Spring is officially here, I’d I like to invite you to the 4th Annual Garden Party held at the Washington/Chestnut Street Park this Saturday, May 18.
It will be a morning of beautifying the park with annuals and mulch donated by Colonial Gardens and light refreshments courtesy of Genesis Housing Corp. Details are below and don’t forget you gardening tools! SHOVELS, RAKES and GLOVES!
WHAT: 4TH ANNUAL GARDEN PARTY WHERE: WASHINGTON/CHESTNUT STS. PARK DATE: SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2013 TIME: 9AM – 11AM
Pottstown, PA— Have you ever wanted to have your own garden, but didn’t have enough room in your yard? Would you like your children to learn how to grow their own fresh vegetables, but don’t know where to begin? Would you like to meet a diverse group of individuals who love spending time outdoors?
The MOSAIC Community Land Trust Community Garden is waiting for YOU! Located at 423 Chestnut Street.
The community garden is now accepting applications for this year’s growing season! On Saturday, April 13th from 9-12 – the garden will host its first Work & Play day of the season. There will be a brief information session to explain what community gardens are all about and to take applications for raised bed garden plots for the 2013 season. There will be a wide range of free seeds and seedlings for garden plot owners to dig in and plant that day.
Garden plot owners pay a small annual fee to lease their plot and actively cultivate it throughout the entire growing season. The MOSAIC encourages new and seasoned gardeners alike to be a part of this neighborly experience. Individuals, families, community organizations, youth groups, and local restaurants are all welcome to apply for a plot.
Can’t make on the 13th? The next Garden Work & Play Day is scheduled for Saturday, April 20th from 9-12. Please make a note of it and plan to attend.
For more information, contact Laura Washington, Garden Manager, at 484-300-2410 or wash5000@msn.com.
Pottstown, Pa. – Mosaic CLT is pleased to welcome Laura Washington as its new Community Garden Manager. Laura has been on a lifelong journey to eat well, live well and make every concession to live a natural, wholesome lifestyle. A big part of that journey revolves around the foods that she and her family enjoy. Laura completed a 9-month Homestead Herbalism Course and certification at the Farm at Coventry in Pottstown.
The course was a turning point in her view of life and the reality that the earth provides everything we need to live a life that is kinder and gentler to the environment and one another.
Last year, Laura was an active member of the Mosaic Community Gardens at 423 Chestnut St. She held seminars, demonstrations and assisted with volunteer activities while tending to her own plot and those of others.
Laura has this to say about her experience of the gardens last year:
“I captured the essence of what a community garden is made of: amazing people who share and care about the environment, each other and what they grow and eat.”
A big “thank you” to all the amazing applicants for this position!
We consider it fortunate to have had the opportunity to interview so many qualified candidates. It was a tough decision. However, we enjoyed the process and especially speaking with each and every one of you and, (some of you twice).
Again, thank you so much and we hope you’ll be part of the gardens this year to help further create community and share your knowledge with others.
Laura’s qualifications, in the end, were the perfect match for our mission of creating neighborhood, gardening and promoting healthy choices. As a volunteer, during our first season, Laura made a big impact on all who had the joyful opportunity to spend time with her in the gardens.
Mosaic Community Gardens, Saturday, January 5, Noon, 423 Chestnut St., Pottstown
Welcome to the Mosaic Community Gardens for a celebration of the winter gardens and installation of the artistically designed and built pergola that will support the beautiful Wisteria vine planted last spring. The pergola is designed and built by Ryan Procsal, a Pottstown resident, designer and craftsman. We’re excited to feature Ryan’s creative skills in the community gardens and we’re honored to call him “neighbor.”
Join your friends and neighbors on Saturday, January 5th for a ceremonial celebration of the winter gardens, led by Jodi McCarty and Lorraine Kat Morris of the Enlightened Path Holistic Center, 1494 N. Charlotte St. Ste#11. Warm spiced cider and hot chocolate on tap!!
Welcome to the Mosaic Community Gardens for a celebration of the winter gardens and installation of the artistically designed and built pergola that will support the beautiful Wisteria vine planted last spring.
The pergola is designed and built by Ryan Procsal, a Pottstown resident, designer and craftsman. We’re excited to feature Ryan’s creative skills in the community gardens and we’re honored to call him “neighbor.”
Join your friends and neighbors on Saturday, January 5th for a ceremonial celebration of the winter gardens, led by Jodi McCarty and Lorraine Kat Morris of the EnlightenedPathHolisticCenter, 1494 N. Charlotte St. Ste#11.
