Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots?
With regard to growing under the power lines; its not a staight line answer any more, so much land is under power lines! I also totally agree that misinformation is making decision making based on fact almost impossible, because facts are twisted. So, this really screws up scientific methodology. I am going to try and make the point that we have to relearn the earlier methods of relying on our inate abilities. I asked an organic farmer why she did not use sun screen. She replied that plants adapt to their environment. If a grower selects the most hardy plants each year to collect seeds from those plants will have dealt with the extra ultra violet, extra hydro, salt spray, infections or what ever. Animals and humans animals eating those plants have the opportunity that they may benefit from obsorbing those adaptogens that some of the plants start producing in respnse to stress. She farmed believing that the plants were helping her and that she needed to pay attention to them, her animals and herself as part of a complete adaptation cycle. (same as water cycles etc only in this case its about seed diversity having the genetic information to deal with change) Later I spoke with a MS researcher and cancer researcher. Both said that they see changes in disease on both ends of the scale meaning; More people are getting sick with both cancer and MS but more people are recovering as well. This would happen whether we developed better medical methods or not. A certain percentage of the population gets sick, another adapts and in the middle you get variations. Moving around the country and the world as we are doing puts the human population through greater stresses than the power lines. We are in a state of constant adaptation. So, whether we are forced to living on garbage heaps in Mexico City, petroleum gassing off in Sarnia's chemical valley or under hydro lines near a nuclear power plant we have to do the best that we can until we can get rid of these excessive forms of civilization. I think that growing food under the power lines is reclaiming land, giving it greater value than just a waste land and it sends a message that all land is important. At the same time those growing on it will have to be observant in a way that humans have for the most part forgotten. People will have to ask themselves questions. What strains of plants are doing well? How do they smell, taste and feel? Who amonst us is really sensitive? How can that be used as an asset for our survival in pointing out things we can not other wise know without a million dollar laboritory? The skill of growing in high altitude where UV levels are really high, where lightning dances across the ridges and puts current into the underground root networks, and where sudden heat or frosts happen in the wrong season has already given us access to seed diversity than can cope with these situations. The farmers in these areas are our allies. You may be interested in the wild craft herbal farming of Tibetan doctors. They can differentiate plants of the same type for their level of strength in the components needed to make a medicine by using only their sense of smell. You can get a documentary on the topic of Tibetan medicine from Tibetan Association of Toronto Canada. The important part is that the accuracy of their mixtures was confirmed spectrographically in pharmaceutical labratories in Switzerland. The Swiss have an interest in duplicating Tibetan formulii because many of the plants are common to both regions. There is a history of successful farming in harsh environments. So, what I am saying is if people go ahead with farming under hydro power lines they should go into it with their eys wide open. Use the permaculture groups, seed savers and people who have farmed everywhere as resources. They need to be creative. ~ robyn From: K. Rashid Nuri ad...@trulylivingwell.com To: Jama Crawford j...@frontier.net; Diann Dirks didi...@comcast.net; W Ontiveros wontive...@gmail.com; community_garden@list.communitygarden.org Sent: Tue, January 4, 2011 1:19:24 AM Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots? happy new year the united states government promotes too many things indeed hazardous to health. one can find reports to support almost any position. the power companies have a well-paid lobby in d.c. you only see people living under these lines in poor neighbohoods, not amongst the country club set. why not? the service would be closer to the source. K. Rashid Nuri Truly Living Well P.O. Box 90841 East Point GA 30364 Phone: 404 520 8331 www.trulylivingwell.com It is simply service that measures success. - George Washington Carver From: Jama Crawford j...@frontier.net To: K. Rashid Nuri ad...@trulylivingwell.com; Diann Dirks didi...@comcast.net; W Ontiveros wontive...@gmail.com
Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots?
Yes..ejdry54 I think of all gardens as research. not everybody thinks all gardens are research . my carrots didn't grow well this year doesn't spark curiosity in everybody. ~ robyn From: ejdr...@yahoo.com ejdr...@yahoo.com To: Robyn Harvey robynharvey...@yahoo.com Sent: Tue, January 4, 2011 6:41:40 AM Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots? Then you have research garden. This could be presented and promoted differently than a community garden. This would take a special group of folks with you special insights- now it sounds like a community garden Best wishes Sent from my iPhone On Jan 4, 2011, at 5:33 AM, Robyn Harvey robynharvey...@yahoo.com wrote: With regard to growing under the power lines; its not a staight line answer any more, so much land is under power lines! I also totally agree that misinformation is making decision making based on fact almost impossible, because facts are twisted. So, this really screws up scientific methodology. I am going to try and make the point that we have to relearn the earlier methods of relying on our inate abilities. I asked an organic farmer why she did not use sun screen. She replied that plants adapt to their environment. If a grower selects the most hardy plants each year to collect seeds from those plants will have dealt with the extra ultra violet, extra hydro, salt spray, infections or what ever. Animals and humans animals eating those plants have the opportunity that they may benefit from obsorbing those adaptogens that some of the plants start producing in respnse to stress. She farmed believing that the plants were helping her and that she needed to pay attention to them, her animals and herself as part of a complete adaptation cycle. (same as water cycles etc only in this case its about seed diversity having the genetic information to deal with change) Later I spoke with a MS researcher and cancer researcher. Both said that they see changes in disease on both ends of the scale meaning; More people are getting sick with both cancer and MS but more people are recovering as well. This would happen whether we developed better medical methods or not. A certain percentage of the population gets sick, another adapts and in the middle you get variations. Moving around the country and the world as we are doing puts the human population through greater stresses than the power lines. We are in a state of constant adaptation. So, whether we are forced to living on garbage heaps in Mexico City, petroleum gassing off in Sarnia's chemical valley or under hydro lines near a nuclear power plant we have to do the best that we can until we can get rid of these excessive forms of civilization. I think that growing food under the power lines is reclaiming land, giving it greater value than just a waste land and it sends a message that all land is important. At the same time those growing on it will have to be observant in a way that humans have for the most part forgotten. People will have to ask themselves questions. What strains of plants are doing well? How do they smell, taste and feel? Who amonst us is really sensitive? How can that be used as an asset for our survival in pointing out things we can not other wise know without a million dollar laboritory? The skill of growing in high altitude where UV levels are really high, where lightning dances across the ridges and puts current into the underground root networks, and where sudden heat or frosts happen in the wrong season has already given us access to seed diversity than can cope with these situations. The farmers in these areas are our allies. You may be interested in the wild craft herbal farming of Tibetan doctors. They can differentiate plants of the same type for their level of strength in the components needed to make a medicine by using only their sense of smell. You can get a documentary on the topic of Tibetan medicine from Tibetan Association of Toronto Canada. The important part is that the accuracy of their mixtures was confirmed spectrographically in pharmaceutical labratories in Switzerland. The Swiss have an interest in duplicating Tibetan formulii because many of the plants are common to both regions. There is a history of successful farming in harsh environments. So, what I am saying is if people go ahead with farming under hydro power lines they should go into it with their eys wide open. Use the permaculture groups, seed savers and people who have farmed everywhere as resources. They need to be creative. ~ robyn From: K. Rashid Nuri ad...@trulylivingwell.com To: Jama Crawford j...@frontier.net; Diann Dirks didi...@comcast.net; W Ontiveros wontive...@gmail.com; community_garden
Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots?
