eggplant brigade! : tales from the lowernine.org garden project

2009-09-13T17:41:00.001-07:00

Worth considering...

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/10/opinion/10pollan.html?_r=1&emc=eta1

Photo updates!

2009-09-12T11:39:00.000-07:00

Villere is growing.

Thanks again to everyone who actively and even at a distance supports our projects at lowernine.org.

Someone has to clean the tiller... this time it's Chris...

Volunteers help clear out the cover crop before the big tiller comes back in... for the last time ever!

More to come... the rain is pouring here. Looks like five more days of the same.

Best wishes,

brennan

The brilliance of Villere in much needed photos

2009-06-16T12:02:00.000-07:00

The Villere Farm project is proudly sponsored by

Now for much belated photo updates...

Lady bug cruisin the cucumber trellis... hustle lil' darlin! eat them aphids!

the mustard greens peak through

A View from the land of Cucumbers

05/09/2009 Chris and Compost soooo good you could eat it!

05/09/2009 Chris, my new friend, and the delicious compost.

05/12/2009 the backyard of Villere Farm

wow. time gets away from you when things are growing...

2009-05-20T12:54:00.000-07:00

I turned around and it's been nearly a month since i've written.
So much has happened.

!

Bugs are a thing of wonder. It doesn't matter how much i think i can identify or predict their movements, they always get the better of me. Flea beetles have come in mass, leaving some markings on nearly everything. First it looks like your plants are slightly discolored, then you flip them over and their full of little black holes. And the beetles are there and they're jumping and eating and causing chaos! but- healthy plants survive the attacks, and Villere is full of strong vigorous plants. It's a thing of beauty.

We've planted all 19 rows over the past month, now able to harvest little Okra's and cherry tomatoes. The vigorous eggplant that i had nearly given up on, if full and recieving this Louisiana sun with grace.
Our Zucchini is 5 inches long and the plants are FULL of flowers and small fruit.

Our shed is growing a roof! and Kaitlin and i are experimenting with trellising goose peas.

Watch for photos for visual updates.

The Lower Ninth Ward Urban Farming Coalition is growing by all literal means. Our projects are moving and becoming stronger, reinforced by the passion of those who grow just because they always have. These are the neighbors of our projects like Mr. Arthur, who has two lovely chickens, three tomatoes, two peppers and a cucumber plant. And that's, as he says, "all i need".

More and more people are becoming interested in the power and experiment of growing.
You have this plant and you have to fight to make it live.
Much of the work, though, the plant does alone.
The sun comes out everyday and the rain comes now and again.
You protect it from its enemies and feed it now and again.
It's life in many forms.

What does it mean to our big picture? Well, sometimes these victories are hard to see and many odd-ball, fancy words have been given to the simple fact that if we can take care of these plants, they will take care of us. In so many ways.

just a thought. photos coming soon!

brennan

Villere...

2009-04-14T07:50:00.001-07:00

Just because he's so charming...

This is Elder D., of the Mormon Church. He and Elder McGownen, who i've failed to mention earlier, stumbled upon the Villere Farm some time ago now- in fact, we first met while digging a ditch for the water line/plumbing. While riding around and speaking to folks, they've decided to give us a little chunk of their time and energy. I'm incredibly grateful for that.

04/14/2009

So much has happened. A LOT! in fact...
We now have 9 rows planted, and 23 tomatoes transplanted and moving right along. Our Okra and Chilean Zucchini is over 1/2 inch tall and the beans are growing so fast you can watch them move. Ok, not really- but almost! These are exciting times.

Since i last wrote, i've had some more incredible groups come and join the efforts out at Villere. Nearly two weeks ago now, we had a group from Blue Hens for Christ, and the University of Delaware. These 5 females were tireless! and excited about digging. (I guess once you're asked to do mold remediation anything and Everything looks rosie!) But they were incredible. In our brief three days together, they spread manure across the tops of the raised beds, fixed the grading across the lot, remedying the small flooding issues, cut and prepared the drip irrigation system, and put together our worm bin.

(Delaware gal's work to remove that Louisiana mud)

The ladies were incredibly excited to plant, but the weather never permitted it.

I hope they enjoy watching it grow, still, at a distance.

