Seed-to-Seed Lending at Fairfield Library

Yo, check this out:

Fairfield Library is doing a seed-lending program. The idea is that you "borrow" heirloom seeds from the library, sow and grow them, benefit from the veggies and green, then preserve seeds from the plants. In the fall, you bring the preserved seeds back and return them to the library. How cool is that?!?!

(toilet paper roll seeds)

There are two related events happening at the Library on the 13th and 16th. Check out their website for more details. The program is sponsored by the Fairfield Woods Branch Library and the Fairfield Organic Teaching Farm. Funding for program is provided by Fairfield Earth Day Committee. Seeds were donated by Bakers Creek and Comstock Seeds.

Hopefully this is a trend that will catch on and spread to libraries everywhere!

On the Job Scene

Some of you may know about the program I am in, but for those of you that don't, here's the general rundown: I was accepted into an AmeriCorps program (in partnership with RYASAP) known as Public Allies. As a Public Ally, I work Monday through Thursday at a Bridgeport area non-profit. This is called my placement. Every Ally has a placement mostly suited to their preferences and skills. At my particular placement, I am implementing their new marketing strategy and teaching reproductive health in Bridgeport high schools (sex ed). In addition, I am spearheading the organization of their annual teen talent show and art exhibit. On Fridays, Allies meet in New Haven for professional development workshops. On top of this, we are committed to a Team Service Project (TSP) to implement in our city. For Bridgeport, we have developed the project "Bridgeport Beautifies," an initiative in urban beautification. We've partnered with other organizations and individuals to bring about gardens, murals, and city clean up. It's awesome.

The thing is, this program is a ten month program. Come the end of June we are all jobless. Stellar people, but jobless stellar people. Unless we've worked it out ahead of time...

I still work at my old part-time job, ESCAPE to the Arts, in Danbury. I will be enjoying yet another SPARKS trip this year, this time to San Francisco and Los Angeles! (More about this later.) But it certainly won't pay the bills for the summer.

The other issue? My beloved placement wants me to come back for a second year. (WIN!) Again, this means another ten months, starting in September, in Public Allies (though the year works differently when you have the privilege of being a Second Year Ally). Which leaves this eight week gap of little-to-no income in the summer.

I saw another AmeriCorps opportunity with a program called MYO. Conveniently, an eight week summer program to produce the play Othello with a targeted audience of teenagers. Conveniently running through July and August.

You know I had to try.

Well, the work and effort paid off, because I was offered the Team Leader position for the production crew! I accepted, and now this is one more thing to celebrate!

Feel free to tell me something that's going on good for you. I love celebrating other people's successes as much as my own!

Spare Time for Seeds

It's rainy today. The snow has ceased, much to the relief of many New Englanders.

Yesterday's spare time was all about the seedlings. Most of the tomatoes have outgrown the seed cells (it hasn't even been a full four weeks since they were planted!). I transplanted them, a jalapeno pepper plant, and two romanesco broccoli plants into bigger pots and put them on the kitchen counter by the window. The houseplants don't necessarily like to share their sun, but that doesn't matter today. It's the seedlings' first day in big-kid pots, and it's a dreary one!

 In the empty seed cells left behind, I ladled in more Pro-Mix (a sterile, organic dirt), and started new seeds. I put in basil of three kinds: Thai, Genovese, and Cinnamon; two kinds of onion: Golden Princess and Sweet Spanish Yellow; a spearmint; Triple Curled parsley and Giant from Italy parsley; marigolds; stevia; swiss chard of the Five Color Silverbeet variety; borage; and Mustard habanero.

AND, I planted one other thing: green bell pepper sprouts from Trader Joe's. A week ago, I had half a green pepper that had started to mold in the fridge, so I chopped it up and tossed it into the worm bin. This week while turning over the compost to help keep it oxygenated, I discovered a clump of sprouts. I am eager to see if they will take to the soil and continue growing.

They've been placed back under the grow light on top of the heating mat. I think this heat mat is key to the whole process. I've never had seedlings germinate so quickly and grow so well that I had to transplant them into larger pots before I could put them outside.

Planting anything? Even if it's not plants, how about the seeds (or steps) for a good summer, or a new exercise routine or connecting with an old friend? Tell me what you're "planting" in your life.

April Goals

April is here!

Goals for this month:

1. Have a superbly wonderful Team Service Project. We at Bridgeport
Beautifies are running workshops for murals, stone sculptures, seed
starting, seed bombing, and city clean up!

2. Map out the garden! I'm having a party in the beginning of May to
transplant the seedlings and start new ones out in the containers and
raised bed in the yard.

3. Lose five pounds. Time to take off the winter weight!

4. Two sewing projects! An awesome kitchen apron, and I haven't
decided what the second project will be yet... I'm thinking either
curtains for the kitchen or a laptop sleeve.

5. Finish up all the legal paperwork for my new business. Yep! You heard that right. 

I am starting my own online shop. Can't wait to show you all!

Bridgeport Beautifies in the News

Wouldn't you know, we're in the news again. Bridgeport Beautifies is the name of our AmeriCorps Public Allies team service project. We're awesome!

Garden gets growing...

For a sampling of past articles:

Bridgeport Beautifies to plant gardens.
Clarifying a mistake.
The Best of the Week

Kickin' it Off!

Public Allies Bridgeport held their Bridgeport Beautifies March into Spring kick off this past Thursday! Despite this surprisingly snowy spring, we are looking forward to getting into the streets and gardens.

