Weekday workdays, anyone?

Juliette | April 18th, 2010

I would really, really like to get to the food forest site more than once a week. I work full time, but have been thinking that it might be nice to do a few evenings at the site. The trouble is, that the site is SO big and I would be pretty lonely there….all by myself! :)

But…then I thought….you know what…some of those people who come to workshops/ workdays are as crazy as I am and would probably also love to do some physical labor after a day of work!!! SO how ’bout it???

Who wants to join me??? I was thinking Tuesday and Thursday evening (April 20th and 22nd). I can be there around 5:30pm. Please let me know via email if you want to join me, because if no one responds, I may not go! (pghfoodforests@gmail.com)

I would love to put in our deer fence and could use help with that! As well as moving soil and laying leaf mulch.

Thanks SO much,
Juliette

Our first workshop, completed!

Juliette | April 18th, 2010

The weather was rough! Really, it was! A high of 47 degrees and wind off the river like you couldn’t believe. It felt like February, and to tell you the truth, it left me a bit dispirited! (it was too cold to really be able to listen to the speakers and definitely too cold to work- we stopped work early for the day!)

Ok…so now that I’ve got all my whining out of the way!!! We had SO many people show up!!! People from all over Pittsburgh, including residents of my neighborhood Hazelwood, came out to learn and work in the food forest. It was amazing to see so many people battling the cold weather, working hard and engaging with the presenters. We had Jim McCue (Hazelwood resident, compost expert) speak about composting; Joe McCarthy (PS Extension) speak about raised beds, and Ed Orris (DEP) speak about the importance of organic matter and vacant lot remediation. Lunch was generously donated by Atrias Itailian Restaurant.

We are using a technique called bio-remediation to deal with the moderate lead levels found on the site. Three inches of compost was added to a corner of the site. This hardly made a dent in the three large piles (70 cubic yards!!!) of compost that we have. The compost was worked into the soil so that it can bind with any lead that usually hangs out in the top three inches of topsoil. (Mixing the topsoil with compost will cause the lead to bind with the compost- making it less bio-available to humans and plants….or something like that! Michelle is the researcher, I just write the blogs!) This topsoil/ compost mix was then covered with a layer of cardboard, to supress weeds, and held down with bricks from the stie! Soon, we will be removing the bricks and wetting and covering the cardboard with leaf mulch. Unfortunately, we do not have the money to add more layers to our sheet mulch, Toby Hemenway style, but alas….we work with what we’ve got! A portion of the site will be planted to cover crops instead of sheet mulched (more on this later).

Even with over 30 people working….there is still SO much to do! It is hard for me not to feel completely overwhelmed….

Its nice to have so many people interested in the project and willing to help out. I look forward to next week’s workshops where we will be focusing in on Permaculture. I am hoping for a warm, sunny day! :)

April 10th Workday 1pm to 5pm

Juliette | April 8th, 2010

Hey Friends and Volunteers!!!

First, I want to appologize for canceling last week’s workday!! I am sorry
that it was on such short notice and….I am SO sorry for anyone who came to
the site unaware of the cancelation. I missed some emails…. :(

Good news is that we are back on for Saturday April 10th, 1pm-5pm and we
have some fun work to do!! Quick reminder: Workdays are different from
workshops!!! Workshops are scheduled for April 17/ 24 from 10am-3pm. These
require registration!

Please check out www.pghfoodforests.org for more information about the
workshops and to check out photos or our progress!

We have decided to ditch the brick laying as its more work than we really
want to get into at this time!!! Instead, this Saturday we will be laying
down sheets of cardboard and mulching the paths. We have ordered deer
fencing, and if that arrives in time, we may be installing some fencing.
Other work that needs done is to begin ammending the adic friendly bed and
laying out the site. Of course canvassing the community is still a need, as
well.

Please bring it you got it: cardboard- lots and lots of cardboard, bags and
bags of pine needles (spruce and pine species), bags and bags of coffee
grounds- hit up some coffee shops on your way in!, 100ft long measuring
tape, and gas powered wood chipper/ other wood cutting implements!

Saturday is supposed to be a nice day and I think it will be a great day if
you all come out!!!

Please let me know if you plan to attend and email or call with questions.

Hope to see you all soon!
Juliette

Pittsburgh Permaculture