Hey there Brentwood Gardeners! It is rather important to start working on our plots by May 1st. There is a pretty long waiting list for our garden, and we've been asked by the office to keep up on plots that are going unused. Please start your weeding & planting by the first weekend in May, so you can have a good jump on summer! Gardeners that haven't started working their plots by that first weekend in May will receive a reminder notice, and a 2 week grace period. If there is no activity in the plot by then, the plot will be considered abandoned & the CG office will begin reassignment. There are a lot of hungry people out there wanting a plot, and we do want to be fair to all the gardeners as well as the potential gardeners. Thanks for your hard work, and good luck!
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Feel like going international? Try this workshop!
Somali and Latino-Community Engagement & Intercultural
Understanding-Workshop Part II Somali Women's Association The Somali community is the fastest growing refugee population in Portland while Latinos are the largest immigrant population. Learn about how to engage Portland's Somali & Latino Community. This session is a continuation of the Cultural Awareness workshop of November 2007 lead by Lul Abdulle of the
Somali Women's Association (SWA) and Marco Mejia of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC). These community leaders will each lead a presentation with community testimony and dialogue around -What is the current experience of Somali and Latino neighbors? What are meaningful ways to reach and connect with these communities? There will be time for question & answers. When: Thursday, May 29th from 6-9pm Where: Central NE Neighbors,
4415 NE 87th near Sandy Blvd. AFSC project with Latino youth RSVP required space is limited. Please e-mail Sandra Lefrancois at
sandral@cnncoalition.org <mailto:sandral@cnncoalition.org>
Refreshments provided. This workshop is sponsored by Central NE Neighbors (CNN)
Understanding-Workshop Part II Somali Women's Association The Somali community is the fastest growing refugee population in Portland while Latinos are the largest immigrant population. Learn about how to engage Portland's Somali & Latino Community. This session is a continuation of the Cultural Awareness workshop of November 2007 lead by Lul Abdulle of the
Somali Women's Association (SWA) and Marco Mejia of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC). These community leaders will each lead a presentation with community testimony and dialogue around -What is the current experience of Somali and Latino neighbors? What are meaningful ways to reach and connect with these communities? There will be time for question & answers. When: Thursday, May 29th from 6-9pm Where: Central NE Neighbors,
4415 NE 87th near Sandy Blvd. AFSC project with Latino youth RSVP required space is limited. Please e-mail Sandra Lefrancois at
sandral@cnncoalition.org <mailto:sandral@cnncoalition.org>
Refreshments provided. This workshop is sponsored by Central NE Neighbors (CNN)
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Does anyone want to share some beneficial nematodes
I'm hoping to buy some beneficial nematodes soon hoping they'll eat any root maggots that might infest some carrots/radishes, etc. that I intend to plant soon. One package is too many for my plot so I was wondering if anyone wants to share. I can get them from March Biological for $20 that would cover two gardens ($10 for each of us)....I checked at Portland Nursery last week and they were out so I don't know their quantities/prices yet...Melinda
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Our controversial compost
At Brentwood CG, we are lucky to have a community compost pile. Most gardens don't have one of these because they are often a hassle to maintain, and occasionally someone is disrespectful of the rules of the compost, which can cause the compost to become unusable. This is usually caused by someone putting a pernicious weed in the compost, often unknowingly, and the entire pile becomes contaminated. There are other ways to make the compost difficult as well, such as putting in large clumps of sod, garbage, or many other types of unacceptable material.
Last year, we found that having a couple of people 'adopt' the compost for a time (usually a month, but sometimes longer) was a pretty decent way to manage it. Adopting the compost means that a couple of volunteers would turn, seed, and water the compost regularly for the time agreed upon at the meeting when they accepted the task of care-taking. During the season, we have BBQs on a monthly basis, which is when we have meetings.
Sadly, this spring when we looked over the compost at the first work party, it had been abused. Folks have been ignoring the rules, posted clearly on a sign, which explain how the compost MUST be treated. At the meeting which followed the work party, there was a discussion of the compost, and it was decided to put the subject out to the garden at large:
WOULD YOU LIKE TO CONTINUE THE COMMUNITY COMPOST? And if so~
WILL WE COMMIT TO TAKING GOOD CARE OF THE COMPOST?
Please send your comments, the compost is a wonderful thing for us all to use and enjoy, but it does require responsibility and commitment. We need to work together if we are going to keep it. If folks feel that it's not something we need to have, the compost area will be reassigned as plots for gardeners. This also means that we will all have to compost in our plots, or haul away our debris to our homes. Thanks for your support!
At Brentwood CG, we are lucky to have a community compost pile. Most gardens don't have one of these because they are often a hassle to maintain, and occasionally someone is disrespectful of the rules of the compost, which can cause the compost to become unusable. This is usually caused by someone putting a pernicious weed in the compost, often unknowingly, and the entire pile becomes contaminated. There are other ways to make the compost difficult as well, such as putting in large clumps of sod, garbage, or many other types of unacceptable material.
Last year, we found that having a couple of people 'adopt' the compost for a time (usually a month, but sometimes longer) was a pretty decent way to manage it. Adopting the compost means that a couple of volunteers would turn, seed, and water the compost regularly for the time agreed upon at the meeting when they accepted the task of care-taking. During the season, we have BBQs on a monthly basis, which is when we have meetings.
Sadly, this spring when we looked over the compost at the first work party, it had been abused. Folks have been ignoring the rules, posted clearly on a sign, which explain how the compost MUST be treated. At the meeting which followed the work party, there was a discussion of the compost, and it was decided to put the subject out to the garden at large:
WOULD YOU LIKE TO CONTINUE THE COMMUNITY COMPOST? And if so~
WILL WE COMMIT TO TAKING GOOD CARE OF THE COMPOST?
Please send your comments, the compost is a wonderful thing for us all to use and enjoy, but it does require responsibility and commitment. We need to work together if we are going to keep it. If folks feel that it's not something we need to have, the compost area will be reassigned as plots for gardeners. This also means that we will all have to compost in our plots, or haul away our debris to our homes. Thanks for your support!
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Weird and interesting seeds to give away...
Hi to you.
I have packages of organic seeds (NOT outdated) to give away. Let me know if you're interested in having any:
Summer Savory
Sweet Marjoram
Persian Anise Basil
Chicory
Oriental Mugwort
Lemon cucumber
Broccoli Raab
Purple Artichoke
Quinoa
Small Sugar Pumpkin
Best wishes to all. Gracie
I have packages of organic seeds (NOT outdated) to give away. Let me know if you're interested in having any:
Summer Savory
Sweet Marjoram
Persian Anise Basil
Chicory
Oriental Mugwort
Lemon cucumber
Broccoli Raab
Purple Artichoke
Quinoa
Small Sugar Pumpkin
Best wishes to all. Gracie
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
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