Good points Robyn! Recently I have come across some very interesting technology about electromagnetic pollution in spaces. Orgonite pellets set around cell towers converts the wavelengths from harmful to helpful for animals and humans. High power lines are really just electromagnetically polluting. A bit of research would help find sources for these and personal objects which do the same for an individual. They are out there. We live in an environment where the population is increasing as well as all forms of pollution. One would think that there is a movement to knock out a large percentage of the population as a solution. Long ago a wise person told me 'The way things are IS the intention. So, if you wish to survive, you have to outfox the pollution, the electromagnetic smog, the bad food, the suppressive gov regulations, and find a way to make it go right anyway. Land which could be used to grow food should be if it's all there is left which isn't chemically polluted. Just don't spend a lot of time around it yourself without finding some personal protection energy-wise. So, you have to be more efficient with your time and growing methods for less exposure. And you need to do your research. It isn't as easy in some places anymore to just find some nice dirt and plant a few seeds. We have to understand the spherical 360 degree situation and plan i.e. observe and research a space and its elements besides just the soil and the air. As a suggestion for some inspiration, read The One Straw Revolution by Masanobu Fukuoka. I got mine used through Amazon.com. That might give you some ideas on things like guerilla gardening, and conversion of unusable land. He has written a few books of interest. Also, look into Permaculture Design technology. There's a lot of good information and techniques which give one the ability to make use of almost any piece of land to the best and most efficient and high yielding way. When it all comes down to the bare truth of life, a civilization runs on its stomach. When growing became impossible in the Southwest, the Anasazi left. The Romans salted the growing fields of the Israelites when they wanted to wipe out that culture. It backfired though because the first year it killed the plants, but the minerals in the salt fertilized the soil and they had record breaking crops after that. A little piece of history left out of most of the text books. So, it's lemons or lemonade folks, the trick is knowledge and understanding (not the same things). Hope this helps. Diann Dirks Certified Permaculture Designer, Auburn, Ga. - Original Message - From: Robyn Harvey To: K. Rashid Nuri ; Jama Crawford ; Diann Dirks ; W Ontiveros ; community_garden@list.communitygarden.org Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2011 6:33 AM Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots? With regard to growing under the power lines; its not a staight line answer any more, so much land is under power lines! I also totally agree that misinformation is making decision making based on fact almost impossible, because facts are twisted. So, this really screws up scientific methodology. I am going to try and make the point that we have to relearn the earlier methods of relying on our inate abilities. I asked an organic farmer why she did not use sun screen. She replied that plants adapt to their environment. If a grower selects the most hardy plants each year to collect seeds from those plants will have dealt with the extra ultra violet, extra hydro, salt spray, infections or what ever. Animals and humans animals eating those plants have the opportunity that they may benefit from obsorbing those adaptogens that some of the plants start producing in respnse to stress. She farmed believing that the plants were helping her and that she needed to pay attention to them, her animals and herself as part of a complete adaptation cycle. (same as water cycles etc only in this case its about seed diversity having the genetic information to deal with change) Later I spoke with a MS researcher and cancer researcher. Both said that they see changes in disease on both ends of the scale meaning; More people are getting sick with both cancer and MS but more people are recovering as well. This would happen whether we developed better medical methods or not. A certain percentage of the population gets sick, another adapts and in the middle you get variations. Moving around the country and the world as we are doing puts the human population through greater stresses than the power lines. We are in a state of constant adaptation. So, whether we are forced to living on garbage heaps in Mexico City, petroleum gassing off in Sarnia's chemical valley or under hydro lines near a nuclear power plant we have to do the best that we can until we can get rid of these excessive forms of civilization. I think that growing food under the power
Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots?
