Earthworks Update Week of Nov. 16th
Greetings and Happy Monday,
Volunteer Opportunities
Wednesday 9am-12pm regular volunteer hours. Looks like we are in store for some cold snowy weather. Feel free to brave it if you like. We harvest the last few crops of the season, a little more clean up, and then maybe a hot cup of coffee topped off with some fun!
Also on Wednesday from 9:30-10:30 there will be a workshop on developing adaptive gardens at Earthworks. What's adaptive gardening you ask? So glad you did. Adaptive gardening is creating garden spaces that are more accessible to those who might not be able to bend or kneel or any number of other needs. If you want to know more you are just gonna have to come and learn.
Thursday 5pm-7pm Growing Healthy Kids end of the year celebration. Come out and join the kids as they celebrate the last Growing Healthy Kids event of the year.
that's it
Announcements
Tuesday 5:30-8pm Garden Resource Program potluck and strategic planning. For everyone out there who is part of the garden resource program, make sure you come out and voice your opinion, now is the time to tell us all what you thought of this years GRP transplants, seeds, classes, and other resources. Please bring a dish to share, and you opinion as well.
Wednesday Detroit Abides Present the movie "The Future of Food" 7-9pm at shed 5 of Eastern Market. For more info visit http://www.detroitevolution.com/detroitabides.html I'll be there.
Friday - Food for Thought - Race and Food Security: An Anti-Racism Agenda with Anan Xola Lololi from Toronto's Afri-Can Food Basket. It takes place at Focus Hope 1400 Oakman from 6-8pm. http://www.africanfoodbasket.com
I met Anan this last summer, and I look forward to seeing him speak.
I think that's it, for some reason I think I'm forgetting.
and now for the
Update
Well let us see, we got another huge load of leaves dropped off to us. They are cooking down quick, and we are spreading them over the fields. I feel as though I spent my whole week in meetings, I guess that's what happens when things slow down in the fields, you fill up with meeting and planning. We finished our rototilling, worked some in the high tunnel, planted clover, and harvested some out of the fields. Still some mulching left to do, but really we are pretty much finished up. Youth Farm Stand and Growing Healthy Kids both made pies. I can't confirm that they ever made the pies, I saw some evidence that they did, namely ingredients. I had to slip out before I had a chance to see them make any pie, let alone have a chance to sample it. Maybe next time. Wednesday's volunteer day was without any real physical work, but we did get a lot of talking done. It was great, we had really good conversation and you can see some of that in the notes below. Gene was nice enough to bring me a birthday cake, thanks so much Gene. Friday's listening session at Eastern Market was great. I got to see so many friends, and I enjoyed hearing so many voices. It was really interesting having the conversation in Shed #5, I look forward to watching a movie there on Wednesday (see announcements for more info). Saturday Lisa and I investigated the possibility of partnering with a local farmer to use some of their land to provide more food to the soup kitchen. It was wet and cold walking those fields, but they had some might nice looking Farmall tractors. I think it might work, we still have lot of details to work out. This week, Monday and Tuesday we have strategic planning, if everything goes well, we should have a plan for next year. We could use some direction. Otherwise we are pretty much up to business as usual. Ok, thanks as always for everything you do. until next time
onward
patrick
Weekly Update Week of Nov. 9th
Greetings and Happy Monday,
Volunteer Opportunities:
Tuesday Nov 11th Youth Farm Stand 5pm-7pm. Pie Making! If we make pie I’m guessing we get eat the pie too.
Wednesday 9am-12pm Regular volunteer hours. It’s looking chilly and wet for Wednesday, so we might not have any work to do outside, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t come. Starting at 9am we have a volunteer meeting. It’s your chance to ask all
those burning questions, as well as let us know how we are doing. If you are not able to
attend, but have thoughts, suggestions, or concerns please email us with them. If the weather is clear, some outdoor cleanup is still on the bill.
Thursday Nov 13th 5pm-7pm Growing Healthy Kids. More pie making. Oh how I love pie. Pie, Pie, Pie. I should right a song about it.
Announcements
Wednesday Community Food Justice Event 6pm-8pm potluck and discussion. Were flying by the seat of our pants here, but at least we know the topic: race and the food system. Bring a dish to share, and be ready to converse.
