Stimulation

PlymouthRes reading to the kids at The Georgia Street Community Garden.  

Hopefully this becomes a well-known event that draws children into and part of the community.  If you have books for children that you no longer need, this group could use them.  

Moving Mountains

One man digging a garden built this.  They're all playing together before Movie Night begins.

(NOTE:  If you click on this photo you will see the kid in the black, sleeveless t-shirt that I write about below.  If you know this kid, please contact me.  Look at his face.  There's just something about this child I can't put my finger on!)

More Photos from Movie Night

He was a quiet kid.  Very observant and respectful.  There's something  different about him and I liked him instantly - somewhat lost and introspective.  I hope he comes back.  I'd like to get to know him.

A few of the kids who showed up and ate like garbage disposals.  Gorgeous children.

We're the kids in the neighborhood (on too much Koolaid)!

The little Sweet Pea, Taylor.  Madly in love with her!

I was ordered by Taylor to put this one up of The Cubster.

Everyone had a great time.  Lots of good conversation and laughter.  If you can find the time, show up!  And bring FOOD!  I've never seen hamburgers disappear so fast.

Movie Night Extravaganza!

There was a relatively large turn-out for Reading and Movie Night.  Twenty-five kids showed up and half of them, Cub didn't even know!

This is Mama Cub talking with PlymouthRes of DetroitYes.com

The movie selection was Transformers - partly filmed in Detroit, of course.

Now this is little Taylor (left) and my two daughters.  Taylor was glued to my daughter.  For some reason, little girls glob on to her and she's very good with them.  Taylor is probably one of the most beautiful sweetie-pies I've ever seen.  Absolutely stunning!

I have no clue who these two were but they were hams.  The kid in the green shirt is a total goofball.

For Cub

Costco is now selling this clear polycarbonate (with aluminum frame) for $549.99 (after $150 off!).

If you don't have a membership, we do!

Found A Goat Farm...In Detroit!

Thanks to Fishtoes for filming this.  I'm not posting where this was filmed, just that it's in Detroit.  Wouldn't want anything to happen to this little place.

Permaculture

Urban from Myspace sent this one out today about not tilling the soil or using fertilizer which was based on Fukuoka's own research.  Presented by quacking duck and Emilia Hazelip - once a Merry Prankster.

Interesting.  There's more on YouTube.

Urban Gardening Ordinances

Went to a Detroit City Policies meeting tonight. Did you know that it is technically against the law to have a community garden in the city.

From a Garden Resource Program Collaborative handout:

Currently, the only urban agriculture or community gardens that could be permitted in Detroit are those established by the Recreation Department in city parks.

For other property in the city, there is no reference to urban agriculture or community ga rdens, therefore making them illegal. The only reference related to gardens are limitations:

1) Weeds, brush or plant growth over 8 inches tall that are poisonous, noxious or could cause harm are prohibited on public or private land.

2)Landscaping materials and plantings must be 20 feet from the sidewalk and may not be taller than 3 feet.

Chickens: Law prohibits chickens in Detroit.

Bees: No reference to them, so they would be assumed illegal.

There is a proposed amendment that should be going before city council very soon.

So I guess I should file a complaint to the city on the city because the city owned vacant lots that are all over the city have tall wild flowers and weeds at the sidewalks and the curbs and sometimes are 3 to 6 feet tall.

What are these?

They are growing on the end of the potatoe plants.

Georgia St. Garden II Expansion?

The Greening of Detroit called. They had extra plants today. I couldn't let them go to waste. So I have to decide, do I expand Georgia St. Garden II or start Bessemore St. Garden?

About Georgia Street's New Reading Program

From PlymouthRes at Detroityes.com:

After a bit of discussion, Cub and I decided that we would be starting the reading Saturday night at 6:00 pm SHARP.  It appears Cub's mom is in on it now, too, as she is making flyers!

Cub says that the ages of these kids will be between 8 and 14, so I guess I'm a bit torn as to what I should start with.  For the younger kids, my best guess and first call is some of the Dr. Suess stuff or Teddy Ruxpin series (which I just happen to have from my kids!), followed by something a bit more interesting for the older kids, perhaps something like "I Know Now Why the Caged Bird Sings", "Still I Rise" or "Journey Now" by Maya Angelou or some "Classic Slave Narratives, the life of Mary Prince".

I was even thinking that if it expanded in age a bit, we might try some of the more "deep" authors that I have read, perhaps Lanston Huges or WEB DuBois even.  There are also works by Julius Lester, Jerry Pinkney, James Weldon Johnson, Rosa Guy and many, many others that would be a bit more directly informative and hold their attention as well.

