reflections, May 19

reflections, May 19

recalling a work trip to Toronto and the start of our plot at the Franklin Community Gardens

The background on Yorkville
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yorkville,_Toronto

the 4x10 plot at the Franklin Community Garden

Gardening for the hungry (video)

Grow a Greener Garden shares a program PBS did on Ample Harvest founder Gary Oppenheimer.

After finding his garden too bountiful, gardener Gary Oppenheimer gave his excess harvest away to friends and neighbors, and soon that route was maxed out as well. He didn’t want to waste great food, so after donating the rest to a local women’s shelter, the idea grew to figure out a way to connect home gardeners to the food banks who are prepared to handle and distribute fresh produce. 

So Gary founded AmpleHarvest.org, with a focus on doing just that, so that surplus harvest can go to hunger relief and not the compost bin. Today, from Master Gardening groups to your friends and neighbors, more people are sharing the bounty and there are some great and easy ways for you to do the same.

You can view the PBS episode here Episode 220: Gardening for the Hungry (time = 1 hour)

Gary Oppenheimer also spoke to the TEDxManhattan event in February (time = 14 minutes)




The Franklin Food Pantry is registered with Ample Harvest.

This was cross-posted on Franklin Matters

Something is lacking

One of the signs added to the Franklin Community Gardens:



While it makes sense to say this to help ensure that the time and effort of those caring for the gardens is indeed enjoyed by them, I feel it is lacking.

What does it lack?

It lacks the encouragement to build community. To foster the conversation that can occur over this plant or that arrangement. The kind of conversation that I was fortunate to have on the recent walk about with Chris Clay.

What do you think? Any suggestions for re-wording this message?

Happy eggplants

These eggplant are happy. They have good soil. Some one tends to the weeds, provides water. They can just hang out and grow. Are you taking care of yourself? Do you feed your brain good stuff?

How does your garden grow?

One good thing about having a community garden is that you can talk with your garden neighbors.




Find out why they are doing what they do and learn from their success or failure. That this garden bed is overflowing will lead to a revision of what and how they will arrange the plants for next year.


Whether gardening or looking for work, talking with your neighbors is one good way to learn and share information that may help you take the next step. On Friday, Sep 2, the next Job Search Jam Sessions will be held in Hopkinton. We have a good lineup of speakers and sessions that will meet your needs.

Tickets are available here. You can pay by credit card online or pay by cash at the door.

"And I shall have some peace there"

A new book "And I shall have some peace there" caught my eye. Margret Roach was being torn and walked away to find peace in her garden. She just released her book and this is the 'trailer' for the book.




You can find more about Margret on her website

Thanks to @pistachio for the hat tip to Margaret