tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56812374898105281952024-03-05T13:00:27.778-05:00Mamie D. Lee Community GardenChristina Scheltemahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17151170046941980185noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681237489810528195.post-17284680042992263392018-05-29T23:31:00.002-04:002018-05-30T08:50:10.018-04:00Flower Boxes Blooming with Poppies<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Flanders field poppy, <i style="color: #333333; font-family: "linux libertine", georgia, times, serif; text-align: left;">Papaver rhoeas, in bloom.</i><i style="color: #333333; font-family: "linux libertine", georgia, times, serif; text-align: left;"> </i></span> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Photo courtesy of A. Cuellar)</span></td></tr>
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The old flower boxes outside the Mamie D. Lee Community Garden are full of red poppies - Flanders field poppies - blooming just in time for Memorial Day. There are many ways to remember and honor those who have died while serving our country - some lay wreaths or place flags at gravesites. Some have parades. I grow poppies, the flower that has symbolized the horror of war and its enormous cost in human lives for 100 years.<br />
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During World War I, the poppies grew abundantly where the soil was disturbed by shelling, fighting, and newly dug graves. The blossoms must have been incredible, for they have been described in verse and are used in remembrance ceremonies around the world.<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">In Flanders Fields<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: normal;">by John McCrae</span></span></i></h2>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> In Flanders fields the poppies blow <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Between the crosses row on row, <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />That mark our place; and in the sky<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The larks, still bravely singing, fly <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Scarce heard amid the guns below.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We are the Dead. Short days ago <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Loved and were loved and now we lie <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />In Flanders fields. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Take up our quarrel with the foe: <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />To you, from failing hands we throw <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The torch; be yours to hold it high. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />If ye break faith with us who die <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />We shall not sleep, though poppies grow, </span></i></div>
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<i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In Flanders fields. </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; text-align: left;">These flowers are annuals, also known as common field poppies or corn poppies. The botanical name is </span><i style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Linux Libertine", Georgia, Times, serif; text-align: left;">Papaver rhoeas.</i><span style="background-color: transparent; text-align: left;"> The poppies will </span>self sow<span style="background-color: transparent; text-align: left;">; that is, the plants will grow wherever the seeds fall and the conditions are good. Somehow, the poppies know to bloom in time for Memorial Day. </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Note: This post reflects the views of the author, not necessarily all of the members of the Mamie D. Lee Community Garden. </span></i>Christina Scheltemahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17151170046941980185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681237489810528195.post-63199366544453046122017-03-04T22:12:00.000-05:002017-03-04T22:15:40.280-05:00We Are a Community of GardenersWe - the Mamie D. Lee Community Garden Association - had our annual Spring meeting this morning. We had a good turnout, with numerous returning gardeners from last year, and a few new ones. Some are recent graduates of the Neighborhood Farm Initiative. We had a good meeting, with a discussion of many things, including our community of gardeners.<br />
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Byron Adams and Ann Bemen led our meeting, while our secretary and treasurer collected dues in the back of the room. Our annual dues have increased for the first time in years, to build up a reserve to cover the costs of capital expenses, like water repairs, fence repairs, and replacing our aging tool shed. The Garden Board of Directors, elected last fall, made the decision to raise the dues, to the protest of some gardeners. One woman expressed concern that this decision was made without input of the garden community. From the board's perspective, this one-time increase is the simplest - and easiest - way to to cover capital expenses.<br />
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As a former community garden manager, I know the financial challenges of running a garden. It costs money to run a garden, and we were blessed to have gardeners donate significant amounts of money (over $1000) last year. This money went to repair the fence that keeps the deer from eating our Swiss chard, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes, and to keep the midnight shoppers from helping themselves to the fruits of our labor. This money also went to repair the underground irrigation system that allows us to water our plots without having to drag hoses long distances. <br />
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At the same time, I understand that gardeners want to have input on major decisions affecting the garden. All of us want to know where the money goes. The board - and our brand new treasurer - shared major expenses from last year. They have also pledged to share that information at our fall meeting and to be more transparent in decision making. <br />
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I understand that the increased dues may pose a hardship for some gardeners. The board is offering scholarships to those who are unable to pay. (I have donated to this cause.) Gardeners who have been with Mamie D. Lee for over twenty years will continue to pay the lower dues. The grandfathers have been grandfathered in, so to speak, with lower dues. A few gardeners suggested alternative means of raising money for capital improvements, such as having those who are unable to work their community hours pay more, or applying for grants, or using Amazon.Smile. A fundraising committee was born today. <br />
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We are a community of gardeners, comprised of a lot of wonderful people. Among us, we have many lifetimes of gardening experience. We may not always agree - what group of people does? Let us put our differences aside and have a great 2017 garden season. <br />
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<br />Christina Scheltemahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17151170046941980185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681237489810528195.post-74476271908017495322015-08-16T16:19:00.002-04:002015-08-16T16:19:34.177-04:00Poison Ivy - Leaves of Three, Let it be...Our garden has few patches of poison ivy growing along and up the chain-link fence on the west side of the garden, between the garden and the school. This weed is a potential allergen - leaves, stems, and roots all contains an oil capable of causing severe allergic dermatitis. Not everyone is allergic; moreover, allergies change over time. I used to romp in poison ivy as a child without getting a rash. I got poison ivy for the first time when I was in my 20s; now, I get it from my dogs when they brush up against it. The last time I got poison ivy, in late July, I had blisters. <br />
