Garden Meeting Thursday, June 17th‏

June 15, 2010
by garden
1 min read

Hello Garden Members,

Here’s a reminder that the garden meeting is on for this Thursday, June 17th, from 6-8 pm. Foremost on the agenda is whether the garden should adopt a budget. So please attend, since this is an important issue that bears on the organization of the garden in the future.

On an entirely different note, please, please, please REMOVE potted plants from the aisles of the garden. As long term members know, pots-in-the-aisles present a hazard to everyone’s circulation.

If the weather prevents our gathering, I’ll send out a cancellation by 4pm. Let’s hope we get our chance.

Sincerely,
Janice Vrana
SC Member

Workday postponed to June 10 Rain Date: 6-8pm

June 9, 2010
by garden
1 min read

Hello Members,

Since it has already begun to rain and is predicted to continue through tomorrow morning (NY1), we have decided to reschedule the meeting & work day tomorrow, 6/10, from 6 to 8 pm.

We are also pleased to announce that guest, Annette Ajochum will introduce us to the organization she represents, Concrete Gardener.

See you tomorrow,

Janice Vrana
Steering Committee Member

Workday Thank You!

May 18, 2010
by garden
2 min read

Dear Gardeners,

A big thank you to everyone who came out Saturday (and those doing make up assignments). We moved almost a mountain of soil up the hill, one heavy wheelbarrow at a time, to fill the new individual beds, rebuild the lawn around the BBQ patio, and refresh the herb garden. The path between the new beds and the strip of garden along the fence was measured to ADA standards.The maze inside the rose arbor, which was badly overgrown, was uncovered and scrubbed. The tree pits are getting new soil. We now have a dwarf spruce (a legacy from Lucille) next to the East Garden gate. And more. It was an exceptionally productive work day!

Needed: special person (or two) to chair the Special Events committee. We had good ideas at the opening meeting—inviting speakers, hosting workshops, “café evenings” with local musical and other performers. Now we need one or two creative volunteers to put ideas into action.

Reminder: If you have a private event in the garden, you must take your trash back out. The Garbage Committee is not responsible for cleaning up after individuals. This rule applies whether you are having a party or a private picnic.

Again, great job Saturday.

The Steering Committee

Garden Work Dates 2010

April 23, 2010
by garden
2 min read

Dear Gardeners,

It was nice seeing you on Sunday and thanks for a productive meeting. We wanted to let you know the dates for the 2010 Work Days/Evenings:

Saturday, May 8 10AM-noon
Weds, June 9 6-8PM
Sat, July 10 10AM-noon
Weds, Aug 4 6-8PM
Saturday, Sept 11 10AM-noon
Saturday, Oct 2 10AM-noon
Sunday, Nov 14 1PM (season wrap-up meeting at Schneider Apartments)
-rain dates will be scheduled as needed

As outlined in the Garden Reminders, Rules and Regulations:
Monthly meetings/workdays: Members are required to attend meetings/workdays held from March until November. If members cannot attend they must contact the Steering Committee for individual projects. Members who do not regularly attend workdays, or who do not make alternate work plans with the committee members, may be asked to give up their beds.

We are also having a Work Day this Saturday, April 24 to help the Maintenance Committee (10am) finish rebuilding the beds in the West Garden removed for the wall reconstruction (including the construction of 2 new beds). We will also finish work on the new beds in the East Garden and start filling them with topsoil. All levels of handiness are welcome. Contact Jean Jaworek jeanmike2@mindspring.com

In addition, the Community Garden Committee will be meeting Saturday, April 24 at 2:30pm to relocate plants from the future site of the water harvesting system. Contact: Suzanne Charle suzcharle@gmail.com

Information on Committee and individual bed assignments will be coming soon.

If you have any questions, please contact Alan at alan.tenney@gmail.com.

-W. 104th St Community Garden Steering Committee

4/25: You Are Invited to NYC Grows

April 23, 2010
by garden
1 min read

FYI — This should be an interesting, informative day! NYC Grows is the group that’s installing our West garden Rainwater system on or about May 4th. //LM

NYC Grows: April 25th at Union Square ParkNYC Grows
Sunday, April 25, 2010
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Union Square Park, Manhattan
14th Street to 17th Street and Broadway
Rain or Shine
New York Restoration Project (NYRP) and the NYC Parks Department, along with presenting sponsor Organic Gardening magazine, invite New Yorkers to this annual, FREE outdoor festival that promotes community gardening, tree planting and care, urban farming and sustainable living.

NYC Grows is FREE and open to the public and will feature activities for all ages, including:
• Gardening and tree-planting workshops
• Organic cooking demonstrations
• Greenmarket with locally grown produce
• Eco-friendly products
• Hands-on urban farming activities
• Interactive demonstrations
• Free giveaways
• Live musical performances

We look forward to seeing you at NYC Grows!

4/25 Art Exhibit: A lot of possibilities

April 23, 2010
by garden
1 min read

Hi all —

Anna Lise is a long-time member of our W.104 St. Comm. Garden, who wrote articles on our garden that appeared in international  newspapers!, was a member of our Rose Committee for years  and recently won this Award:

an artist grant (LMCC, community fund) to fund not just Jonathan’s  proposal for the W. 104th St. Garden but also to fund four more  artists in four more gardens in the area – as well as an artists book  on the project.

