my own drum

A friend sent me a link about using styrofoam cups to build a simple hydroponics system. After reading the article I thought I would post the link here for my gardening readers.

Hydroponics with McDonalds cups

Enjoy!

del.icio.us tag: Hydroponics

del.icio.us tag: Community Gardening

It rained Saturday, and Sunday, and Monday. Because we are in a period of severe drought this rain is more than welcome. It isn't enough rain to end the drought, but every little bit helps. And for the garden it is truly a blessing. Everyone has applied some sort of mulch or covering, mostly straw, to help preserve the soil moisture.

Last week I planted more in my own little plot of the garden. There are some volunteer tomatoes (found in a walkway), okra and onions (donated). I noticed this morning that some of the flower seeds I planted last week might be coming up already.

There are two plots left in the garden that haven't been claimed. Two others seem to have a claim on them, but they haven't been worked at all this spring. The two remaining plots are near the back of the garden, and get a generous amount on shade in the morning, but plenty of direct light from noon on through the afternoon. I'm thinking about doing a little landscaping on them to improve their appeal. One of those plots has parsley and oregano from a previous season.

Our volunteer sign painter came by last week. She loves the garden, but the neighborhood is a bit daunting. She wants me to remove the sign out front so she can paint it in a safer environment. But I've noticed the bolts holding it in place are bent, and so it can't be removed. I'll have to be there when she works on it. She also wants to put up a shrine in the garden. I gave her the OK to do this, and I'm sure it will enhance the natural beauty of this spot.

del.icio.us tag: Community Gardening

OK, I hear you thinking, "What has this got to do with gardening?" Well let me explain.

The Boulevard Community Garden is on Boulevard Avenue in Atlanta. Mention that street to any local and they'll nod in a knowing way - Boulevard is a haven for drug dealers. The garden is on the site of a former apartment building, and there are apartments on either side and across the street. One on side is a nice Christian based group for young people. On the other side is subsidized housing, and the scene for daily drug dealing. The dealers also lounge at the subsidized apartments across the street.

These particular dealers are not very smart at all. (Don't tell them I said that!) They tend to mix business and personal issues together, right there on the sidewalk. This, of course, results in problems for them, and for others.

About two weeks ago there was a fight. The dealers were beating up a fellow who I assume was a disgruntled customer. Anyway, I was working in the garden at the time and my view was obstructed by their apartment building. But I heard the shouting and wrongly assumed it was more of the same that I hear almost daily. I did notice that some people were watching from the Wendy's parking lot across the street, but still I didn't bother to go have a look for myself. Soon enough I heard the sirens approaching - first the police and then the ambulance. For the rest of the day there was a police presence on the street, which of course, is bad for the drug business.

This morning I once again heard loud voices, expressing lots of anger. Taking a quick look on the street I could see there wasn't a fight, only an argument. From what I could tell someone owed someone else money. And the police had been called again (not by me). And, once again, there was a police presence on the street today. First it was a uniformed officer parked down the street. I walked by him when I went to get the seeds today (see previous post), and as I passed him I offered a quick "Thank You".

He left the scene and returned later for a drive around the apartments. Then another officer, in uniform, arrived in his personal vehicle. He parked on the sidewalk right in front of the garden. The dealers sauntered away when he got out of his truck. He spent an hour or so walking around the area. He walked the apartment parking lots, he walked over to Wendy's, he talked to the old ladies on the lawn next door, and he came to the garden gate and talked to me. Our entire converstaion was about gardening. He asked what we were growing, and explained that he was gardening at home.

Finally he left and I saw him make at least one trip around the block. Eventually the drug dealers meandered back to the sidewalk, but I suspect that now their business is going to be interrupted more frequently. I can't say that I'll be sorry to see the dealers leave. But the truth is, there has been drug dealing on this block for as long as there have been drugs, and I don't hold out a lot of hope that will be changed any time soon.

Ahhhhh! That was the sound my neighbors heard last night. I came in after 10pm, and took my flashlight out to the garden to have a last look at my new tomato sprouts. I had planted the seeds in a plat, and set that plat on one the paid spots in the garden so it could get some afternoon sun. Sometime after I left yesterday that gardener came in in worked their space. My best guess is they never saw the few little sprouts in my plat. They emptied the plat onto one or more mounds that were built. My poor seedlings! I'm bummed.

Today I went to the dollar store in hopes of finding more tomato seeds. There weren't any, but I did pick up quite a few other things.

Back at the garden I got busy with my new seeds. At the front of the garden I planted flowers - marigolds, bachelor bottoms (mixed colors), cockscomb (plumosa mixed colors), and gypsophila (babys breath). These were planted in the first two plots near the front. These two plots are under the trees and mostly shaded all day. I hope to have some color near the front of the garden now. No one else is planting flowers that I can tell.

Then I got busy in my plot at the back, where I planted vegetables. I started there about 10 days ago with Wanda peas, which are already out of the ground. Today I planted lettuce (Black Seesed Simpson), summer squash, turnips, carrots (Mantes Coreless), early radish, and eggplant (Black Beauty).

I still have a few more things to plant there, including two varieties of radish, and okra. I'll post more when those get into the ground.

