Winterizing Your Garden

The District Department of the Environment’s final wildlife gardening workshop of 2010 will be held on November 6 from 1pm-5pm at North Michigan Recreation Center (4925 13th Street NE).  The workshop will include presentations on landscaping for wildlife and gardening with native plants.  We will also have a special presentation by Greg Butcher, Director of Bird Conservation for the National Audubon Society.  Audubon is beginning an effort to increase awareness of and implement conservation efforts for the Wood Thrush, DC’s state bird.  Dr. Butcher will give a short talk about creating and conserving habitat for the Wood Thrush.  After the presentations we will be planting a garden of native shrubs and trees, which will mimic a multi-leveled forest ecosystem.

Participants will receive

·         live native plants

·         a birdhouse kit

·         the book Bringing Nature Home by Doug Tallamy

·         the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service guide on native plants of the Chesapeake Bay region

·         the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service guide invasive plants of the mid-Atlantic states

·         brochures and literature from Audubon and DDOE.

If you are interested please register at:

http://ddoe.dc.gov/ddoe/cwp/view,a,1209,q,501441.asp

Damien Ossi

Damien P. Ossi

Wildlife Biologist

Fisheries and Wildlife Division

District Dept. of Environment

1200 First Street; Fifth Floor

Washington, DC 20002

202-741-0840

damien.ossi@dc.gov



ear Neighbors
This year the NSCGA had an unprecedented number of applicants requesting garden plots  (80).  We typically only hold approximately 50 applicants on our wait list each year. That is the average number of plots that become available each garden season.
We have assigned 50+ garden plots this season and we are re opening the wait list starting September 15, 2010.
Applications are for the WAIT LIST ONLY
Applications can be downloaded from our web site www.newarkstcommunitygarden.org or hard copies are available in the mail box immediately next to this bulletin board.
Garden plots are assigned on a first applied, first assigned basis.  As soon as a plot becomes available we will contact you.  Please make sure your contact information is up to date.  Information about the Newark Street Community Garden Association is available on our web site.
If you have applied for membership previously, you are still on our waiting list.
Please do not reapply
Your name will be carried over to the 2011 garden season and a plot will be assigned in the order that we received your application.  We will make every attempt possible to assign a garden plot to those currently on the waiting list as soon as a plot becomes available.
Thank you for your interest in the Newark Street Community Garden Association.
POB #5628 WDC 20016


Reply
Forward

Dear DC Community Garden leaders,

DC is home to gardeners, cooks, bakers, photographers, artists – and yet we don’t have a state fair to celebrate the home-grown talents of the District. Well, this year that’s all changing: we’re planning a DC State Fair, with lots of categories for urban agriculture!  Full info is on our website (http://dcstatefair.wordpress.com/).

Two of us organizers are involved in community gardens ourselves, and we feel certain that many of your members would be interested in entering the fair.  Could you please forward the text below to your members? Also, if you know of community gardens not on Washington Gardener’s spreadsheet, or any other gardening/food groups, please forward widely.  We appreciate your help!  Many thanks,

- The DC State Fair Organizers

Calling all District gardeners, bakers, and canners!

Got tasty tomatoes growing in your garden?  Love making pickles with your produce?  We want YOU to enter the first-ever DC State Fair.

Go to the DC State Fair website (http://dcstatefair.wordpress.com/) for more information and to fill out your entry forms.  Contest categories include:

And more to come.

The DC State Fair will be held on August 28th, concurrent with Columbia Heights Day, at Tubman Elementary Field (11th and Irving Streets NW).

And many thanks to our amazing sponsors, A Few Cool Hardware Stores, Kid Power Inc, Casey Trees, Fat Man After Dark, Smorgie, and Girl Meets Food.

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July, 2010
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Field to Fork July Newsletter!

 

Urban agriculture and food security in Washington, DC

 

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Happy 4th of July!

Welcome to the July edition of the DC Field to Fork Newsletter! Below you’ll find announcements, updates and event information about urban agriculture and food security in DC. 

For updated info, check out the Events calendar on our website or stay tuned to our blog. To contribute to this newsletter, please e-mail dcfieldtofork@gmail.com

Field to Fork website

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FIELD (Production)