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The Park Service does not remove native weeds, such as poison ivy, because they enrich the habitat by providing food for wildlife. They will, however, cut back poison ivy, as they did in our garden, when it become hazardous for people. If you are any where near as allergic to poison ivy as I am, you really wish they would just spray it with herbicide, but they don't and they won't.and they are the landlord. The best advice I can give is to learn to identify it, and avoid it. There's an old saying,"leaves of three, let it be," Poison ivy leaves are shiny in the spring and scarlet in the fall. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Poison ivy: leaves of three, let it be..</b><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">.</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
If you must work in poison ivy, wear long sleaves, long pants, closed toe shoes, and gloves. Wash all of your clothing immediately. I you touch it, wash thoroughly with Technu, a special product that removes the poison ivy oils from your skin. It this doesn't work, and you get a rash, you can use a special astringent containing Aluminum sulfate to dry out the rash. This is sold under the tradename Dombrom, but CVS also carries a generic version. </div>
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Remember, leaves of three, let it be! </div>
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<br />Christina Scheltemahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17151170046941980185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681237489810528195.post-74226718273107420912015-07-12T22:55:00.001-04:002021-04-18T12:28:51.638-04:00Weeds: If you can't beat them, eat them...I hate weeds, especially those that spring up out of nowhere and smother my tender garden vegetables....my seedbeds just getting started; my transplanted tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant. Darn those weeds! They compete with my garden plants for nutrients, sunlight, and water....This is not a good thing. <br />
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There can, however, be a good side to weeds. Some of them are edible. This is something I learned as a child, when my father would take me foraging. He referred often to a book by Eull Gibbons, <b><i>Hunting the Wild Asparagus</i></b>, published before I was born. He would say often of weeds...."If you can't beat them, eat them!" and that's what we proceeded to do. However, some of the weeds that he gathered proved to be too much trouble, like pokeweed, or Poke. It had to be boiled at least twice to remove the toxins so that it was safe to eat. Only the tender young greens were edible. Other parts of the plants were poisonous, including the bright purple berries. Even as a child, eating Poke seemed to be a bad idea. I mention this because one has to be very careful when choosing to forage weeds or anything else. Identification is key. You really do need to know your plants, and know what you know and what you don't. That said, some of our "weeds" are pretty tasty. <br />
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A few weeks ago, I gave a workshop on edible weeds for the Neighborhood Farm Initiative's Open House. I talked about three very safe and delicious greens that are prolific in the Mamie D. Lee Community garden. These are considered weeds mostly because they are growing in the wrong spot. Some of our gardeners actually grow amaranth in their plots, and one can find lambsquarters and purslane for sale in farmers markets. I guided workshop participants in identifying and gathering these greens, and then using them to make a delicious salad! <br />
Happy gardening, and weeding!<br />
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-Christina Scheltema Christina Scheltemahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17151170046941980185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681237489810528195.post-16551237927668339502015-02-24T22:56:00.002-05:002015-02-24T22:58:29.636-05:00Hope for Spring<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In this bitter cold, I am thinking more about my
garden, counting the days until the ground will thaw and I can play in the dirt
once again. In the meantime, I am consoling myself with seed catalogues, which
offer hope for spring.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Every year, the catalogues begin arriving in my
mailbox <i>before</i> Thanksgiving. Somehow <i>they</i>
<i>know</i> that<i> </i>I’m an avid gardener, and that the coming winter cold will have me
hoping for and dreaming of spring. The seed sellers know that I need a
diversion from the holiday festivities, and that my green thumb will start
itching in January. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I must admit that I have great fun leafing through
the catalogues and my leisure, looking at the new varieties and contemplating
which old favorites I will grow again this year. <i>Jimmy
Nardello</i> and <i>Yummy</i> peppers are on
my list, as are <i>Juliette</i> and <i>Golden Jubilee</i> tomatoes. I’m trying a
new tomato variety this year – <i>Genuwine</i>
– a cross between <i>Brandywine</i> and <i>Costoluto Genovese</i> - from <b><i>Totally
Tomatoes</i></b>. I will grow <i>Ping Tung Long</i> Asian eggplants, and <i>Bride</i>, a white variety I grew some time
ago. After growing <i>Tokyo Cross</i> turnips last fall, I will try <i>Shogoin</i> turnips this spring. These are two lovely Asian turnips,
producing plump, tender white roots, ranging from the size of large marbles to golf
balls. I also plan to grow a variety of spring greens – Swiss chard in many
colors, red mustard, and two types of kale. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My order from <b><i>Pinetree Garden Seeds</i></b> arrived last
week, keeping hope alive. In the next week or two, I will start my winter
greens indoors, in a special spot in my basement. That’s a topic for another blog.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s time to order seeds, if you haven’t already done
so. You can grow vegetables by seed that you could never purchase in a garden center or plant sale - unless you plan to spend all of your gardening time running from sale to sale. You may discover some favorite varieties. If you are a seasoned gardener, please let us know what you like to grow... </span></div>
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Christina Scheltemahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17151170046941980185noreply@blogger.com0Washington, DC, USA38.9071923 -77.03687070000000938.7094713 -77.3595942 39.1049133 -76.714147200000014tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681237489810528195.post-37151095838219132862013-06-22T18:35:00.001-04:002013-06-22T18:35:40.616-04:00Third Time's the CharmThis is my third attempt at resuming my blog posts for my beloved Mamie D. Lee Community Garden. This year, for me, blogging has been a lot like gardening. It takes a little while to figure things out and get it right. Here's hoping that the third time's the charm!<br />
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Summer is officially here- the summer solstice was yesterday, June 21, 2013, the longest day of the year. Lots of extra daylight for gardening. It's not too late to plant tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, beans, cucumbers, and squash. These are all "hot weather plants" and love the summer weather that is descending upon us. Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant must be started from transplants, if you can still find any this late. Beans and squash can be started from seed.<br />
