Caring for one another and the earth

Some exciting events coming up!

• Sat, March 12, 9 AM: Caring for Each Other and Caring for the Planet: A New Bottom Line. Workshop in NYC. We'll address the need to envision and work for a world that works for all of us and places the planet and all its inhabitants above profit and power. This is part of a larger event convened by The Next System Project. 

• Mon, March 14, 6 PM: Exclusive screening of Josh Fox’s new film, “How to Let Go of the World and Love All the Things Climate Can’t Change” at Manhattanville College. More details here.

Permaculture and System Change

I hope some of you can take advantage of these great upcoming opportunities!

• Urban Permaculture Design certification course in Brooklyn by Center for Bioregional Living. The course provides a positive and empowering vision for social and ecological transformation. Starts Feb 27 and is taught again in the fall--classes can be spread between the two offerings.

• Next System Project teach-in in NYC, March 10-12. Our current system is failing us. What should the next system look like — and how can we get there? Join this important conversation and be part of the change we so desperately need! More details here.

In the news

bread-making moments

Roots & Wings hosted two Bread-Making the (easy) Traditional Way with Coco Zordan just before and after Thanksgiving. As you could imagine, hanging out in the kitchen and nudging our genetic memories of how the simplest of ingredients--flour, water, yeast--becomes bread was wonderful. And tasting the ciabatta and focaccia we created was as good as it sounds!

 Because I organized these classes with Coco, I was able to attend both, and meet all the interesting people who signed up : ) And I hear through the grapevine that one of them is already making her own bread!

Coco's husband came and took these wonderful photos. We'll be doing more of this type of "cooking from scratch" classes. Let me know if you have a topic you'd like to explore!  -Lenore / lenore.person@gmail.com

Kitchen Garden update - November 21

Iris and Gabriela proudly display the last of the harvest after exchanging recipes.

On Saturday, November 21st, Marcelo, Iris and I met at the garden. We topped off the remaining beds, planted cover crop, and covered with mulch (shredded leaves from the church property). We also gathered the last of the harvest: Brussels sprouts and their leaves, and parsley. We also rearranged the middle compost bin to ensure no scraps are dumped there by mistake (please remember: scraps belong to the leftmost bin only).

Gabriela and Marcelo by the resting beds. Any resemblance to American Gothic is purely coincidental!

Next Steps:

• Marcelo will look into purchasing an additional raised bed. We'll keep you posted and let you know if and when help is needed to install and fill it.
• If you'd like a raised bed next year, please let me know as soon as possible (gabrielamun@gmail.com). At this point we'd like to get a sense of how much interest there is. If, as we suspect, there's more demand than available plots, we will have to figure out some sort of mechanism to assign plots. In the longer run, the plan would be to work to expand the number of community gardens in town so everybody has a chance.

Cover crops at work protecting the soil, building organic matter, fixing nitrogen, and nurturing a healthy microbial community, among other benefits.

can you smell this fresh-baked bread?

There are three spots left in Baking Bread the (easy) Traditional Way workshop on Sunday, November 22. Register here.
(Saturday, December 5 is sold out.)

More help needed with soil replenishment!

Susan, Gabriela and Blanca (left to right) take a selfie break

Currently at the garden: On Saturday, November 14th, Blanca, Susan Clelland and I met at the garden. We managed to top off four of the raised beds and harvested some Brussels sprout leaves (which can be used the same way as you would collards or kale). Now we need your help to deal with the remaining soil. Please see more below.

With our freshly harvested Brussels sprout leaf "bouquets"

Next Steps: We really need all the help we can get to finish the job! The two raised beds closest to the street need to be topped off like the rest (filled to within one inch from the top). One other plot could use a bit more soil. We also expect to install a new raised bed but that will happen in the spring. In the meantime, we should move any remaining soil to the other side of the garden to make room for the snow piles during the winter. If you can lend a hand, either during the week or next Saturday between 10 AM and noon, please let me know so we have a sense of what we can count on and plan accordingly (gabrielamun@gmail.com). If you have a wheelbarrow that you may be able to bring, we could use that as well.