RED SHED PARTY

Communal bed 2 is set thanks to some hard work from new members sam and tom... They're recommending lots of cucumber and bell peppers...

Food Inc. The Movie

I guess I'm all about fighting the power this week. Here's another documentary called "Food Inc." about our nations food infrastructure and big agribusiness:

http://www.foodincmovie.com/

Opens in NYC and SF June 12th... a friend of mine in the food business saw a screening last night and highly recommended it to anyone who's a fan of nutritious, delicious food.

How to Prevent Birds from Feasting on Young Plants

Hey guys,

So after planting my seedlings I noticed quite a few of my plants were eaten. I started researching some ways in which to prevent the birds from eating all of my lovely veggies before I do and wanted to share. Obviously we can't do all of these, but thought they were good "thought starters":

1. Step 1

   Plant seeds in peat pots indoors instead of directly into the soil. Once the plants have two sets of leaves, plant them outdoors.

2. Step 2

   Cover seed beds with floating row covers. Floating row covers allow light, water and oxygen to penetrate, but act as a barrier for insects and birds. They do need some sort of frame to keep the cover up, off of the soil.

3. Step 3

   Use flash tape to scare birds away from the seed bed. Flash tape is a mylar tape that flutters in the slightest breeze. Some birds find it terrifying, but some don't mind it at all.

4. Step 4

   Hang old CDs in the garden. The flashing disks rotate in the wind and may frighting away some more timid birds.

5. Step 5

   Cover the entire seed bed with bird netting. You may have to release birds from under the net each morning.
   

6. Step 6

   Plant individual seeds inside milk carton collars. The milk cartons work like a miniature greenhouse and also act as a physical barrier to prevent birds from reaching the plants.

"Water Under Attack" screening at Bushwick Library

Hey all, wanted to post a great message that one of our members posted in our private google group. Please try to check this screening out:

Please come to the Bushwick Public Library on Saturday, June 6 
anytime between 11-4 for a screening of excerpts from Josh Fox's in- 
progress documentary: 
WATER UNDER ATTACK (www.waterunderattack.com) 

The NYC Watershed (Catskills and the Delaware River Basin) has the 
purest water in the country and serves 20 million people. 

However, gas drilling on a massive scale is planned for our watershed: 
up to 50,000 wells have been approved. In other areas where this kind 
of gas development has already happened, there have been many issues 
with toxic pollution in air, water and soil. 

Come to the library for information, watch a few minutes of the video 
- and then go see some great art, this is part of Bushwick Open 
Studios (see www.artsinbushwick.org). 

Library location: 340 Bushwick Ave, just a few blocks from the 
Montrose stop. 

Many websites with info on the issues; try www.damascuscitizens.org 
//  www.riverkeeper.org  // www.catskillmountainkeeper.org  // 
www.shaleshock.org   // www.nyh20.org 

There's a real farm in NYC?

Yup, and here's a great volunteer opportunity to help out and take it all in:

http://www.slowfoodnyc.org/events/dig-in-the-dirt-june-20th-saturday-queens-county-farm-museum

I'm there, I've got to see this for myself.

The Edible Garden exhibit at the NYBG

From the NYBG website:

Set throughout The New York Botanical Garden’s spectacular 250-acre landscape, The Edible Garden is a summer-long celebration of growing great food. Through an exciting menu of delectable exhibitions and mouth-watering programs, be inspired to grow, prepare, and eat garden-fresh produce and take advantage of many exciting opportunities to better understand how plants provide the food and drink essential to maintain life and enhance wellness.

The Edible Garden includes two Festival Weekends, seven Edible Evenings, and a Farmers Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Family programming in the Children's Adventure Garden and in the Family Garden as well as weekly demonstrations in the Home Gardening Center and daily docent tours make for a fun-filled edible summer.

Discover the broad range of food plants, from heirloom fruits and vegetables to tropical spices and more, on view in the Garden’s collections―from the historic trees across the grounds to the steamy rain forests and dry deserts in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.

Catch the details here:

http://www.nybg.org/edible_garden/index.php