August Growth Report

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It’s like a jungle sometimes

it makes me wonder

if the tomatoes will take over

ha-ha! ha! ha!

State Senator Bill Perkins Visits Harlem Garden

Gardeners welcomed Senator Perkins to the garden and gave him a tour.

Eren tells Senator Perkins about the garden

Michelle, Bill, Eren, Pee Wee and Marilyn

gardeners gather with Senator Perkins

Mike takes a break to greet Perkins

May garden babies

Little Miss L. tells the tulip hello

babt lettuces

dark tulips

more green each day

bean stalks start

baby brocoli

baby grapes

Veggie Plants for Food Stamps

Sharing this tip from Daniel via the NYC Community Garden Coalition:

It’s a little known fact that food stamps can be used to purchase seeds and food-producing plants.  It’s written into the federal law.  Hopefully soon that fact will be more widely known, and more widely acted upon.  Seeds and Plants, unlike any other item you’d acquire with food stamps, actually increase in value after purchase, no small matter when funds are limited.

Of course, farmers markets are probably the best place to purchase food-producing plants in this city.  And more and more farmers markets are accepting food stamps via mobile EBT readers.  Union Square Greenmarket just began accepting food stamps on September 1st.

For those of you who have purchased plants from Silver Heights Farm Nursery, you know they produce absolutely gorgeous and delicious produce.  This Wednesday (9/15) and Saturday (9/18) are their last week at the Union Square Greenmarket for the 2010 season, so if you’ve got food stamps, or know gardeners or potential gardeners who do, head on over.   (This is not a paid advertisement…and there are certainly a number of other growers who have superb plants who will be at markets past this week.)

Steve’s Reflections on Garden Water Use

Water is not enough; and hydrant water isn’t that good.

Now that we’ve got a garden full of green growing plants;

the trick is to be able to harvest them. And that means we

have  to avoid sharing them with other animal consumers.

One of the reasons for frequently  visiting your box or plot; is to

inspect the plants, looking for evidence of pest infestation. It’s

important when growing organically; not to wait for the pests

to take hold. As well, it is important to remove both; materials

and conditions that promote plant damage.

Don’t know what to look for or what to do? There’s a wealth of

Information on-line  and at the Public Library. We have an under-

used branch right off 7^th Avenue west on 115^th street.  But if you find

evidence of crop damage report it to a garden contact and we’ll try to

help-. Just remember; it’s up to you to be a good gardener by coming

around to check on your planting space and contributing some general

clean-up help.

Right now; I’ve seen evidence of Aphids and  Inch Worms: notice either

Gray rust on new growth or holes in your juicy collards? Let’s get with it!

If enough people send word in of their availability we can ask the Cornell

Extension folks, to set us up with someone to do a workshop on gardening

pests. But we won’t call them for a session with the five or six regulars.

Interested?

Leave a comment on this post; and indicate the days and times you’d attend

such  a workshop.

As for water from the hydrant; it’s better than nothing: but it doesn’t compare to

Natural rainwater. It contains Chlorine; a disinfectant harmful to tender roots and

beneficial soil biologicals. At best,  it should be let to sit in open air for 24-48 hrs.

And then used judiciously on plants. Just because we’ve got access to city water for

Free; doesn’t mean we should be wasteful or unmindful of the costs and effects.

Also, most of our plants need dry periods to allow oxygen to get into the soil. If we

have a drought then we use the hydrant water.  Soon a sprinkling system will be in

place. But the less we use of it otherwise; the better many of our plants will do. Yes;

there are times when plants need more  water than Nature might be providing: but

we amatures are more likely to overwater; than underwater.

Let’s get smarter about watering!! And let’s get ready to support

Rain-water collection as a garden priority. There are plenty of tote containers that

can be placed near your plot; covered when full;  and left open when rain is predicted.

Our goal is to work with nature to produce more abundantly: it takes a little work.

So what’s this about a farm? by Steven Kidd, Co-Contact (Revised June 14)

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

Eleanor Roosevelt, activist

Market Gardening is briefly defined as growing, to sell, agricultural goods on a small amount

of  land: with  a  goal  of becoming profitable; or, at least, less dependent on outside charity.

For,  community managed  gardens;  usually  non-profit operations: creating a Market Garden

seeks  make the urban garden  more sustainable sustainable by  increasing overall productivity.

