Saturday at Old City Farm and Guild Festival....not just another day................

A few weeks ago my dad and I were going to mulch a bed he created in the middle of the front yard...but we decided against it because it was too hot.  We have to be a bit careful in the heat these days after his health scare earlier this summer.  I thought that a brief visit to visit Frank Asher at Old City Farm and Guild's Home Grown DC Event was the wiser thing to do. In my world, when in doubt, find a festival or a party...because life is short....and there should always be time for FUN!!! Off we went to see what fun could we could fall into, on such a warm Saturday afternoon.

Look at those healthy plants!!!

Daddy beat me going into the festival...imagine that!

Well we were not disappointed.  The crowd was manageable and the festive spirit was in the air in the Shaw neighborhood of Washington DC.  My Dad reminisced about how he delivered papers in this area as a child and how much the area had changed. With development encroaching upon this historic neighborhood, the grounds of the Shaw Junior High School, 925 Rhode Island Avenue was looking more like an outdoor party than a small local garden center.  There were people who resided in DC, had grown produce from their own gardens, school groups/gardens and even a flower grower who had items for purchase. If you chose to be a participant, there were several categories that our own Kathy Jentz, Washington Gardener Magazine, shared with the audience for judging. From the longest bean to the strangest looking vegetable, Kathy invited audience participation by clapping to see who would win.  I still think that one of those vegetables looked a little....well...you just  had to be there.  It looked like so much fun, just think to have an audience of strangers (but food aficionado's) judging your homegrown vegetable - AWESOMNESS!!!  I wonder who won best pie?????  The garden community is such an awesome place to participate and belong.

Kathy Jentz in her awesomeness as Judge...

I am quite passionate about supporting local business people.  When I first visited Frank at Old City Farm and Guild, I noticed the pottery, healthy plant material, mulch, bee hives and propane....all in one place.  It was also rather neat that customers can participate in a CSA and pick up their produce delivered weekly to Old City Farm and Guild.  What an astute businessman or Pied Piper of Green to think of the necessities one might need in the center of the Shaw area from a grass roots perspective. The staff at Old City Farm and Guild all were quite eager to assist customers - even on this busy day of festivity..a smile ...a Thank You for coming out....how awesome was that???  Frank Asher, I hope you are a permanent fixture in the Shaw neighborhood or at least in the DC area.  You are a needed component to a changing community....



Thinking I had tuckered my Dad out, I was planning on taking him back home.  He had other ideas.  Earlier this summer we were in one of the big box stores - looking at plants - when we over heard this lady sharing that there was this nursery off of Briggs Chaney Road and Old Gunpowder Road. that has excellent merchandise. Road warrior that I am, I was ready to put Dad in the truck and rush over to see what the offerings were.  That young man trains quickly and well...he was headed to the truck before I was!


TBC....

To market, to market to buy my fresh food.......

For a mere $25.00....thiis what I secured from Branch Avenue Blooms....LOCAL AWESOMNESS!

BRANCH AVENUE IN BLOOM....BUILDING A COMMUNITY WITH FOOD, FUN AND INFORMATION

BRANCH AVENUE IN BLOOM

A new initiative to reinvigorate Branch Avenue at Naylor Road and the St. Barnabas Road Commercial Corridor...............a program of the Maryland SBTDC

Most people who know me realize quite quickly that I am dedicated to community building, beautification efforts, supporting local business and sharing useful information.  I happened upon something right in my back yard (so to speak) that speaks to these principles which I am passionate about. 

In 2012, the first Branch Avenue Day proved to be the spark that lit the surrounding communities along the St. Barnabas Road corridor into action.  Providing the residents with a farmer's market, beautification efforts and maintaining a safe environment, Branch Avenue In Bloom project is continually working to build the community.  From the Marlow Heights Shopping Center to Sam's Car Wash, including Iverson Mall and River of Life Church - these Community Building Businesses have joined forces to make this a weekend of gathering great fresh produce, collecting school supplies and spending local dollars where they are needed most - LOCALLY.

Mr. Fleming Thomas , Market Manager, could not hide the excitement in his voice while sharing with me that Dusty Harrison (a boxer with a winning record of 23 - 0) would be on hand to sign autographs,  as well as music, give aways and of course an awesome Farmer's Market.  The local Fire Department will have information as well as some of the local government agencies.  Just think one could start out by visiting the Market, seeing exactly what the offerings are for local produce available for purchase, grab a free backpack, collect school supplies that will be given out from the local businesses,  patronize some of the food sources and end the day by attending a Church service....all in your own community!!!

According to Jennifer Funn, Program Coordinator of Branch Avenue In Bloom, 60 cents of every dollar spent in the community goes back into the community. This means that the more we spend in our community, the more jobs it will provide by attracting more businesses to share in the business of Community Building.  What a win win for everybody!!

This wonderful day filled with fun starts at 9:00 am and goes on until 4.  The second part of this wonderful day begins at River of Life Church and continues on until 8:00 pm.  Join the celebration of Branch Avenue Day.......I can't wait to speak to Mr. Fleming about the Urban Farm.............

Building a Community....On Purpose

With all of the emphasis on community building and community gardens that provide enthusiastic conversation, I found one community garden that has a personal purpose of giving back, teaching and creating a vibrant, thriving community.

The Charles Madison Nabrit Memorial Garden in Columbus, Ohio and is a thoughtful memorial to the late husband of Paula Penn-Nabrit.  This 60 foot Organic garden was created to build a sustainable community that would teach others how to grow, share in the fruits of their labor and the skill of preparing the harvest with those less fortunate.  Community building from a woman who teaches and believes in the spirit of the virtuous woman (Proverbs 31), a CAN DO ATTITUDE and she has done it with her community!!!.  

Partnering with Telos Training, Inc., a 501(3)(c)  and The Church of The Apostolic Faith, the ground work was laid with land and of course the seeds to grow on the land.  This project was enthusiastically started in May of this year and even with a short season, they have lush plants growing and recently had a harvest party on-site. The plans detail how the garden is laid out and the selected plant material that was chosen.   The vision and passion of this African American Organic Garden are clearly demonstrated and shared with all, by visiting the facebook page or the website.  You can see the future plans developed by this awesome woman and how important this effort is.  What an awesome experience this garden has brought to this community in such a short time!!  Their sons and other volunteers have given of their time to make Mrs. Nabrit's vision become a reality....now THAT speaks to community!

So far with awesome support from local organizations and now with an indiegogo campaign, the gardens are thriving, but still need some additional funding.  The funding is needed for fencing, lights, sand, gravel, trenching, rain barrels, composter, a garden cart just to name a few things.  The anticipated costs - $10,000.00.  As gardeners, we know how things add up and  in order for this garden that gives back to the community to grow, financial help would really be a great way to end this Zone 5 Organic effort.



An indiegogo campaign is ongoing until the end of September to help Mrs. Nabrit and her sons make this garden grow. What a wonderful way to honor her beloved.   Can you help???  Look into Telos Training, Inc  http://www.telosinc.org, to see how the fruits of this labor of love will help in teaching how to harvest/prepare/store produce and it will also feed the less fortunate in this economically depressed food desert.  More importantly check out the indiegogo campaign to see how you can be a part of this effort from afar...

http://www.indiegogo.com/

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/charles-madison-nabrit-memorial-garden

https://www.facebook.com/TelosTraining



I donated and  bet you can as well.....Building Community....it is a terrific thing!!!