boston gardeners gazette · the american community gardening association conference in hartford...

Withourgardensbuzzingwithactivitymid-season,letstakeamomenttothankourvolunteergardencoordinatorswho’vebeenbusyfillingthelastvacatedplots,findingmissinggardenhoses,coordinatingcleanupdays,collectingproducetodonate,hostingvolunteersandprogramsandmore.Ourcommunitygardensoperationsrelyonthenetworkofthesefrontlinevolunteersandwearesothankfulfortheirsupport.AspecialshoutouttothecoordinatorsofthePaulGoreBeecherCG,LelandCG,ChilcottGranadaCGandtheWestSpringfieldCGforsubmittingtheirvolunteerhourssoregularly.Andthankstoallotherswho’vebeensendingusyourhoursaswell.Trackingthehoursyouallvolunteerinthegardensissoimportantforusandhelpsusshowcase

thetimeandfinancialworthoftheworkaccomplishedbyyou,whichinturnhelpsusleveragefundingforourgardennetwork.Ifyouhaven’talreadydoneso,Irequestallgardencoordinatorstosendinyourgarden’svolunteerhourstoourvolunteermanagerAnnieatawolf@thetrustees.orgorat617.542.7696ext.2127.Remember-allgardenmeetings,outreachandorganizing,cleanupdays,commonareaworkandtimespenthostingprogramsandvolunteergroupscounts!Ihadtheopportunitytohangoutlastweekwithsomeofourvolunteers:Lolita,Raji,RizandLeora,whojoinedusattheAmericanCommunityGardeningAssociationconferenceinHartfordlastweekandenjoyedswappingstoriesandlearningabouttheirgardens.YoucanreadmoreabouttheirexperienceattheconferencefromRajiandLolitainthelatersectionsinthisGazette.Anothergroupofvolunteers-John,Susan,SuzanneandDebbieareworkingwithPeterBowneintheSouthEnd,alreadyscopingoutyardstofeatureinour2018SouthEndgardentour.MichelledeLimaisbeingsupportedbyourbelovedMUG(gle)volunteerswhileJeremyDickandJordanTakvorianarehostingseveralcorporatevolunteerswhowanttolendahelpinghand.Yougetthepicture.CommunityGardensaretrulyagrassroots,volunteerlednetworkthatarerunforandbyourcommunitiesandweattheTrusteesarefortunatetoworkamidstsuchgenerosity.

BostonGardenersGazette Urban&Green

August2017

AMessagefromVidyaTikku,GeneralManager

ParticipantslearnaboutediblenativeplantsinthesecondinstallmentofourserieswithNewEnglandWildFlowerSocietyattheMintonStablesCGinJP.Joinusforthefinalclassthismonth!

PleaseconsidersupportingtheBostoncommunitygardenswithyourmembership.Ifyouhaveaworkdayorprogramcomingupinyourgarden,don’thesitatetocallourstafftoswingbyandprocessyourmemberships.

HerbsforFood&MedicineSaturday,August5|10AM-12NoonSaintRoseCommunityGarden34SaintRoseStreet,JamaicaPlainManycommongardenherbscanbeusedformakingbothtastyfoodandhealingmedicine!Joinusinatuckedawaycommunitygardentolearntipsonhowtogrowandprepareherbstoexperiencetheirhealingbenefitsinbothfoodandmedicine.Takeatourofthegardenandlearnaboutgrowingannualandperennialherbs,thensamplesomepreparationsandlearntomakethemathome.

StarrySummerSkiesThursday,August17|7-9:45PMGovernorHutchinson’sField|226AdamsSt,Milton CelebratesummerwithanastronomynightandBYOpicnic.Joinlocalastronomyteacherandyourneighborsforawarmeveninginthefieldusingtelescopestoobserveandlearnaboutthewondersofthenightsky.Bringablanketandapicnictoenjoyatdusk.Afterdark,around8:15pm,we'llobserveSaturn,starclusters,theMilkyWay,andconstellationsincludingCygnus,Cassiopeia,Hercules,Lyra,andtheBigDipper.We'llhaveatelescopebutfeelfreetobringyourowntoo.PleasecheckthisFBeventforweatherupdates.Rain/clouddate:August22,sametimes.

CoverCropsforSmallGardensThursday,August10|6-8PMCityNatives|30EdgewaterDrive,MattapanCovercropsaddorganicmattertoyoursoil,retainwater,andsupportmicrobiallife.USDAagronomistandexperiencedgardenerTomAkinwillteachyouhowtoincorporatecovercropswithoutlosingvaluabletimeandspaceinthegrowingseason.WithNOFA/Mass&GroundworkSomerville.