This is done by using better methods;  and  by rewarding the work of the gardeners ,  through

cooperative shaaring of the work and rewards.

While  gardening,  is a pleasant outdoor hobby or pastime: it is also, a potential opportunity to

Improve the lower  and moderate income peoples’  standard  of living  through entrepreneurial

labor. Through our  community gardens we  can directly improve our health;  our stress levels;

our  relations with neighbors; as well as; the bottom line of our wallets.

Especially; in this period of great economic stress: our Carrie  McCracken TRUCE Garden needs

to improve its ability to pay for its upkeep. And, to  maximize; it’s  value to the community, as a

whole. With a strategy for Market gardening we begin to acknowledge that..

A  purely  non-profit and individualistic business model is unlikely   to do  succeed; on a level, approaching  the cost ;  of  either:  the lost taxes or other constructive uses that,  the property on which  the garden exists,  could command  in a fair market.

We, who say, we  want  this community  garden  to  be preserved, need  to keep in mind, the

Pure economic reality of the times.  We need to be  better prepared to defend ;  on economic, and

Not just  ecological and  sociological  terms,  our endeavor.  One;  has only to look at recent cuts

to  other social service;  cultural; and  municipal  services ( due to  budgetary contractions)  to

see  the a prudent course  of action: is to become less reliant on  government  or  private charity:

to fund  the expense of our  young community enterprise.

this  is, in part why,  last year;  I began to campaign among the membership for a consensus to

apportion the  garden’s   space to permit the development of a Market Garden option for greater

participation. I’ve advertised  for,  and directly recruited cooperators for this project. And  also

been gathering the needed  tools, materials, and supplies to be able to start the transformation.

With  support  and faith  from other key members;  the groundwork was  done, in a way, that

Provided  more; not less,  space  for individual gardeners.

Now that the whole garden is substantially planted :  I will convene a series of meetings to

explore the market gardening concept; meet with potential technical assistance providers; and

to  give the willing  members an opportunity to shape the next level of implementation. There is

no barrier to any  Box Holder,  also participating in the Market Garden’s development. In  fact,  I

believe,  it will be a combination of individual  and cooperative  means of production;  that will

make our community garden viable for the future.

I hope this project will receive continued and greater support from the membership: now that it is

On the verge of initiation. In the meantime; please, as with any garden matter,  feel entitled  to

speak with me directly: if you have questions and,  or suggestions. I expect to be increasing my

on-site time in the garden shortly; and shouldn’t be hard to reach.

I would ask that you, first,  take a look at some background information about the concept and

review some successful  examples of market gardening. For instance:

http://www.growingpower.org/

http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/marketgardening.html

http://www.littlecitygardens.com/

http://www.georgejonesfarm.org/operations/marketgardens.php

As with my initiation of this garden’s revival;  I am focused but not inflexible in approach.

I don’t have all the  answers:  but I know and believe that ultimately access to the answers are

usually, just,  a person ; a google search; and  some honest  conversations away.

Just don’t expect me to spoon feed you from the homework, I’ve had to do. People who come

only  with questions and concerns:  rarely contribute more than confusion to any progressive

movement. A harsh assessment:  maybe: but, one born out of  long  experience, with  this,

my neighborhood being last. Will you help us be first: in this?

May Updates

Sage picks the first radish of the season!

sunflowers germinating in time for Pablo memorial

peppers and other starts in Steve's market project box

hazelnut growing vigorously

strawberry leaves

Ivy added annuals rock garden area

new bed layout

lots of passers-by stop to take a look

garden members discuss

grape vines survived the winter and now have trellis

Cool (weather) crops

chill broccoli and greens

mums and lettuce

sunflower going to seed

young pumpkin

The season is winding down, put the garden is still productive

Harlem Market HUB Plant Sale

Michelle and PeeWee representing the garden at the Harlem Market HUB. Thanks to plants grown and donated by Ivy we collected enough donations for a roof for our garden shelter.

We met a lot of nice neighbors and had fun. We hope we get a chance to participate again and in the meantime encourage you to check out the other vendors at Harlem’s newest flea market on Saturdays at Morningside Ave and 123rd Street. See www.harlemmarkethub.com for details.