Friday Detroit Black Community Food Security Network in collaboration with The Eastern Market Corporation, C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems, and The Detroit Food and Fitness Collaborative host a listening session on the establishment, structure, and functioning of the Detroit Food Policy Council. It takes place at Eastern
Market shed # 5, from 7pm-9pm. Light Refreshments from local food sources will be
served. All are welcome.
and now for the
Update
Hmm, some wonderful weather this last week. It felt more like some spring days, and we took advantage of them, getting some tilling done for next year. Seeding some Dutch white clover which will slowly grow when we get mild fall and winter days. The fields are looking pretty bare. We removed all the irrigation lines, rolling them up for the winter. Beds have been mulched. Jam is all done, and we will be setting up our holiday gift shop the first week in December, look for details on that soon. We had our end of gardening celebration with guests and friends of Earthworks on Thursday. We spread leaves, and shared thoughts on the end of the season, and enjoyed hot cider and apple cake. It was good. Youth Farm Stand kids helped out with jam with Lisa. I think they had a good time, they looked like it when I saw them. Growing Healthy Kids went for a walk searching for seeds, and ate fried rice (rice is a seed, get it), which was very tasty. This week I think is mostly clean up, and organizing. We had a big, big bunch of leaves delivered, and so can mulch all the beds that are in need of mulching. Tools want to be cleaned, as does the shop space. It’s good, my desk needs to be cleaned off, papers need to be filed, I need to get on top of all this. Well I guess I should get to that instead of typing all of this.
onward,
patrick
Weekly Update Week of Nov. 2nd
Greetings and Happy Monday,
Volunteer Opportunities
Tonight aka Monday Jam Making. 3pm-9pm. Find out how we make our amazing jam, and be a part of the process. Feel free to come and stay the whole time or just pop in for a little while. Also feel free to bring a dish to share since we will be jamming during the dinner hour
Tuesday Jam Making 3pm-9pm also Youth Farm Stand will be helping out from 5pm-7pm. Again no pressure to stay the whole time and again feel free to bring a dish.
also Tuesday,
Working Lesson 5pm-? we are supposed to go till 7pm, but I’m sure it will be dark before then. We will be learning how to split perennials and how to replant them. We
should have some herbs and flowers for you to go home with.
Wednesday I’m sorry to report is without volunteer hours. I’m making a sad face right now on account of my desire to play with you. There’s always next week.
Thursday Growing Healthy Kids 5pm-7pm explore the amazing world of seeds. I’m gonna assume there is a seed themed snack in there. Maybe some pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds?
Saturday no volunteers, in fact no Saturday volunteers until next spring.
Announcements
mark your calendar
This Thursday 9:30 am our ceremonial puting the garden to bed. Join all our friends as we toss some leaves on plots, and say goodnight to the garden. Sleep tight, don’t let the bedbugs bite. We meet at the south end of the Soup Kitchen parking lot. All are welcome. You can bring me a snack if you like.
Next Wednesday the 12th 6pm – 8pm our next Community Food Justice Gathering. All are welcome, bring a dish to share if you can. This time the topic is race and the food system. I don’t know what Lisa has up her sleeve for this one, but I’m sure it’s gonna be good.
and now for the
Update
Let’s see, it’s been an amazing morning. I was awakened early by the thunder and lighting rolling though, by the time a got to work, the clouds were breaking open the sunlight was streaming though. The cover crops in the field looked so lush, and the air so warm and humid, it felt more like a spring day than a fall one. Just now another batch of rain blew though, and it looks like we could have some more. Out in the fields we’ve pretty much been focusing on getting everything cleaned up, we harvested some more radishes, parsley, and turnips. Even that’s getting pretty much done with. We replanted in the high tunnel, and it’s unlikely that anything will come of it, but you know nothing ventured nothing gained. Beds got mulched with leaves, berries got burlap bags around there roots. We still have some beds to cover with leaves, irrigation to get up, and a few beds rototilled and seeded with a late cover crop. Our harvest dinner was a great success, at least from a fun stand point, I’m not too certain from a fundraiser stand point, we still have to get that all sorted out. Still I loved getting to see and hang out with so many people I care so much about. Thank you to everyone that came, as well as everyone that helped make it possible. Also this week, as Lisa told you last week I spent a little time along with Ashley and Lindsay from Greening of Detroit accepting a Glynwood award for the work we do in the Garden Resource Program Collaborative. I’d like to congratulate all of you for you receiving the award. It’s important to know that we were just accepting the award, (after all somebody has to do it) but that it’s really an award for all us that are part of Earthworks and though that the Garden Resource Program. I unlike all of you got to have a couple of great meals and meet some amazing people. So thanks for all your hard work so I could feed my belly. Youth Farm Stand helped out a whole lot with the set up for our harvest dinner, they also did a pretty awesome job giving presentations at the harvest dinner. Growing Healthy Kids, I’m not really sure what they were up to, but it sure seemed like a lot of fun, pumpkin soup, costumes and skits all seemed on the menu, in a Halloween themed evening. I think that covers it for this week, look forward to seeing you all at Jam sessions, or working lesson, or youth farm stand, or growing healthy kids, as well as next week when we resume our Wednesday volunteer days.
onward
patrick
Weekly Update October 27 2008
It’s Lisa writing to you today. You may be wondering why Patrick is not writing this week’s updates. Two reasons-
1. He is in New York accepting a Harvest Award from the Glywood Center on behalf of our work in the Garden Resource Program Collaborative. (http://www.glynwood.org/programs/HAward%202008.pdf)
2. I wanted the opportunity to invite you all to join us in welcoming Patrick as the official Earthworks program manager. That’s right. It’s official. Yeah!
