Urban Greens 2012 are Planted!

May 052012

On Friday, we hauled about 700 liters of dirt to the Urban Greens boxes, and left them there overnight. This morning I found a beautiful present from my neighbor Wojtek (Pixxe Portrait be forthcoming, I promise!): three packets of seeds. What a lovely thing!

Seed Gifts

Seed Gifts

Next came Inga, a dynamite lady! A few others arrived: Wojtek P., Aneta, Kinga, and then Michał from Szczęśliwice, and Nina from the Warsaw Food Cooperative. Kasper helped with the stencils. The men-of-the-bench, the nearest neighbors and protectors of the little garden, looked on. One of them brought us water from his apartment. Here are some photos of the planting day:

Inga

Inga

Wojtek and Aneta

Wojtek and Aneta

Nina

Nina

Squishy stencils, from last year and this

Squishy stencils, from last year and this

Tomato Marigold Basil

Tomato Marigold Basil

The planted boxes

The planted boxes

Spring Planting / Wiosenne Sadzenia

May 032012

Miejska Zielenina - Urban Greens - May 5On Saturday May 5 at 11.00, we will be putting seeds and seedlings of herbs and veges into the “Urban Greens” boxes outside my apartment block.

Please come! In Ochota / Rakowiec at Pawinskiego 29 on the South Side of the building.

(W sobotę 5 maja 11.00, będziemy zasadź sadzonki w skrzynce “Miejska Zielenina” obok budynku w moim osiedle na Rakowcu — zapraszam!)

The boxes were vandalized only once, right after they were built. On Halloween someone threw all the straw out onto the ground, which was easy to fix. Yeah, I just put it back in. In six months, this is all the garbage I found in the boxes: two bits of paper, a cigarette butt, and a beer bottle cap.

A small bit of trashSo when people say you can’t do anything in public in Poland because someone will destroy it, well, it isn’t always true.

This is what the boxes, which we prepared in October 2011, look like now. The green manure in the more distant box is about 1 foot tall. The manure was a mix of winter rye, field peas, ryegrass, crimson clover and hairy vetch, but only the rye grass really took.Garden Boxes in May The straw shrunk down about 15 cm. Tomorrow we’ll do a dirt-straw-compost exchange between Railroad Garden, which lacks straw and compost, and here, which lacks dirt.

Today I cut down the rye grass in preparation and spread it over the bed. Rye Grass cut and spread over garden beds

See you Saturday! Do zobaczenie w sobotę!

Allotment Sunday - Different Hours Starting May 6

May 022012

Allotment Sundays / Niedziele na działce will now be starting later in the day. Instead of 11-3 it will now run from 2-6 in the afternoon. The reason is that it’s too hot in the middle of the day.

There will be a lot of planting going on this week plus still more trimming back of weeds and trees. I would also like to build a table on Sunday…

Today, I planted some Broccoli, Kale, and herb seedlings. First Seedlings

The Mystery of the Lock

May 012012

After six months, I finally did something about the lock. Something brilliant. If you didn’t know, last October someone cut the chain and put on their own lock.

I didn’t want to do anything destructive. For over a year, with the exception of cutting down some trees, most of what I’ve done here is constructive: fixing and building. So I was hesitant to break the lock or the chain. When I first arrived, there was a chain, but no lock. My gentlemanly neighbor told me the owner died fifteen years ago.

At first I thought that I would make two gates, but we thought of a better idea: two locks.

Two Locks

So now both of us can get in. The mystery man and I. As you can see, my lock is the weakling.

Edible Warsaw, a Map

Apr 302012

Edible Warsaw, a mapWe have started to make a collaborative map of edibles in Warsaw, Poland. It’s located here. If you would like to collaborate on it, please contact me.

Będziemy skartografowali mapa Warszawy, która wykazuje rośliny jadalne! Tutaj jest. Chętnie zapraszam wspólpracę, proszę mi kontaktować.

Here are the map icons (from this very nice site).

Leafy Green Weeds

Vegetable or root

Fruit Trees

Nut or Other Trees

Berries or Grapes

Edible Flower

Medicinal Plant

Mushroom

Fish

Water Well

Foraging in Park Skaryszewki, Warsaw, Poland

Apr 262012
Foraging in Plain Sight

Foraging in Plain Sight (photo: Agnieszka Kowalinska)

Great time! So great! The greatest! Cool people, places, kids, sunshine, conversation, walking, cooking, food! My only regret was that I didn’t get to check out the other people who were doing things at the Praga Cultural Center that day.

