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Monday, June 6, 2011

Expanding Gardens

Really good progress with the gardens this week!

We started building herb spirals with all of the rubble still being generated in the plant. We've built up 3 foot high mounds in the shape of paisleys on which we will plant a variety of different herbs. The mounds provide us with a great surface area for both planting and water retention. Once the plants grow and their roots take hold, the structure, made of fragments of bricks, concrete and terra cotta, will only be made stronger with the roots of the herbs winding their way down through the soil, mulch and into the foundation structure. And the paisleys? They just look cool. Never underestimate the power of design and symbols to capture the minds of people just as much as concepts and ideas.

We have also finished planting the 3 Sisters bed. The corn is approximately 4 inches tall, which meant it was time to put the beans and squash in the ground. We planted 320 bean plants and about 100 squash plants. If the health and abundance of the corn is any sign, we should be in for heaps of beans and squash this summer. Check out a time lapse of the process here: Completing the 3 Sisters.

We also had some more herbs, flowers and squash go in the North and East Front Gardens thanks to our friends Nick and Alex who are working on their own endeavors inside the plant. Thanks guys!

We also discovered more growing efforts taking place right around the corner from us and just an hour and half away in Woodstock, IL.

At 1809 W. 51st St., the Nto-Otong Association - United Human Services Center, who have been running a food shelf since 2003, giving food to over 150 families and 1,000 people on Chicago's Southside every Tuesday, have started the first of a series of community gardens. They hope to grow lots of fruits and veggies to be able to give even more back to the community they inhabit. They're always looking for help with their wonderful efforts in the community.

In Woodstock, IL this past weekend, the beginnings of a community garden on an old Superfund site was started by the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County. They have big plans for the site including lots of produce, wetland revitalization, an on-site well and solar powered irrigation, all while incorporating the principles of permaculture, molding them for their specific location to get the most out of their land. Check out some of their ground break photos on flickr here.

Also check out the McHenry County Transition.

We'll leave you this time with some good words from the Environmental Defenders:

"One way to open your eyes is to ask yourself, 'What if I had never seen this before? What if I knew I would never see it again?'" ~Rachel Carson

More On Permaculture: Gaia's Garden

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