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Comments

• [1] Annie April 24, 2009 - 10:40AM

  This comment was posted on the blog The Scrapbook, which features stories from Your Uncommon Economic Indicators:

  Comment from Jax

  Date: April 23, 2009, 7:39 pm

  What about the lead/toxic runoff in urban areas?

  Suburban lawns have high pesticide concentrations.

  
  
• [2] RCT from NYC April 24, 2009 - 11:07AM

  We moved up to Westchester 4 years ago and started our garden 3 years ago. We now grow all of our summer salad greens and three kinds of tomatoes, as well as cucumbers, broccoli, chard, zucchini, peppers (including chili peppers, which we dry for the winter). We do this in three 12 by 4 foot boxes surrounded by a deer fence (we grow tomatoes and cukes on the fence); so you don't need alot of space.

  Just do it. It's easy, fun and you can eat the results.

  
  
• [3] RCT from NYC April 24, 2009 - 11:09AM

  To Annie re pesticides, et al:

  You make raised boxes with wood or cement blocks, and buy potting soil and gardening manure (doesn't smell)to start your garden the first year. Then you compost. The start-up cost is about $250, not counting the deer fence if you need one. Read Ed Smith's "The Vegetable Gardener's Bible."

  
  
• [4] meg from inwood April 24, 2009 - 11:51AM

  Where do you find community gardens or find out how to start one? I have yet to find any in my neighborhood but there are so many empty lots here that would be great spaces to convert.

  
  
• [5] allison from east williamsburg April 24, 2009 - 11:55AM

  every year 2 community gardens in my neighborhood in east williamsburg are decorated as "haunted graveyards" for halloween, and and every year the decorations (tons of fake cobwebs, foam gravestones, etc.) are left up until april. it looks awful, and i'm sure it is not benefitting the plants within. last october one of the entrances was covered with a hideous giant painted skull on plywood, complete with red flames or blood flowing from its mouth. a blue plastic tarp also further covered the entrance for the halloween night event. this ridiculous-looking structure is STILL there, 5 months after halloween.

  what i can't comprehend is how the group who installed this "decoration" is not being held responsible for removing within a reasonable time frame from oct. 31st. it's disgraceful.

  
  
• [6] Maggie Clarke from Inwood April 24, 2009 - 11:55AM

  ACK! Tell her about the RING Garden! Riverside Inwood Neighborhood Garden (www.ringgarden.org)

  
  
• [7] Maggie Clarke from Inwood April 24, 2009 - 11:57AM

  Nobody has to wait for plots at the RING Garden. We are more advanced and more egalitarian. Everyone who wants to join can for $10 and gets in IMMEDIATELY!

  
  
• [8] Rich from Staten Island April 24, 2009 - 11:59AM

  Can the NYC Parks Department coordinate with the Department of Sanitation to re-introduce the Compost Program. This way this material doesn't have to get shipped out with the regular garbage and used locally for home gardens and community gardens.

  
  
• [9] Amy from Manhattan April 24, 2009 - 12:05PM

  For Meg [4]--Maggie beat me to it! I'll just add the location: you can find the RING garden where Riverside Drive, Broadway, Dyckman Street (200th) and Seaman Avenue come together.

  
  
• [10] John Forest from New York City -- City Hall April 24, 2009 - 12:06PM

  to find gardens go to: http://www.oasisnyc.net/gardens/cenycmapsearch.asp

  also about the decorations: there is nothing illegal about leaving up decorations. i think allison's comment is extreme and if she really wants to see something done about that she should call the greenthumb office and ask for the contact info for the garden so she can speak to them directly instead of us out here in cyberspace, it ain't doin any good here.

  Go GreenThumb, and keep up the great work! There should be more like you out there.

  
  
• [11] Maggie Clarke from Inwood April 24, 2009 - 12:11PM

  This legislation is so fantastic! It's about time that the powers that be realize the benefits of parks (lower crime, increased happiness, less air pollution, opportunities for exercise and recreation). I tuned in late - when / where do we go testify?

  
  
• [12] meg from inwood April 24, 2009 - 02:27PM

  the RING only grows ornamental flowers, very little edible things. I want somewhere where I can plant the 50 tomato seedlings I've got growing at my inlaw's in westchester so I don't have to always take the train up there to gather my veggies. oh well. i wonder if someone where to randomly plant tomatoes around the neighborhood, how long they would last?

  
  
• [13] Annie April 24, 2009 - 02:33PM

  @ Maggie from Inwood:

  You can send your encouragement to your own city council representative, and I'm sure Councilwoman Foster would appreciate your support as well. You can find all kinds of city council information starting here:

  http://council.nyc.gov/html/home/home.shtml

  
  
• [14] Veggie Master April 28, 2009 - 12:08AM

  Now that we know all we do about the effects of chemicals on humans and our world in general, there’s no excuse for not gardening organically. Getting the word out to all the first-time veggie gardeners is so important! We’ve started a garden information website for just that purpose. Take a look at http://www.GreatGardenInfo.com. Happy gardening!