnout we usually get for our garden parties during the school year. Teachers from MLK Middle School and June Jordan attended, as did Ross Mirkarimi, District 5 Supervisor. . . .

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Posted by Abby RJ Reblogged by Old Roses to community_garden on 2007-07-22, 00:55:09

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By Christa Carignan of Calendula and Concrete

It was the sidewalk less traveled that led me to the community garden. I usually took walks in my neighborhood by heading eastward, but one day I decided to break the routine and head west. I turned a new corner and found myself enthralled by an expanse of cobbled-together fences that enclosed dozens of gardens in all shapes and sizes. My eyes grew wide at the sight of towering sunflowers, lines of leafy lettuces, and bent-over plants dripping with ripe tomatoes. . . .

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Posted by Susan Reblogged by Old Roses to community_garden on 2007-07-02, 06:35:18

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Posted by Xris (Flatbush Gardener) Reblogged by Old Roses to community_garden on 2007-06-29, 18:41:19

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Skippy and I visited the Belmont Community Gardens yesterday. What a beautiful place to walk through! All of the plots are so interesting. One of the first times I've been to a community garden and seen gardeners working. I learned several things. . .

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Posted by carletongardener Reblogged by Old Roses to community_garden on 2007-06-25, 00:24:11

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Manor Park Allotments, came under increasing pressure from the London Development Agency (LDA) as works commenced on the 2012 Olympics and looked like they would lose their 100 year old growing plots. However, it seems that this may have been averted now as allotmenteers are offered an alternative until the Olympics have come and gone.

GTNI first mentioned this story back in February when Manor Park gardeners were begging for people to sign their petitions. . . .

reBlogged to community_garden on Jun 17, 2007, 8:06PM

Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to community_garden on 2007-06-18, 18:45:20

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Flowers on Edible Sage

Welcome to the new readers who are visiting as a result of the mention on Rebuilding Place in the Urban Space. This is my fourth year tending to a community garden plot in Northwest DC. More than anything else, this garden and the community of people who share it and care for it have given me a true sense of place in this city. I hope you will be back to follow my adventures here. Fresh food, plucked straight from the ground just a few blocks away, makes for the best eating.

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Posted by Christa Reblogged by Old Roses to community_garden on 2007-06-14, 18:37:11

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Notice the components of this large planting project at a subsidized housing project for people with disabilities, mainly AIDS.  Looks to me like a win-win for everyone involved.  And blogging about it, then distributing the link to all the participants, who then put it on their websites and send it to their listservs - well, that's what bloggers do, but it also might light some more fires out there for greening our neighborhoods.

Here's a couple more projects if you're really interested:  landscaping a police station and a traffic triangle+median strip.

reBlogged to community_garden on May 8, 2007, 1:06PM

Posted by Susan Reblogged by Old Roses to community_garden on 2007-05-09, 23:54:02

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Happy Earth Day, dolls! How are you marking the occasion? (Yes, I know, we're gardeners. Everyday is Earth Day. Right.)

I'm heading down the road to the MOBY garden to do some cobbing.

Let me explain. MOBY, or My Own Back Yard, is a very cool community garden project near the Commercial Drive skytrain station (at 11th and Commercial). . . .

reBlogged to community_garden on Apr 22, 2007, 12:21PM

Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to community_garden on 2007-04-23, 23:52:29

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Posted by Xris Reblogged by Old Roses to community_garden on 2007-04-06, 22:26:08

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Posted by Xris Reblogged by Old Roses to community_garden on 2007-04-03, 16:44:21

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