2. spread gravel including around the new beds and along the perimeter of the west garden where the new fencing was installed
3. paint the shed roofs
4. committees should meet
Reminders / announcements /info
1. There are some free plants on a table near the port-o-potty. Please feel free to take one.
2. The water barrels in the east garden should not be shoved against the wall. That is a known rat route and we want to avoid giving them cover. The barrels should be 18 inches away from the wall.
3. Two bags of compost per bed. Please make sure to take your allotment this weekend.
4. Please do not plant additional plants in the areas that were cleared due to the new fencing. This is important perimeter space that we need to keep clear in line with our rat prevention strategy.
5. We will circulate the roster and committee lists as well as bed assignments in time for the workday!
The opening meeting will take place on April 2nd, 2022 beginning at 10 a.m. Since this is a potluck, please bring a dish that serves 6-8 people. Remember that we will be outdoors and will have no way to reheat or warm any dishes.
Following the meeting, we’ll have a short work day to get the garden ready for the season.
Lots of important information will be shared, but we will keep it brief and fun. This is a great opportunity to meet the Steering Committee, your fellow gardeners and get answers to any burning questions you may have.
Attached is a REVISED list of the work days for the 2022 season.
Check out these events from Make Music Winter 2021. All events held on December 21:
Winter is here! Make Music on Tuesday.
Make Music Winter is just around the corner, with a dozen new cities joining to create a musical winter solstice on Tuesday, December 21!
Check out the new Carol Cart in Knoxville TN, an array of interactive music events in Ossining NY, Christmas caroling in Muskogee OK, a drum circle in Port Hueneme CA, music in the State Capitol rotunda in Austin TX, the nationwide Mutant Toy Parades, and so many more live, participatory events to ring in the season.
Just visit makemusicwinter.org, and then join a music-making event near you!
Over the holiday, the West 104th Community Garden rescued four adorable kittens from the garden and neighboring yard. As medical costs are significantly high, the Steering Committee is seeking donations for their care. Cat Committee member, Nikki is fundraising to cover the vet expenses via GoFundMe.
Meet (from left to right): Maggie, Bart, Lisa and Ralphie. Probably about 8 weeks old but that’s a guess. They are pictured in my bathroom, where they have been for the last week.
yes 👏 The good news is that they seem healthy and are certainly friendly. Before they can be adopted they have to see a vet. We are using Brilliant Vet Care, a new vet in the neighborhood, which is giving us discount rates. The goal is to raise enough money to cover the first vet visit and the spay/ neuter, which will come in a few weeks.
Any support you can offer will be greatly appreciated.
Updates (5)
December 19, 2021 by Nikki Kowalski, Organizer
Tinsel a female garden cat is available for adoption.
Purrfect Angels of Inwood has a recently captured w104 garden cat ready for adoption, her name is “Tinsel”, but they have lots of really sweet cats waiting for a loving home.
Kittens came through spay/neuter just fine. Thanks for making that happen. We are still trying to trap the momcat. We have her coming around every night for tuna. We will keep you posted.
December 14, 2021 by Nikki Kowalski, Organizer
Kittens all adopted in pairs. Everyone goes to vet for spay/neuter this Thursday. Please consider adopting an older cat if you want a single feline for your household. Check out the cats at Purrfect Cats of NYC. The cats are friendly, healthy and and will repay the love you give them.
November 30, 2021 by Nikki Kowalski, Organizer
Dear Nice Humans: with your help, we can pay for the kittens’ first vet visit. They have worms (yuck but treatable) , but not leukemia (yay!). Wonderful staff at Brilliant Vets giving them their best possible start!
November 28, 2021 by Nikki Kowalski, Organizer
Hi Everyone,
Sending a quick update on the 4 kittens: Lisa, Bart, Maggie and Ralphie. They are heading to the vet tomorrow with Nikki for shots, deworming, Leukemia testing, etc. Neutering and spaying will happen a bit later. Photos of their vet visit will follow.
As you can see they like to hang out together and with humans. Who can resist those cute faces? Sara, Nikki and a few others are providing hours of attention so they can become socialized and easily adoptable. If anyone would like a pair or know of anyone who would be interested, please write to the garden email and we’ll keep a list.
The trap is set for the momma cat, since she was recently spotted in the garden area. Sara Lewkowicz is working overtime on her capture, so please send good energy her way. We want to take care of the momma, too, so your donations are still needed, https://gofund.me/4ef75bd5.
Many have been very generous and even others have provided cash outside of the GoFundMe platform. It is all so much appreciated. Kitten food, litter, toy donations are also welcome if you happen to have some you’d like to donate.
Toy Drive next Saturday December 11th, in the gazebo, from 1-3pm.
Garden volunteers will be waiting to greet your generosity with winter refreshments, music, and good cheer
Your contributions will go toward the national “Toys for Tots” program, founded and run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve, distributing toys to children whose parents and families can’t afford to buy them gifts for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and other solstice-time celebrations.
If you’d like to donate,
please bring a gift that would make a child or teen happy.
The Toys for Tots distributes presents to all ages of youth, from infancy through adolescence.
New (and non-violent please) toys, games, crafts, science kits, sports equipment, electronic entertainment, stuffed animals and dolls are all welcome.
Please donate unwrapped items that come in their original packaging.
(Multiple gifts very welcome, and there is no price range; all donations are much appreciated, whatever your budget allows.)
Our collection will be kindly transported by Manhattan Mini Storage to their 107th streetlocation, our neighborhood drop off in the Toys for Tots network.
Questions?
Please feel free to contact Raleigh Mayer (rm@raleighmayer.com) 212-678-2041 or Katy Pederson at our Garden Day tomorrow (December 4, 2021).
Our final meeting and workday of the season is this Saturday, December 4th. We use this final day to prepare the garden for winter and many hands make light work! THERE WILL BE REFRESHMENTS (in case you need another good reason to be there).
In addition to the garden work, this will also be the final meeting of the membership until March 2022, and we’ll be discussing some important topics, including new opportunities for members to get involved in the coming months. This will also be an opportunity for questions regarding upcoming votes and nominations for the steering committee (a separate detailed email will be circulated on these topics), so please join us!
Saturday’s Agenda:
1. Toy Drive 2. Steering Committee Nominations 3. Questions about upcoming votes 4. New committees for 2022, and committees that need additional help 5. Volunteers to help with grant writing 6. Garden tasks-water barrels, cisterns, umbrellas, furniture
Hope to see you there, West 104 Garden Steering Committee