What’s going on this week…
(**Regular volunteers and all who have opinions about how we do things- please mark your calendar for Wednesday, November 12, 9am for a Core Volunteer Meeting here)
Tuesday Oct. 28, Youth Farm Stand will be doing a seed ordering workshop
Wednesday, Oct. 29-regular volunteer hours 9am-12noon. Join us in garden clean up as well as with helping prepare for the Harvest Dinner.
Thursday, Oct. 30 Growing Healthy Kids will be having a Halloween celebration.
Saturday, Nov. 1, 9am to 12 noon, will be our last Saturday volunteer day for 2008. We will be cleaning up the garden and having fun.
Monday, November 3 Jam Making 3pm until 9pm. Come for part or stay the whole time. Potluck dinner. Please bring something to share if you can!
Tuesday, Nov.4 Election Day. Get out and Vote!! Also, jam making. 3pm to 9pm. Come by before or after you vote and help us make jam. We can listen to the results coming in if you want.
Wednesday, Nov. 5 NO VOLUNTEERS. Unfortunately, all Capuchin Soup Kitchen sites are closed on this day for a staff day. We will be busy being enriched at the Connor site all day.
Notes….
We’re excited for this Wednesday’s Harvest Dinner. I was nervous at first because it looked like only 10 or so people wanted to come. Now, all of our seats are full. We are not able to accept any more reservations as we have 171 people coming! If you have reserved a spot, remember it’s at Gleaners Community Food Bank. The conversation about Milwaukee urban agriculture work begins at 430pm and social hour begins at 5pm. Dinner will begin after 6pm. Please bring a dessert for the potluck dessert table if you like!
Last week was a great one. The garden of the Growing Healthy Kids is now sleeping well as the young folks put their garden to bed last week before enjoying some Stone Soup.
Youth Farm Stand joined us at the Food Justice Community Gathering on the evening of the 22nd. We had some good conversation about the roles of men and women in our food system, ate great squash dishes, and watched a documentary on women farmers. Mark your calendar for November 12, 6pm for our next Food Justice event.
As far as the fields go, they’re on their way to bed. Unfortunately, I have not been spending much time outside lately so you will have to wait until next week to hear more about the beautiful gardens.
On Thursday, Nov. 6 join us at 930 am for a blessing for Winter’s Rejuvenation for our gardens and gardens everywhere.
By the way, if anyone is interested in learning how to make a mean garlic sauce, ask Gwen. Its amazing!
Many blessings for a beautiful day,
In peace,
Lisa
Weekly Update Week of October 19th
Greetings and happy Monday,
First and foremost, I want you all to know there is still room at our Harvest Dinner FUNdraiser. Don’t miss out. Wednesday, October 29, to celebrate the successful growing season of our urban garden and gardens everywhere.
4:30pm to 6 pm - All are welcome to join a conversation with Ron Doetch of the Milwaukee Urban Agriculture Network.
5 pm to 6 pm- A social hour in the garden with light appetizers and garden tours given by members of Earthworks’ Youth Farm Stand program.
6 pm to 8 pm - Dinner of local SE Michigan meats, vegetables, cheese and fruits prepared by Chef Alison Costello with special guest Malik Yakini, chair of the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network. Guests are invited to bring a homemade dessert for our potluck dessert table.
Tickets are $10 - $100 (sliding scale). We invite you to sponsor a ticket, for $25, for those in our community who would otherwise be unable to attend.
The event will be hosted at Gleaners Food Bank, a longtime partner of the Capuchin Soup Kitchen, 2131 Beaufait, Detroit, MI 48207.
Dress is casual.
To reserve your seat at the table, print and mail in the registration form to 1264 Meldrum, Detroit, MI 48207 by October 25. Please write checks to “Capuchin Soup Kitchen” with the number of tickets and “Harvest Dinner” noted in the memo line.
Questions? Contact Lisa at earthworks@cskdetroit.org or call 313-579-2100 ext 204
Volunteer Opportunities
Tuesday – no Youth Farm Stand!