So true Rashid, it's a scandal that the people who are supposed to be helping us are under so much pressure from special interests that they forgot who they are hired to help - US~. So, one has to be knowledgeable and not stupid. Trust the ones you can, and beware of the rest. I am on a campaign to get people to be more aware, more knowledgeable, and more discerning about the information they are confronted with. And to get people to read and research more! What you are doing is so inspiring. I wish you all success in the New Year. Best, Diann Dirks Certified Permaculture Designer 678 26-8141 Auburn, Ga. - Original Message - From: K. Rashid Nuri To: Jama Crawford ; Diann Dirks ; W Ontiveros ; community_garden@list.communitygarden.org Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2011 1:19 AM Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots? happy new year the united states government promotes too many things indeed hazardous to health. one can find reports to support almost any position. the power companies have a well-paid lobby in d.c. you only see people living under these lines in poor neighbohoods, not amongst the country club set. why not? the service would be closer to the source. K. Rashid Nuri Truly Living Well P.O. Box 90841 East Point GA 30364 Phone: 404 520 8331 www.trulylivingwell.com It is simply service that measures success. - George Washington Carver -- From: Jama Crawford j...@frontier.net To: K. Rashid Nuri ad...@trulylivingwell.com; Diann Dirks didi...@comcast.net; W Ontiveros wontive...@gmail.com; community_garden@list.communitygarden.org Sent: Mon, January 3, 2011 1:13:25 AM Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots? It may be useful to review literature on power line health effects published by the US Dept of Health. I admit I wouldn't want to garden under a power line either, but most of my apprehension is probably due to frequent reports of the hazards, which this article indicates are unproven. http://www.hps.org/hpspublications/articles/powerlines.html Jama Crawford Shared Harvet Durango CO - Original Message - From: K. Rashid Nuri ad...@trulylivingwell.com To: Diann Dirks didi...@comcast.net; W Ontiveros wontive...@gmail.com; community_garden@list.communitygarden.org Sent: Saturday, January 01, 2011 7:14 PM Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots? with all respect to my colleague diann, i have seen a lot of food grown under power lines in california. land under high power lines is very dangerous. check the research and see how high the incidences of cancer is for residents living there. would not recommend anyone growing food in such places. even if people are only there for a few hours, the food will be there to collect the energy which is out of balance. K. Rashid Nuri Truly Living Well P.O. Box 90841 East Point GA 30364 Phone: 404 520 8331 www.trulylivingwell.com It is simply service that measures success. - George Washington Carver From: Diann Dirks didi...@comcast.net To: W Ontiveros wontive...@gmail.com; community_garden@list.communitygarden.org Sent: Wed, December 29, 2010 12:00:21 PM Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots? How about asking for land under the high power lines and space along the L.A. River? The spaces are sometimes leased by landscape companies for growing stock, but not all of it is used. One wouldn't want to spend a great deal of time under those lines but keeping a garden a couple of hours a week wouldn't be too tough I wouldn't imagine. Also, there are some large parks in L.A. which have some unused land. That's a possibility. And vacant lots can be looked into. I lived in L.A. and saw a lot of land unused. Not huge amounts but being resourceful I know more space can be found. Just drive around and spot unused land. Possibly if it's in a neighborhood and is owned by someone, but being unused, the owner can be contacted and make a deal with them to lease the land and pay something - makes a great tax write-off. Guerilla gardening is also a possibility - using land unused by just planting on it, here and there. I have heard stories in NY about vacant land being planted on from the back to the front year after year, and eventually having the city give them the land because it's already established and community building. Hope this helps, Diann Dirks - Original Message - From: W Ontiveros wontive...@gmail.com To: community_garden@list.communitygarden.org Sent: Wednesday, December 29, 2010 10:27 AM Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits
Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots?
Dear Guy, As to Orgonite, thank you for your opinion which I do not consider completely informed as scientific or true. You are entitled to your opinion but there is much data to alter your viewpoint. So, don't dismiss it just because the government funded scientific community doesn't go along with the other information (possibly feeling quite threatened by the possibility that their plans to interfere with people's well being could be thwarted?) On the other hand, your ideas on use of available growing space, such as patios, window boxes, etc. is spot on and I agree with you. Where there is a will, there is a way. So much is being done now on roof tops, old house slabs and parking lots, considered formerly to be unuseful for growing. I've even seen one experiment where people were growing food on 1 of soil over concrete slab. If you've ever seen a plant grow out of a tiny crack in the sidewalk, you know the power of life to grow. The subject of salt can be confusing. Salt isn't one substance. It can be beneficial in small amounts or it can choke the life out of growing media. There are hundreds of kinds of salt. Himilayan salt contains up to 82 trace minerals. The salt in kelp when brought to soil has a magically fertilizing effect because it contains trace minerals in a balanced form. Salt formed from over used land where no organic material has been added and rain has leached it to a dead condition is an entirely different matter. Good soil analysis and the addition of minerals has to be done to correct any bad soil conditions, or to increase the fertility of growing media in any condition. Just NaCl is a death knell. In Roman times, salt was sea salt, loaded with trace minerals. I like to be concise. :) I liked what you had to say about the frequencies of electro magnetic energies. The thing that fascinates me is that some frequencies are beneficial and some are harmful, and depending on the intensity and the field formed, can be invigorating or deadly. I also believe in quantum physics which is usually above the normal concept of physical universe universes and processes. Orgonite is a product of quantum physics. Just to add my other 2 cents worth. Best, Diann - Original Message - From: Guy Serbin guy.ser...@gmail.com To: Diann Dirks didi...@comcast.net Cc: K. Rashid Nuri ad...@trulylivingwell.com; Jama Crawford j...@frontier.net; W Ontiveros wontive...@gmail.com; community_garden@list.communitygarden.org Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2011 3:00 PM Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots? Hi, Here are my two cents on the following matters: Plot term limits- 1. If you're going to have them, make sure they're long enough so that whomever has a plot is able to farm it long enough to get their money's worth in terms of material investment. 2. Another alternative is to encourage people to make use of other available spaces, say window boxes, apartment deck space, etc., and provide how-to guides for interested parties, which might help reduce some of the demand for spaces. High power lines and electromagnetic radiation: 1. No one can ever make a claim that something is completely safe, as pointed out by a microwave engineer who was on my Ph.D. commitee. This goes for absolutely anything, including the food you grow in your garden. You always have to assume some sort of risk is involved with anything. 2. Like anything else, including water and oxygen, excessive exposure to electromagnetic radiation in elevated levels in terms of time or intensity can be harmful, extending from very low frequencies (power lines, 50-60 Hz) and all the way up to X-rays and cosmic rays. In a number of cases, particular when it comes to microwaves (cellphones and wireless computer networks, 300 MHz - 300 GHz) and high power lines, the existing government-mandated levels are probably set much higher than the exposure you'll receive, and there are a number of conflicting studies on the matter as to what is a safe level (as a scientist I don't trust a single study and prefer to look at several, and even after that, I am still not sure). If in doubt, use the conservative approach and just avoid areas within close proximity of power lines and cellphone towers- if working under power lines is going to cause you or your family anxiety about your health or safety, then better to let the area lie fallow or let someone else farm there. That said, I can't say for sure you will be harmed by having a garden near one. 3. Working near power lines do have a number of dangers, particularly if you get too close to the wires- avoid using anything that's tall enough to get close to them and could cause arcing or touch them. Likewise, power lines can droop down in hot weather due to thermal expansion. There is also a risk that the magnetic fields generated by the electrical current could induce electrical currents in conducting materials, particularly if those
Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots?
