Our First Community Garden is Secured

[Tobias Fox]

HELLO TO YOU ALL!!!!! :-)

I've signed the lease to the lot where we will establish our first community garden. If anyone would like to see pics of what this lot looks like now please let me know and I'll email pics. I'm unable to attach pics to the Google group. The lot is located at 86 1/2 Garside Street, Newark, NJ. Yup, that's 86 and a half :-) The pics available by Google satellite are not recent. 

We have two weeks before given the keys to the lot. It already has a gate with a lock, which is one less thing we don't have to worry about. What I like about this lot is that it's located in a highly residential area. There are also many Spanish speaking people living in this area so I would like for us to design a flyer in English and Spanish inviting residence to be a part of this experience.

We have to do a full assessment of the lot and decide what technology we want to use such as hydroponics, solar technology, and power bikes, and also what we want to plant. The Greater Newark Conservancy (GNC) will assist by providing rain barrels, soil, and other things. The soil provided by GNC is previously tested and good for growing crops. We can also plant trees but we cannot plant crops in the ground because the soil is not safe. We will use raise beds. If we bring our own soil it would have to be tested and the results would have to be shared with the city before using it so we may want to stick with GNC in regards to the soil. Just a thought. 

Also, I'm speaking with someone about making a sign for our lot that would possibly read:

Newark's Science & Sustainability

The People's Garden

We have to come up with some kind of logo. Of course, all of this will be discussed and agreed upon before moving forward. We will discuss this in greater detail at Saturday's meeting (April 28th) and even make a trip over to the garden to further determine how we would like to handle this. I'm really excited! 

For those who simply can't make the meeting, but want to give some advice/input feel free to chime in. :-)

Let's continue moving onward and upward.....

Tobias A. Fox

"A New World Is Possible"

[Maya Curry]

I may not be able to make this meeting since I've got some school work I'm gonna need to work on (and tht requires a trip into the city) so I'll get in my 2cents here and there :)