Wednesday – 9am-12pm Regular volunteer hours. Garden clean up and fun! and compost sifting too.
Thursday 5pm-7pm Growing Healthy Kids. Putting the garden to bed. Time to wrap up the bulk of the outdoor activities for one more year.
Saturday 9am-12pm Regular volunteer hours. Garden clean up and fun! and compost sifting too.
Announcements
Detroit News adds a new “Green Living” page – check it out! www.detnews.com/greenlife
and now for the
Update.
Oh, it’s getting a bit chilly out there. Frost is being predicted for Tuesday night. Brian is out picking anything frost tender as I type this, I’ll be headed out to do the same soon. It was a good week last week. Will Allen was in town from Growing Power in Milwaukee. I got to share a couple meals with him, and pick his brain, as well as see a presentation by him. I think it really helped to get me excited for next year. He’s got so many great projects that he’s doing, truly an inspiration. Tuesday we spent all day replacing the greenhouse plastic. It’s a chore that needs to be done every 4 years or so, and we were a little over due. Adam from MSU came down to help, we had lots of hands helping out, it was long long day, but we managed to get the bulk of it finished out. Thanks to everyone who helped, especially Mark and Kido. Wednesday we harvested radishes, and salad greens from the corner lot, Gleaners yielded beans, peppers, tomatoes, and eggplant. Saturday we had a big group, and so we worked to pick everything pretty much clean. The last picking of beans, tomatoes, and squash. With frost predicted it was time to harvest it all and pull up the plants to add to the compost. Still we made it well into October without a killing frost, a pretty nice fall. Wednesday also was a chance to hear Lisa on the radio, as she pitched the local Bioneers conference on the show Detroit Today. She sounded mighty good. (I should also point out that Lisa also ran the marathon this weekend, we have a lot to be proud of her for (oh and our Cap-corps Gwen and her dad did the half marathon, not too shabby). Ok I’m going to get out to the fields to help Brian. Until next week
onward
Weekly Update week of October 12th
Greetings and Happy Monday,
First a little plug -
Join the Capuchin Soup Kitchen’s Earthworks Urban Farm, for a Harvest Dinner Wednesday, October 29, to celebrate the successful growing season of its urban garden and gardens everywhere.
4:30pm to 6 pm - All are welcome to join a conversation with Ron Doetch of the Milwaukee Urban Agriculture Network.
5 pm to 6 pm- A social hour in the garden with light appetizers and garden tours given by members of Earthworks’ Youth Farm Stand program.
6 pm to 8 pm - Dinner of local SE Michigan meats, vegetables, cheese and fruits prepared by Chef Alison Costello with special guest Malik Yakini, chair of the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network. Guests are invited to bring a homemade dessert for our potluck dessert table.
Tickets are $10 - $100 (sliding scale). We invite you to sponsor a ticket, for $25, for those in our community who would otherwise be unable to attend.
The event will be hosted at Gleaners Food Bank, a longtime partner of the Capuchin Soup Kitchen, 2131 Beaufait, Detroit, MI 48207.
Dress is casual.
To reserve your seat at the table, print and mail in the registration form to 1264 Meldrum, Detroit, MI 48207 by October 20. Please write checks to “Capuchin Soup Kitchen” with the number of tickets and “Harvest Dinner” noted in the memo line.
Questions? Contact Lisa at earthworks@cskdetroit.org or call 313-579-2100 ext 204.
Volunteer opportunities
Monday 3pm-9pm Jam making. Ever wanted to learn about jam? What to add your little bit of love to our product? Now’s the chance. Feel free to come for a little while or stay for the whole time. Bring a dish of food to share if you like.
Tuesday 3pm-9pm Jam making. See above, more of the same.
Tuesday 5pm-7pm Youth Farm Stand. Garden crafts and fun.
Wednesday 9am-12pm. Regular volunteer hours. This week, we harvest, and have fun, and sift compost if you should feel like it. Bring old shoes. smells real bad.
Thursday – no growing healthy kids!
Saturday 9am-12pm Regular volunteer hours. Harvesting, clean up, sifting compost if you should feel like it, and fun even if you don’t
Announcements
Tonight – don’t miss this, Will is amazing!