NativePlantSeries:NativesforEveryLandscapeSaturday,August19|10-11:30AMMintonStableCommunityGarden|110WilliamsSt,JPEverlookataspotinthelandscapeandthink"notingwillgrowhere"?ComejoinDanJaffeatMintonStableGardeninJPtodiscussnativespeciesthatwillgrowinanylandscape.Fromdry,acidicshade,todry,sandy,fullsunspots,we'llcoverplantsthatcouldhelptofillyourproblemareas.Younamethenastyspotandwe'llgiveyoualistofplantsthatwillnotonlygrowtherebutwillplayanactiveroleintheecosystem.

Roots:ANightofLiveStorytellingintheGardenWednesday,August16|6-9PMBerkeleyCommunityGarden|500TremontStreet,SouthEnd

JoinPRXPodcastGarage&TrusteesforanightoflivestorytellingintheiconicBerkeleyCommunityGarden.Theeveningwillbeginbymeetingyourneighborswithminglingandguidedstorytelling,followedbyaliveperformanceofpersonalstoriesonthethemeof“Roots."BYOpicnicdinnerwithsnacksavailableforsale.FREEandopentoall.Nodogsoralcoholicbeveragesareallowedinthegarden.

Thethemeofthenightis“Roots,”fromliteralofatreetofigurativerootsofculture.Whatkeepsyouinoneplaceorgroundsyouinoneperspective?Areyourrootsyourstrengthoryourshackles?Ifyouwouldliketotellapersonal5-minutestoryonthistheme,pleaseemailinfo@podcastgarage.org.Tellusyournameandalittleaboutyourstory!

SAVETHEDATECityNativesPlant,Tree&ShrubSaleSaturday,September9|10AM-2PMCityNatives|30EdgewaterDrive,MattapanBostonAgricultureExpoSunday,September10|11AM-4PMHaleyHouseBakeryHouselot|RoxburyPreservingtheHarvestSaturday,September16|10AM-12PMSymphonyRoadCommunityGardenBostonSBN'sBostonLocalFoodFestivalSunday,September17|11AM-5PMRoseKennedyGreenwayOpenGardenAfternoonThursday,September21|4-7PMLenox&KendallCommunityGarden,SouthEnd

Formoreinformationandtosignup,pleasevisit:http://www.thetrustees.org/things-to-do/

UpcomingEvents

HartfordservedasthehosttotheannualconferenceoftheAmericanCommunityGardeningAssociationinJuly.TheTrusteessponsoredtheeventasitreturnedtotheNewEnglandregionandsevenpeopleincluding3staffand4communitygardeners,whorepresentedTheTrusteesandBostonattheevent.TheACGAconferenceisanimportantopportunitytomeetothersinourfield,learn,andshareexperiences.Ourstaffandgardenerattendanceisimportant;wewishtoincreasethestatureofBostonandTheTrusteesasnationalleadersinthefieldofcommunitygardening.Iledapracticalsessiononaccessibleraisedbeds;discussingbestpractices,buildingmaterials,and

constructionmethodswhilemycolleagueMichelledeLimapresentedaspartofapanelentitledGardensatWork:HowtoReapBenefitsofWorkplaceGardens.InthesessionshejoinedBrendonPiresofBlueCrossBlueShieldofMassachusettstohighlightourpartnershipmanagingGardensinHinghamandQuincyforBCBSemployees.“Theworkshopwasagreatopportunitytosharesomeofthelessonswe’velearnedaboutcreatingasuccessfulworkplacegardenthroughourpartnershipwithBlueCross”-Michelle. ItwasespeciallywonderfultobeabletosharetheexperiencewithourvolunteerswhoarecommunityleadersforurbangardeninginBostonandshareourownsuccessesandchallengeswiththeparticipantsfromacrossthecountry.Here’salittleabouttheirexperience,directlyfromacoupleofthem.

