Wrigley Garden is offically CLOSED

Thank you everyone who participated in Wrigley Garden. Our 2 year project was a great success. We reached out to the Henderson Ave neighbors and made a difference in a big way.

We taught numerous school groups about seed starting, transplanting seedlings, how to harvest ripe produce, and how to make a yummy snack. The kids were so interested in where their food came from we decided to keep the schools involved and developed an ongoing program and have worked with a different school each year.

We held workshops on how to raise chickens in the city and even kept a few bee hives.

I am so happy to have had the opportunity to build this garden with you.

Thanks again-
sasha kanno

Organic or local?

"Organic does not necessarily mean that the food was grown in an ecologically, energetically, or socially sustainable way." If you send it half way around the world before it is eaten, an organic food still may be "good" for the consumer, but it is "good" for the food system? Quoted from Joan Gussow, nutritionist. Exert taken from Coming Home to Eat by Gary Paul Nabhan

This raises a good point. Does everything we consume need to be organically grown? Can we trust the labels that have been slapped on the packing by the marketing team? Would you prefer it to be ethically grown, but not necessarily organic? Ethically including both a healthy environment for the workers and nature.

Just something to think about as the new year approaches. Where do you want to go with your food choices? Are you able to pay top dollar for Whole Foods pricing or are you willing and able to get dirty and grow it yourself? Do you know your farmer? Are you part of a CSA meat or veggie? Have you purchased a whole pig and stashed it in the freezer?

2010 was a great year. Wonderful things happened at Wrigley Garden, Farm Lot 59 got started, Farm Box is available for you to pick up, my family joined J&J Grassfed Beef CSA. We are eating eggs from our own chickens. The more people I meet the better I feel about our city. It seems everyone is trying to do right. I feel healthy and energized because of you. There are many ways for us to eat locally and responsibly and its not more expensive. It does require a little bit extra effort and taking time to make a meal but the payoff is totally worth it. You feel better about the choices you have made and the food you are feeding yourself and your family.

2011 is going to be awesome. Please share your sources and experiences with us. Where do you shop, what are you planning to grow this year? What was your favorite thing from last year? Its something to reflect on as 2010 is put to rest and 2011 is on the horizon. Thank you so much for being part of something wonderful

Happy New Year!

Workday this Saturday the 24th

Hello Gardeners-

Thank you for all your support with Kickstarter and Farm Lot 59. We are currently just about $2,500 shy of our original goal of $10,000. If we go over its even better but we must at least raise the 10grand to get funded.

This weeks happenings.

Saturday the 24th we are having a work day at Wrigley Garden. 1950 & 1060 Henderson Ave near PCH and Magnolia. We will be moving the chicken coop and pulling some weeds. This event is a potluck. Please see email below for details.

And then Sunday we are back at the Sunday Farmers Market at Longfellow Elm. This market is growing and the summer produce is here. Please come and support local business, agriculture and meet some kick ass people.

Ok then- Thanks so much, off to the farm!!

Workday email:

Hello gardeners-

The date is set for the party and work day. I will see you all on July 24th at 9am. Please bring a food item to share, your own plate and utensil and wear your work clothes. We will have a quick meeting while we enjoy some coffee then move on to our chore list. The more people in the garden the better please invite your friends and family to come and enjoy the garden and help us with our maintenance. Moving forward this will be a quarterly event.

Meeting agenda:
30 minutes
Required household membership to Long Beach Local- $25 per household
Garden manager position and requirements,
If your dues are up please come ready to renew- I'll let you know beforehand
Garden relocation update
Urban Farm update
Go over rules and responsibility of gardeners- too many weeds in the garden!
Pick date for Harvest Party in the garden- October?
Greenhouse info and how to use it
Farm Stand, its built now let's use it!

Chore list:
9:30-1:00
Spread mulch
Move the chicken coop and yard
Build shelves for inside shed
Pull Weeds
Build the rest of the tree boxes
Thanks so much. Let me know if there is anything else you would like to discuss or any questions you might have. See you on the 24th if not sooner!

Please view our Kickstarter campaign and spread the word!
Kickstarter: http://kck.st/aP1hWS

Happy Growing!
Sasha Kanno
Executive Director, Long Beach Local
562.230.7207
sashakanno@mac.com
www.longbeachlocal.org
http://wrigleygarden.org

http://www.facebook.com/wrigley.garden?ref=name

Garden's looking good.

Thanks to all my gardeners at WG for taking such great care. Other than the weeds its looking super good. Especially the front, thanks to everyone who sewed seeds, watered, pulled weeds and mulched. Nice job!

-Sasha

July Gardening

Hello gardeners-

July is your last chance to get those summer crops in. By August we are already thinking and planning our fall crops. Here is a nice list that shows what we can still plant now.

