Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Greenhouse Garden







Stopped by the Greenhouse Garden yesterday . Its looking great !! They do such a great job cultivating great vegetables for their harvest . Its awesome to see Squash , Greens beans , and all kinds of good veggies growing so well .

Monday, June 28, 2010

Fried Green Tomatoes


They Are Almost Ready At LaSalle Square Garden ...Yes Green Tomatoes !!


Fried Green Tomatoes
Ingredients
3 medium, firm green tomatoes1/2 cup all-purpose flour1/4 cup milk2 beaten eggs2/3 cup fine dry bread crumbs or cornmeal1/4 cup olive oil1/2 teaspoon salt1/4 teaspoon pepper
Method
1 Cut unpeeled tomatoes into 1/2 inch slices. Sprinkle slices with salt and pepper. Let tomato slices stand for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, place flour, milk, eggs, and bread crumbs in separate shallow dishes.
2 Heat 2 Tbsp of olive oil in a skillet on medium heat. Dip tomato slices in milk, then flour, then eggs, then bread crumbs. In the skillet, fry half of the coated tomato slices at a time, for 4-6 minutes on each side or until brown. As you cook the rest of the tomatoes, add olive oil as needed. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Simply Recipes http://simplyrecipes.com/

Unity Gardens Make A Difference


Here is a little e-mail from a Unity Gardener
In a big way the 33 gardens throughout the city are changing the way some people think , and relate to each other . We are growing more than Vegetables Here
THANKS! to all of those who staked the tomatoes...- we were able to pick a couple of more pieces of broccoli - Sharon H. said it made some delicious soup- the Girl Scout's marigolds have taken hold and are blooming!- the eggplants have had a sudden growth spurt - the bugs are still bothering them...but now they don't seem to care- won't be long before leaf lettuce should be ready...radishes too!
People Notice...I haven't been at the garden one time when one of the neighbors or fellow Memorial employees hasn't stopped by to ask questions, comment, offer advice or just chat...Come out and meet 'em ! Oh, and pull a couple of weeds...
Brent W. Schroeder, CDM Memorial HospitalNutritional Services, Supervisor

Unity Mushroom Project




Last weekend I went to the sustainable living fair in Indianapolis, and one of the things I found was a mushroom company http://www.hoosiermushrooms.com/ . We have discussed growing mushrooms before , and here is my chance to do it . After a overview of how to grow mushrooms we bought some Shiitake mushroom spawn plugs , and I am off and running on my Unity Mushroom Project . Last week I had a few large branches fall in my yard , and the 6" diameter logs will be perfect to start my mushrooms . I am told it needs to be a fresh cut log so other rotting things are not already growing . The plugs are dowel pins that look to be about 3/8" . The spawn is grown in a lab , and will produce about 3 years worth of mushrooms . Next I will drill holes in the logs , and insert plugs . Watch & read more to come ....... We have started a Unity Mushroom Blog you can link to on right side of this page

t

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Newspaper & Grass Clippings

Found a great article in the South Bend Tribune about mulching ... We always encourage this process

By TERRI BENNETT
McClatchy Newspapers
Weeds — the bane of gardeners everywhere. Here is a simple, cheap, and perfectly safe solution to preventing weeds in natural areas, flowerbeds or even a vegetable garden and you probably have at least one delivered to your home every week.It's the newspaper! Once you read it, you can recycle it or you can re-purpose it to snuff out stubborn weeds without using potentially toxic chemicals.Like the black landscape fabric you may be used to seeing, a layer of newspapers will keep sunlight from reaching young weeds waiting to emerge. Newspapers also encourage earthworm activity, which makes your soil better in the process. As the worms break down the paper their waste provides fertilizer for the soil and their tunnels help to provide beneficial oxygen.
Plus, it's simple. Clear the area where you want to prevent weeds from sprouting. Layer sections of the newspaper across the area. If it's windy you can lightly water the newspaper sections first to prevent them from blowing about. Overlap the layers by several inches to prevent gaps. Put down at least six to eight sheets. The thicker the layer of newspaper the better the weed control. Spray the papers lightly with water until soaked. Cover the area with leaves, grass clippings, straw, bark or rock. It looks better when the soaked papers are covered but it also helps to keep them in place until they break down.There's no need to worry about the ink on the newspapers. In the past lead, cadmium and other toxic heavy metals were commonly used in paper inks. Now, however, most publishers use organic pigments, which are the same as those used in tattoos, lipstick, hair coloring and other cosmetics.You may also see the "soy ink" symbol on a newspaper, which tells the reader that the newspaper company is using soy-based inks for printing.You can also use the glossy inserts of the newspaper but the coating on the paper will prolong the process of breaking down. Such papers are best used sparingly or on problem areas. And if you have a particularly dense or stubborn patch of weeds, try using cardboard!Keeping your garden weed-free doesn't have to be a backbreaking job nor do you have to use a bunch of potentially hazardous chemicals. Do Your Part and re-purpose your newspaper for a free, easy and eco-friendly solution to preventing weeds in your garden.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Growing Unity