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Those of you whose garden plots were flooded with ample spring rains still have time to plant a nice summer garden. Don't delay .... after July 4, you are running the risk of diminishing returns for heat loving crops. More on that later.<br />
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Happy gardening!<br />
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Christina ScheltemaChristina Scheltemahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17151170046941980185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681237489810528195.post-3938519998541343002013-06-19T22:06:00.001-04:002015-08-17T22:23:55.847-04:00In the Weeds - Alien Invaders <br />
Rock Creek Park is home to many wonderful flora and fauna. Sadly, it is also home to a number of alien invaders. A few of these have crept into our garden. Here are the invasive exotic plants that I have found in the Mamie D. Lee Community Garden, one of two community gardens in the park. <br />
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One hot spot for alien invaders is the fence adjacent to the Mamie D. Lee School. Clearing this fence was the project for a special work day. Ana Chuquin, a ranger from the US National Park Service, came out to help us identify invasive weeds growing along the fence. She showed us the difference between native and exotic vines - we have both growing. Natives include poison ivy and trumpet creeper - whereas porcelain berry, pictured below, is the exotic invasive. She also told us about the Rock Creek Park <a href="http://www.rockcreekconservancy.org/what-we-do/upcoming-events/weed-warrior-training-in-class-workshop">weed warrior program</a> that trains volunteers in invasive weed species. This training, which she teaches, is 5 hours, half in the classroom, half in the field. Once trained, weed warriors are asked adopt a piece of parkland - such as our fence or meadow - for a year. The next <a href="http://caseytrees.org/event/class-non-native-invasive-plant-removal-6/">weed warrior training session </a>is September 16 and 19, 2015. Please click on the link to register.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Porcelain berry vine with berries</b></td></tr>
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The fence is covered with <a href="http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/pubs/midatlantic/ambr.htm">porcelain berry</a>, which looks a little bit like a grape vine, except that the berries, which start green, turn a bright turquoise/blue color. This vine can take over an area. The fence line is also home to some Japanese bush honeysuckle. Both spread readily by berries, eaten by birds and other wildlife. Remove the flowers and berries and you limit the spread. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Young shoot of porcelain berry </b></td></tr>
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Porcelain berry pops up all over the garden, but it can be pulled as it emerges. The young shoots have a reddish brown tinge, I find it growing near the hose bib in my plot. This vine should not be neglected for long or it will cover anything and everything nearby. <br />
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<b style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Porcelain berry wine with flower and green berries</b></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">Japanese bush honeysuckle has lovely flowers that look just like honeysuckle vines but are not as fragrant. The plant is a bush, with pinnate leaves. The berries are a beautiful bright red; sadly, they are not nutritious for wildlife. I've heard them called "junk food" for birds. This weed should be cut back and pulled. If you catch it before bloom, it can be composted. The blooms and berries should be bagged and discarded in the trash.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Japanese bush honeysuckle in bloom</b> </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Japanese bush honeysuckle with berries</td></tr>
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I've also see n <a href="http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/pepe1.htm">mile-a-minute vine</a> growing near that fence, but not this year. This weed is a minute is a prickly green vine with triangular leaves that grows a mile a minute, hence its name. This needs to be hand pulled as soon as it emerges. The larger it gets, the pricklier it gets, and the harder it is to pull. Like porcelain berry, it also has turquoise blue berries. This should be pulled as soon as it is soon. If it is blooming, or has berries, it should be bagged and discarded in the trash. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>English ivy climbing tree along the fence</b></td></tr>
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Another alien invader along the fence is English ivy. This often escapes from yards and gardens. It may be deliberately dumped in parkland by unscrupulous fly-by-night landscapers who want to dispose of it quickly and easily. The ivy takes root, climbs trees, and eventually kills them. It also destroys native habitat. Any English ivy in our garden should be pulled, bagged, and discarded in the trash. This weed should not be composted - it roots too easily. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="320" src="http://healthyhomegardening.com/images/gardengeek/star_of_bethlehem_323.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Star of Bethlehem </b></td></tr>
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Scattered throughout the garden is a seasonal perennial weed that flowers in the spring - Star of Bethlehem. I pulled lots of this out of my plot this year - it has long and narrow green leaves, with a white stripe down the center, similar to a crocus - with green and white flowers blooming in later spring. It is a late spring flowering bulb that goes dormant after flowering. These bulbs should be dug out, bagged, and discarded in the trash. <br />
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A few of our gardeners grow shiso, or <i>Perilla</i>, as an annual herb. This is a reddish Asian herb that is grown in many gardens - unfortunately it also escapes to the wild. It looks like purple ruffled basil but with larger leaves and a very mild herbal fragrance. This can become invasive if allowed to go to seed. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaBBlZqKSs4iABqKxSdAGOMGVUJB_vHO_30kISlGH0hgKuUtqRPUgO2LcKinUHWilMpVOnGx19fjjZoG8BfPC_1NT13B4CJBIRxlwii1VkNmKJTg_n0xeYVTKrnwflFuyFJSMiatkfXq8/s1600/P1050750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaBBlZqKSs4iABqKxSdAGOMGVUJB_vHO_30kISlGH0hgKuUtqRPUgO2LcKinUHWilMpVOnGx19fjjZoG8BfPC_1NT13B4CJBIRxlwii1VkNmKJTg_n0xeYVTKrnwflFuyFJSMiatkfXq8/s400/P1050750.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Perilla, also known as Shiso </b></td></tr>
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There is a large healthy patch of Japanese Knotweed growing across the footpath from the garden. This is an incredibly invasive shrub that can take over an entire natural area, outcompeting native plants. They say, however, that you can <a href="http://eattheinvaders.org/japanese-knotweed/">eat its shoots</a> in the early spring. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJT8bvE0zUduQuT3KCsdgQKbUeLsakhHN7imoU4m0g1R-6p1ZRfTHpExjPvccukLW7z5NJrvmpDYyBXD3gqyroYobgLpvE05QagRKbIJ9Cwzt8h_SLMd2QbEZwBGCqlfTII7xFo9rHiuc/s1600/P1050793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJT8bvE0zUduQuT3KCsdgQKbUeLsakhHN7imoU4m0g1R-6p1ZRfTHpExjPvccukLW7z5NJrvmpDYyBXD3gqyroYobgLpvE05QagRKbIJ9Cwzt8h_SLMd2QbEZwBGCqlfTII7xFo9rHiuc/s400/P1050793.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Wineberry leaves and fuzzy stem</b></td></tr>
