Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
New Details for First Planting Party
The first planting party for the community garden will be held this Saturday, the 18th, at 2:00 pm. Please note this is slightly later than originally planned, but we had to push it back for various reasons. We are no longer planning on eating lunch together, however it will still be an awesome time to simply hang out, garden, and get to know one another.
What we are planting:
-Potatoes
-Different kinds of peas
-onions
-lettuce
Also if anyone has a garden hoe, please bring one.
If you are planning on attending, please reply to this post with what you will bring. Please look over what others are bringing so we do not have too much of any one thing. Thanks!
What we are planting:
-Potatoes
-Different kinds of peas
-onions
-lettuce
Also if anyone has a garden hoe, please bring one.
If you are planning on attending, please reply to this post with what you will bring. Please look over what others are bringing so we do not have too much of any one thing. Thanks!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Planting Party Canceled
Just letting you all know that the planting party for This Saturday is canceled due to rain and is rescheduled for next Saturday, the 18th, same time and place. More details to come.
Thanks
Thanks
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Purpose
In continuing to explain the garden, I think it is extremely important that we all know and understand the purpose behind it. I would have to say that the main purpose behind this garden is threefold, service, community, and education.
Service: Obviously, as I have stated before, some of what is grown at this garden is for ourselves. I plan on bringing some of this produce home and eating it, (and I am very excited for that.) However, we have also made it clear that we want to utilize this garden to serve people whom otherwise would not have access to free fresh produce. That means, we will be giving them to places such as Manna on Main st, which selflessly feeds people twice a day seven days a week. Additionally, we all come in contact with people who are in need, bringing them to the garden and opening it up to them is an amazing way to serve them. Finally, the simple act of showing up and planting things in the garden, is the beginning of not only making service possible, but also serving all the people who may end up eating from the particular plants you plant. One final note that I don't believe has been mentioned before, is that in addition to planting food, we plan to plant flowers as well that can be given away for free. The thought behind that is that while the food can definitely serve peoples physical needs, in the right situation, the ability to bring flowers with the food, can begin to serve peoples emotional needs as well. It is just another fun simple way to love other people.
Community: Simply by spending time with people at the garden, people are going to grow in community with one another. We hope to have special days, (like the planting party) when we can have very intentional time of just hanging out and getting to know one another. Additionally, I think this garden has huge potential to grow community outside of the garden itself. If we can be intentional about bringing things from the garden to our places of work, or giving them out to neighbors, it is an awesome opportunity to grow or even start those specific relationships. This idea is especially close to my heart for the future as we hope to move the garden into Lansdale, as I believe it will serve as an awesome tool to grow the community of Lansdale even stronger.
Education: One of the quotes that has been thrown around a lot as we have been planning this garden is, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." This old Chinese Proverb is filled with wisdom and makes a lot of sense. I hope that through this garden, people simply learn how to garden. We learn how to cultivate this earth which we live on. Now if you happen to know me at all, I am by no means a super earthy person who has a thousand plants growing in my bedroom. Rather, I am still a student of gardening who knows very little about it. However, I believe so strongly in the two previous ideas of serving others and growing community, that gardening together became one of the most practical ways to live them out. Hopefully through doing this, people not only learn how to provide themselves with food, which is awesome, especially in the scary economy, but also learn the joy of serving others and growing community. If we can all truly learn that, this world will truly be a better place.
Service: Obviously, as I have stated before, some of what is grown at this garden is for ourselves. I plan on bringing some of this produce home and eating it, (and I am very excited for that.) However, we have also made it clear that we want to utilize this garden to serve people whom otherwise would not have access to free fresh produce. That means, we will be giving them to places such as Manna on Main st, which selflessly feeds people twice a day seven days a week. Additionally, we all come in contact with people who are in need, bringing them to the garden and opening it up to them is an amazing way to serve them. Finally, the simple act of showing up and planting things in the garden, is the beginning of not only making service possible, but also serving all the people who may end up eating from the particular plants you plant. One final note that I don't believe has been mentioned before, is that in addition to planting food, we plan to plant flowers as well that can be given away for free. The thought behind that is that while the food can definitely serve peoples physical needs, in the right situation, the ability to bring flowers with the food, can begin to serve peoples emotional needs as well. It is just another fun simple way to love other people.
