2020 Garden Mentor Program New Gardener Manual
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Weed Control
2530 SAN PABLO AVENUE, BERKELEY, CA 94702 | 510.548.2220 X 233 [email protected] | WWW.ECOLOGYCENTER.ORG Non-Toxic Weed Control Weed control can be achieved Organic Weed Control through a combination of planting • Mulch. To get weeds under techniques, mulching, hand control, try sheet mulching. Put pulling, hoeing and prevention. down newspaper or corrugated Unfortunately, there are no cardboard one or two inches environmentally safe miracle thick. Cover with two to four products that come in bottles. inches of straw, leaves, or wood Weeds can be beneficial, and they chips. Keep the mulched area can be controlled with the tried and moderately moist. Sheet mulching true suggestions below. can be especially effective against hard-to-control weeds because Beneficial Uses of Weeds it robs them of light and doesn’t • Improve your soil. You can use allow them to grow past the deep-rooted weeds to improve barrier. (Mulching also holds in your soil. Some deep divers open soil moisture, reducing the need up the subsoil to water and to the for watering.) Avoid using plastic roots of more delicate plants. (Try sheeting, because it blocks out air lambsquarter, sowthistle, vetch, and kills the beneficial organisms wild chicory, plantain, purslane, in your soil that keep it healthy. nightshade.) After a plot has been weeded, • Attract beneficial insects. Many a four-inch-thick organic mulch weeds also provide pollen for helps control weeds by inhibiting bees and serve as a refuge for the germination of weed seeds certain beneficial insects. (Try beneath the mulch. Any weeds weed control mustard, wild radish, pigweed, that root in the loose mulching white sweet clover.) material are also easier to pull. -
Ecology Action's GROW BIOINTENSIVE® 2-Month Summer
Ecology Action’s GROW BIOINTENSIVE® 2-Month Summer Internship Information Booklet 2021 Season: May 22 - Jul 24, 2021 Ecology Action 2-Month Internship Information Booklet 1 Index About Ecology Action 3 Introduction 4 Program Information 5 Schedule and Routine 6 Program Site 7 Curriculum 7 Program Expenses 8 Follow-Up Activities 8 Suggested Items for Interns to Bring 9 Arrival and Departure 10 Applying for the 2-Month Summer Internship 11 Release Form 12 Ecology Action 2-Month Internship Information Booklet 2 About Ecology Action ® and GROW BIOINTENSIVE Ecology Action is a non-profit tax-exempt organization based in Willits California, with affiliated partner organizations in five other countries. We conduct research and training programs focused on the GROW BIOINTENSIVE method, as well as publishing and distributing information about the method around the world. Ecology Action founded the Common Ground research and community garden in Palo Alto in 1972 and began the formal apprenticeship/internship program in 1977. Since then, low-input and high- yield farming has been studied in training/research/demonstration min-farms under the direction of John Jeavons. The years of work have resulted in positive, paradigm-changing ideas for the abatement of world hunger, for family food sufficiency, and for urban and rural small-scale farming. Our goal is to give more people the capability of raising their own food while nurturing the earth’s resource base for the future. GROW BIOINTENSIVE® Sustainable Mini-Farming (GB) is the original regenerative agriculture. Ecology Action developed it as a sophisticated but low-tech food security safety net for people in virtually all climates and soils where food is grown to use, right where they are, without special tools, seeds, or chemicals. -
Growing a Modern VICTORY GARDEN Everyone Is Looking for Ways They Can Help During the Current COVID-19 Outbreak
Cornell Cooperative Extension April 2020 of Jefferson County Growing a Modern VICTORY GARDEN Everyone is looking for ways they can help during the current COVID-19 outbreak. Planting a garden can be one way for your family to get healthy, fresh vegetables, save money, potentially help others through food donations, get exercise, and relieve stress. Consider these historic facts on Victory Gardens: • World War I: In 1917 home gardeners mobilized and the first Victory Gardens were planted. In 1918, more than 5.2 million gardens were INSIDE THIS GUIDE cultivated. Page 2. No Room for a Garden? Never Fear, Container Gardens are • World War II: In 1944, an estimated 20 million Victory Gardens Here! produced 8 million tons of food. This was 40% of all the fruits and Page 4. Traditional Vegetable Gardens, i.e. Gardening in the vegetables consumed in the U.S. Earth The current COVID-19 situation Page 5. Cool and Warm Season has sparked renewed interest in Vegetables- AKA, When Can I plant? food gardening. Many people are considering vegetable Page 8. Vegetable Transplants gardens as a way to increase Page 9. Everybody Loves Tomatoes! personal food security. This Page 11. Backyard Fruit Production- spring will see first time Some Things to Consider gardens, expansion of current Page 13. Fruits and Nuts You Can Grow in Northern New York gardens, and the re-start of long Page 14. Water, Weeds and Woes dormant food gardens. Page 15. Resources For those current and past Attachment: Cornell Recommended gardeners I don’t expect this information will tell you more than you Vegetable Varieties for New already know, although you may pick up some new tips. -
