  Cub Member Username: Cub Post Number: 291 Registered: 02-2007 |
Today, my mother, my two year old nephew and a friend and I started cleaning up some lots that I plan to turn into a garden and neighbourhood gathering place. It has been used as a dump site for the past couple of years. As we got started two Church of the Latter Day Saints elders rode by. They said they wanted to help and that they would be back. They came back about a hour later and stayed for a hour and kicked but. They gave us thier phone number and that they lived in the neighbourhood so give them a call and they would be back to help. There were neighbours coming out of the woodworks but not to help. All were in agreement that it was a good idea and wanted to help but not with the clean up. I think the seniors are really going to get a kick out of it. As the day wore on we saw a city dump truck and front end loader, though bulk pick up is not until the 24th of April. We stopped the driver of the truck and ask could they pick up the big items and things we had at the curb. Huh, we were told that it's not bulk pick up day for this area, but if we paid him he could do it. Excuse me, then WTF! are doing over here? Okay I don't want to get mad again. A little while later a garbage truck came to empty the courville containers and stopped and waited while we loaded up most of the bags in the container over and over again, at least four loads. Now why can't all city workers be like that. Back to the clean up. I uncovered a sidewalk today and it was amazing how much dirt had covered it up. I have along way to go. i don't expect to have that kind of help all the time but I am very grateful. I will be keeping you all informed of my progress. | ||
Dtowncitylover Member Username: Dtowncitylover Post Number: 52 Registered: 02-2008 |
wow good job Cub, but the lds elders are mormon and will come back to you to talk about their faith, not that being mormon is wrong, but i mean no likes knockers like mormons or JWs. I hope that your neighborhood garden goes well, especially as summer is on the horizon | ||
Pam Member Username: Pam Post Number: 3880 Registered: 11-2005 |
I posted this in the vacant lots topic but I don't know if you saw it. Network with other gardeners: http://www.detroitagriculture. org/Cluster_Groups.htm | ||
Cub Member Username: Cub Post Number: 292 Registered: 02-2007 |
If they are going to help with the clean up, I don't care what they talk about.  My uncle is a JW and if he can't convert me I don't think they can. Thanks Dtown it should be fun. | ||
Cub Member Username: Cub Post Number: 293 Registered: 02-2007 |
Yes I saw it and thank you. I am going to go to that meeting now. I am late. | ||
Kid_dynamite Member Username: Kid_dynamite Post Number: 494 Registered: 06-2007 |
"neighbourhood?" Are you by chance Canadian? | ||
Blueidone Member Username: Blueidone Post Number: 210 Registered: 03-2007 |
Cub..could you please tell me what neighborhood you are in? The company I work for just bought some empty lots to build new housing..just want to make sure you're not putting in a garden where they will be digging basements soon. I hope it works out for you...there's nothing like a garden to raise people's spirits and give them a common goal. | ||
Mozeewink Member Username: Mozeewink Post Number: 62 Registered: 03-2008 |
That is awesome, Cub! | ||
Sludgedaddy Member Username: Sludgedaddy Post Number: 25 Registered: 01-2008 |
"Who will help me clear the land and till the soil?", said the Little Red Hen. "Who will help me plant the seeds?" said the Little Red Hen. "Who will help me cultivate and and weed?" said the Little Red Hen. "Who will help me....Hey, who the hell stole my qumquats?" said the Little Red Hen. Welcome to the D, Cub. Good luck on your endeavors. | ||
Cub Member Username: Cub Post Number: 294 Registered: 02-2007 |
Thank You everyone! Blueidone, The property is on the eastside, off of Gratiot and Harper on a street called Georgia. The city has not put the lots up for sale(Supposedly of course). But I was told it would go up for bid in May. I do have permission from the planning and developing department. A | ||
Zephyrmec Member Username: Zephyrmec Post Number: 41 Registered: 01-2008 |
Good on you Cub! Binghamton NY had a communal garden patch area for a while, it worked well and was supported by the Ag. Extension from the local community college as well as local merchants. Commercial development eventually swallowed it up, another area is in the works. | ||
Gannon Member Username: Gannon Post Number: 12232 Registered: 12-2003 |
Cub, I'm with the group that is working the land just west of the church at MLK/Mack and Trumbull. If you need any help, please let me know. It IS amazing the responses you get when you're out working up a good sweat, isn't it?! Before you plant anything you want to eat, you might get a ground sample done...the Greening of Detroit folks will help steer you in the right direction. Think about keeping bees, too. They act like dobermans or pit bulls in the minds of anyone who might want to steal anything in your garden before it is ripe. Lotsa classes going on right now...I've yet to take any, although some in our group have. | ||
Cub Member Username: Cub Post Number: 295 Registered: 02-2007 |
Today I joined the Garden Resource Program Collaborative. (Thank You Pam) The meeting was great. There were about thirty people there and I was the only newbie.(Pfffffft Bulletmagnet ) The resources they have will help me a lot. There are six clusters. I didn't know this was as big as it is in not only Detroit but Metro Detroit. | ||
Urbanoutdoors Member Username: Urbanoutdoors Post Number: 788 Registered: 11-2005 |