Community: Simply by spending time with people at the garden, people are going to grow in community with one another. We hope to have special days, (like the planting party) when we can have very intentional time of just hanging out and getting to know one another. Additionally, I think this garden has huge potential to grow community outside of the garden itself. If we can be intentional about bringing things from the garden to our places of work, or giving them out to neighbors, it is an awesome opportunity to grow or even start those specific relationships. This idea is especially close to my heart for the future as we hope to move the garden into Lansdale, as I believe it will serve as an awesome tool to grow the community of Lansdale even stronger.
Education: One of the quotes that has been thrown around a lot as we have been planning this garden is, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." This old Chinese Proverb is filled with wisdom and makes a lot of sense. I hope that through this garden, people simply learn how to garden. We learn how to cultivate this earth which we live on. Now if you happen to know me at all, I am by no means a super earthy person who has a thousand plants growing in my bedroom. Rather, I am still a student of gardening who knows very little about it. However, I believe so strongly in the two previous ideas of serving others and growing community, that gardening together became one of the most practical ways to live them out. Hopefully through doing this, people not only learn how to provide themselves with food, which is awesome, especially in the scary economy, but also learn the joy of serving others and growing community. If we can all truly learn that, this world will truly be a better place.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
How it Works
The primary question I have heard about the garden, and even asked myself, is simply, how does it work? A lot of community gardens that I have read about have given away or sold small 10x10 plots of land in the garden to groups or families to do whatever they please with. For at least the first year of our garden we are not going to do that. Although we may have a couple small private sections for different reasons, the large majority of the garden will be open to all people all the time. Prior to our second planting party, we will likely make a list of the primary things to be grown in the garden, and then break off different sections of the garden to be plant specific.
To be honest, it may be a little messy at first as we allow people to come at different times to plant in the same area. But, as soon as we get past the time of planting, things will become a lot easier.
The most important thing I want to continue to stress, is that this is not my garden, nor the garden of Duane who lives on the property, or the farmer who owns the land, this is everyone's garden. The plants that you specifically plant, are open to everyone, and you too can pick from all the other plants.
Once everything is growing, we hope and desire for people to come back every few weeks on their own to pick weeds, and take care of the garden as they see need. Not just weeding around the seeds you planted, but all around the garden as much as you can.
I realize that this system will be frustrating for some people, however, as we look at the different goals of this garden (to be posted in near future) we hold community and service as two high values, and believe this shared garden idea allows that to flow at it's best.
The final thought on this that I want to definitely get across, is that one can join in this garden at any point, just because you don't plant, does not mean you can not pick in the late summer. This is a garden for everyone at all times and I don't want that to change.
To be honest, it may be a little messy at first as we allow people to come at different times to plant in the same area. But, as soon as we get past the time of planting, things will become a lot easier.
The most important thing I want to continue to stress, is that this is not my garden, nor the garden of Duane who lives on the property, or the farmer who owns the land, this is everyone's garden. The plants that you specifically plant, are open to everyone, and you too can pick from all the other plants.
Once everything is growing, we hope and desire for people to come back every few weeks on their own to pick weeds, and take care of the garden as they see need. Not just weeding around the seeds you planted, but all around the garden as much as you can.
I realize that this system will be frustrating for some people, however, as we look at the different goals of this garden (to be posted in near future) we hold community and service as two high values, and believe this shared garden idea allows that to flow at it's best.
The final thought on this that I want to definitely get across, is that one can join in this garden at any point, just because you don't plant, does not mean you can not pick in the late summer. This is a garden for everyone at all times and I don't want that to change.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Location and First Planting Party
One of the biggest frustrations with this first year of hosting a Lansdale community garden, is that we don't have a spot in Lansdale. In the future we hope to be in Lansdale with reasons I will post in the future, but for now it is not possible. Despite this disappointment, we have an awesome location with a lot of room that we are able to use. It is at my friend Duane Freeds house, Duane has been huge part of dreaming up and planning this garden. The address of our community garden is:
778 Morwood Rd.
Telford, PA 18969
Our First planting Party will be held on Saturday April 11th at 11:00am. The point of this party is to begin planting some of the vegetables that can be put in the ground this early, and do some final preparations to the land. In addition to working on the garden, it will a great time to hang out, get to know one another, and throw some food on the grill for lunch.