July:
Beans
Beets (we can plant all year)
Carrots (we can plant all year)
Last chance for melons
Celery (I have never had good luck with celery and tend to plant golden chard instead)
Corn (this guide I am reading says we can plant until September but I would debate that)
Cucumbers
Eggplant (after its finished producing for the season it makes a nice ornamental)
Jicama
Okra
Peppers
Summer Squash
Swiss Chard
and our favorite tomatoes.

Get out there and get planting!

Fun Friday!

Wrigley Garden will be open today. Come down and say hello. I'll be there getting ready for tomorrow's Chicken Meet-up as well and working in the greenhouse.

Next Friday our Farm Stand will be open! I promise!!

If I don't see you today hopefully will see you tomorrow. Chicken Meet-up starts at 10. Bring a pot luck item if you can and a small donation of $10 is requested. But if you cannot do either that's ok too. Just come down and say hi.

We also launched a new website, www.longbeachlocal.org thanks to my first and most beloved intern Tessa its up and running. Still a work in progress but so is everything don't ya think? Email us if you see a glitch or have something to add.

Thanks so much-
Sasha

Earth Week!

Big week planned for all the tree hugging do gooders out there. Wednesday Wrigley Garden along with Green Lab and the Sunday Farmers Market will be at the Civic Center from 11-1:00. We will be giving away seeds and seedlings along with fresh brewed worm tea.

If you have any questions about your garden there will be Master Gardeners there to answer all your gardening questions. Stop by and say hello!

Please come down and join us at the gardening showcase at the City Hall!

Earth Day Tree Planting

Hello Fellow Tree-Huggers, Wrigley Gardeners and Do Gooders-

Wrigley is Going Green! and the Wrigley Garden in conjunction with Southern California Edison, the City of Long Beach, Office of Sustainability, Councilmember Tonia Reyes Uranga and the neighbors of Taper Street and Fashion Avenue are planting 40 trees on April 24, 2010 at 9:00 a.m. We will meet at 1315 Taper Street, Long Beach, CA 90810—Northwest corner of Taper Street and Fashion Avenue. (Taper street is a small street in West Long Beach: Willow Street west to Santa Fe Avenue north, right on 34th Street, left on Delta Avenue, right on Taper Street.)

In preparation of the tree planting, we will be pre-digging the holes Saturday April 17th at 10:00 a.m.

Please bring a shovel and gloves to each occasion.

Volunteer for one or both events!

Feel free to contact Wrigley is Going Green with any questions.

Hope to see you there.

Best,
Lisa Wibroe, Mauna Eichner and Lee Fukui
wrigleyisgoinggreen@hotmail.com

Tree Planting

Hello Fellow Tree-huggers and Wrigley Gardeners-

If you would like to volunteer for this the hours will count toward your volunteer hours. Please let us know if you will attend with us. The more the merrier. See details below. Thank you, Sasha

Wrigley is Going Green! and the Wrigley Garden in conjunction with Southern California Edison, the City of Long Beach, Office of Sustainability and the neighbors of Taper Street and Fashion Avenue are planting 40 trees on April 24, 2010 at 9:00 a.m. We will meet at 1315 Taper Street (Northwest corner of Taper Street and Fashion Avenue--see map attached or link at bottom of email).

In preparation of the tree planting, we will be pre-digging the holes Saturday April 17th at 10:00 a.m.

Please bring a shovel and gloves to both events.

Volunteer for one or both events!

Feel free to contact Wrigley is Going Green with any questions.

Hope to see you there.

Best,
Lisa Wibroe, Mauna Eichner and Lee Fukui
wrigleyisgoinggreen@hotmail.com

Wrigley Heights Community Meeting

Dear Residents,
One of my highest priorities as your Council member is to continue to maintain a high level of transparency. I have sought to develop green space throughout the 7th District.
Please join us on March 27th as we discuss the creation of more green space in the Wrigley Heights. As your representative, I will keep you informed with updates on all concerns. Contact my office with any concern at 562-570-6139.
Best Regards,
Tonia Reyes Uranga
7th District Council Member


Wrigley Heights Community Meeting
Saturday, March 27th, - 9:30 am
3332 Magnolia Ave, Long Beach 90806

Please join your neighbors for a discussion on the development of a Dog Park and Community Garden.

For more details, please contact Ricardo Linarez at (562) 570-6139 or ricardo.linarez@longbeach.gov

The City of Long Beach, City Council
(562) 570-6139—Fax (562) 570-6954
www.longbeach.gov/district7

Wrigley Heights Garden & Dog Park Meeting

Hello gardeners-

Today's meeting was canceled due to the rain. It has been rescheduled for March 6th @ 9:00am. I will get back to you with the location as I think they will try to have it at the nearby church in case of inclement weather.