Warm spiced cider and hot chocolate on tap!!
This project/program was made possible through a grant from the Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation.
The Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation’s mission is to enhance the health and wellness of area residents, providing education, funding and programs that motivate people to adopt healthy lifestyles. Visit www.pottstownfoundation.org for more information about the Foundation. Discover Pottstown area’s online community at www.missionhealthyliving.org to learn and share great information on how to lead a healthier life. You can also follow Mission Healthy Living on Facebook and Twitter.
MOSAIC Community Land Trust is holding an “Open Garden” on Saturday, September 22 from 12-2 pm. All are invited into the Community Garden at 423 Chestnut Street in Pottstown to participate in a salsa-making workshop, learn how the garden works, and pick vegetables to take home. Garden guests on September 22 will be able to take home vegetables and herbs from one of MOSAIC’s community plots. There will also be salsa-making demonstrations and tastings, along with pesto made from basil grown in the garden.
MOSAIC is now seeking another site in Pottstown to add a garden next year. Interested residents can get on a list for next year’s gardens.
MOSAIC Community Land Trust’s a mission to increase homeownership in Pottstown, develop community gardens, and support the arts. Their office and gallery is at 10 S. Hannover Street. Details can be found at their website at www.mosaiccommunitylandtrust.org or by calling David Jackson at 484-949-4235.
August 29, 2012 – Pottstown, PA – MOSAIC Community Land Trust is holding an “Open Garden” on Saturday, September 22 from 12-2 pm. All are invited into the Community Garden at 423 Chestnut Street in Pottstown to participate in a salsa-making workshop, learn how the garden works, and pick vegetables to take home.
“The idea of many people gardening their own plot within a larger space may have seemed unusual last spring when this was just a vacant lot,” said David Jackson, President of MOSAIC’s Board of Trustees. “We want to welcome the community to see the garden in action.”
The Community Garden has plots being tended by Pottstown residents, including groups from Pottstown Middle School, the Olivet Boys and Girls Club, and the Maternity Care Coalition/Early Head Start. Hundreds of pounds of squash, tomatoes, kale, basil and many other vegetables and herbs are being harvested. Members weigh their produce and record it on a sheet; totals will be announced at the end of the season.
Garden guests on September 22 will be able to take home vegetables and herbs from one of MOSAIC’s community plots. There will also be salsa-making demonstrations and tastings, along with pesto made from basil grown in the garden. MOSAIC is now seeking another site in Pottstown to add a garden next year. Interested residents can get on a list for next year’s gardens.
Support for acquisition and construction of the garden on Chestnut Street came from the Pottstown School District, Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation, National Penn Bank, Genesis Housing Corporation, Susquehanna Bank, Lowes, Borough of Pottstown, Davey Tree Experts, and Andrew Monastra, Esq.
MOSAIC Community Land Trust’s a mission to increase homeownership in Pottstown, develop community gardens, and support the arts. Their office and gallery is at 10 S. Hannover Street. Membership in the CLT is open to all; details can be found at their website at www.mosaiccommunitylandtrust.org or by calling David Jackson at 484-949-4235.
Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States with township and municipal boundaries (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Robert J. Hipp was enjoying his backyard fish pond Friday when he noticed something floating on the surface.
“It looked like an alligator and I thought maybe someone was playing a trick on me and put a plastic alligator in the pond,” Hipp said. “When I reached for it, it went underwater and I knew it was real.”
Upon closer inspection, Hipp said, he saw a 3-foot-long American alligator enjoying a swim. But the gator was also feasting on fish and frogs in the pond.
“We have koi in the pond and usually have a net over it because the blue herons will swoop down and take the fish,” Hipp said. “Herons can clean out a pond in no time.”
Location of Conshohocken in Montgomery County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
CONSHOHOCKEN, PA — Hey Conshy, how does your garden grow?
Last spring, while the rest of us were procrastinating on that mythical vegetable garden we swore we’d finally get around to planting, those early birds at the Conshohocken Community Garden were busy tilling the organically fertilized soil and getting their cucumber seeds and tomato plants into the earth where they needed to be.
And now they’re reaping the harvest.
Practically everything’s growing like crazy here at 411 E. Elm Street — c’mon, cantaloupes, what’re you waiting for? — on what was for decades an eyesore of a vacant lot.
Pottstown, Pa - Campers at the Pottstown branch of the Olivet Boys and Girls Club are learning about fresh, organic vegetables while keeping their creativity humming in a unique summer program at the MOSAIC Community Garden at 423 Chestnut Street in Pottstown.