For those who are following my blog, you'll have noticed that today I crated a new category, Community Gardening, where I'll be writing about the garden. There is much to learn and much more to tell.

del.icio.us tag: Community Gardening

There are some new arrivals in the Boulevard Community Garden, besides the new sprouts showing up everywhere. These new arrivals are three robins (there might be others). Mom has been very busy digging up grubs and worms, and she's been very assertive about not being disturbed in her pursuit of feeding the hungry little fliers. There are three in the nest, but on the day I spotted them one had already made the first few attempts to fly, and was on the ground near the front gate. Mom and dad were protectively watching nearby. Here are a few pictures of the young birds, their nest, and their mom.

While I was out with my camera I also took a few pictures of the garden. This is the view from the rear of the garden, looking out towards Boulevard Avenue, to the west.

Each garden plot is individually planted and maintained. Garden members are free to plant whatever they desire, and to arrange their garden space as they like.

That ends the Boulevard Community Garden tour for today. You can be certain that as the seasons continue, there will be much more to take pictures of and to talk about. I hope you come back.

del.icio.us tag: Community Gardening

Now that I have a roof over my head it's more and more often that I may sleep in, whereas when staying at a shelter I was rousted every single day at 5:00am. I still have to get up before 6:00am if I'm to catch the bus to an AA meeting at 7:30. However, for whatever reasons (there were some legitimate ones)I slept in for a few days in a row, and missed those "Early Bird" meetings. (I still managed to make a later meeting on those days.)

Apparently I was missed, and some discussion was made as to my whereabouts. Then one morning last week came a knock on my door, and a fellow AA'er was standing there, inquiring if I was allright. Wow!

The following poem was written by yet another AA member, who gave it to me this morning. There was also a handwritten note and a phone number written on the page. Without further ado, here is "Humanity".

Humanity

He asked me if I seen Jeff today
the question hit me strong
I wondered if it been asked before
And now my guilt was rising

Jeff's a humble homeless man
His nights always uncertain
I see him by the place I go
Hi greeting, a quiet smile

He knows my name he says hello
He never asks for nothing
He's just someone who comes here
To be a better man today

Vague remembering those Bible words
About my brothers keeper
It seems that in this world we live
No time for you... too busy

"I think I'll go look for him
He's gone now these two days"
My words were quick, excused myself
So he left to search alone

And as I drove on to my day's routine
The thought came across my mind
If life should switch our places
Would someone look for me?

Joe B. April 2008

It was Easter in Atlanta and once more the fine folks at Hosea Feed the Hungry and Homeless turned out to feed lunch to thousands at Atlanta's City Hall East. This was the seventh, and possibly last, Easter meal served at this location. City Hall East is slated for renovation to become loft spaces, and all of the current tenants have been asked to vacate.

It was my privilege to be a part of this function this year, and I took my camera to record the event.

Here are some photos from the Easter event. It started on Saturday with setup at City Hall East. The first set of images show, from left to right, the main hall for the event. Chairs were set up in front of the stage area. The next photo show supplies being staged on the loading dock.

Signs around the facility helped identify areas of the hall for our volunteers and guests. Home delivery of meals was made possible by volunteers, and donations of toys and easter baskets brightened the faces of children.

Clothing was available for free, and there was something for everyone. Barbers donated their time and skill to privide free haircuts.

None of this would be possible without the generous support of an army of volunteers. This year college students from Morehouse and Spellman colleges, Hands on Altanta was represented, as well as many individuals. Here are just a few of them:

These volunteers helped by delivering meals to homes of people that could not attend.

The corporate sponsors for Hosea Feed the Hungry and Homeless play a vital role, providing funding and products that help make these events possible. Here, Coca-Cola is represented.

Inspirational and religious messages were delivered at this event.

And in the final set of images we see the most important people of all, those who benefit the most from these events, the poor, the homeless, and the hungry.

del.icio.us tag: Hosea Williams

I am at long last on my way to becoming a gardener, this after years of claiming a 'brown thumb'. I've rarely had success with growing anything. I've killed cactus, ornamental trees, flowers, vegetables, shrubs. I simply don't have the gift of gardening. My dad used to grow tomatos in a five gallon bucket, all I could grow was weeds.

But I have noticed a change in direction over the past several months. It started in Arkansas, at Karen's garden. I was drawn to that garden, possibly because it was overgrown with weeds. But I did a little work in that garden, and it felt good. There is, however, only so much one can do in anothers garden. Karen would not let me pull weeds unless she was there, lest I pull something valuable. Fair enough, I thought, after all I can't tell a flowering weed from a flowering flower. They all look like plants to me. Unfortunately I learned very little in Karen's garden because she was so attention deficit that it was nearly impossible to get her to spend more than a few minutes showing me what was good and what was bad. But, I was drawn to the possibilities.

A few weeks ago someone suggested that I could be the manager for a community garden. I jumped at the opportunity. After a short interview, in which I did not hide my lack of knowledge or experience, I was allowed to assume the position. Now, to be honest, I don't have to do any gardening. This is a community garden, and as such there are individuals who are responsible for their own plot of garden space. My role is to keep the trash picked up out on the sidewalk. But here is a golden opportunity and I intend to use it fully. Already I have started pulling weeds from a couple of unused plots. It's a beginning.

I have recruited someone who does know about gardening to give me a hand. I hope that with her help I can get a crash course in vegetable growing. Meanwhile I'll continue pulling weeds and picking up trash, and trying to visualize how this garden will grow.

del.icio.us tag: Community Gardening