Proposal for New Personal Beds

Dear Fellow Garden Members:

Since the last work day, when a number of us cleared the southeast corner of the East Garden of debris and overgrown plants, I have been working with others in the garden on a plan for new personal beds in this area. There have been a number of designs drafted, commented on, and discussed among the steering committee members and others who have been interested in this issue. Please find attached a plan reflecting a workable consensus and/or compromise for new personal bed space in the East Garden.

This plan, labeled D2, shows one long continuous bed along the fence. We are required to maintain 36″ aisles for handicapped access, and so there is an aisle with this width shown between the bed and the stage, as well as around the shed to provide access to the area used presently for storage behind the easternmost shed. It is suggested that the Steering Committee divide this continuous gardening space with posts and rope each year. This allows for maximum flexibility to accommodate more or fewer gardeners, and reduces construction significantly. By my own estimation, I believe we can accommodate at least eight gardeners in this new bed.

There has been discussion of using the space in the corner and behind the eastern shed for additional garden space. This has only recently been used for storage (really only because we placed lumber here that were cleared from along the fence), although some feel that this is best kept for storage use. Physically, we can construct more garden space here, which would not affect the bed shown in D2 – it would be an add-on, and is up for discussion.

Please review this plan and come to the workday on Wednesday evening prepared to discuss its merits and drawbacks, and to vote to move forward with submitting this plan to GreenThumb for approval. If we collectively decide that there are further changes necessary, I will make them. However, this has already gone through an iterative process, and I believe it reflects a good, workable plan. I’ll be presenting this on Wednesday, and welcome your feedback. Any comments preliminary to Wednesday’s meeting are welcomed – please contact Peter at peterbazeli[at]yahoo.com.

Download Plan (PDF 80Kb)

Thank you,
Peter Bazeli

Wed. July 8th 6pm: Garden Workday

Dear West 104th Street Garden Members,

Our July Garden Workday is this Wednesday evening at 6pm. There is a
lot to talk about and do so, please mark your calendar.

Here are some of the items on the agenda to date:

Discussion with Peter Bazeli regarding the building of new garden
plots on the west side of the garden. Peter sent a detailed email
earlier this weekend with a plan attachment.

Jean Jaworek will report on her findings regarding access to electricity.

Compost needs more frequent attention. Also, do we need a trash can
for finished compost?

Volunteer(s) needed to pick up grass seed and fertilizer

Vote: Yes or No to accept Susan Archambault and Alan Tenney to the
Steering Committee

Looking forward to seeing you on Wednesday,

Janice Vrana
Steering Committee Member

July Garden Events

Hello all – and hope you’re dried out in time for the first July event!

SATURDAY, JULY 4, AFTERNOON Members only Annual BBQ-licious get-together. Potluck — so bring your favorite picnic items!

To volunteer to set-up, clean-up, call Lou (212-666-7733) . Full details on fence flyer.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 8 6 pm- DUSK : First EVENING WORKDAY. Raindate, Thursday, July 8, 6pm – dusk.
Meeting 6PM, at which the projects to be announced.

SATURDAY JULY 25, 11am till done (??? — depends on Mother Nature’s ripening timetable) Peach Pie Pickin’ Day! Bring a basket in which to tote those peaches home!
Check fence bulletin boards / garden e-mail for exact date TBD at a later follow-up time.

SATURDAYS, 8am- Till sold out,, EACH WEEK through the Season, FARMER’S MARKET, Strangers’ Gate, 106 & CPW Sponsored by CCENYC & DEBNA, selling local farmers produce (fruit, vegetables, greens) and musicians to boot!
DEBNA members include Jean J., and Veronica W., so it’s a joint endeavor to enjoy!

KUDOS to:

Jean Jaworek for picking up summer garden supplies (garbage bags, water hoses, wheelbarrow, gloves) from Green Thumb giveaway two weeks ago.

Robin Mace & Lou Ludyny for transplanting the (mulberry?) tree from the rear of the Wet Garden community entrance bed to the lawn in the East Garden last workday.

Whomever returned the missing Rose Garden elbow-length glove to our Rose Caddy. Also, one of the missing bypass rose pruners was also retrieved. Please ALWAYS return tools to the shed and container from which you obtained them for your use. That includes gloves. Otherwise, these implements are ‘gone’ to the next gardener’s need.

Green Thumb for finalizing the 2009-2011 License Agreement, received this month.

OTHER:
What with all the rain, weeding/deadheading/pruning your individual bed plantings probably need a thorough looksee/ lookdo ASAP, before plants flop over into pathways. Also, please weed the pathways around your bed?

Lucille

Wed June 24 Garden Talk

Hi Gardeners,

Matt Brown, head of the Central Park Conservancy’s soil and water ecology will be talking about soil, plants, Central Park, our garden — and answering our questions in a walk through the garden.

Please come this Wednesday, June 24, at 6:15 — in our garden. (Matt and his crew has kindly delivered compost and wood chips to the garden this year and in years past.)

As a preview, here’s a video of Matt on Central Park’s ponds: http://www.centralparknyc.org/site/PageNavigator/DidYouKnow_WaterBodies

If you have questions, please contact Suzanne Charle’ at suzcharle@gmail.com.

Make Music This Sunday

Make Music New York Celelbration in the W104 Community Garden this Sunday, June 21 from 1PM-5PM

Featuring:

1PM-2PM: The Austin Walker/Linda Oh Duo–drum and bass world music from the Manhattan School of Music. www.myspace.com/austinwalkerjazz

2PM-3PM: Athena Reich & the Dustbunnies — Quirky Storytelling Pop with piano & drums featuring Athena Reich on Vocals, Piano & Ukulele & Glenn Firester on Drums & Chromatic Harmonica www.athenareich.com

3PM-4PM: Chuck Fertal–solo jazz piano from the acclaimed pianist/percussionist

4PM-5PM: Jason Lawlor–originals and covers by Florida State University Senior Jason Lawlor (alto sax, acoustic guitars, vocals).

