Potluck, Tues.

So, lets kick it off at 7:30pm in order to keep the same schedule. I am going to make a big crock-pot of vegger chili, so everyone else bring a side, dessert, beer or wine. Please leave a comment with what you are bringing, so that we can keep track and we do not end up with 3 pies, 5 sides and no booze or any other combination of that. My address is 800 Post Oak, ATX, and feel free to bring a guest. Also, if you would please RSVP so that I know how much chili to make, I don't want to make to little.

FYI...drove by the bus stop garden today and it looks great. The little pathetic lettuce plant is starting to perk up, the beans are starting to sprout around the sign, and the rest of the plants are still alive. I will try to swing out there this week during the day and take some pictures.

See you all Tuesday!

Cheers,
TG

Chronicle of this week's dig

This past Tuesday, we met again at our first garden for a much needed rehaul. It was out with the old, in with the new - the new being a generous number of leafy lettuces, broccoli, chard, and herbs like cilantro, parsley, sage, dill, and rue.

We also planted a few more flowers. Here, a new GP'er makes his legacy with a butterfly weed.

Erin donated a couple of pea seeds, which we planted to climb up the fence.


Rarely seen on film, our documentarian, Katy, gets some action shots.


We were pleased that a few "friends of the Posse," who hadn't previously attended a dig, came to help out.

The garden was pretty pleased about the new compost. The plants actually sang as they were watered (I swear).

And purely for aesthetics, we added a rock border around both the flower and the vegetable beds. It makes it look a lot cleaner.

Our constant visitor during this whole process was a small cat who kept running across the street while cars were coming. "No, kitty!" we cried. The drivers would look at us like we were responsible for this not-so-wise creature. I think it's been adopted by the restaurants across the street and given the affectionate name of "Lunchmeat."


Here's a group shot of the Garden Posse after a satisfying dig.

Thanks to Erin for taking the photos, thanks always to Sam and Shoal Creek Nursery for providing the plants and soil, and thanks to everyone who showed up! A good time was had by all.

Next week, more good times (with food!) will be had at Travis' house in South Austin. Travis will be providing details soon.

Sweet dreams

I'll post the story of this week's dig later today, but in the meantime, here's a treat. It's a short film with a moral about vegetables. A vegetable fable, if you will. Take a look.


"Sweet Dreams" (2007) from Kirsten Lepore on Vimeo.

34 & Guadelupe: Redux

Tomorrow night, at 7:30 pm, we'll be back where it all began: The garden at 34th & Guadelupe, across from Salvation Pizza.

This garden needs some sprucing up. We'll be cleaning up the trash that has accumulated around the garden (exciting, I know, but necessary), weeding the flowers (which are really doing quite well), and replanting the vegetable garden with new winter transplants and seeds. I am especially excited about a climbing spinach plant I found last week.

The area could also use a sign, informing people about what the garden is and how to use it. From my experience taking care of the garden for the past two months, it could have much more potential for the community if explained, and maybe people would stop dropping their trash and SAT prep books there.

Also, we'll be joined by a student journalist from UT who is writing a story about guerrilla gardening for the Daily Texan. And don't forget - there is beer and pizza across the street!

Hope to see you there.

Last night, while we waited for the bus

We planted a bus stop guerrilla garden.

The site is located at Raywood and Locke, not Weathers. It's near the heart of South Austin, which is a strong proponent of "Keeping Austin Weird" with its eccentric local shops, houses, and culture. But this neighborhood was quiet, and I have to say, drab. Wide, barren lawns, and squat brick houses surrounded the bus stop. It needed a garden. Both to provide some visual interest, and plant the seed of the idea that those wide lawns are good for more than grass.

The Garden Posse showed up with the soil, compost, plants, tools, and manpower to do the job.


We took a half hour or so to plan where the garden would go, in a way that didn't interfere with the bus or the riders.

The garden ended up being a relatively small area between the garbage can and the sewer pipes, broken in two by the sidewalk.


Pickaxes and pitchforks are most useful for pulling up grass. Then mixing in the good-quality dirt and compost. And then planting! All our organic materials were donated by Shoal Creek Nursery. A million thanks!


Travis admires the garden from the ground level, next to the vine that will curl around the garbage can and hopefully not get hacked down.



We had a posse of eight, and this garden was completed in less than two hours!



We were at a loss. What to do next week? We've devoted 3 weeks in our schedule to a garden that only required one night. So we decided to return next Tuesday to the garden at 34 & Guadelupe. It needs a vegetable facelift, especially with rumors of a frost coming up.

Thanks to everyone who participated in this dig, and see you next week!

Guerrilla gardening tonight

Thanks to everyone who voted on the poll. By a narrow margin, Option 5 is the winner of a new guerrilla garden!