Please let Zaccaro's know what we can do to help all urban gardens we want to eventually be able to compost and be as close to zero waste as possible. Also we are an organization that is dedicated to Volunteering time in the community we will be able to give some urban Garden man hours eventually. See you all Thursday! Joe Rashid Assistant Manager Zaccaro's Market | ||
Cub Member Username: Cub Post Number: 296 Registered: 02-2007 |
I sure will. I will be there thursday also. | ||
Gannon Member Username: Gannon Post Number: 12235 Registered: 12-2003 |
Heya Joe, what about some space to sell our future produce beyond Saturdays at Eastern Market? IF we can prove it grew from remediated lots, or greenhouses with enclosed groundspace, of course! We'll have to come up with a 'new' old term for organic-style production, though, now that the FDA has codified it and priced the testing well above what any logical farmer/businessperson might spend to use the term in advertising and packaging! If you read "The Omnivore's Dilemma" and a few of the other modern food-trend books, this urban and locally-sourced movement is MORE than a trend. We'll have a jump on any big corporation that needs to truck their stuff in...and most of them use petrol-based fertilizers and pesticides. Regular food prices will continue to shoot through the roof. Could be a curious stand to take for an up and coming cool destination grocery store... | ||
Barnesfoto Member Username: Barnesfoto Post Number: 4954 Registered: 10-2003 |
http://www.extremelinux.info/s tonesoup/stonesoup.html | ||
Urbanoutdoors Member Username: Urbanoutdoors Post Number: 789 Registered: 11-2005 |
Gannon, We want to carry as much local produce as possible, if we can get to the point where the gardens are fruitful enough we would carry them seven days a week, we have already made plans with local organic farms like garden works in ann arbor. We also have talked to the detroit Ag network and would love to purchase as much produce as we could from them, but their volumes can not yet meet demand. we may carry them once a week while in season if it can be arranged. | ||
Cub Member Username: Cub Post Number: 297 Registered: 02-2007 |
Thank You Barnesfoto that was cool. | ||
Andylinn Member Username: Andylinn Post Number: 793 Registered: 04-2006 |
Joe, i'm not religious, but god bless you and your market! HELL YEAH! | ||
Gannon Member Username: Gannon Post Number: 12240 Registered: 12-2003 |
(I should've known you already had that covered, Joe!) | ||
Urbanoutdoors Member Username: Urbanoutdoors Post Number: 790 Registered: 11-2005 |
There is talk of putting a urban garden next to the store as well, but that might have to be put off for a year or so but we may try to get it in this year if possible. I really want to do composting now there is just nowhere in michigan that collects it commercially. I talked to Sarah Kubick at Urban bean and she says its not that far off but not yet. we would do it off the bat if we had a compost site and if storage wasn't an issue. Hopefully by next year on that initiative. -Joe | ||
Gannon Member Username: Gannon Post Number: 12242 Registered: 12-2003 |
There is a group from Clinton Township that has been trying for three years to get the proper permits for a commercial composting facility and keep getting shot down by Douglas Diggs, the director of planning and development. Perhaps a letter-writing campaign is needed...time to wake up another of the mayoral appointees?! | ||
Cub Member Username: Cub Post Number: 299 Registered: 02-2007 |
It might come to past sooner than later if the city does away with the incinerator. | ||
Pollybergen Member Username: Pollybergen Post Number: 49 Registered: 12-2006 |
cub, i would love to see what you are doing, would you mind letting me know where the garden is? i am also interested in joining one of the det/ag clusters, but the map link is broken and i cannot determine which cluster i would be in! now is the time to get to more than just planning for this! | ||
Cub Member Username: Cub Post Number: 302 Registered: 02-2007 |
It is on the eastside. Off of Gratiot. The street name is Georgia. The street is directly across from the Better Made Potato Chip Factory. I would say it is a 1/4 mile if you are coming from Gratiot. I should have a sign on the property this afternoon. I haven't started planting yet. I am waiting on some soil samples before I till. | ||
Gannon Member Username: Gannon Post Number: 12309 Registered: 12-2003 |
Polly, If you're in Woodbridge, you have a few folks nearby who would be glad to get you started...but most of us are taking the classes through the Greening of Detroit. They are really doing a service, cannot wait to meet more of them. Great to have another on-board. Cub, There are all sorts of ways you can get started now...you can build up one or two rows with some new topsoil over a bed of mulch and plant something. You just missed the New Moon, but some things do better planted during the Full. (no kidding) Buy the Farmer's Almanac, there are ALWAYS good tips in there for proper timing of various crops...and tonnage of wisdom of the grounded, which we seem ALL to be becoming! Heh, crops, funny to finally be using that word. Cheers, John | ||
Gannon Member Username: Gannon Post Number: 12310 Registered: 12-2003 |
I'd like to see an Urban Agriculture Mega Thread...to group all these wonderful discussions in one place, making a resource here for any who might also want to join us. | ||
Cub Member Username: Cub Post Number: 303 Registered: 02-2007 |
I am going to try that Gannon. I started some Broccoli and lettuce seeds in february and they need to go in soon. | ||
Cub Member Username: Cub Post Number: 304 Registered: 02-2007 |
Thats a good idea. I still can't get over how many of us that are in the city. |