PUBLIC LECTURE BY MACARTHUR GENIUS AND URBAN
FARMER, WILL ALLEN
"Farming the City: Building a Sustainable Food System"
When: Monday, October 13, 4:30 PM to 6 PM
Where: Spencer M. Partrich Auditorium, Wayne State University Law School
Wednesday October 22nd, Food Justice Community Gathering. 6pm to 8pm at the Capuchin Soup Kitchen. We will be showing the film “Ladies of the Land” about women farmers and there relationship to the land, and growing food. Discussion follows the screening. Please bring a dish to share.
also
The Fifth U.S. Conference on Peak Oil and Community Solutions is the end of this month. To learn more go to http://www.plancconference.org/
ok and now for the
Update
I spent the bulk of last week in Philadelphia at the Community Food Security Coalition’s conference. It was good, but I’m glad to be back in my little corner of the world. So since I was away, I sort of have to piece together what happened based on others accounts I’m sure they are hiding something from me. Youth Farm Stand’s trip to Tantre Farm (http://tantrefarm.com) seems to have been a great success. Crops were harvested, cows were feed, meals were consumed, and rope swings were swung on. Seems like a real farm experience to me. Molly said they had such a good time they could have stayed a week, I’m not certain the kids would agree. Lisa did her first experimental jam making last week, and I tasted the results, I think you will all be very impressed (not that I tasted them, but with the quality of the jam). The gooseberry made with honey is really tart, and much to my liking, and the currant she made is extra curranty. She’s been using this high tech thing called a refractometer to measure the sugar content of the jam. I’m sure she will wearing a lab coat before you know it. More jamming to do this week, I think it’s grape today, black raspberry and currant, and elderberry tomorrow. Growing Healthy Kids went on a field trip to Romanowski park this week, and while they got a late start, they still managed to get a few games in. The gardens continue to yield well, we are still pulling in squash, peppers, eggplant, beans, tomatoes, winter squash, cabbage, and greens from Gleaners. The corner lot will have radishes to harvest this week along with some salad greens. Garlic was all planted this weekend. We have a big group of people around, and were able to get a lot of work done. Ok, it’s getting late in the day, and I need to get out and working. Until next week.
onward
patrick
Weekly Update week of October 5th
Greetings and Happy Saturday
This comes to you a bit early on account of me going to the Community Food Security Conference in Philadelphia at the beginning of next week.
Tuesday 5pm-7pm Youth Farm Stand. Baking and learning about food labels. If there is baking then there must be eating, Right?
Wednesday 9am-12pm regular volunteer hours. Harvesting and clean up. and Fun! and compost sifting too if you want.
Thursday 5pm-7pm Growing Healthy Kids. Field trip to Romanowski Park.
Saturday 9am-12pm regular volunteer hours. Harvesting and clean up and Fun! Garlic planting! and compost sifting too if you want.
Monday the 13th 3pm- 9pm Jam session. Come help out with the creation of our wonderful jam. Bring a potluck dish to share if you would like.
Tuesday the 14th 3pm – 9pm Jam session. Come help out with the creation of our wonderful jam. Bring a potluck dish to share if you would like.
Announcements
Harvest Dinner. A follow up to our super fun Earth Day dinner, we present the fall installment: our Harvest Dinner. Come together and celebrate all of the bounty that we have received, and support the Capuchin Soup Kitchen’s Earthworks Urban Farm. It takes place Wednesday October 29th at our partner organization Gleaners Community Food Bank located at 2131 Beaufait in Detroit. The event starts at 5pm with social hour, a time for networking, light appetizers, and garden tours. Dinner begins at 6pm and includes but is not limited to such items as Ukrainian Vegetable strudel, pork with currant preserves, Michigan walleye, roast lamb with peppercorns, and stuffed squash with ginger/orange sauce. All local sourced, many ingredients supplied by the Earthworks garden. The cost is $10-100 dollars sliding scale. If you would like to sponsor a ticket for those that can’t afford one, the cost is $25 dollars. Tickets are available by registering on-line at www.cskdetroit.org/earthworks or calling 313-579-2100, ext 204. Reservation deadline is October 20.
and
Want a turkey for thanksgiving? Want a tasty local free range bird? I’m gonna get a bird from John Harnois in Dexter (they come highly recommended by a friend) and I’m willing to pick up birds for other folks as well. The cost is 4 dollars a pound, and birds weigh between 15 and 24 pounds. I know that’s a lot of money for a bird, but at least you know it’s been treated right, and super tasty. I’ll be picking them up the weekend before thanksgiving, if you are interested in me picking one up for you too, please let me know, and soon.
and
mark your calendars, our next community food justice even is coming up on the 22nd
and now for the
Update
Was it just Monday that we did our community play? That feels like 3 weeks ago or something. It went really well, I had a great time, and I think everyone else that was involved did as well. Last night a little bit of light frost. I gave serious consideration to harvesting everything that is frost sensitive yesterday, but I didn’t think we would get hit hard, and I just didn’t feel like spending that kind of time picking. This morning when I went to check the fields, I was a bit disturbed to see white all over the place. A little investigation showed that it seemed to only have fallen on the leaves, most of the fruit seemed ok. I decide we should spend the first of the morning doing some other activities before we harvested anything. Sometimes if you don’t touch the leaves while they have frost on them they do ok once the sun warms them up. That proved to be the case, we lost a few beans and some squash but most everything else held on for another day. This week more clean up around the place, we sow some cover crop, prepare for the planting of garlic on Saturday. Overall a good week, and now, I’m off.