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Wineberries grow along the Gallatin Street parking lot and footpath, at the edge of the woods to the south of the garden. These are my favorite alien invader - the berries are really tasty. Wineberries are briar bushes, like raspberries, with small reddish fuzzy spines all over the stems. The berries ripen in June, to become food for foragers - like me- and wildlife. I not-so-secretly hope that the Park Service is too busy to clear these. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZSiVLW6hV0lrzs8zh6ym30ZLvE8EqJAvdkqfWxrVdwGDfYvNZy8xP9mWkZBhArLkRMKH8AjKujUaMww3qSHBEqBR6_QxbLJ6BHwZg_02QZ53X0k8w2rFw75dC-4KQIBXJnash0uZ0Ds/s1600/P1050805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZSiVLW6hV0lrzs8zh6ym30ZLvE8EqJAvdkqfWxrVdwGDfYvNZy8xP9mWkZBhArLkRMKH8AjKujUaMww3qSHBEqBR6_QxbLJ6BHwZg_02QZ53X0k8w2rFw75dC-4KQIBXJnash0uZ0Ds/s400/P1050805.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Tree of Heaven Seedling</b></td></tr>
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Last, but far from least, we have Tree of Heaven growing in the woods outside the garden, near the tool shed and compost. This is a dreadful invasive - when you cut down one tree, it sprouts shoots from the stump, like a hydra. It can form small thickets. I've heard forestry managers call it the "tree from hell," for this reason. Tree of Heaven also reproduces by seed - I've pulled a few seedlings from the area near the compost, and suggest that you do the same. The National Park Service will be treating the parent trees with herbicide sometime this fall or winter. <br />
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As I conclude this post, I'd like to share the National Park Service Publication on invasive weeds of the mid Atlantic. It's a great reference book that I'm always giving away. Learn to identify alien invaders, and remover them by any means necessary, even if that means you must ear them. <br />
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<a href="http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/pubs/midatlantic/midatlantic.pdf">http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/pubs/midatlantic/midatlantic.pdf</a><br />
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Happy gardening!<br />
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ChristinaChristina Scheltemahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17151170046941980185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681237489810528195.post-2261620188843284352012-08-03T23:44:00.000-04:002012-08-03T23:45:49.768-04:00<b>Some Like it Hot!</b><br />
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If you're anything like me, you've suffered during the horrible heat wave of 2012. You've sweated profusely, drinking water or gator aid constantly, and hibernating in the great air conditioned indoors as much as possible. The garden, however, didn't have a choice. It had to take the heat.<br />
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I'm happy to report that some plants like it hot. Beans, eggplants, okra, squash, tomatoes, and peppers thrive in the heat, as long as they receive adequate water. These are all short season, hot weather vegetables. In fact, some of these veggies won't thrive until the temperature starts to rise. Squash and melon seeds will not germinate if the soil is too cool, and can be planted as late as the fourth of July.<br />
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I managed to plant most of my summer garden and am watching the tomatoes, peppers, and beans grow by leaps and bounds. The weeds are also growing like -well - weeds and sometimes getting ahead of me. (More on that in my next post.) I'm watering and fertilizing often, eagerly anticipating the taste of my first ripe tomato, which I intend to eat in the garden, with the juice dribbling down my chin. Sigh...I'm glad that some vegetables like it hot.<br />
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-Christina Scheltema, aka Brookland Garden Lady Christina Scheltemahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17151170046941980185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681237489810528195.post-88147898059596115092012-06-05T22:47:00.000-04:002012-06-05T22:49:07.796-04:00Gardeners enjoy beautiful weather for the June cleanup!After an evening of torrential downpours Friday night, the skies parted on Saturday and the sun came out for a perfect-weather cleanup workday! Lots of gardeners came out to work together on:<br />
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* maintaining our community compost bins<br />
* building the 9th (and final!!) raised bed<br />
* weeding our new rain garden<br />
* weedwhacking & general maintenance<br />
* rebuilding the woodchip pathways<br />
* inventorying our communal tools<br />
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and then joined with the <a href="http://www.neighborhoodfarminitiative.org/" target="_blank">Neighborhood Farm Initiative</a> to share a garden-themed potluck!<br />
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Thanks everyone who came out to work<br />
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<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F118162568825786345433%2Falbumid%2F5750741008559761313%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" height="400" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="545"></embed>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681237489810528195.post-81986800650057136962012-05-07T08:52:00.000-04:002012-05-17T09:23:20.489-04:00Travis Jones Leads Troop 524 in Installing a Demonstration Garden at Mamie Lee!<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
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When the Mamie Lee Garden was granted funds from the <a href="http://www.nationalparks.org/" target="_blank">National Park Foundation</a> in order to improve our garden infrastructure, the goal was always to simultaneously enhance community relations, resulting in a high-visibility model community garden in the
nation’s capital, offering interpretive educational and outreach opportunities,
and encouraging interaction with the park from both adult and youth members of
the ethnically diverse and vibrant community living adjacent to our garden.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ufh-snQty2M/T7Ton47dWzI/AAAAAAAAA38/SyLmb51j7QQ/s1600/2008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ufh-snQty2M/T7Ton47dWzI/AAAAAAAAA38/SyLmb51j7QQ/s200/2008.jpg" width="200" /></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"> </span></i><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vB0ygAove5c/T7ToyMLURZI/AAAAAAAAA4E/bJrf33-edzU/s1600/2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vB0ygAove5c/T7ToyMLURZI/AAAAAAAAA4E/bJrf33-edzU/s200/2012.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 9pt;"> The Garden in
October 2008,</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 9pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="font-size: 9pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="font-size: 9pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="font-size: 9pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="font-size: 9pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Same view May 2012 after </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: 9pt;"> before any improvements </span></i><i><span style="font-size: 9pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="font-size: 9pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="font-size: 9pt;">installation
of fence & planter beds</span></i></div>
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Last summer, Suzanne Richardson of <a href="http://abbey-gardens.com/" target="_blank">Abbey Gardens</a> landscape design and garden installation services began designing us a beautiful series of raised beds and a beautiful garden entryway, which included a fruit tree espalier, banana tree, and 3 whimsical animal topiary forms to welcome everyone into the garden. However, one of the challenges of gardening on public land is of course getting the proper permits and approvals for every aspect of every project, and unfortunately most of the design was returned to us as being non-compliant with Park regulations. Suzanne was brilliant to work with, and she back to the drawing board and returned a new design featuring <span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">a variety
