Urban Gardening in WS

[JanS]

hey, Charla, I’ve seen the commercials for Hoverround, and it looks like it would be a blast…maybe we could go halfsies, and then have play days on it ;-)

[JoB]

charla and jan..

i have been in/on both a hover round and a motorized wheelchair. i prefer some of the new chairs being manufactured for young active people. they have a lot of really cool features…

i also have been known to use a walker. i like the kind with a seat… in a pinch you can be pushed in one… tho i do wish they would put foot pegs on them:)

[Shibaguyz]

charlabob – Actually, Mason Bees aren’t colonial or territorial at all. They don’t work together on a hive so they don’t have anything to protect. Not sure about people with bee allergies, but their sting is difficult to provoke and they will mostly just walk around on your hand like a littl pet of some sort. You have to actually try to squash them to get them to sting (this usually happens if one gets in your clothes).

Their sting has been described as feeling like a mosquito bite. Still, for someone with an allergy to bees, I would be careful.

They don’t produce honey, they just live in these little nests that you make by drilling holes in a block of wood. Seemed like a good way to ensure our trees and veggies get pollinated and give the little workers a place to lay their eggs for next year’s workers. Check our blog here in the next couple of days for pictures and more details…

By the way, did you all see our new “potato condo” we put up? LOL It was SUCH a simple idea I don’t know why we didn’t think of it sooner. The website we got the specs from to make it is full of all kinds of fun information. Check it out on our blog…

Oh… and if we do want to meet up for a coffee thing, let’s try to do something this weekend before it gets too far into growing season.

Did anyone else notice the plant sale this weekend?? Maybe we meet up at the sale then for coffee?? I know we’re planning on going on Saturday… Sunday is our Ballard Farmers Market day.

[JoB]

shibaguyz.. i am committed saturday morning… but i would be interested in a plant sale in the afternoon.. i think.

to be honest, i have lost track of what my calendar looks like:( i have said yes too many times.

[Shibaguyz]

oh… JanS – Our fav hot cider drink is with Maker’s Mark… YUMM!! The hot rum sounds good too though… maybe we’d have to sample BOTH! *hick* What could be *hick* the harm in that?? hehehehe

I just confirmed with Cafe Ladro on SW California that they have free wi-fi connection as well. Anyone who wanted could bring their laptops and we could look as some of the resource websites together.

We were also thinking about bringing all of our gardening books so people could peruse them. We’d LOVE to see what you all are using for resource both print and online.

Whattaya think?

[JoB]

the potato condo is interesting… i have seen that done before… but i think more work that i will keep up with..

maybe i will still be buying my potatoes this year… we will see.

[Shibaguyz]

JoB – you sound like us… afternoon plant sale and coffee then? I’m really not sure what time we would be going. I’m kind of thinking I’d want to get there fairly early to get “the good stuff” before it’s all gone. LOL

Here is the link to the Seattle Permaculture Guild website with all of the information on it:

http://seattlepermacultureguild.org/wiki/Main/CurrentNewsletter#Plantsale

If that link doesn’t work, here is the text:

— PLANT SALE —

Sat., March 29, 9:00-4:00 / Sun., March 30, 10:00-3:00

It’s time to start growing!!!!!

Backyard Greenhouse

7939 28th Ave. SW

(between Holden & Thistle in West Seattle)

Veggies / Perennials / Herbs

Organically Grown

Bring neighbors, friends and family!—Come rain or shine!!

[JoB]

i am very interested though hubby will shudder at the thought of me at a plant sale..

maybe this time.. since it is food he will come along:)

i think i can commit to around 12… the fundraiser meeting is scheduled for 10 AM.. i should be able to get out of there in 2 hours:)

[TheVelvetBulldog]

Hey all: I lost track thru all the threads. Is this for an arboretum tour and coffee get-together or is it just a get together to peruse info? I have a hair appointment at noon so probably couldn’t meet for anything until 2:00 – but I’ll look FABULOUS! ;-)

[Shibaguyz]

You all are cracking me up… can’t wait to meet you in person.