Handbook 2018
The Belmont Victory Gardens HANDBOOK 2018 version 2018.3.1 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION & MISSION OF THE GARDENS 3 GARDEN RULES 3 FENCE POLICY 7 COMMUNAL COMPOST BINS 8 OWNERSHIP & MANAGEMENT 9 PLOT ASSIGNMENTS 10 GARDEN FEES & EXPENSES 11 GARDEN COMMUNICATIONS 11 GARDENING BASICS AT THE VICTORY GARDENS 13 GARDEN HAZARDS 16 ROCK MEADOW & THE VICTORY GARDENS 18 History of Rock Meadow History of the Belmont Victory Gardens The Meadow & Gardens in the 21st Century APPENDIX Plot Map of the Gardens 20 Examples of Organic Pest & Disease Controls 21 Suggested Planting Dates 22 2 INTRODUCTION The Belmont Victory Gardens are one of the largest and oldest continually active community gardens in the Boston area. They cover two acres of land, with 137 plots ranging in size from 12 by 12 feet to 50 by 50 feet. There is no residency requirement, so anyone may garden here. The Gardens are located in Rock Meadow Conservation Area along Mill Street, which spans 70 acres of meadow, wetlands, streams and woods. This area is part of the Western Greenway, a corridor of undeveloped green space linking Belmont, Waltham, and Lexington. Rock Meadow has been designated by the Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife as “an important grassland conservation area” that provides significant habitat for plants and animals. As a part of this Greenway, the crops and flowers grown in the Gardens benefit from and support the rich biodiversity of the area. MISSION OF THE VICTORY GARDENS The mission of the Belmont Victory Gardens is to provide accessible space for gardeners that is part of an active, supportive, gardening community. -
Organic Food Gardening: a Guide to Green City Living
ORGANIC FOOD GARDENING A Guide to Green City Living Organic gardening works with nature to grow plants without the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Instead, organic gardeners feed the soil with organic matter, and use techniques such as crop rotation and plant selection to promote healthy growth. Using an organic approach maintains healthy soil, water and air naturally, providing a healthy environment for plants, animals and people. Planning the Garden No matter how big or small your space, start with a garden visioning session to get the creative juices flowing. This step is about brainstorming possibilities, and then matching them up with the realities of your garden space, local growing conditions, and your own time constraints. A Note on Design Design your beds to maximize the number of plants you can grow. A wide, raised bed can hold significantly more plants than a long and narrow bed. For example, a 1 x 4 foot bed may hold a single row of beets, while a bed measuring 2 x 2 feet has room for several shorter rows and will allow for staggered positioning. Although both beds take four square feet of garden space, the wide-bed design holds three times as many plants. Building the Soil: Start from the Ground Up Great organic gardens start with great soil that can retain essential nutrients and water. Soil testing kits are readily available at hardware stores and garden centres, and don’t require any specialized skills. Don’t panic if your soil’s pH varies from the optimal range, or if the texture is unbalanced. -
The History Behind It, War Gardens
The History of War Gardens The History Behind it . What are War Gardens? Agriculture and successful food production has been a critical tool in both World War I and World War II. During both wars, Americans were urged to grow their own food in order to allow the commercial farmers to produce food for our troops and to free up our transportation systems for war efforts instead of food shipments for non-military use. World War I In August of 1917 President Woodrow Wilson created the U.S. Food Administration, with a mission to: • Assure adequate food supply, distribution, and conservation of food during the war, • Facilitate transportation of food and prevent monopolies and hoarding, and • Maintain governmental power over foods by using voluntary agreements and a licensing system. Herbert Hoover was recruited to lead the new administration. He strongly believed that the American people would be willing to sacrifice in order to support the war efforts. He set an example by refusing to accept a salary for his new position. Hoover started a big media campaign and proclaimed “Food will win the war.” Citizens were encouraged to plant their own Liberty Gardens through an extensive campaign of propaganda posters. Education on planting, crop disease, and safe canning procedures was provided through local Cooperative Extension offices. Another program, the United States School Garden Army, was led by the Federal Bureau of Education. It provided agriculture education in the schools and encouraged school gardens, as well as individual gardens with their student “soldiers of the soil.” By the end of WWI, more than 5.2 million new gardens were planted, generating an estimated 1.45 million quarts of canned fruits and vegetables. -