We will need everyone to attend this meeting. If you are one of our gardeners or a supporter of Community Gardens this meeting is a must. We had originally scheduled a work day at Wrigley Garden but will have to move the time up a bit. Our planter box building will now start at 12 instead of the original 10 am. I'm sorry for the change of plans but this meeting is very important in securing the future location of Wrigley Garden.

I will keep you posted as to the location of the meeting but please plan on attending. We need to show up in numbers in support of our project. If you have questions or concerns please call me or come by the garden on MWF to discuss our proposal.

Thank you-

Happy Growing!
Sasha Kanno
Director, Wrigley Garden
562.230.7207
sasha@wrigleygarden.org
http://wrigleygarden.org

http://www.facebook.com/wrigley.garden?ref=name

Planter Box Building

If you were lucky enough to get a fruit tree from our fruit tree give away this event is perfect for you.

Location: Wrigley Garden
Date/Time: March 6th @ 10am
What: Wooden Box Building for Orchard

Here is a message from our gardener Stephen:

We have assorted fruit trees in the garden for our orchard in motion, for proper root growth in the transition period they need to be potted into larger containers. We have acquired many 24 inch wooden tree boxes that need reassembly to transplant the fruit trees into.
So come ready with gardening clothes and gloves to build boxes for the garden's future harvest! Anyone who needs a box for their own personal trees a $5.00 donation will be the accepted for each box.

Thank You Connected Corridor!

Since opening this summer, The Wrigley Garden has fed 40 plus families from its raised garden beds on the site of two former drug houses. The subject of a recent LA Times article celebrating the positive effects of gardening on the community, the Wrigley Garden is a two-year project located on land owned by the City of Long Beach. Supporters include The Long Beach Neighborhood Foundation, a 501(c)3 corporation, Wrigley is Going Green, The Long Beach Community Foundation, Connected Corridors, 6^th and 7^th District Council Office, and Parks Recreation and Marine.

Our mission is to create a positive environment for the youth and their families through gardening, sustainability practices, nutrition and exercise. This urban garden serves not only the Henderson Avenue residents but also neighbors along the LA River corridor. In addition to creating a garden that puts food on the tables of families, our vision is for this garden to serve as a demonstration garden for the gardenʼs future site. We are currently

working with district seven as well as the cityʼs Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine to develop a one-acre site in Wrigley Heights.

In the short amount of time that the garden has been in operation, we have already seen a huge change in the neighborhood. Henderson Avenue is heavily impacted by gang activity and crime. With the presence of the garden, there is less crime, and a burgeoning sense of community, with neighbors looking out for their common goals and needs. We are also a fresh set of eyes looking at a neglected neighborhood. Per our request, the Long Beach Police Department has also stepped up their patrols of the area, which is a deterrent for the drug trafficking that often takes place on this block. This project, with the help from the Connected Corridor and the connections we have made through the grant process, will make a difference in the lives of the Henderson Avenue residents, and could be a model for the city of Long Beach. We hope our project will become an inspiration for other communities throughout Long Beach. The Wrigley Garden is thriving, and has become an innovative and cost-effective model for what residents can do when we work together.

On behalf of Rachael and myself I would like to say thank you to Carina and all the good people at Connected Corridor. We look forward to all the good things to come in Phase IIII and throughout Long Beach. Thank you!

Calling out to new gardeners

Hello fellow gardeners-

If you are interested in gardening at the Wrigley Community Garden please come out tomorrow. I have high hopes that it will be a beautiful - dry- day. We are having a general meeting tomorrow at 10:00 am. Everyone interested in gardening with us is welcome to attend.

When: Saturday January 23rd @ 10:00am
Where: 1950 Henderson Ave, Long Beach 90806

See you then-

Good article on brassicas - broccoli and the like

Good article from Earth Matters.

An Uncommon Garden

Earth to Kitchen: Mustard family greens called Brassicas pop with fresh flavors and big yields.