Weekly Update Week of September 29th
Greetings and happy Monday,
Volunteer Opportunities
Tuesday September 30th, Youth Farm Stand 5pm-7pm. The “In Season Food Game”
I’m sure there’s a snack in there too, and some fun.
Wednesday October 1st, Regular volunteer hours 9am-12pm. Harvest, and sowing cover crop, maybe some beekeeping. Oh, and if you feel like it, compost sifting, I could really use some compost sifting, but it smells bad. Really bad and you’d be ill advised to sift compost if you do not bring an extra pair of shoes which you can easily clean up. Have I sold you on wanting to sift compost? No? I don’t blame you, but it might be fun!
Thursday October 2nd Growing Healthy Kids 5pm-7pm. Garlic Planting and Garden crafts. oh and snack, and fun.
Saturday October 4th Regular Volunteer Hours 9am-12pm. Harvesting, clean up, end of season wrap up. Again I could use some help sifting compost, see info above about it in Wednesdays listing.
Announcements
Tonight! our second in our Food Justice events, a community play called “What Will be in the Fields Tomorrow?” come see friends and staff of Earthworks as they take part in this play. Bring a dish of food to share if you would like. It all starts at 6pm, at the Soup Kitchen.
and
Bioneers is coming up, October 17 though 19, you take advantage of early registration if you get the application filled out before the 22nd of September. You can get a brochure as well as registration information at http://www.warmtraining.org/bioneers/
and now for the
update
a short week for me, on account of my little vacation. Things are slowing down a little, at least in the field, though it seems that we find other ways to keep busy. Harvesting is the biggest task right now, I watch the weather closely for frost. The first sign, and every tomatoes, every pepper, every eggplant, every bean gets harvested. At least for another week it looks like we will be free of frost. Harvest continues to go well, beans are coming in strong, almost a 100 pounds of them harvested this Saturday, should be a able to get a few hundred more out of them before they quit. The squash just keeps going and going, it’s really quite remarkable, usually by now they have all pretty much suffered there demise at the hands of squash vine borers or powdery mildew. Despite some losses to the zucchini, and the patty pan and yellow crookneck looking pretty battered, they continue to yield well. Peppers, eggplant, and tomatoes are picking well, lighter harvests than in weeks past, they slow down as the weather cools, but still a good amount each week. Corner lot crops are doing well, salad greens, turnips and radishes are all doing well under row cover. Some salad greens should be ready to harvest in the next week, radishes a couple weeks behind them, and turnips, well wish the turnips the best of luck. We begin the task of mulching everything for winter, asparagus was mulched this week, berries are soon to come. If anyone has a source for straw that they are looking to give away, please let me know, I could really use it. Farmers market at Wayne State went very well, thanks to everyone who helped with the market. Also this last week we slipped officially into fall. I just barely noticed it, in fact I think it was my father who pointed it out. It’s fall, it’s grey, and I’m feeling self reflective, but I’ve already gone on long enough that I’ll spare you the details of my thoughts, and share it with the lettuce in the high tunnel. It needs a good weeding. until next week,
onward,
patrick
Weekly Update Week of September 21st
Greetings and happy Monday,
Volunteer Opportunities
Tuesday 5pm-7pm Youth Farm Stand. I'm not certain what the kids are up to, but I'm sure it will be fun.
Wednesday 9am-12pm. Regular volunteer hours. Mostly focused on harvesting, with a little sprinkling of fun.
Thursday 5pm-7pm Growing Healthy Kids. I'm not certain what the kids are up to, but I'm certain it will be fun.
Saturday 9am-12pm. Regular volunteer hours. Fun! and Harvesting. and maybe sifting compost. Bring an extra pair of shoes if you plan to sift compost.
Announcements
Looking to buy local produce on a Wednesday? Hoping to find it in Midtown? Things are really looking up for you. Next Wednesday the 24th the 2nd SEED Wayne farmers market is going. All kinds of local venders will be supplying Michigan produce from 11am-6pm on Cass across from the public library. We will be there, and hopefully you will stop by and see us.