The Fenway Victory Gardens Est. 1942
FGS / The Fenway Garden Society Welcome to The Richard Our Accessible Garden Our Central Meadow D. Parker Memorial Victory A Partnership with the Northeastern University The heart of the gardens, the Central Meadow is student chapter of the American Society of Civil an ideal place to relax and enjoy the sights and Gardens. We encourage you Engineers, our one-of-a-kind ADA-compliant sounds with family and friends. We encourage The to explore our vibrant and Accessible Garden is a space for the whole you to bring a picnic and make yourself at home, A community. We welcome gardeners of all but please clean up when your done. growing community! abilities and levels of experience, as well as partnerships with organizations. Our Compost The Fenway Victory Gardens are the oldest With three independent compost locations, we continuously operating Word War II Victory B Our Teaching Garden are able to process and reuse 100% of our Gardens in the US. A link in Fredick Law A working victory garden open to the public organic waste thanks to the knowledge and Olmsted’s Emerald Necklace, over 500 with regular programming on everything from commitment of our dedicated members and gardens spanning 7 acres are tended by building a raised-bed garden to making it grow. volunteers. Fenway a community of more than 300 members from In partnership with ENC Green Team and every neighborhood in Boston, refl ecting the Boylston Street C the Greater Boston Food Bank, the Teaching Our Friends diversity of our city and its rich Garden is a place to teach, learn, and grow history and culture. -
Preserving Radishes and Snapdragons in the City: a Historical Perspective of Community Gardens in Milwaukee
59 e.polis Volume VII, Spring 2015 Preserving Radishes and Snapdragons in the City: A Historical Perspective of Community Gardens in Milwaukee Nadege Rolland Often tucked between apartment buildings and rows of houses, either secluded or fully visible to the public gaze, community gardens have become familiar elements of today’s American urban landscape. Indeed, according to the latest figures issued by the American Community Garden Association, a bi-national nonprofit membership organization of professionals and volunteers, there are about 18,000 Community Gardens throughout the United States and Canada.1 The National Gardening Association, a national nonprofit leader in garden-based education located in Vermont, reports a much higher figure. It indicates that the number of community gardens in the United States alone exceeds one million and that an estimated three million people would like to become community gardeners.2 In Milwaukee County, there were 1,811 plots in 2011 spread across twelve community gardens.3 Community gardens are complex urban entities resulting from a tight nexus of social, economic and political forces. They are loosely defined as semi-public patches of urban land on which community members can grow flowers and food for personal or collective benefit.4 They are also considered community open spaces providing an alternative to publicly- managed parks. 5 Beyond the collective satisfaction of harvesting fruits and vegetables or growing flowers in a concrete-dominated urban world, the existence and permanence of community gardens in a city are indicators of specific socio-economic factors and political decisions which can vary greatly over the years. -
Growing Urban Agriculture
Growing Urban Agriculture: Equitable Strategies and Policies for Improving Access to Healthy Food and Revitalizing Communities PolicyLink is a national research and action institute advancing economic and social equity by Lifting Up What Works®. Find this report online at www.policylink.org. ©2012 by PolicyLink All rights reserved. Design by: Leslie Yang Cover photos courtesy of (from left to right): iStockphoto.com; Blend Images; iStockphoto.com; Eli Zigas (courtesy of SPUR). Interior photos courtesy of (from left to right): p.2-3: Colleen McHugh (courtesy of SPUR); p.4: Colleen McHugh (courtesy of SPUR); p.6: Blend Images; p.12: iStockphoto.com; p.14: TNDC’s Tenderloin People’s Garden; p.20: Nuestras Raíces; p.22: Allison Hagey; p.24-25: Allison Hagey; p.26: Growing Home; p.27: Allison Hagey; p.28: Quesada Gardens Initiative, Caren Winnall (courtesy of Added Value); p.29: iStockphoto.com, Growing Home, Green City; p.30: Eli Zigas (courtesy of SPUR); p.32: Growing Power, iStockphoto.com; p.34: iStockphoto.com; p.40: Allison Hagey. Growing Urban Agriculture: Equitable Strategies and Policies for Improving Access to Healthy Food and Revitalizing Communities Allison Hagey Solana Rice Rebecca Flournoy PolicyLink 2 Growing Urban Agriculture PolicyLink Growing Urban Agriculture 3 PolicyLink 4 Growing Urban Agriculture PolicyLink Table of Contents 7 Foreword 31 Working Towards Financial Sustainability and Scale 8 Executive Summary 31 Diversifying the Market 13 Introduction 32 CASE STUDY // Growing Power, 15 Improving Communities through Urban -
