Retaining Wall Updated Information, 10/20/09

1) Contractor chosen, budgeted, now awaiting sign offs by four City departments before it can be legally awarded:

Dept. of Investigation — checking history of credit, qualifications, performance, etc.,

Dept. of Finance — to approve budget assigned for all 5-boros overall,

Office of Budget & Management — to corroborate overall budget,

Office of Controller — triple-checking previous 2 reports.

Used to take 2-3 weeks for investigation, but policy/personnel changed six months ago, no way to predict how soon investigation completed. Once signed off by all four, it would take approximately 3 weeks to get up and running. We’re second on list of priorities — will be done in conjunction with another garden/park on W.135th St.

2) Parks/Contractor can give some help in transplanting — dig trenches for placing plants — but would appreciate/expect help from gardeners to know what plants to move.

3) Contractor would have to replace damaged or removed property: replace fence. Normally part of individual contract per site.

4) Parks has generic list of plants from which it might be able to replace some damaged shrubs, plants. They’ve done so in past.

5) Concrete/mortar can be worked at temps above 20 degrees, so not a problem to do this in wintertime. Waiting till Spring would lose us whole planting season. They have method(s) to warm the earth when required.

6) Depending on kind of equipment Contractor has/uses, might be able to bring machinery in through western half of garden, across lawn, then to east fence/retaining wall site. Can’t know at moment. I have requested they take a hard look at using manual labor, with the possibility of our subsidizing part of any additional cost.

7) Some beds will have to be redone, especially if manual labor is minimal: the four starting with the Memorial Bed thru to Cassie Wright’s bed definitely; communal beds along that section of East fence, probably the one at end of BBQ patio and on either side of steps down behind 12 W. bldg. Don’t/won’t know of others until Contract is legally awarded and a Meeting held with the possible solutions presented.

New temporary home for cats, away from work area at rear of garden , probably good idea.

If I have further information, before tomorrow’s Meeting, I will send it along.

There was no additional information.

// LM

October Calendar

Hi all –

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 14, Rose Cte. Cleanup Work Session 5-7 PM Setting up shrubs, maze lawn for the winter dormancy season.

SATURDAY, Oct. 17, Final Garden Workday, 10AM meeting — project(s) TBA for workday following.

SATURDAY. Oct. 24. Fall Festival from 12 Noon to 4PM-ish, replete with vendors, ethnic foods:
Call Julie to arrange vendor table, prices, etc., at 212-316-2964. Call Paula/Raleigh to volunteer to set up tables, chairs, staff garden booth//table, make/post flyers, etc.
AND:
SATURDAY, Oct. 24, 1PM- 3PM 9th Annual Halloween Party for kids up to 12 years, with parents and grandparents too! Costume Parade, spooky games, devilish-ly delicious snacks, and prizes, too. Volunteer to help Lou decorate the grounds for this event: 212-666-6732, and again Paula/Raleigh to help organize the games, sing-along, judge costumes, etc.

GREEN THUMB SEMINAR(s) To Obtain compost:
THURSDAY, Oct. 15, 5:30-7:00 PM Composting Seminar, Shiloh Garden, Brooklyn, NY
Monroe St., between Marcy & Tompkins Aves.

A train to Nostrand Ave., exit near intersection of Fulton St. and Nostrand — walk North on Nostrand towards Monroe St.

This should be most helpful to the Compost Cte. members, and the only way to be eligible
for a truckload of compost in the Spring – by attending either this seminar;

OR: alternatively, THURSDAY, November 5th, 4-6 PM, on Soil Health, St. Augustine School Peace Garden, Bronx, NY:

D train to 167 St., xfer to BX 35 bus at Grand Concourse going east on 167 St. get off at
Franklin Ave,., garden is between 167 & 168 Sts,

At either Seminar, the gardener(s) attending can then request a delivery of Soil, compost, or cleanfill for Spring delivery. Such delivery will be most helpful to complete the building of the new beds in the East Garden.

OTHER:
GREENTHUMB & MILLION TREES NYC STEWARDSHIP day-long FREE Conference:

SATURDAY, OCT.24, Jos. Daniel Wilson Memorial / Project Harmony Garden, Manhattan.
11am – 12 noon, Workshop #1, “Tree that Saved My Life” Game show
Noon-12:45PM Lunch
12:45 – 2:15PM, Workshop #2, “Hands-on Street Tree Care Clinic”
Both workshops will be led by Susan Fields, MillionTrees NYC Corps. Susan was our GT Coordinator for 7 years before she left to join the Brooklyn Botanic Garden 2 years ago, and is most knowledgeable about community gardens/street trees needs.

A, B,C,D or 2,3 train to 125 St., walk toward Adam Clayton Powell, turn south walking towards 122 St., turn right on 122 St., garden on the right.

Supplies to be given out include watering buckets/hoses, cultivators, gloves, aprons, info packet, plant material for Tree bed planting.

This one competes with our Fall Festival/Halloween Party, however. So perhaps a Treepit Cte. member might attend and distribute info at our November Season Closing Meeting?

THANKS TO:

Jean Jaworek for her donation of an aluminum ladder to the garden.
Peter Bazeli for his work in designing the now-approved new beds-to-be in the East Garden; and with Alan Tenney providing ballot boxes on both sheds for current and future use.