Orgonite, hydro-electric power lines and farming, I don't know how organite works or if it works. I looked it up and found talisman protectors and other bigger shielding devices. These could be tested around plants to see if there are effects. It is my experience that blanket statements about any type of energy are nearly always proven wrong. I work with TENS machines used in soft tissue trauma. Transcutaneous electro-neural stimulation is a lot like what people were being jailed for quackery in the early part of the century. I also,have used electromagnetic field induction rings, hot mud, salt, ultra sound etc. Its amazing the number of things that produce change in living tissue. Having said this I know that even knowing how to correctly apply these medical treatment aids for best results does not guarantee positive results. During the second world war the Japanese were using tin foil over burn wounds with very good results. The tin either blocking out energy fields or holding them in. Currently very low voltages are applied as inlaid coils of very fine wire wrapped inside of casts for broken legs and arms of football players and some other athletes to speed healing. A friend of mine did experiments with ultra high frequency sound and ultra low frequency sound, trying different durations, intensity/amplitude and sliding up or down around a frequency.This experiment showed that cells treat some energy forms like a signaling system or message system. It turned out to be unpleasant and dangerous with some combinations. People lost control of bladders or got very happy or got sleepy or started crying or singing or wetting and sweating themselves or nothing at all. No one became a genius or grew ten feet, but low level current direct to the skin of the skull has produced better long term memory. (recent Quirks and Quarks CBC science program with episode repeats available on line) At an open house at the University of Western Ontario that I attended three years ago they were working on shielding strategies for radiation in space, atomic energy etc. One sheet of 1/2 inch thick steel plate had holes drilled in it with a specific repeating pattern designed to create an interference pattern for energy passing through it. Two patterns of the same type could be lined up to cancel each other out. Energy work seems to be a lot of fun and is often very dangerous, but playing with the orgonite seems well within the safe to try range. Why not try garden under the hydroelectric lines? Of course this is coming from the guy who used to play with magnets on the TV screen to distort the faces of the actors! ~ robyn From: Diann Dirks didi...@comcast.net To: Guy Serbin guy.ser...@gmail.com Cc: W Ontiveros wontive...@gmail.com; community_garden@list.communitygarden.org Sent: Tue, January 4, 2011 5:10:22 PM Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots? Dear Guy, As to Orgonite, thank you for your opinion which I do not consider completely informed as scientific or true. You are entitled to your opinion but there is much data to alter your viewpoint. So, don't dismiss it just because the government funded scientific community doesn't go along with the other information (possibly feeling quite threatened by the possibility that their plans to interfere with people's well being could be thwarted?) On the other hand, your ideas on use of available growing space, such as patios, window boxes, etc. is spot on and I agree with you. Where there is a will, there is a way. So much is being done now on roof tops, old house slabs and parking lots, considered formerly to be unuseful for growing. I've even seen one experiment where people were growing food on 1 of soil over concrete slab. If you've ever seen a plant grow out of a tiny crack in the sidewalk, you know the power of life to grow. The subject of salt can be confusing. Salt isn't one substance. It can be beneficial in small amounts or it can choke the life out of growing media. There are hundreds of kinds of salt. Himilayan salt contains up to 82 trace minerals. The salt in kelp when brought to soil has a magically fertilizing effect because it contains trace minerals in a balanced form. Salt formed from over used land where no organic material has been added and rain has leached it to a dead condition is an entirely different matter. Good soil analysis and the addition of minerals has to be done to correct any bad soil conditions, or to increase the fertility of growing media in any condition. Just NaCl is a death knell. In Roman times, salt was sea salt, loaded with trace minerals. I like to be concise. :) I liked what you had to say about the frequencies of electro magnetic energies. The thing that fascinates me is that some frequencies are beneficial and some are harmful, and depending on the intensity and the field formed, can be invigorating
Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots?