of perennial non-woody native flowers and grasses, herbs, and annual flowers.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zfeE9mRHoU8/T7TqNsFlqcI/AAAAAAAAA4M/CDisfck_5Xg/s1600/West+Garden+Gate+Planting+fin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zfeE9mRHoU8/T7TqNsFlqcI/AAAAAAAAA4M/CDisfck_5Xg/s640/West+Garden+Gate+Planting+fin.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">About the same time as we felt the specific varieties of proposed plants had been shown to so many employees that approval must be imminent, I was contacted by Rock Creek Park's Volunteer Program Coordinator, Scott, who had received a phone call from Ms Anita Jordan about her son who wanted to do his Eagle Scout project with Rock Creek Park, but near Fort Totten. Her son, Travis Jones, is a member of <a href="http://www.shilohbaptist.org/boy_scouts.htm" target="_blank">Boy Scout Troop 524</a> under direction of scoutmaster Mr. Jamil Smart, and he was hoping to finish his project in time to achieve Eagle Scout honor at the next court of honor later this summer. It seemed like a perfect match, so I met with Travis after our first garden cleanup back at the beginning of March to discuss the project. He was eager to get started as soon as possible, but we were still waiting on the permit for construction of the raised beds. As time went on, we were both grew worried about meeting our deadlines, but thankfully the Rock Creek Park employees worked with us to expedite the permitting process (thank you all again!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">We worked for 11 hours on Saturday and finished up with a 4-hour workday on Sunday, with many Boy Scout moms and dads joining in to work alongside their sons. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">The final product is something we are all really proud of, and have gotten a lot of compliments already from many passersby on the pedestrian pathway.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: 9pt;">June 2011 saw
the first fence posts being installed Same view May 2012 after completion of </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: 9pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="font-size: 9pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="font-size: 9pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="font-size: 9pt;"> fence & planter beds</span></i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eBfSFmiqJ1I/T7TwAhcSo7I/AAAAAAAAA5o/rGpQbbEpTnY/s1600/team.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eBfSFmiqJ1I/T7TwAhcSo7I/AAAAAAAAA5o/rGpQbbEpTnY/s320/team.JPG" width="245" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oPO07KstR5w/T7Tv9V4d-tI/AAAAAAAAA5g/FUzfgZhovKo/s1600/mothers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oPO07KstR5w/T7Tv9V4d-tI/AAAAAAAAA5g/FUzfgZhovKo/s320/mothers.JPG" width="245" /></a>
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<i><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Travis Jones and Troop 524 who installed the planters</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 9pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="font-size: 9pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Proud mothers of Troop 524</span></i></div>
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It's also really gratifying to see the students from Mamie Lee School with their teachers out enjoying the new planter beds! Suzanne had specifically chosen varieties of plants that have <span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">peculiar “sensory” qualities, so that the students can enjoy interacting with the planter beds as horticultural
therapy. Thanks to Ms Lechner for all your work in the garden, and for these photos!</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: 9pt;"> Mamie Lee students enjoying the new planter beds</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681237489810528195.post-88924015806823029862012-04-24T17:11:00.000-04:002012-04-24T17:11:14.974-04:00spring has sprungIt's early spring, but some plots in the garden are full of green (and purple and yellow and red, too). Most of the plots have been cleared of debris and tilled -- and a few gardeners have already planted and started to see the fruits of their labor.<br />
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I took a few pictures this week and plan to take more as the plants grow. Already we can see lettuces, tomatoes, eggplant, artichoke, onions, and lots of herbs.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4oAFU_ONVbqBYRV7GlGQrukMwhaDfBggQtg7tQ3cCVZYrxmjHaRBWJgeCMYeq3VAFrbu8ddib1Zgn0nVQFjvTzQ8MiNStSFCiqYsm0i5mhKbU4R_hehol9TWsqByVFB_TDO-6lRL5Ow/s1600/DSC_0021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4oAFU_ONVbqBYRV7GlGQrukMwhaDfBggQtg7tQ3cCVZYrxmjHaRBWJgeCMYeq3VAFrbu8ddib1Zgn0nVQFjvTzQ8MiNStSFCiqYsm0i5mhKbU4R_hehol9TWsqByVFB_TDO-6lRL5Ow/s320/DSC_0021.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">swiss chard</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJLjaTOMGqdJlw2vb1Vr_4SXi9QzMzajOYecT6QHeygwufsvihjNcPGjB9ZXF8te5FgcyvQji3vpmCGRG0bU-NHPBu10BhWVPo2ny_jPe6N40RSMksWbpXgKd_d-l4dJDWiPXQF_ECw/s1600/DSC_0015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJLjaTOMGqdJlw2vb1Vr_4SXi9QzMzajOYecT6QHeygwufsvihjNcPGjB9ZXF8te5FgcyvQji3vpmCGRG0bU-NHPBu10BhWVPo2ny_jPe6N40RSMksWbpXgKd_d-l4dJDWiPXQF_ECw/s320/DSC_0015.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">wild mint (which grows plentifully all over the garden)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGpzjeahJqira_ePuciEaB_3IMcXFX9e0odhckHo0PCDH9FVYDyaQ2a7aYurcef3_XtIf9NPy1Qfnmb-uqZpGfQRIod8tIQ2NiV7tUrSa1gXyjFYorHu8m2s_D0A5oD49M8l0BNzZnA/s1600/DSC_0022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGpzjeahJqira_ePuciEaB_3IMcXFX9e0odhckHo0PCDH9FVYDyaQ2a7aYurcef3_XtIf9NPy1Qfnmb-uqZpGfQRIod8tIQ2NiV7tUrSa1gXyjFYorHu8m2s_D0A5oD49M8l0BNzZnA/s320/DSC_0022.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">variety of lettuces</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL5HjwSUV9VSA2rDAiCj7l-DpwBKhE-dgxoHsSNWsocjKkYiQdF6-qXEfEwlNinKxFSPIGTer79J0FeCFaJOVnUrNLfMKrECOfqibiClxo3w0np3QImZV4ummNFbuymi8S9RAT6zGYuA/s1600/DSC_0012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL5HjwSUV9VSA2rDAiCj7l-DpwBKhE-dgxoHsSNWsocjKkYiQdF6-qXEfEwlNinKxFSPIGTer79J0FeCFaJOVnUrNLfMKrECOfqibiClxo3w0np3QImZV4ummNFbuymi8S9RAT6zGYuA/s320/DSC_0012.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">baby beets</td></tr>
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More pictures from the garden this week can be seen <a href="http://flic.kr/s/aHsjz4eHuG" target="_blank">here</a>. (I'm not sure what all of them are -- so please leave a comment below if you're able to identify any.)<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681237489810528195.post-10070274347026697952012-04-13T21:55:00.003-04:002012-04-13T21:55:58.983-04:00Introducing our bloggers...Hello gardeners! My green thumb is itching! Is yours? I'd like to introduce myself and the team of Mamie D. Lee Garden bloggers.<br />
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I am a lifelong gardener, and this is my second community garden. Sadly, the Brookland Community Garden, which I helped to found, closed so that the property could be developed. I was thrilled to find the Mamie D. Lee garden four years ago. Since then, I've renovated the soil in my plot, grown artichokes, tomatoes, eggplant, all kinds of peppers, and red sunflowers. I'll be writing on a variety of garden related topics. <br />
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Here's the rest of the team:<br />
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Sara Brown tends the compost and will be writing about that and other things.<br />