Join Neighborhood Farm Initiative for July Field Day
As part of community-wide garden clean up day, NFI will be hosting a compost Q&A and workday, followed by a harvest potluck next Saturday, July 10 from 10-2. For directions to the garden, e-mail neighborhoodfarm@gmail.com. Come celebrate mid-summer in the garden!
Next DC Crop Mob – Saturday, July 17th
This month we’ll be working at Sharp’s at Waterford Farm in Brookeville, MD. Sharp’s grows vegetables and flowers, and is a popular agritourism destination in the fall. Carpooling will be arranged, and no experience is necessary! Email info@cropmobdc.com to sign up, or visit www.cropmobdc.com to learn more.
Seed Saving Workshop with Ecolocity
 Have you been growing your garden, but wondering if you’ll have to buy all new seeds next year? Worry no longer! EcolocityDC is hosting a seed saving workshop on July 20 that will help you learn how to save your seeds year after year, an ancient practice that’s still useful today. It will start with a short film about seed saving, include a bit of an intro about its history, and then go into a practical, hands-on workshop. If all goes well, you should be bringing some seeds home to plant in the future. If you already have experience with seed saving, come along as well. We’d love for you to share your expertise.
Date: Tuesday July 20, 2010
Time: 7-9 PM
Location: Emergence Community Arts Collective, 2nd floor, 733 Euclid Street NW, Washington DC
RSVP on Ning, Facebook or Meetup. We hope to see you there!
Join the Washington Youth Garden on July 24 for their annual summer Family Fun Day. Listen to live music, eat some healthy snacks from the garden, take part in gardening crafts and activities, and ring in the new Nature Explore Classroom. The beekeeper, Toni Burnham, will be on hand to give a show and tell of our two new honeybee hives. This is a free event open to the public, for friends of all ages. For more information and directions, please see the WYG website.
Common Good Workshop: Common Uses for Less Commons Herbs When: July 31, 2010 Time: 11am-1pm
Location: Common Good, 300 V Street, NW

Get to know some of the less common herbs around the farm – skullcap, lobelia, passionflower, mullein, and calendula, to name a few! Discover how using these plants in teas, tinctures, powders, and poultices can benefit you, while they beautify your garden. Bring a mug! (Attendance at Herbalism 101 recommended.)

Teacher: Herbalist & Health Coach Tricia McCauley. For more information see website

City Blossoms Seeking Summer Intern
City Blossoms is seeking dynamic, creative, garden-loving individuals to help lead programming and make greening the city exciting starting this summer. City Blossoms’ programming includes regular weekly workshops at several locations in Washington, D.C., Takoma Park, and Baltimore, as well as family-oriented weekend events, volunteer days and various community events. Experience in education (schools, summer camps, out-of-school programs) is required and Spanish-speaking skills are a plus. Gardening and/or Arts knowledge/confidence is extremely helpful! Must be available to work weekdays and some Saturdays. Internship includes hands-on experience in leading workshops as well as varied administrative tasks. A small stipend is provided for successful completion of this internship. Potential for part-time employment in the fall is contingent on the completion of this internship. Please send your resume along with a cover letter to Lola Bloom lola@cityblossoms.org or Rebecca LemosRebecca@cityblossoms.org
Neighborhood Farm Initiative in need of Supplies!
NFI is seeking donations for their summer Green Youth Corps program at Fort Totten and Lederer gardens. They are looking for: hoses, garden tools, SNACKS for the kids, potting soil, watering cans, gas powered weed wacker and lightweight folding tables. If you or your organization can donate, please e-mail neighborhoodfarm@gmail.com.

TO (Distribution)

DC Food for All Workshop:

DC Food for All’s next workshop is coming up July 15 from 6:30 to 8:30 at Bread for the City’s conference room, 1525 7th Street NW. Come for the conversation and connections, stay for the food. Email dcfoodforall@gmail.com to RSVP.

You are Invited: Summer Harvest Festival with Healthy Solutions!
The Summer Harvest Festival will feature: farmer’s market, Let’s Move! Community education, walking trail, health screenings, demos, food tastings, the “Ultimate Salad Competition” for kids!
When: July 10, 2010
Where: Washington Parks and People Riverside Center, 5200 Foote St, NE
For more information: Call (888) 415-2667 or see www.summerharvestfestival.com
3rd Annual Parking Lot Picnic with Bread for the City

July 22, 2010 6pm-8pm 1525 7th Street, NW, WDC 20001 FREE!

Come join clients, staff, volunteers, donors and neighbors for an evening of good food and good musicin celebration of all that Bread for the City accomplished over the past year. To RSVP please visit the website

Local Foods and School Garden Week
Mark your calendars, on October 11-15th DC Farm to School will celebrate the passage of the Healthy Schools Act, and fresh, seasonal, local foods and school gardens in schools and cafeterias District-wide! They’ll send around more information soon for schools interested to participate, and about community events (including garden tours, VIP speakers, educational programs and more). Would you like to help organize the event? Email Andrea at (andrea@dcfarmtoschool.org).
Job Opportunities with DCCK!
DC Central Kitchen has several open positions including: nutrition educator, fresh start culinary director, campus kitchens program manager, and more. To see full job description or to apply see the DCCK website.

FORK (Preparation and Preservation)

Restaurant Proceeds Support DCCK
 For the whole month of July, you can support DC Central Kitchen by eating at Willow, which will donate 10% of the proceeds from sales of some special dishes as our “Eating Well – Doing Good” partner of the month.
Willow views itself as a high end neighborhood eatery with deep ties within the Arlington community. Chefs O’Grady and Jansen have been longtime supporters of the DC Central Kitchen and have participated in numerous events over the years. They have crafted this exquisite menu in further support of the program’s mission of combating hunger and creating opportunity.