happy new year the united states government promotes too many things indeed hazardous to health. one can find reports to support almost any position. the power companies have a well-paid lobby in d.c. you only see people living under these lines in poor neighbohoods, not amongst the country club set. why not? the service would be closer to the source. K. Rashid Nuri Truly Living Well P.O. Box 90841 East Point GA 30364 Phone: 404 520 8331 www.trulylivingwell.com It is simply service that measures success. - George Washington Carver From: Jama Crawford j...@frontier.net To: K. Rashid Nuri ad...@trulylivingwell.com; Diann Dirks didi...@comcast.net; W Ontiveros wontive...@gmail.com; community_garden@list.communitygarden.org Sent: Mon, January 3, 2011 1:13:25 AM Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots? It may be useful to review literature on power line health effects published by the US Dept of Health. I admit I wouldn't want to garden under a power line either, but most of my apprehension is probably due to frequent reports of the hazards, which this article indicates are unproven. http://www.hps.org/hpspublications/articles/powerlines.html Jama Crawford Shared Harvet Durango CO - Original Message - From: K. Rashid Nuri ad...@trulylivingwell.com To: Diann Dirks didi...@comcast.net; W Ontiveros wontive...@gmail.com; community_garden@list.communitygarden.org Sent: Saturday, January 01, 2011 7:14 PM Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots? with all respect to my colleague diann, i have seen a lot of food grown under power lines in california. land under high power lines is very dangerous. check the research and see how high the incidences of cancer is for residents living there. would not recommend anyone growing food in such places. even if people are only there for a few hours, the food will be there to collect the energy which is out of balance. K. Rashid Nuri Truly Living Well P.O. Box 90841 East Point GA 30364 Phone: 404 520 8331 www.trulylivingwell.com It is simply service that measures success. - George Washington Carver From: Diann Dirks didi...@comcast.net To: W Ontiveros wontive...@gmail.com; community_garden@list.communitygarden.org Sent: Wed, December 29, 2010 12:00:21 PM Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots? How about asking for land under the high power lines and space along the L.A. River? The spaces are sometimes leased by landscape companies for growing stock, but not all of it is used. One wouldn't want to spend a great deal of time under those lines but keeping a garden a couple of hours a week wouldn't be too tough I wouldn't imagine. Also, there are some large parks in L.A. which have some unused land. That's a possibility. And vacant lots can be looked into. I lived in L.A. and saw a lot of land unused. Not huge amounts but being resourceful I know more space can be found. Just drive around and spot unused land. Possibly if it's in a neighborhood and is owned by someone, but being unused, the owner can be contacted and make a deal with them to lease the land and pay something - makes a great tax write-off. Guerilla gardening is also a possibility - using land unused by just planting on it, here and there. I have heard stories in NY about vacant land being planted on from the back to the front year after year, and eventually having the city give them the land because it's already established and community building. Hope this helps, Diann Dirks - Original Message - From: W Ontiveros wontive...@gmail.com To: community_garden@list.communitygarden.org Sent: Wednesday, December 29, 2010 10:27 AM Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots? Our garden opened in 2009 and we have 30 raised beds in a densly populated neigborhood 5 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles. We've leased the land from the city's Department of Transporation. Our plots are assigned based on a weighted lottery - applicants living closest to the garden receive 3 chances, those who live in the zip code 2 chances, and all others receive one chance. Our plot term is currently 2 years. We have no term limits. However, after the 2 year term, all gardeners who wish to renew must reapply and take their chances in the lottery. We decided on this process to be fair to all stakeholders and ensure that all applicants have a chance to get a plot. A few gardeners were resistant to this process. However, by and large our gardeners understand that the person who didn't get a plot the first go around deserves a chance to garden, too. Virtually all gardens in the L.A. metropolitan area have extensive waiting lists. Santa Monica city has some of the longest wating lists. They discussed term limits
Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots?
with all respect to my colleague diann, i have seen a lot of food grown under power lines in california. land under high power lines is very dangerous. check the research and see how high the incidences of cancer is for residents living there. would not recommend anyone growing food in such places. even if people are only there for a few hours, the food will be there to collect the energy which is out of balance. K. Rashid Nuri Truly Living Well P.O. Box 90841 East Point GA 30364 Phone: 404 520 8331 www.trulylivingwell.com It is simply service that measures success. - George Washington Carver From: Diann Dirks didi...@comcast.net To: W Ontiveros wontive...@gmail.com; community_garden@list.communitygarden.org Sent: Wed, December 29, 2010 12:00:21 PM Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots? How about asking for land under the high power lines and space along the L.A. River? The spaces are sometimes leased by landscape companies for growing stock, but not all of it is used. One wouldn't want to spend a great deal of time under those lines but keeping a garden a couple of hours a week wouldn't be too tough I wouldn't imagine. Also, there are some large parks in L.A. which have some unused land. That's a possibility. And vacant lots can be looked into. I lived in L.A. and saw a lot of land unused. Not huge amounts but being resourceful I know more space can be found. Just drive around and spot unused land. Possibly if it's in a neighborhood and is owned by someone, but being unused, the owner can be contacted and make a deal with them to lease the land and pay something - makes a great tax write-off. Guerilla gardening is also a possibility - using land unused by just planting on it, here and there. I have heard stories in NY about vacant land being planted on from the back to the front year after year, and eventually having the city give them the land because it's already established and community building. Hope this helps, Diann Dirks - Original Message - From: W Ontiveros wontive...@gmail.com To: community_garden@list.communitygarden.org Sent: Wednesday, December 29, 2010 10:27 AM Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots? Our garden opened in 2009 and we have 30 raised beds in a densly populated neigborhood 5 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles. We've leased the land from the city's Department of Transporation. Our plots are assigned based on a weighted lottery - applicants living closest to the garden receive 3 chances, those who live in the zip code 2 chances, and all others receive one chance. Our plot term is currently 2 years. We have no term limits. However, after the 2 year term, all gardeners who wish to renew must reapply and take their chances in the lottery. We decided on this process to be fair to all stakeholders and ensure that all applicants have a chance to get a plot. A few gardeners were resistant to this process. However, by and large our gardeners understand that the person who didn't get a plot the first go around deserves a chance to garden, too. Virtually all gardens in the L.A. metropolitan area have extensive waiting lists. Santa Monica city has some of the longest wating lists. They discussed term limits for their gardens, but backed off due to community resistance. We do have some new gardens in the works. However, demand for garden plots here always seems to outrip supply. Suitable vacant land is also scarce here. I don't see it getting any easier to establish more gardens here anytime soon. -Warren Milagro Allegro Community Garden http://hpgarden.org -- Forwarded message -- From: William Maynard wmayn...@cityofsacramento.org To: 'community_garden@list.communitygarden.org' community_garden@list.communitygarden.org Date: Tue, 28 Dec 2010 20:42:18 + Subject: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots? All With all the demand for community garden plots.. wondering if there are any community gardens out there that have a term limit as to how long that you can keep a plot? Unlimited number of years? Or X number of years? And the procedures of filling the plots if there is a term limit.. lottery of all current gardeners and those on waiting list? How long are the term limits? We all know that we need more gardens and the benefits of keeping the same plot year after year..build soil and community etc.. just wondering about term limits on plots if anyone has them in place and how its working. Thanks.. More Gardens! bill -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.communitygarden.org/pipermail/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org/attachments/20101229/dc7997a6/attachment.html ___ The American Community Gardening
Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots?
