There are many flowers and veggies growing in the garden this November.  Here are some of the highlights:

Michael S. scotch bonnet peppers in plot #1

Echinacea in the butterfly garden

Kris’s Broccoli in plot #23

Mark and Lorna’s Dalia’s are still blooming in plot #7

Masayo’s lovely mix textures and shades of green in plot #15.  The feathery asparagus foliage and curly kale are very pretty.

There 6 coldframes and 3 row covers being used in the garden to extend the growing season!  Also several gardeners are using row covers to enhance soil through the winter.  Here are some photos:

From Left to Right: Michael cold frame #21, Debbie Cold frame #23, Phoebe row cover #25

Heidi cold frame and row cover #14 (front)

Katherine and Stacy using coldframes on plots #9 and #11.

Inside Debbie’s Coldframe

Michael’s lush clover cover crop

Sunday, October 18th, is Daffodil Day in Kensington.

Join your neighbors as we plant daffodil bulbs on Church Avenue and its side streets. In the spring, watch the flowers that we planted bloom!

From 9:00 a.m. to noon, volunteers will

* loosen soil in tree pits

* plant daffodil bulbs

* go to Connie’s Cafe for free coffee and a muffin!

Wear clothing and shoes that you don’t mind getting some dirt on. If you can, bring

* a hand cultivator

* a trowel

* a bulb borer

* anything else that’s useful for digging and planting

* extra gardening tools, if you have them, for your neighbors to use.

We’ll meet at 9:00 a.m. in front of Astoria Federal Savings, at the corner of Church and McDonald avenues. Connie, the owner of Connie’s Cafe (corner of Church Avenue and E. 5th Street), has graciously agreed to donate coffee and muffins for the volunteers.

This Saturday, October 3rd, join with the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and local gardeners to take the initiative on establishing a community-led leaf composting project!

Due to budget cuts, in 2008 New York City discontinued both its autumn leaf-collecting project and free compost pickups in the springtime. This was a big step backwards for the city, from the standpoint of both urban gardening and Zero Waste advocates: huge quantities of leaves (potentially soil amendments) are once again being sent to landfills.

The good news is that a group of Brooklyn compost advocates are meeting this Saturday to come up with a community-led initiative for collecting leaves to create compost and mulch for urban gardens! Read on for more info (the message quoted below has been making the rounds in community gardening circles).

Date: Saturday, October 3, 2009
Time: 12:00 Noon
Location: Ozzies’ Coffee 249 5th Ave. Bet Carroll & Garfield Brooklyn, NY 11215 (718) 768-6868
Subways: M. R to Union St Buses: B63 along Fifth Ave B37 & B103 along Third Avenue B71 along Union St.

more info

Here are a couple photos from the garden this week.  John has laid a lovely brick path over the concrete and seeded the raised area with grass.   Heidi’s tomatillo plants in the container area are all of a sudden covered with fruit!

The attractive brick path John has laid over the concrete.  Thanks John!

Heidi’s Tomatillos

The beautiful lilies Jole planted this spring have bloomed!  They remind me of exotic little orchids.  They are right inside the gate in the shade garden.  Check them out next time you visit the garden.

Thank you Jole for this lovely fall-blooming addition to the garden!

This is a wonderful transition time in the garden.  We are enjoying the end of the summer fruit and starting cool weather fall and winter veggies.  Here are some of the beautiful end of summer vegetables growing in the garden:

Masayo’s Beautiful Asparagus – a favorite perennial vegetable

Giant Yellow Tomatoes in plot #15

Magnificent Kale in plot #15

Cute Eggplant in Plot #1

Baby Squash in plot #2

Marian’s Magnificent Mint – thanks for sharing!  This mint makes great mojitos

Debbie’s Collards and Kale in plot #23

Katherine’s lovely Pear Cherry Tomatoes in plots #9 and #10

Another Pepper on the way in Phoebe’s plot #25

East 4th Street Community Garden
Membership Meeting #3
September 12, 2009

MINUTES

1. Minutes from last meeting approved
2. New Business – Special Events Planned – Coordinated by Danny Kessler. Please see the website for more details

• Sept. 12, 2009 2pm – Poetry Reading
• September 20th at 1pm – Vision Fest(city wide celebration) will include music and poetry by local artist
• September 26th at 2pm – Omega 3- Performers will play classical, jazz, pop. Please join us and share your favorite treats from the garden.

*Librarians from Windsor Terrace branch are happy to allow us to use the library for alternate locations in case of rain. The librarians requested use of the garden for Kids Readings. All members present at the meeting approved.