That following weekend, my husband Gustavo, Eric, a long term volunteer, and myself spent three hours on a Sunday planting the first four rows with a beneficial bug mixture, Chilean Zucchini, Bush Beans, Okra, Peppers and Collard Greens.

Just this past week we had a group from, again, Washington D.C. and the Unita rian Church.
We together planted rows 5-11 with Chard, Radishes, Peas, Turnips, Basil, Cilantro, Parsley, Eggplant, Mustard Greens, more Beans and more Okra.

In one day we tilled all the rows, integrating the manure into them, tilled the area where the cover crop is now planted, fixed some small leveling issues, started planting and laying the foundation to the front large shed, thanks to Joe and Jonah.

We Till...

Set the Foundation

Throw up the Walls

Jonah built a hot house cube, and a composting/soil containment system.

(insert photo)

In the past few days, Jonah, other long-term volunteers, and myself

(photo to come...)

Laid down Pine Straw mulch

And watch things grow...

(photo to come...)

Keep an Eye Out! We only grow from here...

As an aside, someone requested me to speak more about myself... so.

My name is Brennan. I was born and raised in Battle Creek, Michigan, with my first experience in farming happening there inside the Battle Creek School System, as a third grader. At the Battle Creek Outdoor Education Center, we learned about the water cycle, soil cycle, worms, etc. and how to plant seeds. As fourth graders we harvested those fruits, learned how to cook some and that we could eat crazy things like flowers! Imagine the fourth grade class dragging milk crates by jump ropes full of fresh produce, all the way home from school. I bet that looked incredible...
It's an experience that stuck with me, but that i didn't remember until I left Battle Creek in 2004 and spent my first farming season at Rancho Durazno in Palisade, Colorado. I guess it's there i fell in love.
Since then, i've spent time farming in Washington state, California's central coast, back to Rancho Durazno and now in New Orleans.

My husband Gustavo and i came down to New Orleans in January of 2008, with the intention of starting a farm in Plaquemines Parish, just south of New Orleans. We wanted to target an under served population, offering healthy, organic produce at a reasonable price. As life has it, things change, and what you thought you wanted and expected moves with that. Our friend who was supporting the project had a change of heart, and we decided to stay on as long term volunteers at lowernine.org. It was then that I spoke with Rick Prose, our director, about Urban Farming... he said "do it".

In the Spring of 2008 i developed the gardening project at lowernine.org. First we just assisted the only remaining community garden in the lower ninth ward after Katrina, the Laurentine Ernst community garden, in any way necessary. Jonah, my partner in crime from Berkeley, California, arrived and joined the project head-on in June of 2008.
In May we met Ms. Pittman and in July built 15 raised beds in her large side yard, making each bed open to various community members.
In November of 2008 we began the work at Villere, moving most vigorously with the project in February of this year.

And Now i'm still stunned. Things are incredible. Life is incredible.

The rebirth of this community is, in so many ways, incredible.
I'm ever thankful and blessed to be a part of it, in whatever way finds me most useful.

If you're interested in the project, i encourage you to follow this blog, or contact myself at msnutt@gmail.com.
You can also view the website of lowernine.org at lowernine.org

The Villere Farm project and lowernine.org are collective members of the
Lower Ninth Ward Urban Farming Coalition.
It's website can be viewed at lowernineurbanfarming.org

Interested in Volunteering?
Contact: lauren@lowernine.org
(though we can't promise work on the Villere Farm, the neighborhood is nowhere near rebuilt! and every hand is necessary!)

Keep checkin'!

brennan

hold thy tongue

2009-03-25T08:32:00.000-07:00

Painted by Sara Goodman, Volunteer

What a sight to see...

03/25/2009

Well, when you say something like "We'll have water soon..." you have to stop a moment and remember that you are in New Orleans and here, things are a little backwards to say the very least. The city came and put the water meter in! and then the next day took it out. We called and called and finally had to go in and fill out an additional request and open the account, again, for the property. But! Now we have a meter... and no water. Turns out the waterline we discovered was not the waterline but another, mystery line. Jonah began digging another 3 feet and found the real pipe that just happens to be made of lead, which the city has to remove itself. So- still no water! but it's been an incredible week and a half anyways.