The planting party is open for anyone and everyone, but if you can't make it don't worry, there will be atleast one more official planting party, but you can stop by and plant whenever you want as well. For this first planting party, we will only be able to plant certain things (listed below) because of the weather. As I said in my previous post, this is not an official organization or some company, we do not have any funding, so we will need help to bring seeds and even to bring food for the party. Below is a list of all the things we will need for the planting party. If you think you will be able to make it to the planting party please comment on this post both by saying you will make it, and what you can bring. Thanks
Things needed:
To plant:
-Potatos
-Different kinds of peas
-onions
-lettuce
For Garden:
-Any gardening supplies you have from a shovel to a tiller.
For Party:
-Hamburgers
-Hot dogs
-Buns
-Chips
-Soda
-Dessert
If I am missing anything, feel free to add it.
And please ask any and all questions you may have, thanks.
778 Morwood Rd.
Telford, PA 18969
Our First planting Party will be held on Saturday April 11th at 11:00am. The point of this party is to begin planting some of the vegetables that can be put in the ground this early, and do some final preparations to the land. In addition to working on the garden, it will a great time to hang out, get to know one another, and throw some food on the grill for lunch.
The planting party is open for anyone and everyone, but if you can't make it don't worry, there will be atleast one more official planting party, but you can stop by and plant whenever you want as well. For this first planting party, we will only be able to plant certain things (listed below) because of the weather. As I said in my previous post, this is not an official organization or some company, we do not have any funding, so we will need help to bring seeds and even to bring food for the party. Below is a list of all the things we will need for the planting party. If you think you will be able to make it to the planting party please comment on this post both by saying you will make it, and what you can bring. Thanks
Things needed:
To plant:
-Potatos
-Different kinds of peas
-onions
-lettuce
For Garden:
-Any gardening supplies you have from a shovel to a tiller.
For Party:
-Hamburgers
-Hot dogs
-Buns
-Chips
-Soda
-Dessert
If I am missing anything, feel free to add it.
And please ask any and all questions you may have, thanks.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Introducing the Community Garden
Several months ago the idea of a community Garden in Lansdale was planted, now we are only a few weeks away from it being in full bloom. Ok, enough garden lingo. Anyway, in the next couple of weeks we are going to be hosting our first "planting party" for the new Lansdale community garden, and I thought it would be good to begin this blog to explain some details of the garden over the next several weeks, and it also serves as a great place for many of you to ask questions that I can then answer broadly to anyone who wishes to read.
Over the next couple weeks I plan to communicate:
-Where the Garden is
-When the planting party will be
-What you can do
-and I am sure this list will grow
But for right now I want to communicate two things. The first and most important is that this garden is for everyone. We are not an organization or company that is starting something with a strict set of guidelines, we are people who are opening up a space which can be our garden. Any one and everyone can take part in the planting, taking care of, and/ or picking from this garden. Ultimately, we hope to bless the local food banks as well.
The second thing I want to communicate right now is to simply get talking about this. Tell people whom you think might be intersted in the garden to check out this blog or contact me individually. All are welcome to join in. Thanks a lot, and I can't wait to garden with you all.
If for any reason you wish to contact me individually my name is Josh MacNeill and my email address is jamacneill@gmail.com
Over the next couple weeks I plan to communicate:
-Where the Garden is
-When the planting party will be
-What you can do
-and I am sure this list will grow
But for right now I want to communicate two things. The first and most important is that this garden is for everyone. We are not an organization or company that is starting something with a strict set of guidelines, we are people who are opening up a space which can be our garden. Any one and everyone can take part in the planting, taking care of, and/ or picking from this garden. Ultimately, we hope to bless the local food banks as well.
The second thing I want to communicate right now is to simply get talking about this. Tell people whom you think might be intersted in the garden to check out this blog or contact me individually. All are welcome to join in. Thanks a lot, and I can't wait to garden with you all.
If for any reason you wish to contact me individually my name is Josh MacNeill and my email address is jamacneill@gmail.com
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