Mayor Bill Finch stopped by to say some words of encouragement. This guy loves beautification projects.

We had all kinds of food, snazzy music, and a wealth of spirited Allies. Kick it off, Bpt. We are rising.

Cape Cod Getaway

I am on my way back from a Cape Cod getaway weekend with Lover. It's off-season, so there's little traffic, fewer people, and only a handful of open shops and restaurants. Love it.

We visited P-town and stopped at my favorite used books store. I picked up a copy of Malcolm Gladwell's "Blink" for $8.00. We sat down for truffles and hot chocolate at "The Purple Feather," and perused open shops.

I worked on a new project... I'm pretty excited about something coming up.. A new venture in life. This project is the start of it. You'll be among the first to see the finished product. ;)

We walked along the beach. Malai looks so happy! The first time I took her to see the ocean, it scared her. Now she runs around, sniffing the piles of seaweed and mounds of dry sea oats. She's had so much more energy and vigor since she's lost weight!

Here's wishing you all a happy spring!

Washington, D.C.

I love to travel, mostly because I love to absorb the energy of new places, take in new things and ideas, and shirk usual routines and household responsibilities. When Lover told me that he had a business meeting in Washington, D.C., I was instantly jealous. It's one of my favorite cities to visit, with such a wealth of museums and history.

Well, I got to go! I met him last Monday evening, and we went for a walk along the Mall. I love to see the memorials lit up at night. I'm generally not sentimental about political and military history, and I despise war and violence. However, I love the memorials, because they become something positive. It's art uniting citizens. These are tools for teaching future generations about the effect of certain founding fathers, or the toll of war. When I look at the US memorials, I know memorials stand in other countries for those same wars. I know other people stand before them, like me. I know that things got to a point where diplomacy was either ignored or refused, and violence was used (or someone decided Germany wasn't enough for them and got a little big for their britches...). I know people who didn't necessarily want to serve, served. I know families suffered on both sides.


On Tuesday, we walked around the Air and Space Museum, The American Craft Museum, The National Gallery, and the International Spy Museum. At the Gallery, I saw a few favorites pieces:

 

 I love the color and movement within a Georgia O'Keefe. As for Gauguin, what a life! Beach living, half-naked women, and painting. Too bad he died of syphilis.

Also, the cherry blossoms were right at the precipice of explosive beauty. 

Even if it's just to cozy up with a friend at their house, sometimes it's nice to get out of our usual environment and take a breather in fresh air. Going anywhere this spring?

Starting Your Own Neighborhood Clean Up

Our big day event is April 30th, when we join Groundwork Bridgeport in their Park City Sweep!

Some residents in Bridgeport are getting motivated! Cecilia Chavez has been sharing "before" photos of her street on our Facebook:

She tells us she's really excited about posting the "after" pictures!

Here are some ideas for starting your own neighborhood clean up:

• Contact your neighbors and show them your excitement for taking ownership of your street! This may require door knocking, since flyers may only add to the garbage you're trying to get rid of!
• Note who is the most excited and get them involved in the planning.
• Especially take an interest in people who are maintaining their yards - they may be your best allies in taking on the street!
• See if your local municipality allows you free access to dumpsters for a neighborhood clean up. You never know if you might qualify.
• In Bridgeport, check out the Neighborhood Revitalization Zone!
• Name a day that'll be the Big Day...and always plan a rain date!
• Break up volunteers into teams on the Big Day. People who will sort garbage - recyclables in one, waste in another; people who will search the streets cleaning up refuse; and others who will deliver recyclables to the recycling center.
• Make sure you have supplies - garbage bags and gloves are a must!
• Will you serve water? Snacks?
• Celebrate with a potluck style BBQ! Reward yourself and everyone else for all the hard work!

Please add any more tips if you've got 'em!

Spring...and Snow

Ahhh, the first snow of springtime.

What?

Well, whatever. The crocuses are going to look dashing against the white. It'll melt. What's that again about climate change?*


Happily, Lover and I, with the help of his parents, cleaned up the yard yesterday beneath a bright sun and in a chilly air. We picked up all the branches the wind pruned from the trees over the winter, broke them down, and put them in a huge pot to use as kindling for the firepit. We raked up the last of the leaves matted in dirt and stuck in corners. Can't wait to build the new composter so we can get it all in there. We took down our holiday lights (yes! we still had them up!), coiled them around cardboard, and put them away in the shed.

Last week I started all my tomato, pepper, onion, and leek seeds. I filled a 72 cell tray with pro-mix soil, scratched in worm castings from the vermicomposter, and set the tray upon a heat mat beneath a grow light. Two days later, little green guys sprouted. Now on day 5, half the tray has sprouted! I couldn't be more pleased.

We went to a Garden Expo over the weekend, and found a company that sells organic compost. Last fall, Lover and I built a raised garden bed in the backyard, and have yet to fill it. In April or the beginning of May, we'll get it delivered and into the bed. The seeds will be ready to transplant outdoors beneath homemade cloches (I'm reusing the million plastic water bottles that my roommate goes through!).

Are you gardening, too? Tell me all about it! Also, if anyone's in the area, I have a ton of heirloom seeds I can share/swap/give/etc!



*I'm aware of the process of climate change, and that scientists believe that humans are most likely responsible for speeding up the process. I was using sarcasm.