When planting a garden that is not near one's own kitchen, I am reminded of the ancient Chinese proverb, "The best fertilizer in any garden is the farmer's own shadow".

Judy Leatherman Another 2 cents on these ideas: For many years we have had trouble getting GMC people to help maintain our flower beds in the summer. They take a lot of work, and the one spring work day is not enough to maintain them the entire spring/summer/fall. A few people have taken on a disproportionate share of this work. And it is NOT all fun, rewarding work--especially pulling the weeds out of the brick sidewalk in the sweltering heat! This does not involve a harvest of healthy veggies, but it is an important aspect of our presence in the community, and we haven't always done a good job of it. I'm pointing this out because I think we are barely taking care of the basics here, and I want people to keep these responsibilities in mind before we think of branching out. -Judy

Here is a link to the Neighborhood Gardens Association that should be of help as we all continue this conversation and explore possibilities: http://www.ngalandtrust.org/ I've been an active community gardener in West Philly for 10 years. What I have found is that gardens that are preserved under the NGA have additional resources and support to ensure their survival. Philadelphia Green is connected to the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. http://www.pennsylvaniahorticulturalsociety.org/phlgreen/index.html My current garden, Aspen Farms, is involved in the City Harvest program. The City Harvest network raises naturally grown vegetables and distributes them to Philadelphians who lack access or the means to purchase fresh produce. We may want to consider an involvement in City Harvest in the future. http://www.pennsylvaniahorticulturalsociety.org/phlgreen/city-harvest.html --Tami

Dottie Baumgarten I don't get how the church blog on orbius works. Some of this garden conversation seems to be happening on the list serve, but some seems to be on the blog, but when I go to the blog, there doesn't seem to be a linear connection from one comment to the other. . . . Anyway, here is my 2 cents: I think a community garden is a fantastic idea but it must be something that the larger community embraces. Pomona Cherokee, I agree, needs to embrace this idea for it to work. There's a great resource in the city for creating community vegetable gardens. It is through the Ph. Horticultural Society, and I believe it is a called Philadelphia Green. They may have a model for how to start the neighborhood collaborating together. Seems to me the people from church who would be most interested in having a plot, could start meeting together and planning how to inquire with the neighbors. . . . Dottie

So much for getting used to this format. I followed up yesterday with a note to Ken Handrich and Jay Johnson, who are authorized on behalf of Council to talk to the Cherokee-Pomona Neighborhood Association, suggesting that they contact the association and offer the following steps for agreement: 1. The C-PNA declare the ground to be open to neighborhood use for gardens under their supervision 2. The Association would be responsible for plot layout, erecting a border fence and assigning plots, perhaps by a drawing. The two existing plots would be grandfathered in. Unused plots would be re-assigned as needed. 3. GMC would request an upcountry farmer to come in and plow the entire lot, and prepare the ground for planting prior to plot layout 4. GMC would provide access to water on a shared-cost basis to be determined 5. The project would become part of Philadelphia's Community Gardens project, which would help guarantee its sustainability. Both Steve and Tami Gerber might be able to assist our efforts first in soil preparation (Steve) and in advising the Association based on 10 years' experience in West Philly's community gardens (Tami). George