Two Valentine's Day Gardens this week. This one here John Woodand I installed for Mr. O'Brien Monday and Tuesday. It's a 3x7x2.5ft Raised Herb Garden of cedar construction treated with linseed oil, complete with a micro irrigation system filled with a well draining, nutrient rich and biologically active soil. Look closely to see the micro irrigation. (Look VERY CLOSELY to see the micro...
John Wood, a recent graduate of Warren Wilson College is in town for the month to "learn how to grow food." He's volunteering his time and effort in exchange for a place to stay and the chance to put seeds in the ground. He has questions about soil, business, and rooting oneself in the broader community. John's real job is working with North Carolina Outward Bound as an Instructor with groups...
 This past Saturday, I spent the morning hours at the first Havana Community Garden workday. In the course of four hours, we ran 100 yards of "hog" fence along the highway to provide enclosure for the garden property; set posts and fenced the garden plot area to keep out rabbits, painted a white-picket fence, built a compost holder, erected the beautiful sign, and had a laughing good time.I spent...
1)This morning, I met with Maggie Theriot, Sustainability Coordinator for Leon County. She heads the Office of Sustainability. A large part of her job right now is event planning for the Leon County Sustainable Communities Summit 2010 which will focus on "how to foster a sustainable local economy and the importance of sustainable food systems." Last fall, Maggie got in touch with me about being...
 On Monday, I stopped in for a visit with Paul Rutkovsky's Get GreenArt class/workshop. They have adopted two alleyways connecting Railroad Ave. to Gaines St. The alleys were abandoned by the city and overrun by litter and invasive plants. So, Paul, his students and other volunteers and artists cleaned up, planted, and decorated the alleys with artwork. They continue to do maintenance and...