Enjoy the possibilities. // LM

Art Exhibit -- Winter Space: A Lot of Possibilities

Retaining Wall Work Update

April 11, 2010
by garden
1 min read
4 Comments
Construction and fencing will be finished next Wednesday , so please be advised that we still mustn’t enter the West garden till then.  And also, be careful if walking alongside fence — new sidewalk section has to ‘cure” for couple  of days this week — avoid stepping into / onto it.  Also, fenceposts are bang set in cement based in ground, in addition to the sidewalk section.  All have to cure.
LM

Spring Events and Opening Meeting

April 7, 2010
by garden
2 min read
FRIDAY, April 16, 5 – 6:30 PM  GT’s “Full Treatment on Raised Bed” with active participation
FREE LUMBER for spring delivery to gardens who send member(s). 
Mfinda Kalunga Garden (in Sara Roosevelt Park) between Chrystie & Forsyth Sts.
B, D trains to Grand St. Station; walk north  towards Broome St.,  turn Right into Roosevelt Park; Garden entrance on the side
 
SUNDAY, April 18, 1 – 3 PM, First Meeting of 2010 Season — Potluck brunch. Bring your favorite dish to share!    Schneiderman Apt. Comm. Room, 11 West 102 Street
Agenda will include Sign-ups for  Monitor shifts, Applications for those who haven’t yet renewed, new members; Treasurer’s Report, Committee assignments, Green Thumb &  Rainwater System plus  update on Wall / Fence; work projects; Election of  Steering & Green Thumb reps.
 
There may be time for brief committee reports from Cte. chairs as well.
 
KUDOS to:
 
Alan Tenney & Susan Archambault, Marcia Berry, Frank Grech, Ann Levine, Jean Jaworek, Suzanne Charle, Robin Mace, Paula McKenzie,Florice Peterkin, Corine Pettey, Janice Vrana,  for their dedication and commitment to garden business during the winter when the rest of us were watching “Nature” and “Life” on TV!
 
Green Thumb for offering the Rainwater Harvesting System to us, FREE! 
 
Parks Dept. for administering and overseeing the building of the new retaining wall, and restoring man of the beds after its completion.
 
All for now,  Lucille M.
 

West Garden Wall Update

March 14, 2010
by garden
2 min read

Hi all–

Finally, contractors have started work to rebuild a retaining wall in the West garden. The crew did a near job of removing and saving most all the bed planks; moved the spruce tree and rose bush from the Memorial Bed to other side of arbor; put up a large sign explaining what’s being done and why inside the gate so passersby would know what’s happening;; and are cleaning up as they go –sweeping the sidewalk, etc. They’re installed a double-wide gate in the fence to allow for equipment ins and outs; a Parks rep is onsite all day; and Frank has been over to speak with them — the same men our Steering Cte.,Jean and myself met with twice prior to work starting.
The work, weather permitting, should take 3 to 31/2 weeks, due to the snows delay last week, sorry.

REMINDER: We are not allowed entry to this West site during construction, please.
There are No Parking signs up and cars will be moved out if any one parks there during construction, alternate days or not.
Gardeners with beds in the East garden are free to do their Spring prep/planting however.

OPENING MEETING: tba, CHECK YOUR E-MAIL NEXT WEEK.

GREEN THUMB GROW TOGETHER: Saturday, March 20, 9 AM (Bkfst 8:30) Admission at door: $5.00, Hostos College. Full details in the GT Program Guide which you should have all received by now.
Also, on GT’s website.

MUCHO KUDOs to Frank Grech for clearing the mounds/drifts of snow from the sidewalks at both garden sides!

All for now — Lucille

No Workday Saturday (Feb 6)

February 6, 2010
by garden
2 min read

Due to the anticipated 3-6″ snowfall overnight, the Saturday Special Cleanout WORKDAY will instead be the Snow date, SUNDAY, FEB. 7, 11:00 AM. Various jobs will be announced then, as some things were done this afternoon after our Meeting with 2 Parks and 4 Contractors reps, including the Job foreman. If you need to remove anything from your bed — if it’s one of those in the entry path as shown on Jean’s diagram sent last week — please do so Sunday!

Present at this meeting for the Gardeners’ concerns were: Frank Grech, Jean Jaworek, Ann Levine, Robin Mace, Paula McKenzie, yours truly, and Janice Vrana. All questions were answered, and everybody left happy with the results of this pleasant, friendly session.

IMPORTANT: No Gardeners/gardening in the West garden site will be allowed during the proposed two weeks’ reconstruction sched ule — Starting February 8 through February 22 — weather permitting. Ring bells, chant favorite mantras, light candles for clear, non-freezing temps these next two weeks!

Thanks to Frank for volunteering to be the Contractors’ go-to-gardening liaison during this renovation; and to Jean for making the flyer which has been posted on doors of 12 W., 20 W, and
Townhouse Bulletin Boards. These “To Our Neighbors” notices are in addition to the signs that Parks and Contractors will be posting.

There will be “No Parking” signs and orange pylons/sawhorses in front of the West garden, also.
Contractors will have necessary Permits on site for inspection as might need be.

FYI: The final Ballot count approving the entry route was: 34 Yes, 0 No, 1 Abstain, or 35.

Al for now — Lucille M.