The plant sale starts at 9am and goes until 4pm on Saturday. As I was saying, I’d like to get there as early as possible to get the best pickin’s.

We can do this one of a few ways:

1. Coffee, plant sale, rum & hot cider (thank you JanS… we’re enjoying our version with hot cider and bourbon right now).

2. Coffee, plant sale, more coffee and a sandwich

3. Plant sale, coffee

4. Flask of rum and hot cider AT the plant sale so we’re all loopy and buy WAY too much stuff then have no place to put it all in our gardens.

5. Plant sale on our own schedules then meet up for coffee.

6. Coffee earlier then off to the plant sale later for those who want to or can go.

whew… I think that’s about every different angle I can think of… if anyone has another one, just let us know and we’ll put that one in the mix.

[TheVelvetBulldog]

I’d like to meet you all for coffee at some point before noon or after 2pm if it works out. I’ll bring some of my plant books for perusal.

[JoB]

ok.. this is getting way too complicated for me…

i can’t do anything till after the fundraising meeting… so can’t commit before noon.

don’t know if i ought to try to commit after noon as the last meeting wore me out…

hubby thinks a plant sale is about as interesting as… well.. we won’t mention what. As long as i grow parsley, tomatos, mint and hopefully basil.. he doesn’t care.

i do.

so if anyone can figure out what we are doing.. if we are doing it.. i will try to come:)

how is that for a commitment?

[Shibaguyz]

Gottcha… I was only kidding with all of those choices… although the flask of hot cider and bourbon doesn’t sound half bad. hehehehe…

I guess if everyone just weighs in here with who wants to go to coffee and who wants to go to the plant sale (or both) then I can make a plan and post it from there. How’s that sound?

[JoB]

both please.

[TheVelvetBulldog]

Probably won’t go to the plant sale, but as I said before, coffee after 2pm works best for me.

[Shibaguyz]

Okay… we’re now dealing with a broken windshield that has to be replaced (thank you trucks on the highway without covered loads) and a puppy that has some health isssues. So… let’s meet at 2pm at Ladro on California.

Bring any books, web resources or verbal adivice you can. If you are new to the urban gardening scene, then come with an open mind and we’ll all learn from each other.

See you all tomorrow at Cafe Ladro on California at 2pm.

talk to you soon…

The Shibaguyz

[TheVelvetBulldog]

Awesome – it’s even w/in walking distance of my house! See you there!

[JoB]

see you there…

and i am sorry about your windshield.. but the plant sale was going to be tough for e to get to…

[Shibaguyz]

anyone else coming? I don’t think we’re making it to the plant sale today… sitting around waiting for the windshield tech to show up. We’ll definitely be at Ladro at 2pm.

[charlabob]

(This is a response to the question about WS garden centers — my reply on that thread wound up in the spam bucket – -happens sometimes. But the info here is worth reviving, imnho, and not just because so much of it is for ME :-)

We definitely like West Seattle Nursery but we’ve found another hidden gem in Georgetown that’s become our hands down favorite (hey, it’s close to WS:

Julius Rosso Nursery & Garden

6404 Ellis Ave S

Seattle, WA 98108

Phone: (206) 763-1888

It’s much less polished than West Seattle Garden, but I think, more varied and definitely less expensive. The bob half just gave me this report: If you know what you want, you can get good stuff. :-)

The folks who work there are friendly and knowledgeable; and sometimes hard to find — when they’re out on the back 40. Hence the “know what you want.” Family business, which started out wholesale only. Definitely worth the short trip.

I couldn’t find their web site but this blog gives you a good idea of what you’ll find (and probably tells you more than you want to know about my taste in funky shopping places)

http://midbeaconhill.blogspot.com/2007/04/julius-rosso-nursery-in-georgetown.html

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