Victory Garden and WWII
Introduction to World War II and Victory Gardens Objective: Students will be able to create a diagram that illustrates learning a basic WWII overview, focusing on the Home Front and victory gardens. Procedure: Make copies of the following handouts: 1. WWII Overview 2. WWII At Home 3. What is a Victory Garden Explain to students that life was very different during World War II than it is today and that you are going to learn a little bit about what was going on in the world, in our country, and in their backyards. Create a chart on the chalkboard like this: World War II 1939-1945 Around the world In the United States In our community gardens Break students into three groups. Each group is in charge of one section. The teacher reads the handout (or a strong reader reads to each group) and then the group reports to the class and writes short phrases about each handout on the chalkboard. Class discussion follows about life during World War II with a focus on how communities worked together during a tough time. Assessment: Each student writes a short story about what it would be like to be a kid during World War II. The Classroom Victory Garden Project Introductory Lesson Plan World War II Overview Before you can understand why the whole world went to war, you have to know that it was not the first time. World War I, then called the Great War (they didn’t know there would be a second one) was fought from 1914-1918. -
Ameriflora '92 Was a There's Plenty of Time to Attend Trip Home, but Home Was Never Like This
A Publication of the American Horticultural Society Volume 71, Number 7 • July 1992 $1.50 News Edition ,Rolling Stones o, we haven't turned into a rock and roll magazine, nor are we going to write about moss gardens. But we are Ngoing to report back from some recent and rare forays out of our offices. The month of April saw two very different, major gardening events: the 46th Annual Williamsburg Garden Symposium, cosponsored by the American Horticultural Society and Colonial Williamsburg; and the opening ceremonies for AmeriFiora '92, the first international gardening exhibition to be held in the United States. This was the first Williamsburg symposium for American Horticulturist Editor Kathleen Fisher, but she was in the minority. Some attendees come back each year to learn about gardening, to meet the famous speakers, and to reunite with old friends. Everyon€ we talked to, however, agreed that this may have been the best ever. Rosemary Verey was gracious, Jim Wilson was just as congenial as he seems The pomp and circumstance of opening October, and to think about attending on "The Victory Garden," and Rosalind day, attended by President and Mrs. next spring's Williamsburg Garden Creasy had everyone chuckling in Bush, was leavened by the antics of mime Symposium. And in this issue you'll find recognition as she described gardening groups. The historic conservatory had the program for another big event, our with children. Other speakers, who been expanded. Over 20 countries had own Annual Meeting in October.• represented the "Great Gardeners" of the erected horticulturally related displays. -
Urban Cultivation and Its Contributions to Sustainability: Nibbles of Food but Oodles of Social Capital
sustainability Article Urban Cultivation and Its Contributions to Sustainability: Nibbles of Food but Oodles of Social Capital George Martin *, Roland Clift and Ian Christie Centre for Environmental Strategy, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK; [email protected] (R.C.); [email protected] (I.C.) * Correspondence: [email protected] Academic Editors: Sean Clark and Marc A. Rosen Received: 2 February 2016; Accepted: 6 April 2016; Published: 25 April 2016 Abstract: The contemporary interest in urban cultivation in the global North as a component of sustainable food production warrants assessment of both its quantitative and qualitative roles. This exploratory study weighs the nutritional, ecological, and social sustainability contributions of urban agriculture by examining three cases—a community garden in the core of New York, a community farm on the edge of London, and an agricultural park on the periphery of San Francisco. Our field analysis of these sites, confirmed by generic estimates, shows very low food outputs relative to the populations of their catchment areas; the great share of urban food will continue to come from multiple foodsheds beyond urban peripheries, often far beyond. Cultivation is a more appropriate designation than agriculture for urban food growing because its sustainability benefits are more social than agronomic or ecological. A major potential benefit lies in enhancing the ecological knowledge of urbanites, including an appreciation of the role that organic food may play in promoting both sustainability and health. This study illustrates how benefits differ according to local conditions, including population density and demographics, operational scale, soil quality, and access to labor and consumers.