And now for the attachment Ray Schutte Life is a Good Idea Nikki Giovanni President P-Patch Trust Advocate for Community Gardens in Seattle www.ppatchtrust.org -- next part -- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: gardenpolicies.doc Type: application/msword Size: 37376 bytes Desc: not available URL: http://list.communitygarden.org/pipermail/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org/attachments/20101230/d65749d7/attachment.doc ___ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: community_garden@list.communitygarden.org To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: http://list.communitygarden.org/mailman/listinfo/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org
Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots?
Our garden opened in 2009 and we have 30 raised beds in a densly populated neigborhood 5 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles. We've leased the land from the city's Department of Transporation. Our plots are assigned based on a weighted lottery - applicants living closest to the garden receive 3 chances, those who live in the zip code 2 chances, and all others receive one chance. Our plot term is currently 2 years. We have no term limits. However, after the 2 year term, all gardeners who wish to renew must reapply and take their chances in the lottery. We decided on this process to be fair to all stakeholders and ensure that all applicants have a chance to get a plot. A few gardeners were resistant to this process. However, by and large our gardeners understand that the person who didn't get a plot the first go around deserves a chance to garden, too. Virtually all gardens in the L.A. metropolitan area have extensive waiting lists. Santa Monica city has some of the longest wating lists. They discussed term limits for their gardens, but backed off due to community resistance. We do have some new gardens in the works. However, demand for garden plots here always seems to outrip supply. Suitable vacant land is also scarce here. I don't see it getting any easier to establish more gardens here anytime soon. -Warren Milagro Allegro Community Garden http://hpgarden.org -- Forwarded message -- From: William Maynard wmayn...@cityofsacramento.org To: 'community_garden@list.communitygarden.org' community_garden@list.communitygarden.org Date: Tue, 28 Dec 2010 20:42:18 + Subject: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots? All With all the demand for community garden plots.. wondering if there are any community gardens out there that have a term limit as to how long that you can keep a plot? Unlimited number of years? Or X number of years? And the procedures of filling the plots if there is a term limit.. lottery of all current gardeners and those on waiting list? How long are the term limits? We all know that we need more gardens and the benefits of keeping the same plot year after year..build soil and community etc.. just wondering about term limits on plots if anyone has them in place and how its working. Thanks.. More Gardens! bill -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.communitygarden.org/pipermail/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org/attachments/20101229/dc7997a6/attachment.html ___ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: community_garden@list.communitygarden.org To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: http://list.communitygarden.org/mailman/listinfo/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org
Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots?
To a great extent it depends on what are the goals and objectives of the program. I have attached a position document developed by the P-Patch Trust a non profit support organization here in Seattle. There are investments that go far beyond just soil building in community gardens. Ray Schutte Life is a Good Idea Nikki Giovanni President P-Patch Trust Advocate for Community Gardens in Seattle www.ppatchtrust.org -Original Message- From: community_garden-boun...@list.communitygarden.org [mailto:community_garden-boun...@list.communitygarden.org] On Behalf Of William Maynard Sent: Tuesday, December 28, 2010 2:52 PM To: community_garden@list.communitygarden.org Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots? All The issue of open term plot or garden plots for life..is being questioned by the parks and recreation commission, so I am looking for any gardens that have term limits.. with large gardens this is not an issue.. but with city run gardens of 10-12 plots this is an issue (no turnovers for 7 years; but has a waiting list of 25 - number 5 is asking why its taking soo long to get a plot). I know of one garden that has term limits.. it's a one year term, current gardeners and those on the waiting list are in a lottery each year.. this is in a gated community .. it seems to work for them.. especially for a small com garden of 12 plots.. they turn into an exclusive club that no one can get into..the management of the complex wanted it to be fair for all to have access. i hope to get at least a few more examples .. I am sure that they exist out there.. but in few numbers.. to be clear, I don't like term limits.. just going thru the process per the city park n rec commission More gardens.. more plots! bill -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.communitygarden.org/pipermail/community_garden_list.communityga rden.org/attachments/20101228/375f30d1/attachment.html ___ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: community_garden@list.communitygarden.org To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: http://list.communitygarden.org/mailman/listinfo/community_garden_list.commu nitygarden.org -- next part -- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: gardenpolicies.doc Type: application/msword Size: 118784 bytes Desc: not available URL: http://list.communitygarden.org/pipermail/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org/attachments/20101228/cc1f26e3/attachment.doc ___ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: community_garden@list.communitygarden.org To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: http://list.communitygarden.org/mailman/listinfo/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org
Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots?