MrsRes gathered all of the kids books that we have and there are a broad range of authors and subjects, over a dozen!  These books will be available to "borrow" so that the reading night can continue after we have gone, and hopefully it will instill some of the urgency that we hope to depart in an effort to extend the gift of literacy to the neighborhood as a whole.

If anyone has any children's books that they would like to donate to the program, feel free to contact Cub or PlymouthRes and make a donation.  Remember, books sitting around gathering dust do nothing to stimulate the mind.  It is only when they are put to use that their value comes out!

(snip)

Anyway, after the reading, at about 7:30 or 8, there will be one, if not two, pretty recent first run movies shown at the Garden, making it a night for everyone to enjoy, with a bit of learning for the kids first.  While the reading is going on, perhaps some of the adults that wish to attend would like to check-out the Garden, as it is in full bloom now and with the advent of Garden II, there should be plenty to see!

We are very excited at this new opportunity and approach it with great enthusiasm.  Hopefully many of you will see it the same way and come down and support the effort and movie night!

Honeydew and Pumpkin

This is the largest Pumpkin so far( On the Right). There is six more but on diffrent vines.

The Honeydew just popped up. I didn't see it yesterday. LOL!

Georgia Street - Kiddie Books & Movie Night!

Children's outdoor book reading and movie night at the Georgia Street Garden on July 26th starting at 6 PM.  

Showing up?  Bring a little something.  Kids are human disposals, you know.  Potato chips, pretzels, cheese sticks, Cheez-Its, etc.

I'm going to try and be there for a bit.  I'd like to meet the neighborhood.  Get to know the real Detroit.  Stop by!

Georgia Street Update!

I stopped by to see Cub today.  I decided to take a quicker route and ended up lost.  I usually take either the expressway (which was blocked) or Eight Mile.  To save gas, I took the expressway.  Wrong.   I was sent all over the place and ended up at McDougall and Ferry.  This was fine.  I found a building that once belonged to my great grandfather.  My usual route is to cut through Poletown.  I don't have to.  I just like the place.  I gravitate to it.  When I finished cussing out Wayne County's road commission, I was calm enough to locate Georgia Street again and then lost it when I saw that Cub had put up a big American flag.  I think I hit his curb.

So here's Cub.  Handsome guy, huh?  Girls, he's single.  If I were, I'd date him in heartbeat.  Anyone with a heart like that, you don't let 'em get away.  They're too rare and you know what schlumps men can be (Sorry, guys.  I've dated duds).  Had a good talk and walked around a bit.  Cub introduced me to the "Ground Cherry".  Never heard of it before but apparently these are annual, low-growing little things that are wrapped in something similar to a tomatillo.  Cub found a ripe one for me and I swear, it was like eating a tomato wrapped in butter.  I've never tasted anything like it before.  Next year, I'm planting a bunch of them, if I can find them.  They're delicious!
Django's "Rock Thang" in the garden's center.  Nice place for an herb garden.  I'd like to help diagram it out next year, if Cub will let me.  Perhaps some miniature boxwoods to circle it? (And a bronze plaque that says "Covington Gardens")

  

Cub has lots of greens and cabbages - even hot peppers (took a few home to roast on the grill).

Cub's cukes and squash.  

You know, every time I show up here, clouds come in.  In spite of the rain, I have to say, this is an active neighborhood.  There are children everywhere, people wave and smile or stop in the garden for conversation.  There is something very special about this place.  I can't put my finger on it.  Every time I leave, I leave with a good feeling.

Next year, my gift to Cub is as much organic corn gluten as he wants.  Kills the weeds when you till in Spring.  Weeding alone is a pain in the butt.

Design 99 Artist Showcase

Design 99, located in Hamtramck, Michigan, is having a showing of my favorite Detroit photographer, Corine Smith from June 27th thru July 31st.  Located at 10022 Joseph Campau, their hours are 12:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. Tuesday - Saturday.

A bit of info on Corine:  Born in Gouda, The Netherlands, Corine Smith now lives and works in Southwest Detroit.  She received  an MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art, and a BFA (Cum Laude) in Graphic Design from the  Design Academy in Eindhoven, receiving several awards from The Netherlands Foundation for Visual Arts, Design & Architecture.  Design 99 is pleased to present Corine Smith's first solo exhibition in Detroit.

(Above photograph:  Corine Smith)

Georgia Street Garden - Fall Expansion

Cub has expanded the Georgia Street Garden for the Fall to include McClellan Street.  I'm thinking Fall bbq with traditional Southern food and maybe those who attend could possibly bring their family's own traditional foods.  I'll bring the German potato salad!  I cannot wait to see this one taking shape.  

I'm hoping to take a drive to Cub's some time this week.  I have a feeling Cub plowed this land with his little tiller and will make this lot bloom in no time.  It looks beautiful already!

Dance!

Tell me why we fight again?