We are so excited the Center for The Homeless put its Unity Garden sign up today . They have many vegetables that need to find a home on someones dinner plate . Carrots , Lettuce , green beans , and more . Courtney is out in the garden Mon-Thurs . 9-4



At Lasalle Square we continue have volunteers come out to help , and to harvest . Its Crazy that we are still planting Tomatoes , and Peppers . We are harvesting some food and taking it to the food pantry . More , and more neighbors are coming out to visit , and see whats going on . It really is a changing dynamic .




Yesterday I visited the Northshore Triangle Unity Garden . Its seems to be doing well . Everyones area is looking great . They even have a Scarecrow up

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Memorial Hostpital Unity Garden







The Memorial Hospital Unity Garden at 602 North Michigan is doing great . The Tomatoes are thriving , Peppers have large peppers on them , and they are harvesting Broccoli. Much more too ...they are keeping the weeds under control . Awesome job !!
For more pictures of the Gardens join our facebook fan site by clicking the link to the right of this post . All the Gardens have an Album !!

Southpaw Unity Garden Growing Strong




Look at the Rubarb , Lettuce , Carrots ... Crazy . The Corn will be Knee high by 4th of July

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

More Greens & Signs







Can't beleive I am still tilling at Lasalle Square Garden , More Greens today , also Tilled for more Tomatoes & Peppers . Zucchini is almost ready to harvest !!



Put Sign up on Dale & Calvert for the Southside Unity Garden .



Its hot & humid a good day to quit early

This Weekend

Sara will be speaking this weekend at the Sustainable Earth Living fair please come see this event

Time: June 26, 2010
from 9am to 6pm
Location: Marion County Fairgrounds,
Street: 7300 E. Troy Ave.City/Town: Indianapolis
Website or Map: http://www.sustainableearth.n…
Event Type: sustainable, living, fair
Organized By: Steve Bonney

10:40 – 11:30 The Unity Gardens (33) of South Bend: How Diversity and Sharing are Building Community and Changing a City. Sara Stewart, Founder of Unity
Gardens and Sustainability Fellow with the Indiana University South Center for a Sustainable Future.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Busy Monday in the Gardens




The day started with working a the Lasalle Square Garden . Tilled a area to plant more Mustard Greens , and a row for more Tomatoes & Peppers . Planted Tomatoes , and Green beans . After that we headed over to the Lasalle Academy Garden to do a little weeding , and see what we have room to plant . We weeded awhile , and put the Unity Gardens sign up , then planted some squash , and peppers . There is still room for more to go in next week . Then the storm it . Next we headed to McKinley Terrace Garden Center to pick-up some plants they donated . There were some awesome plants lots of peppers . Next off to the Jewish Federation Garden to drop off some plants for the new Section they are planting . Next Lunch ..Yeah !! After lunch it was off to LaSalle Square to drop off plants & plant about 25 pepper plants . After that it was off to The Northwest Neighborhood Unity Garden at South Bend Ave to Mow . A quick stop at Brian's to pick-up his sign for the Southside garden Now the day is over , time head to Starbucks to blog .