Bioneers is coming up, October 17 though 19, you take advantage of early registration if you get the application filled out before the 22nd of September. You can get a brochure as well as registration information at www.sustainabledetroit.org/bioneers
and finally
our second in our Food Justice Community Gathering is coming up, Monday September 29th at 6pm. It’s a community play called “What will Be in the Fields Tomorrow” all are welcome to come, but we also need folks to be participants as well. If you are interested in being in the play please contact Lisa via email at Lrichter@cskdetroit.org
and now for the
Update
I'm on vacation as I write this, my father is sitting across from me reading, Stacey is drawing in her sketch book, my sister and mother are in the kitchen cooking. It's all very pleasant. This last week was a great week. Honey extraction went really well. All the honey is in the bottle, 900 pounds, 3 days, over 50 volunteers. It went very smoothly, and it's a great relief to have it all done. Only thing left is to get the labels put on it. Jam's the next thing to tackle. Youth Farm Stand and Growing Healthy Kids both extracted honey, I think they had a good time. Out in the garden everything looks very lush and green, bearing well. We planted more out in the high tunnel, everything is pretty much planted now for the year except the garlic. Many of the things we planted in the last few weeks week are unlikely to bear in the time, but I'm thinking if I use some row cover, maybe even plastic, we might pull it off. This week we keep at harvesting, start toward the long fall clean up. Ok, I think that's it for this week, I want to get back to hanging with my folks.
onward
patrick
Weekly Update Week of Sept. 14th
Greetings and Happy Monday,
Volunteer Opportunities
Today Monday – 9am-12pm and 1pm-4pm honey extraction
Tuesday – 9am-12pm and 1pm-4pm honey extraction and at some point harvesting from the Detroit hives.
Tuesday – 5pm-7pm Youth Farm Stand – what else would we do? Honey extraction.
Wednesday – 9am-12pm regular volunteer hours, you guessed it, honey extraction or harvesting in the field. oh and did I mention fun? No?
Thursday 5p-7pm Growing Healthy Kids. Um, I think by now you have it figured out, HONEY EXTRACTION!
Saturday NO VOLUNTEER HOURS.
Announcements
Donations? Would you like to make a donation to us?
We are planning at putting in new flower beds in front of the soup kitchen
and would like some perennials to put in them. If you have extra or are dividing your perennials any time soon, please let us know. The following is what we were looking for:
Rudebekias
Purple Coneflowers (or other colors)
Lilies (not day lilies, only star gazer or others like that)
Butterfly bushes
Hostas
some sort of simple evergreen or flowering shrubs
bulbs to add spring color
Looking to buy local produce on a Wednesday? Hoping to find it in Midtown? Things are really looking up for you. Next Wednesday the 24th the 2nd SEED Wayne farmers market is going. All kinds of local venders will be supplying Michigan produce from 11am-6pm on Cass across from the public library. We will be there, and hopefully you will stop by and see us.
Bioneers is coming up, October 17 though 19, you take advantage of early registration if you get the application filled out before the 22nd of September. You can get a brochure as well as registration information at www.sustainabledetroit.org/bioneers
and finally
our second in our Food Justice Community Gathering is coming up, Monday September 29th at 6pm. It’s a community play called “What will Be in the Fields Tomorrow” all are welcome to come, but we also need folks to be participants as well. If you are interested in being in the play please contact Lisa via email at Lrichter@cskdetroit.org
and now for the
Update
Rain, and lots of it. My rain gauge measured over 3.5 inches in 2 days. We worked hard to get the garden all cleaned up, we have guests coming today for dinner, and wanted to make it look nice. Doesn’t hurt that my family is coming as well, don’t want to make a bad impression on them. Gleaners continues to yield well, we keep harvesting, peppers, tomatoes, squash of various types, beans and eggplants. Cabbages will start coming in soon. In the high tunnel things are up and doing well. This week we plant more. In the corner lot I took some time to plant something in the neighborhood of 8 beds on Thursday afternoon. Beets, spinach, lettuce, arugula, mustard, turnips all got planted, covered with row cover, and irrigated. Then sprinkled with plenty of rain this weekend. I checked on the progress this morning and everything seemed to be coming up nicely. It’s a few weeks later than I would like, but just seemed too warm and dry to get anything to come up any earlier. If we have a mild fall we might luck out and harvest something. Only time will tell. We keep on harvesting grapes, and jam making will start soon, looks like the first one will be in the evening of Monday October 5th. Gwen, Barb, and Stacey went up to the retreat center on Thursday and harvested honey. As I type this about a dozen folks are busy as do I really need to say, extracting honey. 11 in the morning and we already got honey in the jars. It’s hot, and without even moving I’m sweating. Youth Farm Stand worked in the garden picking grapes, and made crafts and ate enormous tacos. Growing Healthy Kids went on a walk and played outside. This week we focus mostly on honey extraction, and harvesting. We begin the move toward cleaning up and preparing for winter. Hope everyone has a good week, until next time, have a good week.
onward,
patrick
honey harvest special events
Late braking news!