Willow
4301 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA
(703) 465-8800 www.willowva.com

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What’s Inside:
NFI Field Day
DC Crop Mob
Ecolocity Workshop
WYG Family Fun Day
City Blossoms Internship

DC Food for All Workshop
Summer Harvest Festival
Local Food and School Garden Week
Job Opportunities
Willow Supports DCCK
JULY RECIPE:

Is your garden overrun with basil? Make Pesto!

1 c. packed, chopped basil
1/3 c. olive oil
2 Tbs pine nuts
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 clove garlic, peeled and chopped
1/2 lemon (squeeze)

Blend all ingredient in food processor or blender (except for olive oil). After blending, slowly pour in olive oil. Serve with bread or on your favorite pasta!

Tutorial Video: Extracting Honey

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DC Field to Fork Network
Email: dcfieldtofork@gmail.com
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Thank you  American Plant company for the lovely birdbath in the Rock Garden.
 
The gift was arranged by gardener, Carol Bok.
 
Thank you American Plant Company and Carol Bok!

The May 2010 issue of Washington Gardener Enews featured inside are Annual Water Garden Plants, the new PINK blueberry, upcoming local garden events, To-Do list for the next month in the garden, and much more.   You can view the issue online at: http://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2010/05/water-graden-annuals-and-pink-blueberry.html

Dear NSCGA Members

Our first volunteer workday of the 2010 season is this Saturday, May 8, 2010 from 10 AM-12 Noon at the garden site. Light refreshments will be available.
We encourage all gardeners who are able, to come out for this workday.  We need to clear the drop-area of wood chips so that we can prepare that area for leaf mulch deliveries.  We must first dump gravel/stone at the site so that the delivery trucks do not get stuck. As soon as the area is prepared we will arrange for the leaf mulch delivery/soil amendments.  A notice will be sent to the membership when to expect the leaf mulch delivery.
Important note/clarification: On May 8 a vaccination clinic for pets will be held by the DC Department of Health (DOH)/Animal Control Division at 39 & Newark Sts, NW Lot B. We were informed by M. Hille at DC DOH and DC DPR Interim Director Aguirre that this event is not being held at the Newark Street Park. The DOH flyer and the DC.Gov web site states 39th and Newark St, Lot B which is a parking lot across the street from the garden, on McLean Gardens Condo property, and does not indicate the Newark Street Park as the site for the clinic. Some gardeners had expressed concern that this event was being held at the park at the same time as the workday so we hope that this information clarifies the details of the DOH event.
Finally, May 1 is the deadline for “each member to demonstrate effective utilization of their plot by clearing it of weeds and working the plot and making full use of the entire plot throughout the growing season.” At no time should weeds predominate. (NSCGA Rule 2.2)  The rules committee will inspect the Garden area to determine which plots have not been at least partially planted by the May 1 deadline. Members notified that their plot is not in compliance will be given one week to rectify the situation.  The rules committee now has its own e mail address which is: nscgarules@gmail.com
We hope to see you on Saturday, May 8 and we wish you a successful gardening season.

Best
Lew

Grand Re-Opening of UDC’s Farmers’ Market

Posted by: “maryblakeslee” blakbock@verizon.net maryblakeslee

Thu May 13, 2010 6:06 am (PDT)

Good Food, Good Fun and Great Information – Please join the
University of the District of Columbia for the grand re-opening of the
UDC Farmers’ Market, on Saturday, May 15, 2010, 7:30 AM – 1:30
PM, at the UDC Van Ness campus (located at 4200 Connecticut Ave., N.W.,WDC, near the UDC/Van Ness Metro Station).

UDC is providing fresh food and fresh ideas to help District residents
improve their quality of life. Be part of the celebration as we receive greetings from representatives for the White House, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the D.C. Council and University administration. There will be a flag presentation by the Boy Scouts of America and jazz music provided by UDC alum, Mr. Pete Muldoon. Also, learn about the Fall 2010 launch of UDC’s newest addition – the College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences (CAUSES). CAUSES, providing a sustainable bridge from college to the world.

The University of the District of Columbia is doing its part to promote healthy living, environmental stewardship and community connections.

For more information regarding the grand re-opening please contact Percy Williams at pwill09@gmail. com <mailto:pwill09@gmail. com> or at
770-630-7602, or for general information about the Farmers Market
please call 202-274-7100.

Sandy Farber Bandier
Environmental and Natural Resources Extension Agent
Master and Junior Master Gardener Coordinator
University of the District of Columbia Cooperative Extension Service
4200 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20008
(202) 274-7166 work
(202) 274-7130 fax

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