LolitaB.ParkerJr.The35thAnnualAmericanCommunityGardensConferenceinHartford,Connecticutlastweekendwasacontentrichgatheringofcurious,committedandcompassionateDOERS.WhereelsewouldIhavetossed“farmtotable”loveliness”toseedtomarketpracticality,seeahandmaderootvegetablewasherorlearnthatifyourubgarliconyourbarefootyoucantasteitinyourmouthinthreetofiveminutes(Ihaven’ttriedthisyet)Inpartthethirtyplusworkshopsaddressed;medicinalgardeningwerefoodreplacesthePhofpharmacytoFoffarmacy,climatechange,socialjustice,growingriceinplasticbucketsinNewEnglandandnature

playgardens.DuringonebreakoutsessionIsatwithaveteranpoliceofficerwhoafterfirstassertingshewas“brandnew”totheconceptofbuildingcommunitythroughgardeningandhadnothingtoofferhadthebestideasafterourgroupencouragedthefreshperspectiveofhernewbiestatus.Toapersonweknowhowmuchricherourlivesarewhenwegetourhandsdirtygrowingfoodforourselvesandothers.Icameawayfromtheconferenceunderstandingthatwecommunitygardenfolk,“YesUs!”areonthefrontlinesofthefoodjustice/foodsecuritymovement.LaLuchaContinúa(TheStruggleContinues) LolitaParkerJr,isthecoordinator/oftwocommunitygardensinLowerRoxbury.TheBessieBarnesCommunityGarden,aTrusteeproperty,andtheUnitedNeighborsofLowerRoxburyCommunityGardenbothwithrootsleadingbacktoMelKing’s,tenureasaStateRepresentative(1973-1982)whenheadvancedlegislationtopromoteurbanfarming.PhotoCredit:BarryAlexander

Raji Imaginenearly200communitygardeners.FromallaroundtheUS,evenahandfulfromotherpartsoftheglobe.Newbiesandveterans.Youngandold.Gardeneducators,scientists,communityorganizers,foodjusticeactivists,teachers,volunteersandmore.Atrulydiversegroupofpeopleineverywayimaginable,amicrocosmofwhatourcommunitieslooklike.Nowrollupyoursleeves,wearyourgardeninggloves.Mixvigorouslyfor4days.Enrichwithgenerousquantitiesofworkshops,demonstrationsandsitevisits.Sprinkleloadsoffreeseedpackets,toolsandguides.Anddon’tforgettoaddlotsofgardeningpuns(theyreallyhelplightenthemedium).

ShowcasingBoston’sCommunityGardens–JeremyDick,StewardshipManager- LolitaB.ParkerJr.,Volunteer- Raji,Volunteer

That,inanutshell(filbert?shagbarkhickory?)wastheAmericanCommunityGardeningAssociation’s38thannualconferenceinHartford,CTfromJuly27-30.Asanewbiegardenerandfirsttimeattendee,Iarrivedbright-eyedandbushy-tailed,notentirelysurewhattoexpect.Here’showitunfolded:Thursday:4hourintensiveononeofmanytopics.(thinkjumpstartingaseedlingwithagrowlightandheatedmat)Friday:back-to-backworkshopsfrom9-5,followedbynetworkinguntillatenight.Saturday:achoiceof7toursofdifferenttypesofcommunitygardensinCTandMA.Agalaatnightwithdancingandlivemusic,andasilentauctionofitemsrangingfromahumbleusedbookaboutfruittreestoabeautifulhand-paintedgardenbenchmadeofreclaimedpallets.(Lestyouthinkthiswasoneofthosesnootyevents,picturethis:abunchofgigglinggardenersinourworkclothes,runningfromitemtoitemanduppingourpreviousbidinadesperateefforttowinthatcoveted5lbbagofwormcastingswhileachorusofvoicesraucouslycounteddownthelastfewseconds).Sunday:moreworkshops,followedbymorebrainstormingandsharing.Cross-pollinate!ForeverysessionthatIattendedtherewasatleastoneotherconcurrentsessionthatIwassoreabouthavingmissed.Icouldtrytosummarizethetopicscovered,butnotwithoutdoinginjusticetotheirbreadth.(Docheckouthttps://communitygarden.orgforthefullconferenceschedule.)BytheendoftheconferenceIwasinspired,brimmingwithideasandquestions,andexhaustedinthatgoodwayonefeelsafterasatisfyingworkout.Butmostofall,Icameawayfeelinghopeful.Inourclosingcircle,afewgardenerswhohavebeendoingthisworkfordecadesbecameemotional.We’reexhaustedandafraid,theysaid.Theworldaroundusseemsintentonsowingseedsofdivisivenessandhate.Howthendowefindthestrengthtocontinuetonurtureandshare?Ineachother.Asthekeynotespeakersaid,themostimportantwordin“communitygardening”isnotgardening.Rajihasseveralyearsofexperienceasasoftwaredeveloperandisnowpursuingherinterestingardeningandlocalfood.SheisworkingwithVidyatoexplorehowtousehercomputerandgardeningskillstosupportthelocalgrowingmovementinBoston.ShegraduatedfromtheTrusteesMasterUrbanGardeningclassin2016andwillbestartingherworkwiththeCitySproutsinSomervillelaterthismonth.