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Greens from LaSalle Square Garden

Mamma's Dried Greens
by GRACE F. WILLIAMS
INSTEAD OF RAISING YOUR VEGETABLES THIS YEAR, WHY NOT FORAGE SOME OF THEM . . . AND,INSTEAD OF CANNING OR FREEZING A STOCK OF GREENS FOR WINTER, WHY NOT DRY IT?
Mamma and Papa worked hard at trying to provide their growing family with nourishing food. Papa always had a small city garden and Mamma canned and preserved fruit, made jams and jellies in season . . . and dried greens so that we might have fresh-grown fare even in winter.
I've often gone with Mamma to pick greens. We'd wander over vacant lots and down by the railroad tracks to gather the wild white mustard, a dark-green plant with tiny yellow blossoms running up the slender stem. (That's how it looks late in the season, in blooming time, when the leaves are usually small and the plant ready to go to seed.)
Into our shopping bags we'd put the pungent weed, picking it as cleanly as possible to save work when we reached home. We'd also look for curly dock and lamb's-quarters, a small, many-leaved plant with a silvery shine to the foliage. To these we added great masses of deep-green curly mustard from our garden.
Then I'd help pick over our collection . . . dry, of course. Mamma always said, "Never wet the greens before you look them over. You'll just have a soggy mass. And if there's grass or anything like that mixed in, it'll be almost impossible to separate."
Mamma looked carefully at each leaf. Then—slap, slap—she hit the plant against her palm to knock off any bug eggs which might have adhered to the foliage.
After numerous washings—perhaps as few as five or six or as many as ten—the greens were put out on a window screen which had first been covered with a sheet. The rack was usually propped up on a sawhorse or a couple of old chairs so that the air could circulate around it, and the gatherings were left to dry in the sun.
Mamma watched the process carefully, and after a while turned the harvest over onto another screen—also covered with a clean sheet—to cure the other side. After several days and numerous turnings, the leaves were as dry and crisp as potato chips. Mamma stored them in clean, white pillowcases and hung them from the kitchen ceiling. Come winter, they were first parboiled and then cooked like any fresh greens . . . and were they good!
I remember the fragrant aroma, the wood and coal fire roaring in the old, black kitchen range. Many were the good hot biscuits and pans of corn bread and light bread Mamma took from its cavernous depths. And on top of the stove simmered ham hocks and cabbage . . . or ham and rutabaga in great slices . . . or better yet, turnip and mustard greens with small white potatoes buried in their depths. The spuds went in just for the last twenty minutes or so— while the meat and dried leaves got really tender—and came out looking slightly green but delicious with the added flavor of ham and redolent of the mustard. With this boiled dinner we'd have hot golden corn bread or muffins with homemade grape or apple jelly, and lettuce salad.
Oh, yes . . . you can buy mustard greens now, fresh at our nearby grocery and canned almost anywhere. We just add a can of turnip tops, throw in a couple of ham slices and a few potatoes and cook it all ten minutes in our pressure cooker. But somehow, in our modern electric kitchen it doesn't seem quite as homey.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Recapturing Gardens


This is the time of year if you turn your back on your garden for a week the weeds take over . Its been a busy spring , and a shortage of time has caused a few gardens to become overtaken by weeds . We worked on PCM last week , and are halfway to recapturing it . PCM has so many plants growing , Squash , Broccoli , Tomatillo , Tomato , and Lettuce it will be awesome once we harness the weeds . Also today we replanted some areas of the Hud garden at 501 Alfonzo-Watson Way . Tomatoes , Cauliflower , Peppers , Watermelon , Squash , Cantaloupe , Herbs , and Strawberry all went in today .

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Good Neighbors




Everyday when I come out to work at the LaSalle Square Garden I see evidence of people working in the garden when I am not there . It started with a little here and there , but this morning it was crazy more than half the Garden was weeded by some expert gardeners . Its so much Sara's vision for the Unity Gardens ,to see people coming together to work , and share the harvest . It builds neighborhoods , and feeds everyone healthy food . There is so much food being grown in the 33 Unity Gardens that its hard to harvest it all . People come out everyday to work , and harvest . Today I was buy the PCM Unity Garden , The Center for the Homeless Garden , and the Southside Garden at Dale & Calvert , and they all had food ready to harvest . Its hard to explain how exciting it is to see the Unity Gardens bringing people together , and filling a need for healthy food in or community .