Last week a group from Northampton Community College in Pennsylvania was assigned to work with us on the project. These 14 incredible females are prospective social workers and two, their professors of social work and cultural anthropology. While the earth was drying some, we decided to paint our rusty, salvaged fence-line what we like to call "eggplant", but most know it as Mardi Gras, minus the yellow. By the time the fence was finished, the land was dry and we began digging the walking paths that run along side the fence line and the to-be planting beds. With an incredible amount of clay and tree roots, this is no small job. But the ladies finished all of the fence and the walking paths by the end of the week. Like most people, their first response to me was "i wish we could have done more" but they were incredible. The place looks real now- it is a farm. ah!

The rebirth of Urban waste, done by two Northampton social work students. Incredible.

Sara, a long-term volunteer with lowernine.org, spent two days creating our beautiful new sign.
Having recently left, we wish her the best with the continuation of her studies abroad.

Early this week 14 "Banana Slugs" from UCSC spent one incredible day on Villere building our planting beds. Bob Close, a resident of New Orleans but from the uptown area, joined us for this day of work, measuring out the beds and creating a string-grid that we could easily follow behind. Very few people from other parts of the city choose to help inside this neighborhood just because. Bob is incredible for his effort.

Bob on the far left.

Jonah works to build the small tool shed in back of the lot on Monday.
After digging the planting beds, UCSC 'banana slugs' work at breaking up the incredible clay brought to the surface.

By the end of Monday of this week we had built all the growing beds we will use for this spring season, fixed up all sides of the fence and began to lay the posts for the front double gates.

Yesterday I built a small composting area where there used to be a messy driveway. The Monday crew went out and joined Jenga Mwendo, our founding partner of the Lower Ninth Ward Urban Farming Coalition (and one of lowernine.org's first completed homes), and planted some 30 trees in the yards of residents across the neighborhood.

As of 1:00pm today, the city removed the lead pipe connector and we now have water!

Tomorrow we get the manure we need to enhance the beds with organic matter.

By the end of the week or early next week, we plant.

A million thanks to the Walter Foundation for its support of the project.
We couldn't move forward without their willing and ambitious support.

Thank you.

brennan

where the water-meter now lives

More photos...

Northampton students painting the fence

The ladies of the fence! Northampton on a foggy morn...

The UCSC slugs at work. A view of the whole farm.

'Iron John' fixes the fence (a good view of the paths)

waiting for rain and waiting for it to stop.

2009-03-16T06:24:00.000-07:00

Things move slowly when you wait for rain. For a week it seemed like a joke, "We're waiting for the rain! then we can till this sand into the rock-hard clay pan." Yeah, weather.com may in fact be a hoax, have a look. Rain tomorrow, rain the next day, rain all week long!
A near week and a half passed and the rain kept getting pushed back day by day.
So. Sometimes you just have to buy a 'hose pipe' and water the thing for 14 hours yourself. And that's exactly what i did. I hauled nearly 100ft of hose from the neighbors side yard across the street onto the Villere farm, watching and learning how long it can possibly take for water to penetrate 12 inches of soil when running off a sprinkler. Slowly, that's for sure.
The next day the tiller came and stirred around the most beautiful earth i have ever seen.

(Travis from Eco Urban works the bobcat tiller...)

The same day as the long awaited tilling took place, our municipal water hook-up was installed and passed inspection after what seemed to be very little hassle, thankfully.

A few days ago a large group from Tulane's political science department came to work for a half day of community service. 15 of us went out to Villere and started digging the pathways and trenches for walking. Then the rain came and grew harder and harder. Not one of us could tell if we were sweating or just drenched from the rain, but we kept working. An hour into digging, we stopped and took shelter in the abandon house next door, trying to wait out the downpour.
We waited and waited.
And still i'm waiting some two days later.
The end of this week looks promising and there's much to be done.
Today I wait for the earth to dry some.
Seeds go in the ground next Thursday, at the very latest, marking my 25th year on this earth.
What a way to celebrate! I can't think of anything that would make me happier.

-brennan

(here are some photos from the past week, random and related)

Tulane's political science department works and celebrates with lowernine.org

rebuild in another form. (taken by eric sussman, volunteer)

a trip to the bayou to let our hair down & the rare sighting of a migrating flock of Rosette Spoonbills in Plaquemine's parish

my partner behind the curtain, jonah.

the beginning- well, you could say that.

2009-03-06T09:05:00.000-08:00

the D.C. U.U. Crew (say that 5x's fast!)

