Meeting Recap

This past Sunday's meeting focused on our semester plans.

Karie and the LANDscape club are working on a proposal to submit for a New York Native Plants garden for the front of the EcoHouse property. The garden would function as a showcase of native plants, an educational tool, and an opportunity to implement native plant elements into a challenging landscape design. Ideally, this garden will focus on native plants with high wildlife value, medicinal properties, are edible, and/or are locally threatened. A list of desired plants will be coming soon!

The Ecohouse will also be building a low budget, super efficient composting system for the house and community. With access to two 55-gallon drums we will be able to build a rotating compost tumbler that can manage a significant amount of waste rather quickly. The bins will have a few holes to allow for drainage and gas exchange. Creating a system where the bins can be rotated allows for easy mixing that speeds decomposition time. Plus, the enclosed plastic bins will prevent field mice and raccoons from dragging kitchen scraps around the yard. Also planned is a personal size composter made of a kitty litter container on a smaller but very similar rotating set up! The tumbleweed composter is of similar design plan to our future cmoposters but is available for purchase.

Next meeting, March 7, we will discuss materials and measurements for the composter and make a materials list, probably chat a bit more about the native plants garden, and reveal the plans for this seasons vegetable garden.

While you're waiting you can prepare yourself for spring by checking out the beautiful indoor flower arrangements and decorations at We Like It Wild.

Until then, be well,

Elizabeth

March Madness!

Gardening madness, of course.

March tends to be quite the month for gardening events and seminars. Its also a good time to begin starting indoor seedlings while anxiously awaiting mild enough weather to plant peas, radishes and leafy veggies outside.

There are LOTS of events in the area next month relating to gardening, permaculture, and small farming...so if you happen to find yoruself with some free weekend time check these out!

This Saturday, February 13, from 10:00am-1:00 pm, Syracuse Grows is presenting Gardening in Syracuse on the first floor of the Bob Cecile Community Center. It is free to the public and is offering three fantastic workshops.

The 3rd annual NYS Small Farms Summit will be held in Ithaca on March 3rd from 9:30-3:00 pm. It is free and open to all!

Alchemical Nursery will be hosting the 2010 Upstate NY Permaculture Gathering on Saturday, March 13 from 9:30am - 5:00 pm at The Gear Factory, 200 S Geddes Street, Syracuse. For more information see their MeetUp site.

And, the event I am most excited for is CNY Blooms, the Syracuse garden show! The weekend of March 3-7 at the OnCenter. Tickets are $10. I haven't found an updated speaker schedule, but based on last years presentations I expect this year's event will be just as worthwhile.

I know I'll be at CNY Blooms on Friday, so if you are too be sure to say Hello! And should you attend one of these events, or another fabulous gardening function be sure to share.

Be well,

Elizabeth

Hydrofracking Public Meeting on 2/10

Over 12,000 citizens and organizations wrote comments on the dSGEIS to NYS DEC. Untallied thousands wrote letters, made phone calls and signed petitions opposing hydro-fracking to NYS DEC, Governor David Paterson and government representatives. There were no formal DEC Public Hearings on the dSGEIS in Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo and Utica. Hundreds of farmers and other land owners have leased their land to gas companies without being informed of the use of horizontal drilling and high-volume hydro-fracking and its severe consequences.

There is a growing grassroots movement across NYS and the nation to ban hydro-fracking. Within this context, citizens are creating a Citizens’ Community Forum on Hydro-Fracking. We have invited a variety of local through federal representatives. Guests/Representatives will open the event with brief comments. Then there will be time for citizens to voice their concerns.

Confirmed Guests are:
Lee Macbeth, Syracuse Watershed Control Coordinator
Ken Lynch, Region 7 DEC Director
Dave Valesky, State Senator
Daniel Young, Regional Representative for Governor Paterson
Mark Dunau, Northeast Organic Farmers Association and Delaware County Farm Bureau
Local landowners who have signed leases

Concerns will go under the following categories:
Environmental
Human Health 

Fossil Fuel versus green, sustainable energy
Climate Change
Economic
Rural and agricultural

-Gail

Spring Semester Schedule

Greetings all!

Though many of you have received this semester's meeting schedule via e-mail, I am also posting it here both as a reminder to members and invitation to any one who is not yet on our e-mail list!

This semester our 'big project' is building an outdoor composting system to handle all of our household, yard, and garbage waste, as well as any of our member's compost contributions. A good system will be able to handle the needed volume, keep out mice, rats, raccoons, and opossums, and resist weathering for as long as possible. This semester's meetings will focus on designing, fund raising, and building the compost bin. Meetings will be Sunday evenings at 5:30 pm at the EcoHouse: 821 Comstock Ave, Syracuse.

February 21: Materials & design discussion     

March 7: Fund raising event ideas discussion

Weekend of March 28: Fund raising Event

April 11: Construction (weather permitting)


So, mark your calendars! All are welcome, please join us to share your ideas and experiences!

Other events may arise, such as field trips, lectures, and/or side projects. If you would like to be added to our e-mail list just leave a comment!

Be well,

Elizabeth