Refreshments will be for sale to benefit the Garden. This is a free event but tips for the musicians will be appreciated.

If you are interested in helping out at the event or in donating baked goods, please contact
Alan Tenney (alan.tenney[at]gmail.com, 617-838-1277

June Events

Hi –LOTS to do the first Saturday in June!: in fact the whole month!

SATURDAY, June 6, 10 AM – Meeting. Work projects TBA

SATURDAY, June 6, 10 AM -= 2 PM GreenThumb Supplies Giveaway — Need volunteer(s) w/car or SUV
to pick up garbage bags, water hose(s), wheelbarrow. Please contact Mary Kelly [ 212 - 807 - 0266 ], get workday credit.
Pickup is at GreenThumb compound in Queens.

SATURDAY, June 6, 9 AM – 3 PM. Farmers’ Market season starts, courtesy of DEBNA, every Saturday thereafter during Summer. Known Live Musicians too from 10 AM – 2 PM, so drop by to meet, greet and eat at the Strangers’ Gate, 106th and CPW.

WEDNESDAY, June 18, Montessori ‘Graduation’ , 8 AM – 12 Noon, Stage area. The kids put on a charming ‘fly-up’ ceremony, getting ready for kindergarten in the Fall.

SATURDAY, June 20, GreenThumb’s “Summer Solstice” celebration, 10 AM – 4 PM, William Harris Garden,
NW corner of 153 St. & St. Nicholas Ave., Manhattan. BBQ, Parks Playmobile, Live Entertainment, Kids’ Crafts, call GT: (212) 788-8070 for more details on this Block Party to herald the start of summer.

SUNDAY, June 21, Make Music New York”, citywide celebration in community gardens, with live music here in our gardens! Last year’s event was super fun for all, 11 AM – 5 PM planned, for a family event.
Contact Paula McKenzie to volunteer your services for setup and cleanup. [ 212 - 222 - 6337 ]

THANKS TO:
Paula McKenzie & Raleigh Mayer & Julie Soledispa for spearheading /coordinating the successful Mother’s Day Plant Sale with Bake Sale and Flea Market for good measure!

Linda Prudhomme for 24-hr. turnaround getting check to GT for 4 months’ rental of, and to
Guy Pinté for clearing the space and taking delivery of the Porta-Potty into the East Garden. .

OTHER NEWS:

GT is holding A Photo Contest, celebrating its 30th Anniversary. Submit your favorite photos for a chance to have them displayed in Parks Art Gallery. Rules, deadlines at: www.greenthumbnyc.org.

All for now, LM

West Community Garden Update

Some good news – Matt Brown, head of Central Park Conservancy’s Soil and Conservation has agreed to come and give a talk/ walk-through our garden on June 24 at 6.30 pm (the night I’m monitoring). He’ll talk about soil, plants, growing things in the city, and answer any questions we might have. Please put this on your calendars – he’s a great guy (and has kindly brought a truckload of dirt/compost to the garden for the past two years.)

Still haven’t received the plants that were ordered. I’ll be out of town over the weekend, so I’ve asked Frank to let Ann know if they come before the workday. Otherwise, will send an email when they arrive. Julia and Ann know what needs to be done in the garden for the workday.

Thanks to all of you who came and worked in the garden last weekend (and to Ariel and Shane for offering libations) – the garden is beginning to look great.

Best,

Suzanne

Sat, June 6: Garden Workday

Hello all,

This is a reminder that we will be having our next work day on Saturday, June 6 beginning with a meeting at 10 am.

There is also a Green Thumb giveaway on that same day beginning at that same time in Queens (not far from Queens plaza). If anyone is able to travel there to pick up some supplies for our summer season it would be most appreciated and would certainly count as full involvement in the workday. There are a number of items being offered, including wheelbarrows, which we could use. So having access to a car would make this most convenient.

If someone can volunteer for this pickup, please contact me at my personal email to let me know and I will forward you all the information. For any members unable to attend this workday, you should also email me at my personal address for individual chore assignments.

I have contacted the committee chairs to ask about any chores that need attention. If anyone has any additional concerns, please feel free to contact me so that I can try to address them prior to the workday.

I look forward to seeing you all in the garden. Thanks,
Mary Kelly

Recyclables

Please take all recyclabes with you out of the garden that you bring into the garden, because:

- We “garbage people” cannot be expected to rummage through the garbage,
- We have no bags for recyclables, and
- We do not want to get a ticket.

Thank you,
Walli (taking care of garbage in May)

June 21: We need Volunteers for Make Music NY1{

{Please note corrected date!}

The Make Music New York Event is coming up on Sat., June 21th! In order for it to be a success in our garden, we need volunteers for the following positions:

Music coordinator: Someone to interview and book musicians for the day – 6 groups have contacted the garden expressing interest.

Activities coordinator: Someone to bring other activities to the garden (ie. contact Vita Wallace).
Publicity coordinator: Create a flyer and make sure it gets distributed before the event.

June 21 Volunteer coordinator: Lou Ludyny has agreed to be the contact person for the day of June 20th, but he will need atleast 5 gardeners assisting him with set-up, clean-up, etc.

Please let me know if you would like to take on any of these responsibilities.

THANK YOU! Paula