OTHER:

As a reminder: West Gardeners might want to delay planting of spring flowering bulbs until we have definitive plans and timetable for the retaining wall renovation. Many of our existing plants may have to be moved elsewhere — including those of the east side in the sidewalk fence bed – though every effort and argument is being used to minimize disturbance of that and individual garden plots in the eastern third of the West Garden. Details will be delivered as soon as we have them, after scoping sessions with Parks, GT, Steering, NWCPMBA members are held.

Your input will be sought on solution(s) proffered.

All for now,
Lucille M.

Garden Workday – Sat Sept 12 10am

Dear West 104th Street Garden Members,

This is a reminder that our next work day is tomorrow, Saturday Sept 12 beginning with a meeting at 10 am. If you have any suggestions for work day projects please contact me at alan.tenney@gmail.com. See you tomorrow!

-Alan

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

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

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

April Events

SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 1pm –3pm, 7th Annual Easter Parade & (for kids through 8 yrs. of age) Egg Hunt. FREE — bring your kids and grandkids to participate in games, sing-a-long, crafts (anyone to make a basket?), and snacks. Perhaps you might help to decorate, supervise wandering youngsters, lead a game, etc.,: call Lou 666-9733 to volunteer?

SUNDAY, APRIL 19, 1pm ,Opening Season Garden Meeting: Progress, Treasury, Green Thumb reports; Election of 2009 Steering Committee, Signup for monitor shifts, check working committee assignments, and meet and greet new and old friends! It’s our annual Potluck brunch, so bring a dish to share as well.

OTHER:

MACY’S FLOWER SHOW, Sunday, April 5 thru Sunday April 19. It’s usually a rare treat in sight and fragrance. Broadway window displays and floral arrangements throughout the 34th St. store itself. Regular store hours.

ALERT;

We’ll probably experience the renovation of the West garden site’s retaining wall toward the end of our season (Fall), so you might not want to plant anything other than annuals/vegetables (no bulbs) in your beds — or in community beds along the front and inside east side fences — in case any of the beds have to be upset in the doing. We’ll receive advance notice of when, exactly, later.

KUDOS to:

The two dozen-plus gardeners who worked devotedly on our first workday March 29 to clean up both East and West gardens; rebuilt individual beds with new planking; pruned the Peach trees; and spread the last of the woodchiips mulch! The garden is in grand shape going forward into our new season.

See you on the 19th?

Lucille

Wood Chips Galore! Art Exhibition! And Renewal Reminder‏

Spring is just around the corner, and things are happening in the garden.

• I spoke w. Matt Brown of the Central Park Conservancy and he kindly arranged to have wood chips delivered to our garden today. More than enough for paths, rose garden and water barrel sites. If the weather’s good and you feel inspired, please feel free to start rolling!
• Anna Lise Jensen has curated a fascinating art exhibition, with gardens as its topic. Please see invite, sent separately.
• If you haven’t sent in your application for this season, please do so now. If you want to keep your plot, the application should be postmarked by tomorrow, Feb. 14. If need another application, please go to our website (west104garden.org)

See you all soon,

Suzanne Charle’

Fall Festival This Saturday – October 25

Hello Gardeners!

The garden is looking very bright and festive in preparation for our event on Saturday.

Thank you to all that came out on Saturday to help decorate, move dirt and clean out the shed to make room for winter storage.

Also thank you to everyone posting flyers and forwarding e-mails to publicize our Fall Festival.

The Special Events Committee is requesting some additional help from anyone available and willing to contribute.

We could use the following donations:

1. Baked goods to sell at the garden table – please wrap your cookies, muffins, brownies or mini loaves individually for easy selling
2. Hot mulled cider to be sold at the garden table by the cup – this is a great money maker when the weather is nippy. The orange igloo cooler is the perfect container and it can be found in the large shed in the east lot.
3. Donations of Halloween Candy – very easy to find these days at the grocery and drug stores
4. Harvest your herbs and put them in a small sandwich bag with a label – they are so expensive in the supermarket and usually more than we need to buy at one time. Herbs are an easy item to sell.
5. Cups for cider

Any and all donations can be dropped off at the garden the morning of the event – 11am. If you want to make arrangements to drop off items prior to Saturday, please call Veronica at 212-774-1944.

Also, if you are available for an hour or even 45 minutes to man the garden table, relieve someone that is on duty or just generally help us out with the festivities, please do not hesitate to let us know.
Let Veronica know what you are able to contribute: vdoubleu@usa.net

Or simply come out on Saturday and look for Raleigh, Paula, Lou, Veronica or Jean and ask where your help can be used.

Reminder of the details:

West 104th Street Community
Fall Festival
Saturday, October 25th
11am – 4pm

Frank Schaap and Josh Levine will start performing acoustically at noon.

The raindate is Sunday, October 26th

Vendor spaces are only $15
Call Julia to reserve a spot: 212-316-2964

Saturday Workday: Construction and Sanitation committees

Construction: We will try to assemble some more benches. I think we have lumber and sides for two more.

We need to work on repair of the gazebo, but I’m thinking we may want to hold off on that until after the event. I need to review this with Frank Grech.

Sanitation: Clean up before the event is important particularly on the East side. This might be the time to get rid of a lot of misc. junk.

So everyone knows, when Robin and I went for the pick up Sat. we got some wonderful plants; however, there were no roses available. Also we were limited to 30 bulbs for our garden. We got mainly tulips and a few hyacinths.

Most of the plants were placed in the gazebo. Robin took some over to the Western lot for the communal beds.