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Salem Pearce is an experienced blogger who will be writing on various topics.<br />
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Patricia Florescu will be interviewing gardeners and taking photos of the garden throughout the growing season.<br />
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Bea Trickett, blog creator, urban farmer, and garden manager extraordinaire writes on a variety of topics.<br />
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Please let us know if you'd like us to write about a specific topic. Happy gardening!<br />
<br />
Christina (Chris) Scheltema aka Brookland Garden Lady Christina Scheltemahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17151170046941980185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681237489810528195.post-86545627001233251362012-03-15T01:00:00.002-04:002012-03-21T14:43:36.113-04:00First gardener meeting of 2012Thank you to everybody who made it out to our rescheduled spring meeting on Saturday March 10th! We got a head start on digging up the pathways, rearranged the toolshed area, sifted and sorted materials in the community compost piles, and some industrious gardeners even got started weeding and tilling their plots. This warm early spring weather has us off to a good start for 2012!<br />
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<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl&captions=1=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F118162568825786345433%2Falbumid%2F5722202738819772881%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" height="350" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="545"></embed>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681237489810528195.post-48922888455902177222012-03-09T23:29:00.001-05:002012-03-23T09:51:15.726-04:00Introducing....your row captains!<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Monthly Garden Row Competition</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">In 2012, the Mamie Lee Garden Executive Committee is introducing a friendly garden row competition – the purpose of this contest is to provide incentive for gardeners who actively follow the rules and cultivate productive garden plots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By naming 8 teams (known as “Garden Rows”), each consisting of a wide range of gardener backgrounds and skill levels, the committee’s goal is to foster team spirit and community connections while introducing friendly competition and rewards to the gardeners who are able to work together to make their row the best gardens possible!</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">On or about the 15<sup>th</sup> of each month throughout the growing season (March-November), a quorum of the Executive Committee will conduct a walk-through of the garden and score each of the 8 rows on their compliance with garden rules.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gardeners who belong to the row which receives the highest number of points in a given month will receive a small prize!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the end of the season, the Row Captain whose row has received the most wins throughout the season will win an additional prize to thank them for their leadership.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Here are the overall rules as they apply to the Garden Row Competition:</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>A row will be named the winner once each month.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>There can only be one winner per month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If there is a tie, the tie breaker will be decided by counting the number of plants that are growing in the Row Captain’s garden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The one with the most plants (excluding weeds) wins. </div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>There is no limit to the number of times the same row can win the monthly competition.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>The contest is intended to be kept light and friendly – no purposeful malice toward other garden rows will be tolerated.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">The Executive Committee will calculate the winning Garden Row by using the point system below.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A row can earn bonus points or lose points.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Points will be awarded in these categories:</u></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">+<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>10 points for 80% or higher of the plots in the row are up to garden code</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">+<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>10 points for 50% or higher participation on cleanup workdays</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">+<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>10 Points for 80% or higher number of plots planted according to the minimum plot planting deadlines (By May 50%, by June 1 90%, etc.) refer to garden rules set by executive committee.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Bonus Points:</u></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">+<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>20 points if 100% of gardens in the row are up to code</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">+<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>20 points for 100% participation on cleanup workdays</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">+<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>10 points for donating 5% of a garden to non-profit food bank (i.e., Food and Friends)</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">+<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>10 points for tilling/preparing a senior’s garden who needs the assistance</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">+<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>10 points for each gardener in the row who has put in at least 3 hours/month on the Tool, Compost, and/or Fundraising Committees</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Points will be deducted for:</u></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>5 points for each code violation in the row</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>5 points for leaving hoses in walkways</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>5 points for community tools left out in garden plots</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>5 points for debris in garden that is not organic, basically bottles, cans paper…litter in general.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>10 points <u>per garden plot</u> along whose edges the gardener fails to maintain clean walkways – defined as wood chips with minimum weeds (more chips than crabgrass) </div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Please contact your Row Captain or a member of the Executive Committee with any questions!</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><u><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Here are your captains for 2012:</span></b></u></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Row 1: Phil Cristano<br />
Row 2: Terry Chang<br />
Row 3: Sarah Shoenfeld<br />
Row 4: Harry Bell & Tim Schwab<br />
Row 5: Michael Lamm<br />
Row 6: Steve Horwitz<br />
Row 7: Cathy Anderton<br />
Row 8: Kristin Georger </span></i></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681237489810528195.post-62218644221032857002012-02-03T00:02:00.005-05:002012-03-21T00:09:13.076-04:00Welcome back!February 1, 2012 <br />
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Dear Mamie D. Lee Community Gardeners,<br />
