The sower sows seeds

                                         (Lettuce)

                                          (Purple dove snap bush beans)

                                         (Collards)

                                         (Figs)

                                         (Rabbi Stacey in front of fig tree)

                                                   (Variegated dogwood)

                                         (Peaches)

                                         (Asparagus crowns)

                                         (Workers in the garden)

                                         (Barley)

                                         (Collard seedlings)

                                         (Rosemary seedling)

(Lavender)

                                         (Pepper seedlings)
As the temperature warms up we begin to direct sow seeds into the Earth. So far we have planted lettuce, carrots, beets, kale, collards, radishes, arugula, Swiss chard, purple dove snap bush beans, wheat, barley, amaranth, okra, marigold, sunflower, mixed sunflower, Mexican sunflower, parsley, stevia, English thyme, sage, squash, fennel, cilantro, chives, tarragon, eggplant, bunching onions, tomato, sorrel and cucumber directly into the soil. Some of these we have had success with in previous seasons and some are new plants that we have never tried before. We purchased and planted collards, pepper and rosemary seedlings. Some of the seeds that we started indoors in a seed starter kit grew and we planted the cantaloupe seedlings outdoors, a few have died but some have survived so far in the Earth. The delivery of soil came to Morris Ave. so we added a new layer of topsoil to the garden. We planted some flowers in the front yard at Morris Ave. We planted daisy, alyssum, forget-me-not, and bachelor buttons. With enough water, sunlight and plant maintenance like weeding we will have another successful year at My Urban Farm.



                                                                             -Rabbi Stacey Van Rossum

Season 2012

                                          (Morning picture of the sky as the sun rises)

                                          (From our trip to the Central Park Zoo)

                                           (From our trip to the Central Park Zoo)

                                           (From our trip to the Central Park Zoo)

                                           (Tulips)

                                           (Cantaloupe growing)

                                           (Magnolia trees in bloom)

We had our first meeting on 3/16 to begin making plans for Season 2012. The soil at both sites have been turned over once and a delivery of 1/2 ton (1000 lbs.) of topsoil is expected for Morris Ave. We planted, tomato, pepper, cucumber and cantaloupe in seed starter kits. The cantaloupe is already growing. Seeds have already been purchased and we are trying several new plants and different varieties of plants this season. Some new plants include okra, rhubarb and artichoke. There is still talk of building a greenhouse and talk of buying chickens. At E. 111 St. we tested the soil for Potash (K), Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P) and also the PH level was tested. The magnolia trees are blooming and the tulips have sprouted flowers. The weather is warming up and My Urban Farm is beginning to get back to work.



                                                                                       -Rabbi Stacey

The Season is over

The season is officially over. We had our last day of work last Monday. We were able to harvest greens like Swiss chard and kale and also kohlrabi until the very last day. I went to the Morris Ave. site today to feed the worms in the wormbin and when I looked outside in the garden there were still healthy chard and kale leaves. If they survive the winter and are still there in the Spring it would not be a surprise. In the past we have had kale that survived the snow of Winter and the rain of early Spring that was still edible when I picked them. This year we planted oat as a cover crop at Morris Ave. and I planted spelt in late November that should be ready in the Spring. The spelt was about 2-3 inches tall on our last work day. I have purchased barley and wheat seeds that I am going to plant in the Spring at Morris Ave. Much garlic has been planted at both sites and are growing. We took a trip to the Central Park Zoo and were able to see some animals there. There has been talk of building a greenhouse for use in the Spring. That would be both useful and convenient. The plan is to meet in late February to start making plans for Season 2012. I will continue to feed and maintain both the work wormbin and my home wormbin during the Winter. Once again it was another successful season of gardening and I look forward to Season 2012.



                                         - Rabbi Stacey

Trip toThe Battery Urban Farm

                                          (Rabbi Stacey, Johnny, Betty, Tara, Natalie)

                                          (1 view of The Battery Urban Farm)

                                          (Johnny & Tara looking at the collard greens)

                                          (Another view of The Battery Urban Farm)

                                          (Collards at The Battery Urban Farm)

                                          (Another view of The Battery Urban Farm)

                                          (The view across the water)

On Wednesday we visited The Battery Urban Farm in lower Manhattan. Here are some pictures.

Fall has come

The temperature has dropped so the season is almost over. We continue to harvest but there was a snow storm recently and the gardens were covered with snow. I harvested the work wormbin for the 6th time. Some plants still remain in the ground but with the falling temperatures we will probably be putting the gardens to rest in the coming weeks. Here are some pictures.

                                          (Garlic)

                                          (Oregano)

                                          (Growing figs)

                                          (Fig tree)

                                          (Marigold)

                                         (Moon flower)

                                           (?Fever few?)

                                           (Gourd)

                                          (Inside the wormbin before harvesting)

                                          (E. 111 St. after the snow storm)

                                          (Woodpecker)

                                           (Woodpecker)

                                          
                         - Rabbi Stacey

October 2011

                                                  (Rabbi Stacey transplanting a hosta)

 

(John C. working on a lattice) 

                                          (Collards, kale & lettuce at E. 116)

                                          (View of the garden from far away)

(Row of plants)

This past month we have done a lot of work. We assembled a rainwater harvesting barrel system on the W. 108 St. roof deck. We planted ivy outside the 108 St. office in the tree pit. We have begun to cut up dead/dying sunflowers, tomatoes and other plants for compost. We did some work at the Lexington Ave. Armory removing shrubs and plants. We transported these to E. 116- E. 117 St. where they will be planted. We continue to harvest collards, chard, tomatoes, kohlrabi, oregano, rosemary, parsley, kale, eggplant, basil and even mini pumpkins. There is still so much left in the Earth that we will be harvesting probably until the frost date. Finally, as we have done in the previous seasons we have planted garlic to harvest in the Spring. Goodbye.

The Fall season is coming

As the Fall season is approaching, the time is coming for the growing season to end. We continue to harvest much from both sites.  Some new vegetables that we have harvested are melons, kohlrabi, mustard greens, Roma tomatoes, squash and cabbage. The delivery of soil came to E. 116 St. so some time this month we will have some flowers  and fall crops in the Earth. We have begun deadheading the sunflowers because flocks of birds have been eating the sunflower seeds. I was able to take a picture of one in the act of eating the sunflower seeds. We saved some tomato and melon seeds. Finally, our annual Harvest Festival is planned for the coming weeks. Goodbye.

                                          (One view of the garden)

                                           (Growing white beans)

                                           (Growing kale)

                                           (Melon)

                                           (Thai basil)

                                          (View from the top tier down)

                                          (Bed of mustard greens)

                                           (Chamomile)

                                          (Two birds sitting on a sunflower)

                                          (Two birds sitting on a sunflower)

                                          (Bird sitting on a sunflower)

                                          (Bird eating sunflower seeds)

                                          (Kohlrabi)

                                          (2 mustard green leaves, collard green leaf and 2 Swiss chard leaves)

                                           (Roma tomato, cherry tomato, beefsteak tomato, pepper and basil)                              


                                                                               -Rabbi Stacey