March 06, 2009

which font to use to express this huge huge thing i've spent a near year processing, running around for, and debating. i suppose the font doesn't really matter, nor the template.

In November we got a lease on a piece of property owned by Junior, a friend and long-time resident of the lower ninth ward. He said to me, word for word "baby, do whatever you want." So! i swelled up and jumped and screamed a little inside. Since April 2008 i had been meeting folks who have multiple properties they can't afford to rebuild on and convincing them i was a good person with good intentions. Phone call after phone call, favor after favor, nearly 8 properties were offered to be used as 'garden space'. A lease, however, was still a sketchy subject. In this neighborhood people trust people if they know them, and no one knew me. I had just arrived in January of that year with my husband and maybe had no idea what i was doing. Maybe.

So!... we had land and very little budget- nearly nothing and a guaranteed mess of volunteers. Well... manual labor goes a long way. The love and care that comes each time new feet touch that ground... well, i thought it would be incredible. And it has been.

Jonah spent the bulk of the winter in study, preparing the shed and water catchment design, visual layouts, predictions, etc etc etc. In January we were rewarded a grant from the Walter Foundation to get the farm up and running ...in six months. Time moves faster than one might expect.

Early in February the ground was scraped and sand was brought in to loosen the clay that lies countless feet below. For one day i was given a group of lawyers from L.A., who, quite beautifully, are working on the case against the company who owned the barge that went through the industrial canal levee wall, creating the very damage they and we were working to repair. We spent the entirety of 7 hours searching for debris and removing tree stumps. This suspicious green floor tile was everywhere and they sat, digging, finger nails drawn, for hours. At the end of the day we decided there must be a better way and i let them move on to other things while i tried to work it out. Two days later an ambitious group from D.C. was assigned to "gardening" with me. I always love it when Matt says that- everyone imagines Roses and Tulips and skipping down pebbled paths- and we give them shovels, pic axes, wheelbarrows and a nice farmers tan.

Monday morning they built sifters of Jonah's design while John, of the D.C. crew and i went to await the high school folks. NY2NO - if you're not familiar with them, you ought to be. They are an incredible group of students who organize themselves and their projects with a great understanding of the real situation this city is dealing with, forever working to understand it better. They show up in nothing less than a giant baby blue bus, tagged on the sides. Out pours some 30 students of all walks of life, waiting to hear why they're in this field full of sand piles and ... not much else.  We dig for the fence, we pull out more debris and then the sifters arrive. All the scraped top soil goes from one giant pile through these sifters, separated into trash, organic matter, and beautiful sifted top-soil. On into the afternoon we sift and remove debris.
Towards the back of the lot a concentrated pile of these green tiles was discovered, so we started digging. And digging... only to discover everything- and the kitchen sink, quite literally. This hole which became 2 1/2 feet deep and some 3 feet in diameter started filling with water leached from the clay. We found huge amounts of tile, nearly full sized, empty bottles, and something round. And huge.  We got the pic axe and forced it up from the water- the kitchen sink. And then a teddy bear. Then a toaster.  Its something of great urban archeology! a landfill someone created and then buried

deep because it was cheaper that way. John's expertise dated the pile into the late 70s, 80s because of the opening on the can of Dixie beer, which isn't even made anymore. That was enough for the day.

The next morning we all returned and did the same, sifting and digging out debris. By the end of the week the sand was down with some leftover to haul away and the all the top soil was sifted.  We spent Friday afternoon taking a load off.  The D.C. crew, Doug, John, Pat and Armele, read to me beautiful short reflections on their impressions of the neighborhood, their experiences, little bits and pieces of their minds and souls. They were an incredible team.

A near week passed until we were able to get back out to the Villere farm. Early this week we spread the beautiful top soil on top of the sand with a 'dream team' from UVA, down on their spring break. Thursday we set up half of the fencing and dug the waterline for the plumber. Two missionaries on bikes helped us dig.
We'll have water soon. The tiller comes on Monday morning. How incredible.

for now,

brennan

(more photos from the weeks events)

Andres from NY2NO dumps debris

We sift top soil to save the good and ditch debris

The NY2NO crew demolishes the sand piles in a mere 2 hours...

The UVA crew spreads the well-loved, sifted top-soil