April 2009

We are starting to keep out photos on Flickr. Click here to see what we’ve posted so far.

Also know that you can keep up with us on Facebook and Twitter.

 To celebrate Earth Day last week, we had the joy of helping to build a new raised bed garden at the East Seventh Street Center (aka Kid’s Café) at 7th Street and Elm Tree Lane. Joining us in this effort were approximately 15 elementary and middle school students who attend the center for afterschool programming, along with a nearly a dozen other volunteers. We were also thrilled to get the help and support of numerous neighbors who were drawn out of their houses by both the beautiful weather and the curious site as the garden was installed.

Why so curious? Because the garden went right ONTOP OF THE PAVEMENT!

Following the lead of the innovative gardeners at the New Agrarian Center and City Fresh in Oberlin, OH, who have perfected asphalt gardening, Seedleaf is able to put in this garden so that these students, who don’t have the luxury of their own green space, can still enjoy gardening and the resulting bounty of healthy, homegrown food.

The garden was built with nearly 65 cinder blocks stacked to form a L-shaped garden bed and 2 cubic yards of a soil/compost mix. The students have already started planning for what they’ll grow, including greens, carrots, beans, radishes, and even strawberries.

Not only do the youth plan to enjoy the fruits of their labor, but they hope to set up a small farm stand to sell any surplus.

To truly personalize their bed, the students will be painting the blocks so that any passerby will stop to take notice of their hard efforts!

Stay tuned to see more pictures as the garden develops, and feel free to stop by to see this great “unexpected” garden bed.

I recently had a great conversation with Yvette Hurt about some of our plans for the summer. She has edited that visit into an article in the most recent Business Lexington. Do click on the link below to learn more about our Compost Partners program.

http://www.bizlex.com/Articles-c-2009-04-14-86286.113117_Sowing_selfsustaining_communities.html

Spring is very much upon us. Join us in a garden this week and you’ll see what needs to get in the ground, and what to do after a period of rain. We would love to have your help as we try to keep up with the season.

Here are some times and dates for the next few days:

Saturday, April 18th, London Ferrell Community Garden, 11-1 (digging holes for blueberry bushes)

If you are a fan of free range tomatoes, forgive us for the following announcement from our friend John Walker:

Its that time of year when a old man’s fancy turns to his tomatoes.
This year we (I) will be  offering tomato cages made from 6 inch mesh 5 ft high /4.5 ft circumference for $5 each.
If you would like some please let me know so that I can arrange both the purchase of the wire and allocate the time to make them.
To see the cages and get a description written by Roger Postley go to

http://www.kitchengardeners.org/2007/06/building_tomato_cages.html

Hope to hear from you soon
pax

Email us at seedleafinfo@gmail.com and we’ll pass your information on to John. Let us know how many cages you would like to have.