How about asking for land under the high power lines and space along the L.A. River? The spaces are sometimes leased by landscape companies for growing stock, but not all of it is used. One wouldn't want to spend a great deal of time under those lines but keeping a garden a couple of hours a week wouldn't be too tough I wouldn't imagine. Also, there are some large parks in L.A. which have some unused land. That's a possibility. And vacant lots can be looked into. I lived in L.A. and saw a lot of land unused. Not huge amounts but being resourceful I know more space can be found. Just drive around and spot unused land. Possibly if it's in a neighborhood and is owned by someone, but being unused, the owner can be contacted and make a deal with them to lease the land and pay something - makes a great tax write-off. Guerilla gardening is also a possibility - using land unused by just planting on it, here and there. I have heard stories in NY about vacant land being planted on from the back to the front year after year, and eventually having the city give them the land because it's already established and community building. Hope this helps, Diann Dirks - Original Message - From: W Ontiveros wontive...@gmail.com To: community_garden@list.communitygarden.org Sent: Wednesday, December 29, 2010 10:27 AM Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots? Our garden opened in 2009 and we have 30 raised beds in a densly populated neigborhood 5 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles. We've leased the land from the city's Department of Transporation. Our plots are assigned based on a weighted lottery - applicants living closest to the garden receive 3 chances, those who live in the zip code 2 chances, and all others receive one chance. Our plot term is currently 2 years. We have no term limits. However, after the 2 year term, all gardeners who wish to renew must reapply and take their chances in the lottery. We decided on this process to be fair to all stakeholders and ensure that all applicants have a chance to get a plot. A few gardeners were resistant to this process. However, by and large our gardeners understand that the person who didn't get a plot the first go around deserves a chance to garden, too. Virtually all gardens in the L.A. metropolitan area have extensive waiting lists. Santa Monica city has some of the longest wating lists. They discussed term limits for their gardens, but backed off due to community resistance. We do have some new gardens in the works. However, demand for garden plots here always seems to outrip supply. Suitable vacant land is also scarce here. I don't see it getting any easier to establish more gardens here anytime soon. -Warren Milagro Allegro Community Garden http://hpgarden.org -- Forwarded message -- From: William Maynard wmayn...@cityofsacramento.org To: 'community_garden@list.communitygarden.org' community_garden@list.communitygarden.org Date: Tue, 28 Dec 2010 20:42:18 + Subject: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots? All With all the demand for community garden plots.. wondering if there are any community gardens out there that have a term limit as to how long that you can keep a plot? Unlimited number of years? Or X number of years? And the procedures of filling the plots if there is a term limit.. lottery of all current gardeners and those on waiting list? How long are the term limits? We all know that we need more gardens and the benefits of keeping the same plot year after year..build soil and community etc.. just wondering about term limits on plots if anyone has them in place and how its working. Thanks.. More Gardens! bill -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.communitygarden.org/pipermail/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org/attachments/20101229/dc7997a6/attachment.html ___ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: community_garden@list.communitygarden.org To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: http://list.communitygarden.org/mailman/listinfo/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org ___ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: community_garden@list.communitygarden.org To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: http://list.communitygarden.org/mailman/listinfo/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org
Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots?
The solution is to find more land: contact owners of vacant land and I realize that in some cities there may not be much vacate land Here in Lubbock TX the Lubbock Central Appraisal District, which handles tax collect, etc for the city, county, schools, hospitals, etc. will allow anyone to farm lots they have reprocessed, free. Check that out. Ken Hargesheimer -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.communitygarden.org/pipermail/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org/attachments/20101228/576ee123/attachment.html ___ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: community_garden@list.communitygarden.org To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: http://list.communitygarden.org/mailman/listinfo/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org
Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots?
All The issue of open term plot or garden plots for life..is being questioned by the parks and recreation commission, so I am looking for any gardens that have term limits.. with large gardens this is not an issue.. but with city run gardens of 10-12 plots this is an issue (no turnovers for 7 years; but has a waiting list of 25 - number 5 is asking why its taking soo long to get a plot). I know of one garden that has term limits.. it's a one year term, current gardeners and those on the waiting list are in a lottery each year.. this is in a gated community .. it seems to work for them.. especially for a small com garden of 12 plots.. they turn into an exclusive club that no one can get into..the management of the complex wanted it to be fair for all to have access. i hope to get at least a few more examples .. I am sure that they exist out there.. but in few numbers.. to be clear, I don't like term limits.. just going thru the process per the city park n rec commission More gardens.. more plots! bill -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.communitygarden.org/pipermail/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org/attachments/20101228/375f30d1/attachment.html ___ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: community_garden@list.communitygarden.org To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: http://list.communitygarden.org/mailman/listinfo/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org
Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots?
With only one year long use, no one is building up the soil. They are just mining the nutrients. Yields will be low and will be a little lower each year. I am talking about organic gardening; no chemicals. Ken H organic, no-till gardener -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.communitygarden.org/pipermail/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org/attachments/20101228/aba4fa62/attachment.html ___ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: community_garden@list.communitygarden.org To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: http://list.communitygarden.org/mailman/listinfo/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org
Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots?
Not necessarily so.. a cover crop or manure is often planted / placed in the winter by those that over see the garden.. then the plots will be ready for whoever gets them in the spring. Remember some may get their plots again.. depends on how many are on the waiting list to be put into the lottery with current gardeners. But I agree 1 year is way too short for a term limit. bill From: Ken Hargesheimer [mailto:minifa...@gmail.com] Sent: Tuesday, December 28, 2010 2:58 PM To: William Maynard Cc: community_garden@list.communitygarden.org Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots? With only one year long use, no one is building up the soil. They are just mining the nutrients. Yields will be low and will be a little lower each year. I am talking about organic gardening; no chemicals. Ken H organic, no-till gardener -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.communitygarden.org/pipermail/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org/attachments/20101228/2731268b/attachment.html ___ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: community_garden@list.communitygarden.org To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: http://list.communitygarden.org/mailman/listinfo/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org
Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots?