By John Lyons | Wednesday, 13 January 2010 | 18:12

EARTH TO KITCHEN: BRASSICAS Third in a series on growing what you cook and cooking what you grow. The large group of plants belonging to the mustard family Cruciferae -- genus Brassica -- covers a range of common and not-so-common vegetables: from broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale and Brussels sprouts to kohlrabi, rutabagas (Swedes), turnips, collards and choy. Brassicas are edible from flowers to roots. Depending on the plant, cooks prepare the stems (kohlrabi, choy), leaves (cabbage, choy, mustard, kale and collards), flowers (cauliflower, broccoli), roots (turnips and rutabagas) and seeds (mustard and rape). Rich in potassium, soluble fiber, folic acid and vitamins C and K, these vegetables are an absolute must in a daily diet. When home-grown, the taste and vitality of the vegetable is unsurpassed. Growing Brassicas are quite easy to grow, though knowing the correct soil type is important. Most prefer a rich, well-draining soil that has been prepared with well-rotted manure and compost. Ideally the soil should be slightly acidic. Adding lime can increase the ph and adds calcium and magnesium to the crop. Recommended Seed Companies Landreth Seed Company John Scheepers Renee's Garden Seeds Franchi Sementi Seed Savers Exchange Territorial Seed Co. Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply Pinetree Garden Seeds Seeds of Change Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds In Southern California, the ideal time to plant the winter garden is November onward when planting established plants, or as early as August when starting from seed. Southern Californians can continue to plant in succession through late January, but in the rest of the country Brassicas should be grown in early spring. Brassicas need their space in gardens. They grow large -- albeit slowly -- but eventually their habit of spreading can shade anything planted too close. When harvested, the yield will be substantial, especially with cabbages. Broccoli will form a main head, which should be removed; this will prompt the plant to produce side shoots that can be harvested for many weeks. Turnips can be easily grown from seed, just remember to thin out the plants to a 5-inch spacing once the plants reach 3 to 4 inches. (The removed plants can, of course, be eaten as turnip greens.) Allow extra garden space for a succession of plantings every six weeks and you'll have a steady supply of fresh vegetables throughout the season. Pests There are a few really pernicious pests that enjoy eating these plants. The insidious, soil-borne fungal disease commonly known as club root is one of the most serious. If your soil becomes infected, this disease can remain in your garden for many years. A great advantage in growing brassicas from seed is that you avoid accidentally bringing such a disease into your garden via nursery-bought seedlings. The cabbage white butterfly is another opportunistic pest that can wreak havoc in crops. The butterfly lays large amounts of eggs, and its voracious caterpillars render leaves skeletal in a matter of days. An organic solution is a spray of Bt (bacillus thuringiensis), a parasitic bacterium that effectively kills the caterpillars when ingested. Such products can be found at most garden stores and are applied through spraying. Another solution: Cover the crop with fine netting to physically prevent the butterfly from gaining access to the plants. Aphids also can congregate in large amounts and be effectively controlled by a short, sharp blast of water from the hose. Finally, some of these plants may be eaten by rabbits and birds, something problematic usually in rural areas. Again, netting is the best solution to keep animals away from plants. Heirloom and hybrid varietals for the garden Select breeding and hybridization has resulted in a wide array of choices within each variety, but it can be hard to find them all at nurseries. Seed companies are where you'll find a full complement of options. Broccoli: Legend, Packman, Fiesta, De Cicco Broccoli raab: Zamboni, Spring Sorrento Kale: Winter Red, Nero di Toscana, Improved Dwarf Siberian Brussels sprouts: Long Island Improved, Vancouver, Rubine Collards: Champion, Flash, Georgia Mustard (red and green): Southern Giant Curled, Osaka Red, Green Wave Turnips: Gold Ball, Purple Top Globe, Seven Top Choy: Pac Choi, Bok Choy, Ching-Chiang, Tatsoi Cabbage (red and green): Early Jersey Wakefield, Ruby Ball, Red Acre, Copenhagen Market, Savoy Kohlrabi: Dyna, Kongo, Purple Vienna Cauliflower: Snowball Early, Self Blanche, Cheddar, Snow Crown Rutabagas: Marian, Laurentian, Champion Collet Rouge John Lyons is the founder of Earthmatters, a gardening school in Los Angeles' Silver Lake neighborhood, and The Woven Garden, a firm specializing in edible landscaping. He has written on gardening for the Los Angeles Times and California Gardener. Photo by Ledette Gambini

General Meeting this Saturday

Reminder:
Garden meeting this Saturday @ 10:00 am. Rain or shine! If its raining we will meet at the Wrigley Village Police Center at 2023 Pacific Ave. But let's hope for sunshine and a great time in the garden. All members must attend, if you are thinking about gardening with us this is also a perfect time for you to come down. Meeting starts promptly at 10:00.

There is a free breakfast on Daisy Avenue from 9-11, flier attached.

Thank you,
Sasha

Purple Cabbage

No Dig Gardening- Part 2

After the cardboard the layers start coming. We did leaf mulch, compost and straw alternating each one.Make sure to water each layer well...



This was how we left it for the day. We needed to come back and add the green layers and finish it off. I will post those pictures in part 3..

No Dig Gardening

A lot of our gardeners choose to build boxes and some decided to simply mound the soil. Terry and I decided to try our hand at the No Dig Gardening approach.

Since she did have a summer crop here first we had to move all the existing soil and mulch out of the way. There was also an ant problem here so we opted to remove the infested matter instead or try pest control.

Even though we are on 6" of mulch we still laid the cardboard as a weed barrier.