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Spring is fast approaching and as we enjoy some warm days, we are reminded that we have garden business to attend to. The Executive Committee will be collecting gardening fees and membership contracts this month. <br />
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If you are planning on returning to the MDL garden please read and sign the membership contract, and return it along with your payment by February 15 to secure your plot. If you do NOT want your garden plot anymore, please reply as soon as possible so we can turn it over to a new gardener. <br />
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Here is a list of important dates for this garden season - unless otherwise stated, events are at10am at the garden:<br />
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Saturday March 3 (rain date March 10th): Mandatory Annual Meeting andFirst Garden Cleanup <br />
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Saturday April 7 (rain date April 14th): Garden Cleanup Workday<br />
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Tuesday May 1st: GARDENS SHOULD BE CLEARED AND TILLED BY MAY 1ST <br />
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Saturday May 5 (rain date May 12th): Garden Cleanup Workday<br />
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Saturday June 2 (rain date June 9th): Garden Cleanup Workday<br />
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Saturday July 7 (rain date July 14th): Garden Cleanup Workday<br />
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Saturday August 4 (rain date August 11th): Garden Cleanup Workday<br />
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Saturday Sept 8 (rain date Sept 15th): Garden Cleanup Workday<br />
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Saturday Oct 6 (rain date Oct 13th): Final Garden Cleanup Workday<br />
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Friday November 30th: Garden season ends. Gardeners who wish to continue gardening during the period between the first day of December and the last day of February should inform the garden manager.<br />
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Please contact a member of the Executive Committee with any questions or concerns. Thanks in advance for your timely return of the contract and payments.<br />
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Please note that checks will not be cashed until we receive a signed gardener contract to accompany the payment.<br />
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We’re all very excited about the 2012 gardening season, and look forward to seeing you at the garden on March 3rd!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681237489810528195.post-19195942707288052792011-12-04T00:46:00.024-05:002012-03-21T14:42:33.119-04:00A look back at the 2011 growing season2011 has been a very good year for the Mamie D. Lee Community Garden! With generous support from the <a href="http://www.nationalparks.org/" target="_blank">National Park Foundation</a> and by partnering with <a href="http://www.nps.gov/rocr" target="_blank">RockCreek Park</a>, the <a href="http://www.neighborhoodfarminitiative.org/" target="_blank">Neighborhood Farm Initiative</a>, and the Mamie D. Lee School, the Mamie D. Lee Community Garden Association has worked to overhaul infrastructure throughout the garden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Together, we:<br />
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<div class="Default"></div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Installed a protective fence to prevent deer damage to vegetable crops, and to ensure safety of the gardeners, particularly youth and elderly members.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Provided teachers of special needs students (aged 6-21) with a venue for outdoor environmental education, allowing for their incorporation of the garden as a sensory learning experience for youth.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Conducted needs assessment of Mamie D. Lee Garden Association members regarding improvements to garden infrastructure.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Reached out to Mamie D. Lee Garden’s neighbors, connecting them more closely with the garden by increasing its visibility within the park. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></li>
</ul><div class="Default"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>A deer fence was installed to protect gardeners’ plants, and new tools were purchased for gardeners’ use in cultivating a variety of organic vegetables. Part of this grant provided for the purchase of deer fencing materials, while volunteer labor from members of the Mamie D. Lee Garden Association and the Neighborhood Farm Initiative provided for its installation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The completed fence is 800’ in length and surrounds three sides of the 1.5 acre garden (~70,000 square feet), with the 4<sup>th</sup> side tying into an existing fence owned by adjacent partner Mamie D. Lee School.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Six pedestrian access gates were installed around the perimeter of the garden. In addition, two 12’ wide gates were installed to allow for vehicular passage, following consultation with elderly/handicapped gardeners to assess their needs.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While the total amount of food harvested by all gardeners was not tracked, over 550 pounds of the vegetables grown in the garden were donated<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>to local non-profit food banks during the grant period.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This number is a significant increase over the 215 pounds of the garden’s food that was donated last year, and is a direct result of the new fence preventing herds of deer from grazing in the garden.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This grant also provided for purchase of new tools for use by the 103 community gardeners and an additional 410 volunteers who helped in the garden over the course of the 2011 growing season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After assessing the needs of community gardeners (who range from youth with special needs to young adults to elderly gardeners), the Garden Association used the tools portion of grant funds to purchase the following equipment:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1) heavy duty wheelbarrow</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1) lawn mower</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(2) 4-cycle weed whackers</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">(3) round-point shovels</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">(2) square point shovels</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">(1) garden spade</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">(3) stirrup hoes</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">(2) flat-point hoes</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">(4) heavy duty ergonomic digging forks</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">(2) bow rakes</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">These infrastructure improvements have resulted in park patrons and passersby taking more notice of the garden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gardeners regularly field questions about what we are doing, what vegetables are growing, and how people can get involved either as a volunteer or by securing a garden plot of their own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once the raised beds and signage are in place, these types of questions can be answered even when none of the gardeners are present on-site.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having a project with clear objectives and funding to achieve it has also built a clearer sense of community within the Garden Association.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Members have come together to make decisions throughout the season and pitched in their volunteer labor on construction projects, and also contributed pro bono professional design services.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are looking forward to completing the raised beds and signage as the final piece of the project.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></div><br />