We never had a term limit. We did however have a waiting list. Sometimes people move, or pass on and their family doesn't want it, or they just don't wish to keep the plot. In that case, it's first come first served on the list. We have enough space that people can have more than one 4x8 foot plot if they wish, but some gardens have larger plots per person. If they got the plots in the first place, they can keep them as long as they keep paying the fee every year. Some of our members have large families and this is how they can feed all those kids. I would hate to take that away. If someone comes to the head of the list and are contacted, they have about 2 weeks to respond. If they don't, on to the next name on the list. And everyone knows this rule to begin with. Saves upsets. Best, Diann Dirks Auburn Community Garden, Ga. - Original Message - From: Betsy Johnson betsyjohn...@speakeasy.net To: William Maynard wmayn...@cityofsacramento.org Cc: community_garden@list.communitygarden.org Sent: Tuesday, December 28, 2010 5:27 PM Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots? Term limits are generally not used (and fought) -- despite the often high demand. This is counter to gardeners building up the fertility of their plots, having treasured perennial plants, and having an incentive for obeying garden rules. Betsy Johnson 11 1/2 Greenwich Park Boston, MA 02118 617-536-1711 be...@bgjohnson.com On Dec 28, 2010, at 3:42 PM, William Maynard wrote: All With all the demand for community garden plots.. wondering if there are any community gardens out there that have a term limit as to how long that you can keep a plot? Unlimited number of years? Or X number of years? And the procedures of filling the plots if there is a term limit.. lottery of all current gardeners and those on waiting list? How long are the term limits? We all know that we need more gardens and the benefits of keeping the same plot year after year..build soil and community etc.. just wondering about term limits on plots if anyone has them in place and how its working. Thanks.. More Gardens! bill ___ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: community_garden@list.communitygarden.org To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: http://list.communitygarden.org/mailman/listinfo/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org ___ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: community_garden@list.communitygarden.org To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: http://list.communitygarden.org/mailman/listinfo/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org ___ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: community_garden@list.communitygarden.org To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: http://list.communitygarden.org/mailman/listinfo/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org
Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots?
I agree with Ken, get more land. Don't run 'scarcity' on people who want to garden when there is so much land out there going to the birds. Diann - Original Message - From: William Maynard wmayn...@cityofsacramento.org To: community_garden@list.communitygarden.org Sent: Tuesday, December 28, 2010 6:08 PM Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots? Not necessarily so.. a cover crop or manure is often planted / placed in the winter by those that over see the garden.. then the plots will be ready for whoever gets them in the spring. Remember some may get their plots again.. depends on how many are on the waiting list to be put into the lottery with current gardeners. But I agree 1 year is way too short for a term limit. bill From: Ken Hargesheimer [mailto:minifa...@gmail.com] Sent: Tuesday, December 28, 2010 2:58 PM To: William Maynard Cc: community_garden@list.communitygarden.org Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots? With only one year long use, no one is building up the soil. They are just mining the nutrients. Yields will be low and will be a little lower each year. I am talking about organic gardening; no chemicals. Ken H organic, no-till gardener -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.communitygarden.org/pipermail/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org/attachments/20101228/2731268b/attachment.html ___ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: community_garden@list.communitygarden.org To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: http://list.communitygarden.org/mailman/listinfo/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org ___ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: community_garden@list.communitygarden.org To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: http://list.communitygarden.org/mailman/listinfo/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org
Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots?
I can see a number of problems with term limits, more problems than you have now with long waiting lists and people complaining to city officials that its THEIR turn to get a plot. You want to see people return year after year - that's the community half of the community garden equation. A stronger community produces what city officials are most interested in: pride, beautification, property values, crime declines, and neighbors watching out for and helping each other. Returning gardeners also accumulate invaluable knowledge about your specific soil, micro-climate, and pest conditions. They can really help newer gardeners develop skills. I don't think it is advisable to turn away skilled gardeners ... the core solution is - as mentioned - build more gardens. We do ask our skilled gardeners to assume more responsibilities in managing the garden, and we also ask anyone unwilling to put forth 2 hours a week of effort to leave the garden, and let someone new in. As a result of both actions, we see a 10 to 20% turnover each year out of 60 households. Best wishes - I hope you can compel your parks and rec officials to dedicate more space to gardening. ___ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: community_garden@list.communitygarden.org To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: http://list.communitygarden.org/mailman/listinfo/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org
Re: [Community_garden] Term Limits for Community Garden Plots?
On Tue, Dec 28, 2010 at 5:02 PM, j...@frontier.net wrote: ... We do ask our skilled gardeners to assume more responsibilities in managing the garden, and we also ask anyone unwilling to put forth 2 hours a week of effort to leave the garden, and let someone new in. As a result of both actions, we see a 10 to 20% turnover each year out of 60 households I don't know of any term-limit gardens that work, either. I think creating rules that encourage turnover if gardens are not maintained is a much better solution than starting a lottery. You *want* the skilled gardeners to stay around, and you want to make sure there's some continuity of knowledge. The people who are at the garden all the time know who the diligent gardeners are, and who hardly comes to the garden. It's useful to have people at the garden who have several seasons of experience at that spot. Maybe one way to accommodate experienced gardeners as well as people who think they might want a garden is to set aside some space as a community plot, with 1 or 2 experienced gardeners who are responsible for it and an open invitation to prospective gardeners from the wider community to come play. Which reminds me...One of the 2-acre community gardens in the area is called a teaching garden. I think the way it works is that a class is offered every Sat. morning on some aspect of gardening, and people must sign up each quarter to reserve a plot. The listing from Santa Clara Adult Education is as follows Start Gardening! Join our teaching garden (at the back of the school) where each student is assigned a small gardening plot. Classes enhanced by University of California Extension Master Gardeners. Classes fill quickly; please register early. $5 lab fee due at pre-registration.11/13/2010 to 2/5/2011. Sat 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. $40.00 (I visited there once for a tour and it looked like some people had kept their small plots for a long time, but I don't know for sure. Bill, I'll forward your query to the person who teaches there.) At the community garden I belong to (about 160 total plots), in the past 2 years, 3 out of 6 gardens near my plot were essentially abandoned for a year or two. Either the gardeners started and then got overwhelmed (by the garden or by life outside the garden), or they stopped by only after receiving multiple notices to clean up the plot. They just never managed to use their plot from spring to summer. Still, the city won't boot anyone out as long as they pay their annual fee, because they were sued once. And the waiting list got so long this summer that the city closed the waiting list, even though there were plots that were paid for but unused! And then there are all the gardens that haven't been cleaned up yet and still have dry corn stalks and bean vines. /end grumble/ ___ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: community_garden@list.communitygarden.org To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: http://list.communitygarden.org/mailman/listinfo/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org
