Summer Solstice Celebration, 6:30 AM, GANG Garden!

Great fun. Geez, maybe we should have our regular meetings at 6:30 AM?

www.exopermaculture.com/2014/06/21/yes-summer-solstice-ceremony-in-the-gang-garden-62114-630-am/

May 27, 2014: We launch the “Uncanny Project” — repurposing cans to raise money

May 27, 2014. Rebekka poses with part of our first Green Acres “Uncanny” Project harvest. YES!

Written by Rebekka, with input from Rebecca, Georgia, and Ann.

On Thursday (May 22), Tuesday (May 27) and Wednesday (May 28) four of the Green Acres Neighborhood women piloted the first efforts toward the UnCanny Village Project. On Thursday, Rebecca and Rebekka went door to door along Hillsdale, Overview and 5th Street to inform neighbors of the project and to ask them for their cans to be picked up the following Tuesday. Unfortunately, most people weren’t home that evening. The women spoke to 5 neighbors, who were all interested and willing to donate their cans.

Meanwhile, Georgia had done the same thing on Hillsdale between 3rd and 5th, and 4th street, and nine neighbors were willing to participate.

The following Tuesday, Ann and Rebekka drove around the block to pick up two bags of cans. (Did the others forget?)

Also, on May 22, Georgia went around the block of 4th Street, Hillsdale and 3rd Street. Of the nine neighbors, only one remembered? On Wednesday morning, before the recycling trucks arrived, Georgia did pick up one box of cans.

Since we don’t have many cans yet, we’re going to hold them until we get enough to make a trip down to the Salvage and Recycling Center, where they will be weighed and exchanged for money — currently 53 cents per pound (34 cans = one pound). Profits will go toward programs for GANA (this neighborhood association) GANG (our first neighborhood garden) and GANE (our forming ecovillage).

In conclusion, while our first efforts led only to small outcomes, we realize that every big project has to begin somewhere. All participating women are motivated and encouraged to try again next recycling week. Next time, we will bring paper handouts including the three websites for further information. If you’re interested in helping out to spread the word about GANA, GANG, and GANE, plus raise money for our beautiful neighborhood, look out for the next email stating the place and time for our next meeting regarding the UnCanny Project.

Annual Plant Swap, plus assorted fabulous finds

After a number of email reminders (including one I sent in haste from my temporary perch at a gathering in the Great Bear National Lakeshore in northern Michigan with the Great Old Broads for Wilderness), and a giant sign Rebecca  put out for a few days late last week,

Saturday, May 18, was the occasion for our annual plant swap, an event that usually draws the same dedicated characters — plus a few new neighbors. This time was no exception. Six neighbors showed up between 10 am and 2 pm, most of them, Rebecca tells me, early on, which is good, because then everybody could choose plants they wanted to take home.

This time the surprise was in the variety of plants people brought to share. They included iris, marigolds, lilly of the valley, columbine, wood poppy, assorted veggie starts, black berry and raspberry starts, and asters. Plus, an even bigger surprise, none of the usual staples: hostas and daylilies!

Kathy suggested that we plant the extra plants during one of our planned guerilla gardening adventures, in a public area, probably around midnight . . . I’m checking to see if the city mows the area around the new underpass. And even if it does, perhaps we could put up a sign saying “please don’t mow these plants down.” That would be an interesting experiment, eh?

Unfortunately, since I wasn’t here, no pics of the Plant Swap event itself. But it sounds like a good one, and that afternoon Rebecca tells me four people showed up to work in the GANG garden. YES!

Plus, two days ago, I was out walking with puppy Shadow when I came across the adult son of a neighbor on the corner of 7th and Hillsdale who was mowing an enormous lawn and collecting the clippings. He agreed to give them to the GANG garden, and actually dropped them off, later. YES!

This morning I added a layer of grass mulch to some of Rebecca’s newly planted beds.

But the best I saved for last.

Last night, in the middle of the night, Rebecca woke up and remembered that she had decided to go get the probably 40 pieces of perfectly good long pieces of wood that were stacked by a dumpster on 7th Street, near the Fire Station. So, at 2 am, she roused herself out of bed, started the truck, and went to pick it up. The the best part for her? A fireman came out and asked if she wanted help. Unfortunately, she was already done. This wood will go a long way towards any building projects.