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I did a tour of the garden on November 30th, and took a few snapshots to document our progress this season. Enjoy, and see you all in the spring!<br />
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<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl&captions=1=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F118162568825786345433%2Falbumid%2F5722195905205514977%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" height="350" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="545"></embed>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681237489810528195.post-91002433626830741942011-11-13T23:27:00.000-05:002012-03-21T00:02:33.699-04:00Welcome to the 2012-13 Garden Executive Committee!Thanks to all gardeners who came out to the library for yesterday's meeting and election. I'd also like to specifically thank outgoing members of the executive committee Bennie Harris and Sarah Shoenfeld for their dedication and service to the garden for the past two years - we've come a long way in a short time, and couldn't have done it without your help; thank you both for all of your work!<br />
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I'd like to announce the newly elected Executive Committee for the garden:<br />
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Manager: Bea Trickett<br />
Assistant Manager: Bob Lowry<br />
Secretary: Aaron Lavallee<br />
Treasurer: Brian Rivas<br />
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Meanwhile, hope everyone has a wonderful and relaxing winter season, and see you all in the spring!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681237489810528195.post-25886448910540464102011-10-03T23:51:00.001-04:002012-03-21T14:42:58.260-04:00Finishing up the deer fence & the gardening seasonOur final workday of the season was one of the coldest, rainiest days yet, but a small group of committed gardeners soldiered through and worked hard to finish stringing the wire across the top of the new deer fence. The group huddled together to stay out of the wind and rain under a tent generously delivered by Park Ranger Ricardo, and gardeners and volunteers together shared a chilly potluck to celebrate the close of the 2011 gardening season. Thanks to everybody's hard work, we now have a lot better infrastructure in place to protect the garden from grazing deer, and we look forward to seeing everyone again in 2012!<br />
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<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl&captions=1=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F118162568825786345433%2Falbumid%2F5722190125371732449%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" height="350" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="545"></embed>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681237489810528195.post-24086916535370170402011-06-15T23:33:00.003-04:002012-03-21T14:43:50.135-04:00Deer Fence Installation!Thanks to a generous grant from the <a href="http://www.nationalparks.org/" target="_blank">National Park Foundation</a>, Mamie Lee gardeners were finally able to construct a sturdy deer fence around the entire garden! This project took a huge volunteer effort of all-hands-on-deck, and we couldn't have done it without our fearless leaders, Brook, Bob, Bennie, the rest of the executive committee, and of course our partners at <a href="http://www.nps.gov/rocr/index.htm" target="_blank">Rock Creek Park</a>. Thanks to everybody who came out to help on this massive project, the garden will be much more productive and bountiful for many years to come!<br />
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<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl&captions=1=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F118162568825786345433%2Falbumid%2F5618166132568084385%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" height="350" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="545"></embed>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681237489810528195.post-28852180852515750182011-06-15T00:05:00.000-04:002011-06-15T00:06:59.988-04:00Join us for a happy hour fundraiser, Thursday June 23rd!<h2 style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #3e6624; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Thursday, June 23, 2011</span></span></b></h2><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3e6624; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;">6-9PM</span></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3e6624; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;">Looking Glass Lounge</span></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3e6624; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;">3634 Georgia Avenue Northwest</span></span><span style="color: #3e6624; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></div><br />
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<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="color: #262626;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">WIN A GIFT CERTIFICATE </b>from your favorite local restaurant!</span></span></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span style="color: #262626;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">$10 Suggested Donation</span></span></span></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;"><br />
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Century Gothic;">Garden membership applications will be available. Mamie D. Lee Garden is at North Capitol and Gallatin Streets NE, close to Metro, bus, and the MBT bike trail. For more details, email </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Century Gothic;"><a href="mailto:mamiedleegarden@gmail.com">mamiedleegarden@gmail.com</a></span></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Century Gothic;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=193764457341055">RSVP on Facebook!</a></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JPIXAZLt168/Tfgu4-IQB2I/AAAAAAAAARA/Trk4HnZjUhc/s1600/MDL+Fundraiser+Flyer+6-23-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JPIXAZLt168/Tfgu4-IQB2I/AAAAAAAAARA/Trk4HnZjUhc/s640/MDL+Fundraiser+Flyer+6-23-11.jpg" t8="true" width="494" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5681237489810528195.post-50967410299555605762011-06-13T16:57:00.000-04:002011-06-13T16:57:19.479-04:00Welcome to the Mamie D Lee Community Garden blog!Hello, world!<br />
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The Mamie D. Lee Community Garden has been around since the mid-1970s, and has as many stories as it has had gardeners. Over the years, community gardeners have come and gone, but unfortunately to date there has been very little documentation done to illustrate how the land and peoples' commitment to it changes over time. We are starting this website as a means to archive and showcase stories from the garden - through photos, oral histories, and blog updates.<br />
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2011 is an exciting year for our garden because we were named a recipient of an Impact Grant from the <a href="http://www.nationalparks.org/">National Park Foundation</a>! We will be using this website to track our progress toward overhauling and installing garden infrastructure projects that are happening as a result of this grant. Check back often to watch our growth!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0