3. Plot Coordinator Report by Zoya: Plot Assignments/Waiting List and Extending the Season

• Seeds available –alphafa, white clover, herry vetch, sweet clover, mix crimson clover if interested please look in bench by picnic table. Now is the time to plant seeds. You can plant them even if your current crop is still producing. Remember, when you are ready to remove your plants, (i.e. tomato plants) cut it down to the base and compost it. Do not pull out the entire plant. Leave the root.
• Cold Frame Class – there will be a demonstration class on October 3rd (please await for time). The plan is to make 3-4 cold frames and floating row covers. Bulk materials will be purchased for the garden.
• There are 5 members wait listed for a plot. These members will use the girl scout’s plot form 10/15 – 3/15.

1. Treasurer’s Report – Given by Marian

• Current balance – $1900.00
• Michael sold his apple wine and raised $100 for the garden (Thank you Michael!!!)
• We are in the process of transferring our account to TD Bank to improve ease of record keeping and convenient Saturday hours.

1. Composting Committee Report (Provided by Zoya and Flynn)
   • Composting Committee is present during CSA hours to educate and encourage composting
   • Worm Bin Workshop is scheduled for 9/20 – 10:00a.m. – 11:00 a.m. – Participants will learn how to make a worm bin. Please bring 8-10 gallon containers.
   • Ellen is involved in Sustainable Projects for Kensington/Winsor Terrace area. Composting Committee’s “Worm Bin Network” are making plans to coordinate with Ellen’s group.
2. Membership Coordinator Report and Work Assignments (Given by Kris Keller)
   • There are 15 interested people/families. Most have volunteered at 1X. Members present agreed to wait until Spring to have members officially voted in to the garden.
   • Jennifer is doing a great job with the membership list and garden assignments. Please remember to sign up for a job assignment if you have not already done so.
3. New Need Requests/Purchases
   • New Bulletin Board – $350
   • 5019(c)3 Processing Fee – $300 – Michael met with lawyers from Lawyers Alliance Friday to determine whether or not a non-profit status is suitable for the garden. It was determined that the garden was not a good candidate for the Non-Profit status because the paperwork, ongoing maintenance and reporting are too time consuming. Additionally, the garden’s capital needs can be met by the Parks Dept. and membership dues.
   • Cold Frame Supplies
4. Technology Updates
   • The website is up and running, thanks to Jules and Zoya. Zoya is working on blogging. Jules will provide assistance if you need it. Please email him at zoya.baker@gmail.com.
   • East4streetgarden@googlegroups.com.  At this time, all members are added.
5. Fall Projects – completion of pending projects difficult because of Parks Department Project. There is not date yet. However, Michael will email to get an update this week.
   • Build stone wall left of entrance (pending Parks  Dept. Project)
   • Build Bulletin Board Frame – This will be completed during the Cold Frame Workshop. Bill Coleman and Bill Rice will be asked to help because of their expertise in building.
   • Garden Book Club – several garden members voiced an interest in meeting to discuss books relating to gardening. Please email Zoya or Vanessa for suggestions. The book club will meet in early December.
   • Garden Films – Danny suggested gathering during the winter months at the Windsor Terrace Library to view films about gardening. Please email Danny for suggestions.
   • Winter Meeting Locations – Phoebe suggested the Old Brick Café as a good meeting place during the winter months.
   • PUMPKIN FESTIVAL/ FLEA MARKET- Will take place on the weekend of October 17th and 18th!! Danny Kessler is the Festival Committee Chair. Please sign up to help out!!!! CSA will deliver pumpkins. We will need help with donations for the flea market, helping out with the flea market, selling pumpkins, advertising (fliers, emails, etc.), decorations, baked goods, etc… Please email Danny at ydankes@aol.com for more information.
   • Wood chips – We will put in a request for a delivery from Greenwood Cemetery. Please keep an eye on the email because several volunteers will be needed to spread the chips.
   • Open Hours- Please make sure that you sign up for open hours!!! Consider attending Fall Green Thumb Workshops. You may use these workshops to fulfill open hours requirement. Zoya will post pdf workshop list for Green Thumb on the website.

Respectfully Submitted,

Marybeth Keenley, Secretary

This Lovely Black swallowtail butterfly seems to be resting on the underside of a Lacinato kale.  Black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes asterius) are attracted to Fennel so it’s no wonder she’s hanging out in our garden!

Black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes asterius)

Looks like tiny airplanes are also attracted to fennel