Community Garden Feature: So. 7th Street

I was able to check out the community garden on So. 7th Street in Newark, NJ. This garden has been there for the past few years. It is overseen by a great friend of mine, Mrs. White. The Greater Newark Conservancy had helped develop this area as well. Within their garden they have grown kale, broccoli, lettuce, melon, strawberries, cherry peppers, mustard greens, and more. I did manage to get a few photos to share with you.

Entering the garden

Mrs. White holding up broccoli.

Kale and mustard greens

Cherry peppers

Jalapeno peppers

Cabbage

Lettuce

Melon

Strawberries

Petunias

Leaving the garden. They evenn planted little trees as well.


Check out my new garden blog and follow here at Garden and the City

Garden and the City

My new blog was created to tell you guys my adventures in the community garden on my street in Newark, NJ. It is also to share articles and book reviews related to gardening. This is also my first time growing vegetables so I am documenting my progress on a weekly basis. Then also mention some gardening tips and affects I may have gardening in the city. There are plenty of other things I will be sharing as well. So stay tuned to see what I have to offer.

The link is follow and show love to: http://gardenandthecity.blogspot.com/

Article Response: Why we're writing an early obit for the PC

Article Link Why we're writing an early obit for the PC | MNN - Mother Nature Network


Image: Dreamstime

Response First people began to lose the love for paper back items such newspapers and books, to the almighty desktop PC. Now they are saying that the love for the desktop PC is dying out slowly. There was a time when people were buying PCs left and right. Most of my teachers were mad because people would rather look up a summary of a book instead of actually reading one. There was a time when there was a PC in each person's room in my house, but if they are there they are not being used. When I went to college, some of my friends even brought their PC to school. Their big bulky desktop computer taking up the desk. Those were the memories.

I do think with the increasing use of tablets such as the Apple iPad and readers, like the Sony E-Reader, Pc sales are sliding. People feel it is much easier to have because you don't have to take up space and set up wires. They are lighter and hold just as much information as desktop PCs. Laptops are more popular now to travel with your work on the road as well. People are looking for more convenience. But as far as the desktop PC dying completely off, still don't think that will be possible. Plenty of offices still use them and at a desk, they are more comfortable to type on. What do you guys think? Do you still own a desktop PC?

Meet Me In The Garden Pt. 5

his is week 5 guys and things are starting to blossom and bloom. A few days last week we had temperatures above 90 and close to 100 degrees. The heat did not stop my family and I from tending to the garden giving the plants water after sundown. Then after a thunderstorm, the plants got a good amount of water.



We also tried to find a natural pesticide to keep spiders and bugs away without harming them or the plants. I read that Marigolds, Petunias, Onion plants and more herbs keep bugs away. So on June 8th we planted some pretty yellow Marigolds from WalMart in the plots. I also read the spraying onion powder or garlic powder keeps them away too. We even sprinkled red pepper powder around the plots to keep cats and dogs away that may try to make their way to the garden.

Bugs like Ladybugs are beneficial because the kill other insects.


Wednesday June 8, 2011
Plot 1


Plot 2


Sunday June 12, 2011
Plot 1






Plot 2


Monday June 13, 2011
Plot 1


Plot 2



Tuesday June 14, 2011
Plot 1




Plot 2




Slowly but surely it's trying to come along


Good reading

Home Gardening in the US

Yesterday was week four for my family and I plots in the community garden and they have been growing pretty good so far. In plot 1, we're growing red cabbage, stringbeans, tomatoes, collards and sweet peppers. In plot 2, there are collards, cabbage, tomatoes, and an eggplant plant. According to the graphic below, tomato is the most popular vegetable being grown throughout the country. It is also a vegetable most of my neighbors are growing as well. There are a few people growing cucumbers but I feel like I should have grew them as well because I love them so much. I can just cut them and eat them plain. But it is so cool that people are beginning to grow their own vegetables and fruits these days. With the increasing use of pesticides and genetically engineered foods, it is safer to grow what you know on your own. Hopefully this infographic can be of assistance to those who are planning a garden of their own.


Infographic: Home gardening in the U.S. | MNN - Mother Nature Network

Tornadoes

I just felt in my heart, with all the devastation going on throughout the midwestern U.S. with tornadoes, to do a post about my feelings and tornadoes. My prayers are going out to all the people who were affected by these natural disasters. They are trying to recover from extensive damage and loss of friends and family. The area in which this has been taken place in is called "Tornado Alley" between the Rocky and Appalachian Mountains and a tornado can occur at any given time. Nobody deserves to witness any type of disasters, whether they are natural or man-made. Times are so hard these days as it is and to lose what you have is very hard to replace.


Image: NOAA

According to Wikipedia, "a tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud." They form from the clouds that cause thunderstorms turning to supercell storms from rotating air that causes the clouds to form a funnel shape that drops to the ground and moves at violent wind speeds. They mainly occur in spring and summer months. This is why so many tornado breakouts are occuring now. With climate change it can worsen and be more destructive in comings years. Tornadoes are very unpredictable and disasterous. I just hope they continue to work on ways to get a stronger prediction to save people's lives.


Image: NOAA

For More Info
Here's a Wikipedia article.

Meet Me In The Garden Pt. 4

So this is week four guys and I do see some changes in my vegetables. I do see them trying to grow stronger and fuller. Both plots are looking good. I'm more confident than I was when I first started. Everyone's garden is showing progress and before you know it they will be ready to harvest. Here are some photos and videos of my progress.

Wednesday June 1, 2011
Plot 1


Plot 2





Tuesday June 7, 2011
Plot 1
Some plant food my neighbor recommended for us to use. Put a tablespoon of it in a gallon of water and sprinkle it on plants. Today will mark my first day using it. I'll have to use more in two weeks.


Plot 1



Plot 2






Around the garden


My sister

My neighbors


Done for the day