We'll meet at the corner of Raywood & Weathers in South Austin at 7:30 pm tonight. Here's a map.


View Larger Map


We'll have a supply of flowers, veggies, dirt, and compost, but as always, donations are welcome.

Please bring whatever tools you have. Shovels, trowels, and pickaxes are most useful. Also, bring gardening gloves and a headlamp or flashlight if you have them. They make gardening in the dark a whole lot easier!

See you then,
Lindsay

Requiem for the East Side triangle garden

Yesterday Megan called me with some not-so-pleasant news: Someone ran over the East Side garden. With their truck.

I haven't seen the scene, so I can't really describe what it looked like (perhaps a witness can chime in in the comments?). Apparently the lemon tree is still okay, and part of the garden is still intact. But there was some wreckage.

We think it was an accident, because 1) who would want to ruin their truck by running over a garden, and 2) it's a neighborhood where it's not unusual for people to get drunk and drive recklessly. And 3) I don't like to imagine that we live in a world where people would destroy our garden on purpose.

Megan talked to some of the neighbors, who were sad about the garden. We were going to ask you all to come out and help clean it up, but last night Megan was up late and rallied a bunch of neighborhood people who were also up late to clean it up with her. They also painted the street. It was a crazy time, Megan said, and people had fun.

So, we'll talk more about this tomorrow, when we gather for the South Austin dig. Other things to mention:
- One day left to vote on the S. Austin site poll
- We have pansies left over from last week that Megan would like to plant in front of a small church on the East Side she's been attending. Let her know if you are interested in participating.
- I'd like to replant the 34th & Guadelupe garden. The flowers (especially the orange cosmos) are looking great, but the veggies and herbs are looking like they need a face lift. Perhaps on Thursday?

Please discuss in the comments, and also respond if you'll be attending the dig tomorrow. We'll need you to bring tools and headlamps/flashlights.

Thanks!

Potential bus stop sites

So here are some bus stops that I found around the area of South 5th street.

OPTION 1

This one is near a house, but shouldn't be a problem planting. I didn't see a dog in the yard, so I don't think we would make a ruckus.

OPTION 2


This one is across the street from the previous. It is a bit closer to this person's yard and may feel a bit like we are in their yard even though we are technically on the other side of their fence.

OPTION 3
This one has no bench, but my friend who lives near this stop says it is noticeably the most used stop in this area. The neighbors have a dog, but I think I would feel comfortable asking if they cared.

OPTION 5

This is actually Section 8 housing in the background, so that could be something nice for them. Again no bench. Don't think we would need to ask permission for this site.

OPTION 6


These are not bus stops, but just thought they could turn into cool gardens. This sits on the side hill of the Elk's lodge, in a pretty wealthy street, so I have mixed feelings about this site.

Take your pick! Sorry, it took so long.

TG

Tonight's project: Flowershoes

Just a quick update note: Tonight we'll be planting pansies in old shoes. Then you can take your shoe(s) and distribute them, or keep them, as you see fit.

We have shoes and pansies and dirt, but we still need some materials. Please bring if you have:

SMALL ROCKS OR PEBBLES
A DRILL
IF NOT A DRILL, HAMMER AND NAILS

This is for drainage's sake. We don't want some stinky shoes! Here's a link to the project, from Instructables.

see you tonight!

P.S. By unanimous vote, the Garden Posse has endorsed Barack Obama and Joe Biden. I'll call the campaign and let them know. Good luck voting today, if you haven't already.

Election watching party!

Hey everyone, sorry I am writing last minute, I have been a pretty lame soldier the last few weeks. Anywho, I am having a party tomorrow night as Lindsey already told you. So, here are the details. We will be starting around 7ish, when the polls here in TX close, so come whenever you would like. Bring a snack, if you wish, and a drinking cup. I am getting a little pony keg of beer for everyone, and you are more than welcome to bring more beer, spirits, or some wine, maybe champagne for celebrating (or drowning tears). Oh, MOST IMPORTANTLY, bring a lawnchair. We are going to move our TV outside and hang out in the front yard.

There will be 20 or so people there, and you all can definitly work on a project, but I may need to play host a bit and may not be able to devote my full attention.

My address is 800 Post Oak St., ATX, 78704, so google it.

Any questions, please call me 940.367.0741.

Travis

Unrelated photo of a large zucchini

Look!

This 2-pound monster was discovered in my non-guerrilla, front-yard garden this morning. And I'm excited when things are get larger than they should be.

In other zucchini news, there are quite a few in development in the garden at 34 & Guad. I think they're the opposite of the above zucchini - they've been about 4 inches long for the past two weeks, blooming every day. Any ideas?

And in pictures: Carly and Megan making the sign last week.