Calendar

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

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

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.