Pittsburgh Garden Experiment

This is kind of beyond the scope of Pittsburgh, but we are all a big global family and the preservation of biodiversity is important for all of us. 

There is a station in Russia that is home to a large amount of crop seeds and genetic diversity from around the world.  It's important for the future of our agricultural systems.  Currently it is threatened by development.

If you are interested in reading more about the issue, here is the link to sign a petition.

http://bit.ly/d2H96s

Sunday, August 29th at 7:30 pm.  Film screening and discussion.

This is a film screening that I am hosting for the Rainforest Action Network.  The film demonstrates how our purchasing decisions connect to the destruction of rainforests in Indonesia and other southeast Asian countries. 

Come learn what you can do about it.  The film will be shown in Squirrel Hill.  Details can be found at this link.

http://events.ran.org/hotaugustnights/events/show/11999

So, I recently tried to save some tomato seeds by putting them on a ceramic plate for a few days...needless to say it was a novice move and didn't work out too well. 

I did a little searching and came across this link on one way to save your tomato seeds...I'm going to try this method next.

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/home-garden/save-tomato-seeds.html

Hey Gardeners!

I just wanted to give you all a heads up to save your seeds from this season's bounty!  In October we are going to be getting together for a SEED SWAP.  We will discuss different techniques for seed saving.

If you have any expertise in this please send me a message.

As soon as we have a date and time for this event I will post it to the calendar and the Meetup site. 

- Katrina

SCA is organizing a community service day in Hazelwood to work with the Hazelwood Urban Gardens, the Permaculture Food Forest, and rain barrel installation. 

Breakfast at 8:30am, volunteer with fun people from 9am-Noon, lunch provided at Noon.

Meet at Lewis Playground, 2nd Ave, near the Hazelwood YMCA.

RSVP to greencities@thesca.org or call 412.325.1851 x61

This is a cool project that I thought the PGE community might like to know about.  Check out their trailer.

http://www.handsthatfeed.com/

Hey Everybody!

This survey will give you a chance to give your input  about what you would like to see done with our open/green spaces in Pittsburgh and there are some questions about how you would like to see bicycling access improved! :)  This is a great chance to let the City know we are excited about urban agriculture.

It is open until 8/31.   Click on Openspace Adult Survey, and if you have children there is one for youth too.

http://exchange.planpgh.com/portal

Hi Pittsburgh Garden Experimenters!

We're new here :) The Black and Gold City Goes Green was established to get the Pittsburgh community involved in three greenhouse gas saving actions every month.

This month we want every yinzer in the area to recycle everything they can, compost at home, and opt for cloth over disposable napkins and hand towels. Our site (www.theblackandgoldcitygoesgreen.com) is how we track how much greenhouse gas is saved on the way to our 5 million pound goal.

Since many of you guys probably already do these actions already, we'd love for you to check out the website and let family and friends in on the campaign. We're also looking to work with community groups, so we'd love to hear from you if you're interested!

Lauryn Stalter -The Black and Gold City Goes Green Campaign

Scholarship applications are available for the permaculture design certificate course at Wild Meadows Farm in Bedford County, PA. We are 2 hours southeast of Pittsburgh.

The scholarship funds are provided by CHEARS, (Chesapeake, Education, Arts, and Research Society) based in Greenbelt, MD.

For further info, click on the link above!

This is a cool opportunity if anyone is going to be in the NYC area on July 31st.  The place where this workshop is going to be held is the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture.  It's a beautiful place about 30 miles north of NYC.  I worked at their Farm Day Camp last summer.  It's well worth a visit, and the farmers and apprentices there are great. 

Just wanted to share!

Best,

Katrina

Cultivating and Marketing Herbs and Edible Flowers
Summer workshop for farmers

Saturday 7/31 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM $15
A workshop especially for new and transitioning farmers who want to grow herbs and edible flowers for culinary, medicinal, and tisane uses. Join Stone Barns growers Shannon Algiere and Laura Perkins, farm apprentices Olivia Kirby and Samantha Ross, and herbalist Clare Pierson, for an informative morning covering propagation, companion plantings, soils, plant sales, harvesting, processing, record keeping, marketing, foraging and weed identification. Instructors will also cover restaurant and market sales, and the educational components of herbs on the farm.

This workshop will combine classroom time and a farm tour, so please bring your farmy footwear.

To register, call or email Nena Johnson (914 366 6200 x112/nenaj@stonebarnscenter.org)


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Nena Johnson
Public Programs Director
Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture
630 Bedford Road
Pocantico Hills, NY 10591
Tel: 914-366-6200 x112
Fax: 914-366-7905
www.stonebarnscenter.org
*in the office Wednesdays – Sundays