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Jewish Fedration Unity Garden




We helped plant the last of 33 Unity Gardens last night at 3202 Shalom Way . The Volunteers came out in force to get the garden planted . It was a great time both the Adults , and kids were involved . The Garden is memory of Rabbi Signer . It looks great ...lots of food in a small space .


Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Some of today Harvest


Mt Carmel




Last night we helped Mt Carmel Baptist Missionary Church plant their new Unity Garden at 201 Dubail St . It was a great time . They had a super turnout , and we planted the whole garden in just 2 hours !! There we children, teenagers , and adults learning to plant & work in the garden . This is what the Unity Gardens are all about people getting together to share knowledge , a good time , and ultimately share the bounty of the harvest . It was truly a great evening .

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Super Saturday







It Started Friday afternoon with Sara speaking at the WNIT Ecofest kick off at the Century Center






Wow it was a busy day for the Unity Gardens on Saturday . Girl Scouts learning how plant in the Garden , and seeing how growing , and sharing can help the community . The scouts came out in force , and planted marigolds at all 34 Unity Gardens to ward off the rabbits from snacking on the gardens. They learned about working in the community toward a common goal . It proves the Girl Scouts are more than just cookies .






The Unity Gardens also showed its support for going green at the Eco-fest at Howard Park . What better way to go green than keeping it simple by growing healthy food for all to enjoy right here in the city . Everything for the Gardens is donated by local businesses , and the gardens are planted , and maintained by volunteers .






The Unity Gardens also had a booth at the Urban Garden Market selling plants to raise money for supplies for the gardens . The Urban Garden Market is a small open air market that goes back to the good old days where food grown at small farms , and in backyards is sold out of the back of cars & pick-up trucks . Stop out every Sat until Oct 9am to 1 pm






What a great weekend !!

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Girl Scouts







Today channel 22 came out to LaSalle Square to talk with the Girl Scouts about this weekends event at the gardens . 400 Girl Scouts will visit all the Unity Gardens this weekend and plant Marigolds & Sunflowers . It shoud be a Unity Weekend see locations tab for garden locations . The Girl Scouts Should be out about 10 am on Sat

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Today




Another new Unity Garden was tilled today , and will be planted on Monday . Mount Carmel Unity Garden . 201 E Dubail St . What a great thing . Thanks to Mount Carmel Baptist Church

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Center For The Homeless


Sara's daughter Courtney is working as an intern at the Center for the Homeless . One of her duties will be to work in the garden . Shes seems enthused with her new role .

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Plant Sale




The plant sale fundraiser was a great success . The money raised will go to help all of the Unity Gardens to grow . It was a beautiful thing to see all kinds of people come out to donate plants for us to sell , or buy plants , and even just donate cash . A special thanks to Junk Evolution , and the Gothic Carpenter for the use of there space. They are truly great folks with their own mission of taking old things , and evolving them into cool new items . We plan on having a harvest fundraiser there this fall . Please stop in and thank them for their role in making the Unity Gardens a Success . Also a thanks to the many businesses who donated plants . We will list our donors in a later post

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Today at The Garden


Today we had some residents from Hope Ministries stop by to Harvest some greens & Lettuce .

They got a whole load of greens . Hope opens its doors to the community for lunch & Dinner , and everyone is welcome . Its good that The Unity Gardens can provide healthy food for them .
At Hope we have also started a container garden in the parking , Fresh food on site !!

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Tomatos ...Plant sale ... etc




Worked today on getting ready for this weekends plant sale . Lots of tomatos , and many other plants . Also I arrived at the LaSalle Square Garden to do a little work , and found a plot of tomatos planted by someone unknown . Its nice to see donations of plants put directly into the ground .