TheMagazineStreetgardeninRoxburyreceivedalittleinJulyfromvolunteersfromAnaqua.Thegardenhaditspathwayscleared,re-leveled,andresurfacedwithstone-dustwhilefencelineswereclearedofweedtreeswithhelpfromthesehardworkingvolunteers.Thisgroupof13volunteersspent4hourswithusduringahotJulydayandcouldnothavebeenmorehelpful.Wealsohostedthreeothervolunteerdayswithoutsidegroups:StudentsTodayLeadersTomorrowprocessedcompostatCityNatives.MADepartmentofEducationprocessedcompostatNightingaleCommunityGarden,andassistedwiththeinstallationofanewcomposterunit.Ernst&YoungprocessedandspreadcompostatCityNatives,andassistedwiththeinstallationofanewcomposterunit.

Thankyouall!

VolunteerDaysatourCommunityGardens–JordanTakvorian,Steward

TheSecondAnnualBostonAgriculturalExpositionisSunday,September10thfrom11AM-4PM,rainorshine.WeareagainpartneringwithAgriculturalHallandHaleyHousetobringthismoderntakeonacountyfairtoBoston’sDudleySquare.Agriculturalexhibits,backyardgrowingdemonstrations,activities,oldtimegames,alongwithpiebaking,pieeating,andharvestcontests.Buildandraceyourveggieracecaronourtrackforfunandprizes!RoseandtheWildEdibleswillbereturningagainthisyeartolivemusicthroughouttheday.MovingtheExpotomid-Septembermakesitpossibletoaddharvestcontests.We’llbehaving

bothseriousandfuncategorieswithprizesforthewinners.Ifyouareinterestedinexhibiting,joiningthemarket,orvolunteeringpleaselookformoreinformationontheFacebookeventpage.

Also,withthe2017SouthEndGardenTourwrapped,wearealreadyworkingonthe2018tour.Thetourpivotsthroughtheneighborhoodinafive-yearrotation.Nextyear’stourareaisborderedbyColumbusandTremontandRutlandandDartmouthStreets.Wehadourfirstscoutingwalkmid-monthandcameupwithsomeoutstandingcandidates.Ifyouhave,orknowofagardenweshouldbelookingatpleasedropmealineat617.869.6720

Summerisstillinfullswing,butnowisthetimetostartplantingtoensurealongfallandwinterharvest.Herearesometipsonwhatandwhentoplant:VeggiesDirectseedrootcropsliketurnips,carrots,andwatermelonradishesthisweek.Besuretoprovideadequatewatertogetthemthroughthenextfewweeksofheat.Ifyouwanttostartyourownseedlings,getgoingnowonfalllettuce,spinach,andbokchoy.TransplantinginearlySeptembergivesthesecropsthebestchancetosizeupbeforethedaysgettooshort.We’llhavethesealong

withkale,cabbage,andcold-hardyAsiangreensatoursalenextmonth.WoodyPlantsGiventheunpredictablesummerweatherwenowhaveinBoston,andthelikelihoodofdroughtandexcessiveheat,Septemberisthebesttimeforplantingtreesandshrubsinourarea.Theystandamuchbetterchanceofdevelopinghealthyrootsandavoidingscorchingthanthoseplantedinspring.CityNativesPlant,Tree&ShrubSaleonSeptember9willfeatureabroadarrayofhardtofindnativewoodyplants,aswellasperennials,autumngreens,gardeningandseasonextensionsupplies,andcovercropseed.JeremyandIwillbehappytohelpwithplantselectionandcareadvice.Herearejustafewofthewoodyplantswe’reoffering:Bayberry,Myricapensylvanica;FlameAzalea,Rhododendroncalendulaceum;MountainWitchAlder,Fothergillamajor;FranklinTree,Frankliniaalatamaha;TulipTree,Liriodendrontulipifera;AmericanSmokebush,Cotinusobovatus;Sourwood,Oxydendrumarboretum;CarolinaSnailseed,Cocculuscarolinus

FallGrowingTips –MichelledeLima,EngagementSiteManager

BostonAgricultureExpo –PeterBowne,EngagementSiteManager-SELR