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!