Hello Friends of UUG!

Unity Urban Garden is getting in gear this 2012 season with new zeal.  We will gather Tuesday May 1,  5:30-7:30pm  for our first garden day. See below what we have in store for this year:

Regular GARDEN DAYS will be TUESDAYS 5:30-7:30pm  and SATURDAYS: 10-12pm  (email or call before coming on Saturday)


INDIVIDUAL GARDEN PLOTS

This year we will try something new by providing individual garden plots for interested community members. Currently there are 7 plots available measuring 6x12.  Since this is something new for us there is no fee for the plot this year; just provide your own seeds, personal hand tools and time. Water sources are available. There are also Master Gardeners who you can consult with if you are new to gardening. In exchange for the plot we ask that you help with garden maintenance and upkeep.


GENERAL VOLUNTEER  NEEDS
If you are not interested in your own plot we still need your help with the following:
* Rain barrel management
* Strawberry patch maintenance
* Herb garden maintenance
* Community organizing skills to assist with community outreach
* Revitalization of the garden fence and sign. Construction skills needed for this project
*Grant research and writing

If those jobs don't suit you we can find something for you.

Contact us at unityurbangarden@gmail.com or call (240- 593-2530

Seeking Dedicated Volunteers For Spring 2012

Unity Urban Garden Unity Urban Garden (UUG) in the Waltherson community, corner of Schley and Southern Ave., is seeking dedicated volunteers to assist with the Spring 2012 growing season.

If interested Contact: unityurbangarden@gmail.com

Community Garden Needs Your Vision

Unity Urban Garden is recruiting serious volunteers who want help take this urban garden to the next level. UUG is a garden, located in the Waltherson Neighborhood in Northeast Baltimore. It is bordered by Walther Blvd., Moravia Ave. and Belair Rd. We began in 2008 with the goals to create a community space, beautify a vacant lot and educate the community about urban gardening. We have 12, 12x6 raised beds, a shade garden/seating area, compost bins and recently installed rain barrels. We eventually would like to add a walking labyrinth.

We are looking for committed volunteers who are excited about urban gardening and have time to invest in helping to manage and develop this garden. We are also in need of construction/building and grant writing skills. As we move into the next phase of this garden, we hope that it will provide a source of food for those in need. We are considering selling garden plots this year so please contact us if you are interested.

To learn more about UUG please check out our blog http://www.unityurbangarden.blogspot.com/ or stop by to 4001 Southern Ave. to see the site.

Our next meetings will be February 26, March 5 and March 19 at 4:30, location TBA. Please email unityurbangarden@gmail.com or call 443-474-9757.

Even though it's still winter, the organizers of UUG are in the process of setting up a meeting to discuss the future of the garden. We, the organizers, are at a crossroads about the goals of the garden, our vision individually and exactly what we would like the bounty to be in the garden. We are generally at this point, bouncing ideas off of each other about partnering with another community garden or changing what we're growing. Right now we're not completely sure, which is where the meeting(s) come in. We haven't posted in quite some time and wanted to get those that read our blog up to speed on what we've been up to. We'll be in touch soon! Happy winter!

Creating UUG's Sign

Unity Urban Garden is thriving and so are the weeds! We keep telling ourselves it points to how healthy the soil is. :-) We have much produce growing including okra, cucs, parsley, melons, tomatoes, sage, chamomile, echinacea, chives, etc. We are in the process of having two signs created by two youths. They have come out and braved the relentlessness of the mosquitoes and the heat on several occasions. We thank them. Our next goals are to complete our fence and get a handle on the weeds. We attempted to plant peanuts but they didn't grow. Better luck next time!

Updated Pics! Before and After!

The Latest at UUG

UUG has some things going on. We will update with current pictures very soon. We have about 4 rain barrels installed and about 6 raised beds going with herbs, veggies and fruit. The melon patches are taking up two raised beds and we started strawberry seedlings for next yr. Herbs we have growing include Calendula, chamomile, yarrow, Echinacea p., thyme, sage and lavender. We’re very happy that everything seems to be thriving and we have companion planted in some raised beds. We love seeing beneficial insects as it means we're doing something right!

The latest projects in addition to getting the rain barrels installed is designing and putting our UUG sign in place. We have to have this grant project done before we apply with the same organization for another grant at the end of July. We must engage the help of the youth as well.

The garden has had some issues with feral cats, one in particular we believe, defecating in our beds, so we built some caged wire around the beds and have been having less issues now. We like to do things to deter possibly challenges in the physical and work with the nature spirits, angels and guides to assist us, especially when we’re not there.

We have many beautiful flower perennials growing and it is truly very beautiful to see how far we have come thus far. The garden is not where we’d like it to be, but we and the garden are works in progress. In looking at the garden just last year we have most definitely come a long way.

Projects we have in mind after finishing up the present ones are to install a therapeutic labyrinth and get a shed. It’s imperative that we get a shed because it’s difficult at times with the tools being available to all of us and scheduling if someone has the tools but can’t be at the garden, where to put the tools, etc.

Pictures will be posted soon!

A plant spirit buddy that was ready to work!

Shel installing wind chimes to welcome the elemental wind spirits.

Black gold.

We love our worms.

We have amended the soil and have begun to put our veggie and herb seedlings for companions in our raised beds. It's not exactly easy prepping soil. We used organic soil, compost and bone meal. Check back for other pics as we continue. Tues. we'll be prepping an herb raised bed. Our herb seedlings are doing very well and are ready to go into their permanent homes.

Before

Essence sifting the compost.

After

We've added more seedlings since this pic was taken.

Rain Barrel Update