Next week is honey extraction and you can be a part of it.
Monday 15th 9am-12pm honey harvest. This is your one chance of the week to get suited up and work the hives. Come help us remove supers from the beehives. Those with fears of bees might not want to attend. Please show up at 9am so we can all get bee suits on together and plan our strategy.
Tuesday 16th 9am-12pm and 1pm-4pm extraction. First we uncap the comb, then we spin out the honey, then we filter the honey, and then we bottle the it. Yummy! You can drop in for this one, come for the whole time or just a little while.
Wednesday 17th 9am-12pm and 1pm- 4pm extraction. First we uncap the comb, then we spin out the honey, then we filter the honey, and then we bottle it. Yummy! You can drop in for this one, come for the whole time or just a little while.
and just so you know
we will have no volunteers on Saturday the 20th, my folks will be in town, and Lisa is off at a conference. But the next Saturday we will make it up will double fun, and a little extra fun this Saturday too.
ok that’s it for now. thank you.
patrick
Weekly Update Week of September 7th
Greetings and Happy Monday,
Hope this finds you well,
Volunteer Opportunities
Tuesday 5pm-8pm Youth Farm Stand. Gardening and garden crafts.
Wednesday 9am-12pm regular volunteer hours. Harvesting, planting and weeding. Fun!
Thursday 5pm-7pm Growing Healthy Kids. The kids go on a nature walk. Whoa!
Watch out for nature.
Saturday 9am-12pm regular volunteer hours. Harvesting, weeding etc. Fun!
Announcements
Saturday 1-3pm Seed Saving Class. Located at Catherine Ferguson Academy, 2750 Selden. Join me as I teach you all the basics of seed saving. We will cover some of the easiest veggies to save seed from including beans, peas, tomatoes, peppers, flowers and herbs. The cost in 3 dollars for GRP members and 5 dollars for non-members.
and now for the
Update.
Another short week, the holiday gave us a day off on Monday, but we made great use of the days we had. The harvest is in full swing, beans are coming in again, tomatoes are picking well, it’s turning out to be a great year for peppers. Late season cabbages are heading up nicely, squash are still keeping going long past what I expected. We have already had the best year for eggplant in a long time. Overall I’m really happy. What’s the bad news? Well not really bad, but we’ve had a lot of trouble getting our fall crops to germinate in this hot dry weather, I’m hoping that this week with it’s cooler weather will make for some good weather for germinating, especially after having some decent rain the other night. The high tunnel has been planted, some things are starting to come up,
we plant more this week. On Wednesday afternoon we took a trip to Monroe to see the
IHM Sisters’ campus and CSA garden. Thanks so much to Sharon and Trevor for taking time out of their day to talk with us. It was a real joy to be in such a calming space. From the prairie planting that greets you when you approach, to Sharon’s warm words,
to the gorgeous mother house, to Trevor’s excitement in giving us a tour of the gardens.
It was a great afternoon, I think everyone from the Earthworks staff came away richly rewarded. This week Youth Farm Stand was at Eastern Market peddling their wears.
I stopped by early in the morning and then in mid afternoon, both times everyone seemed to have high spirits, an be having a good time. Also this week Growing Healthy Kids had their “Mexican volleyball extravaganza” when I peeked in there was lots of giggling and no salsa left I take that to be a good thing. Ok I think that’s it for this week, hope every has a good week.
onward
patrick
Weekly Update Week of August 31st
Greetings and happy Tuesday,
Volunteer Opportunities
Tuesday 6pm-8pm Working Lesson. Learn just what can be planted this time of year for fall harvest, and help us prep beds for it, and plant it.
No Youth Farm stand tonight!
Wednesday 9am-12pm Regular volunteer hours. Oh the fun we have, where to begin. Harvesting for sure is on the bill, and some beekeeping.
Thursday 5pm-7pm Growing Healthy Kids. “a Mexican volleyball extravaganza” that’s a direct quote from Molly. Your guess is as good as mine.
Saturday 9am-12pm Regular volunteer hours. Harvesting, weeding, making the place pretty. Oh how I love pretty.
Announcements
Looking for a way to get into urban agriculture? Love animals? Love working with teenage students? Have I got the opportunity for you! Read on.
Urban Agriculture Apprentice, AmeriCorps Volunteer
Posting Date: August 1, 2008
Application Deadline: August 15, 2008
Primary Location: The Greening of Detroit, 1418 Michigan Ave., Detroit, MI 48216