About twenty campers, aged 10-12 years old, are participating in the six-week program. One morning each week they walk from the Ricketts Center to the garden, where they spend a couple of hours working on an art project and caring for their organization’s two plots as well as the communal plots around the perimeter of the garden. So far the children have painted benches in whimsical colors, learned how to use binoculars from a birding expert, and painted birdhouses to take home. They have also taken home collard greens and had the chance to sample blueberries and cherry tomatoes while watering the many plants being grown around the perimeter of the garden.
Funding for the program, which was designed by Pottstown resident Hannah Davis, is being provided by Susquehanna Bank through Genesis Housing Corporation. Ms. Davis is teaching the art classes along with Natalie Cyphers.
“We’re grateful to Susquehanna and Judy Memberg of Genesis for making it possible for us to offer programming in our first year of operating the garden,” said David Jackson, president of MOSAIC. “We want young people especially to experience the benefits of gardening and the arts.”
The remaining three workshops will focus on the life cycle of butterflies and making butterfly mobiles, creating mosaic tile stepping-stones for the garden, and making pizzas at the Ricketts Center with ingredients picked fresh from the garden.
The MOSAIC Community Garden is owned and operated by MOSAIC Community Land Trust, which is seeking additional community garden sites for 2013 in order to expand the supply of fresh vegetables and healthy lifestyle choices for Pottstown residents. Support for acquisition and construction of the garden came from the Pottstown School District, Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation, National Penn Bank, Genesis Housing Corporation, Susquehanna Bank, Lowes, Borough of Pottstown, Davey Tree Experts, and Andrew Monastra, Esq.
MOSAIC Community Land Trust (CLT) has an office and art gallery at 10 S. Hanover Street in downtown Pottstown. They welcome donations in support of their mission to increase homeownership, develop community gardens, and support the arts in Pottstown. Membership in the CLT is open to all; details can be found at their website at www.mosaiccommunitylandtrust.org or by calling David Jackson at 484-949-4235.
Pottstown, PA – I was given a tour of the new Community Garden on Chestnut Street yesterday by Katy Jackson. The garden was formerly a broken down playground full of weeds, drug dealers and hookers. The school district and the borough worked with Mosaic to make this project happen. It is now a source of pride and a stabilizing factor in the neighborhood.
The large space was cleared and has been subdivided into 34 individual plots that people are using to grow their own vegetables. There is also a flower garden near the front entrance, a patio area and a common gathering area in the rear. An amphitheater is being constructed for lectures and programs. There is a shed full of tools, three hoses for water and several adult and child picnic tables. In addition, there is a composter in the rear of the property that will be brought back into working order so that gardeners can all contribute to the communal composter.
There is an educational component to the garden as well as the ability to grow one’s own food. There is art programming at the garden this summer in conjunction with the Olivet Boys & Girls Club/Ricketts Center. 20-25 children are attending. The children have painted the benches the past three Thursday mornings and this Thursday they are gathering at the garden to paint bird houses.
There is special kids pizza garden and a middle school garden.
People are harvesting green beans, lettuce, yellow squash and tomatoes.
This Saturday, July 14th, there is a composting workshop at the garden. Lectures will be given on traditional composting and worm composting. This workshop runs from 9am to 11am. The presenters will be Laura Washington and Scott Winter.
Future plans include selling produce grown from the garden and additional community garden sites being added in Pottstown. There are many volunteers who have put hours of sweat equity into making this garden a huge success. They should all be commended!
Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Berks County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Under the sweltering sun at West Reading’s community garden, Lore DeHart offered up her arugula by the bundle.
As it turns out, she’s found, she’s not so big a fan of it after all.
Another thing she’s learned? Her radishes could use some work.
With two plots to tend to, it’s been a trial-and-error process for the retired Exeter School District teacher who, despite growing up on 6 acres of land, counts herself a novice among her fellow gardeners at the South Second Avenue and Chestnut Street garden.
This year, when you wander through the gardens of the Centre Park Historic District’s garden tour, you’ll get more than just a taste of the eclectic plots of green. You’ll also get a taste of some of Reading’s eclectic restaurants.
And some wine. And music.
This year, as the historic district celebrates it 30th anniversary (and the 19th garden tour), organizers opted to transform the tour with things that will enhance the experience.
“It stemmed from a few things,” said Beth Ireland, vice president and marketing chairwoman for the district. “We’ve had some years where the garden tour went great, and then it would dwindle. There were even some years when we didn’t have it. We were kind of in that place again because there are other garden tours in the area. So we thought we’d offer the tour with wine and music – the whole shebang.”
