A Lot of Possibilities

September 13, 2010
by garden
2 min read

A Lot of Possibilities: a presentation and discussion by artists on their work in New York City’s community gardens
Saturday, September 18, 2010, 2PM – 5PM
W. 104th St. Community Garden, 6 W. 104th St., New York, NY 10025 (between Central Park West and Manhattan Avenue)
In case of rain, this event will take place at WinterSpace, 15 W. 103rd St., #4D
 
A Lot of Possibilities is a project by artist Anna Lise Jensen that aims to place contemporary artists’ work in New York City’s community gardens, and to create a dialogue between artists, gardeners and city officials. The desire to turn these gardens into partial sculpture gardens is driven both by aesthetic sensibility as well as municipal strategy: by adding the layer of cultural site, the community gardens stand a greater chance against future demolition.
On Sep. 18th. some of the participating artists will discuss their projects (implemented or in process,) including Norbert Francis Attard, Suzanne Broughel, Alyssa Casey, Jennifer Sitron, Petra Valentova and Virginia Vergara. There will also be picnic food for all (performed by Valentova,) the premiere of Jonathan Velardi’s Flamingo Parade (inspired by the W. 104th St. Garden and selected to be part of Pixel Pops in October) and Christopher Blacker will play his torch song for the gardens.
From September 13th – 18th, Anna Lise Jensen will tweet on two artists, Norbert Francis Attard and Jennifer Sitron, discussing and installing their work in Manhattan Valley gardens. In addition, she will be updating on the search for an amenable garden wall-owner for Velardi’s 30 feet Flamingo Parade and visiting local cafes to set up a display area for prints and information on A Lot of Possibilities. The tweets will also announce daily sites for gatherings and food where interested parties are welcome.
For more information on A Lot of Possibilities, contact Anna Lise Jensen, aaaonyc@gmail.com 212 865-2108 www.SpaceAllOver.org 

Garden Workday September 12 (not 11)‏

September 5, 2010
by garden
1 min read

Hello gardenders,

There has been some confusion about the next workday. Because some members participate in memorial observances on 9/11, we decided to hold the workday on Sunday the 12th. Apparently not everyone got the message; the poster outside the gates is incorrect.

Further, we begin Sunday workdays at 11 (not 10) to allow for members who attend church services.

Please mark your calendars with the new date and time.

Thank you and sorry for the mix up,
The Steering Committee

Concert in the Garden this Thursday, Aug 5, 7-9PM‏

August 4, 2010
by garden
2 min read

!!Music in the W 104th St Community Garden this Thursday, Aug 5, 7-9PM!!

Please stop by the W. 104th St Community Garden this Thursday for an evening of music. The program will include:

N=1 is Columbia University researchers Alan Tenney on saxophone; Darrick Li on drums, Ian Tattersall on electric cello; Tim Spencer on bass guitar; and featuring singer/songwriter Ashley Juavinett on guitar and vocals… don’t worry, we all have day jobs.

Pianist, composer, singer and songwriter Chris Blacker recently moved to NYC from Seattle, where for the past seven years he collaborated with artists including cabaret-noir act Circus Contraption, gypsy jazz groups Hot Club Sandwich and Pearl Django, classical pianist/composer Amy Rubin, folk singer Jes Raymond, and music theater legend Jon Cypher. In 2006 Chris Blacker received an ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Award for his composition “Tidal.” Chris’s performance may include songs from his recently-released EP “Another Red Night” as well as a work-in-progress composition inspired by the W 104 Garden!

http://www.myspace.com/chrisblackermusic

Brian Gottesman is a guitarist/keyboardist/singer/songwriter/W104th St Gardener(!). In the 1990’s Brian cofounded the legendary Boston-based funk band Chucklehead and subsequently formed the band Rype as a vehicle for his original melodic rock songs. Brian has released critically-praised albums both as a band leader and solo artist, including Extra Virgin (1995), Pardon My Mess (2001) and The Sound of Yes (2003).

“[Brian’s] talent is extraordinary… remarkably honest and uplifting… a special achievement.” – Steve Morse (WBOS, The Boston Globe)

http://www.briangottesman.com/

Ashley Juavinett is a Philadelphia-based singer songwriter who shared her considerable talents with the W104th St Garden during Make Music New York. Ashley has impressed audiences at World Cafe Live in her native Philadelphia and at Cafe Vivaldi in NYC, where she performed this summer in support of her self-released EP Twenty Miles to Freedom.

http://www.myspace.com/ashleyj.music

Annual Peach Harvest this Sunday, July 25th at 6 pm

July 22, 2010
by garden
1 min read

Dear Garden Members,

It’s time for peaches. The Annual Peach Harvest will be held on Sunday evening, July 25th starting at 6 pm. There will be plenty for everyone. If you aren’t able to come and would like us to reserve some fruit kindly email Alan Tenney (alan.tenney@gmail.com).

If you can attend please bring along a basket or bag and your patience. It may take a while to remove the fruit. For this reason your sturdy ladders (say 4 to 8 feet tall) are also invited.

A Farming Concrete weigh station will be in operation so we can record the harvest. These peaches will contribute mightily toward our federal grant weight goal!

Sincerely,
Janice Vrana
Steering Committee Member

Reserve Your Space on the GreenThumb ACGA Bus!‏

July 11, 2010
by garden
1 min read

Get on the BUS!

Thanks to generous donations by Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi, The American Community Gardening Association, and The GreenThumb community Fund, Inc., we are able to provide discounted travel, conference registration, and lodging for registered GreenThumb community gardeners who want to attend the ACGA’s annual conference. For $200, you receive conference registration including most meals, a shared hotel room, and round trip bus transportation from Manhattan to Atlanta.

You must pay $100 ($99 + fee) in advance to reserve a space, first come first serve. Balance due in the form of a check or money order when the bus departs August 4th.

To reserve your space go to http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/118394.

For more information and the password for the discount, call (212) 788-8070.

You must be a member of a GreenThumb community garden.

Once you register there, GreenThumb will send you a conference registration form to complete.

For information on the conference offerings please go to www.communitygarden.org.

YOU DO NOT NEED TO REGISTER on the ACGA WEBSITE, your conference space is reserved once you sign up here.

More Information

Farming Concrete – Record your edibles!

July 11, 2010
by garden
1 min read

Dear Garden Members,

There are now loose leaf binders in the garden that contain the sheets for recording what edibles you grow in the garden. Both are contain the basic Farming Concrete information as well as the sheets. One is stored in the shed of the west side and the other under the gazebo on the east side. There is presently one scale which is also in the gazebo. We plan to have another scale for the w/s as soon as possible.

We hope that Annette Jochum, from Farming Concrete, will be able to swing by this Saturday at the General Meeting (10 am-noon) to speak about the program and to start the data collection.

Happy recording,

Janice Vrana
SC Member

The Safety of Rainwater Harvesting in NYC

June 21, 2010
by garden
1 min read

In response to some gardeners’ concerns about the safety of the cistern water in the 104th Street Community Garden, we are providing the following links to websites with relevant information.

Grow NY website
http://www.cenyc.org/openspace/rainwater

Grow NY manual for water harvesting
http://www.cenyc.org/files/osg/RWH.how.to.pdf

Rutgers Extension page for water harvesting
http://water.rutgers.edu/Stormwater_Management/rainbarrels.html

Rutgers facts sheet re maintaining water harvesting systems
http://njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs/download-free.asp?strPubID=FS1118

SC study about runoff water
http://us.mg202.mail.yahoo.com/dc/launch?.partner=vz-acs&.gx=1&.rand=6k1s6l3uopuaf

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

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.