Saturday -May 19, 2012 – Garden Party at the Park- From 10-11:30am
Help plant a garden in the park. We’ll be sprucing up the park with annuals and mulch. Last week a small herb garden (donated by Genesis Housing) was planted next to the Police Sub Station building. A tour of the new Mosaic Community garden at 443 Chestnut St. will be offered for those that are interested. Light refreshments will be served.
Pottstown, PA, 4/23/2012 — Mosaic Community Land Trust is holding registration and orientation for new members of its community garden at 423 Chestnut Street on the following Saturdays: April 28, May 5, and May 12 from 9 AM to 12 PM at the garden. On May 5th gardeners will be able to choose the plants they would like in their own plot, and the plants will be delivered to the garden on May 12, which will be a day for planting.
There are plots still available for this season. Plot rates are $25 for households with incomes below $30,000; those with incomes above this level will pay $50. Groups and organizations can plant a plot for a flat $100.00 season fee. In addition to offering families a safe place to grow healthy, organic food, this fee includes the choice of plants, water on-site, the use of Mosaic tools, workshops, and advice from experienced gardeners. Children are welcome and the garden is available for field trips for students.
To apply and register for your plot or to set up a field trip, please contact Sue Repko at 609-658-9043 or srepko@mosaiccommunitylandtrust.org or Mary-Beth Bacallao Lydon at flyeredup8831@gmail.com.
MOSAIC Community Land Trust was established in 2011 and is a registered 501 (c) 3 Non-Profit organization. MOSAIC Community Land Trust provides permanently affordable housing and healthy living choices to people of modest means, and through education and participation, creates a vital community with a focus on arts and culture to stabilize neighborhoods and improve the quality of life in Pottstown.
Pittsburgh is leading the way into the “green” and sustainable lifestyle for a big city. An ambitious project, that has been 20 years in the making, is the transformation of a former mining site, mostly in North Fayette Township, into a community garden. Talk about taking lemons and making lemonade!
The Pittsburgh Botanic Garden is a work in progress. The finished project will be 450 acres of public garden. Yes, you read that correctly 450 acres! It is hoped the Botanic Garden will attract a minimum of 300,000 visitors per year. This Botanic Garden has another ten years to go before completion and will end up costing $30 million. Phase One, which is expected to open in 2012, will be the Wildflower and Woodland Trail. The Botanic Garden will be 20 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh.
The leftover coal extracted from the site is being sold to help pay for the $7.9 million clean up. Grants have been received from various organizations to help pay for projects over the years.
One of the fundraising methods being used for the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden is the annual Pittsburgh Botanic Garden’s Town & Country Open Garden Day Tour. The tour, which is in its 14th year, raises much needed money for the Botanic Garden project. The tour features 14 gardens. Six of the 14 gardens are located in Pittsburgh’s Southside neighborhood. The Southside is an urban neighborhood of densely packed homes with small lots. Not exactly an area most people would think of as a garden paradise.
In addition to the Southside, the tour also visits Sewickley, Observatory Hill, Brighton Heights and Ben Avon. You can take a bus tour or the less expensive self-guided tour. There are two rooftop gardens on the tour this year! The gardens are a mixture of urban, suburban, large, small, formal and informal – a little something for everyone.
The tour is Sunday, June 26th from 9 – 5. The bus leaves at 8:30 a.m. The bus tour, which includes lunch (Andora’s), is $110. The self-guided tour is $50. There is a $10 discount for members. The deadline to buy tickets is Tuesday, June 21st. Tickets can be purchased online or at several locations listed on the website.
The bus departure and drop-off point is the PSI Building, 850 Poplar St., Green Tree.
Sat. – May 21, 2011 – Garden Party at the Park - From 10am – 1pm
Help plant a garden in the park. We will be putting a small vegetable garden beside the Police Sub Station building. Plants, mulch and soil donated by Colonial Gardens, Phoenixville and the raised vegetable garden courtesy of Genesis Housing Corp. We will also discuss the mural that is planned for the park. Light refreshments will be served.
Sat. – June 4, 2011 (Rain Date - June 11) – Science in the Park – From 12pm – 3pm
Several local scientists will demonstrate interactive and fascinating science experiments geared to amaze elementary and middle school age children. Event sponsored by Genesis Housing Corp. and Arkema Inc. Food will be served to event participants.
Looking for Volunteers for both events:
Setup
Food Prep and Service (Light food Donations for Garden Party)
Clean-up
General Help