Here is a list of what we collected and some pictures from our Earth Day Foraging Expedition.

What we collected:
Mlecz  / Dandelion – leaves for salad, flowers for juice
Pokrzywy / Nettles (of course!) – for a salad with parsley, leeks, and walnuts
Babka / Plantago – for salad and also for omelets and pancakes
Wierzba / Willow – young leaves and catkins for salad
Pięczornik Gęsi / Silverweed – leaves
Tasznik / Shepard’s Purse – leaves, flowers, stems
Dziki Szczaw / Wild Sorrel – leaves
Ziarnopłon / Lesser Celandine (A real European plant!!) – leaves, flowers
Koniczyna / Clover – leaves
Krwawnik / Yarrow – young leaves
Podagrzycznik / Ground Elder – leaves
Jasnota róźowa / Dead Nettle – flowers and leaves
Gwiazdnica / Chickweed – flowers and leaves
Bluszcz kurdbanek / Ground Ivy – flowers and leaves

Sławek and I think that Warsaw needs 1) a map of wild edibles, herbs, and medicinal plants in Warsaw, and 2) an online encyclopedia of what these edibles are, what they are used for, in both Polish and English, with photos. Well, until we can figure out how to use Boksoi I am making this map on Google Maps. Here are some photos! Thanks to Centrum Promocji Kultury and my awesome partner Sławek Sendzielski.

Wild Food Walk! Dzikie Jedzenie! Spacer

Wild Food Walk Dzikie Jedzenie Spacer

Foraging in Park Skaryszewski

Foraging in Park Skaryszewski (photo: Agnieszka Kowalinska)

Baby Willow Leaves and Catkins are Edible

Baby Willow Leaves and Catkins are Edible (photo: Agnieszka Kowalinska)

Are Dandelions Really Edible?

Are Dandelions Really Edible? (photo: Agnieszka Kowalinska)

 

Dandelions are Delicious!

Dandelions are Delicious! (photo: Agnieszka Kowalinska)

Our beautiful wild greens salad

Our beautiful wild greens salad (photo: Jodie Baltazar)

Dandelion Juice

Dandelion Juice (photo: Agnieszka Kowalinska)

More Dandelion Juice, Please

More Dandelion Juice, Please (photo: Jodie Baltazar)

Everybody loves to eat wild food!

Everybody loves to eat wild food! (photo: Jodie Baltazar)

Nance Klehm Conference Tuesday 24.04.12@16.00

Apr 232012
Composting humanure

Photo from ediblegeography.com

Join us on Tuesday at 16.00 at the American Embassy in Warsaw, where Chicagoan Nance Klehm will be giving a presentation via video. You’ll have to RSVP with your name and the name of your organization to either SturmWF@state.gov or DzielakMK@state.gov. Nance will be here in August, so this is a good chance to see what she has done in the US and get us thinking about what she could do here in Warsaw.

Ambasada USA zaprasza na wideo-konferencję z:

Nance Klehm, architektem krajobrazów i konsultantką ds. terenów zielonych oraz projektowania systemów ekologicznych

Pani Klehm cieszy się międzynarodowym uznaniem, a artykuły na jej temat pojawiały się m.in w „Time Magazine”, „Chicago Tribune” i w Reutersie. Stacje radiowe i telewizyjne, w których emitowano jej wywiady, to m.in: program „Weekend America”, KRCL w Salt Lake City, BBC Radio Canada, Chicago Public Radio, KBOO w Portland.

Temat: Ekologia w przestrzeni miejskiej. Jak w niej żyć aby chronić środowisko naszych miast?

Urban ecology is how we live with and protect the environment in our cities?

24 kwietnia (wtorek) o godz. 16:00

Budynek ambasady USA przy ul. Pięknej 14a

Po 40-minutowej prezentacji p. Klehm (bez tłumaczenia na j.polski) planujemy pytania i dyskusję.

REJESTRACJA: Ze względu na fakt, że nasze „studio” może pomieścić nie więcej niż 25-30 osób, bardzo proszę o potwierdzenie chęci uczestnictwa drogą elektroniczną na adres: SturmWF@state.gov lub DzielakMK@state.gov podajac imie/nazwisko, instytucje/m-ce pracy.

W ramach planowanej prezentacji pani Klehm przedstawi realizowane przez siebie projekty (opisane poniżej) oraz zwróci uwagę na potrzebę kształtowania społeczeństwa ekologicznie świadomego i odpowiedzialnego za swoje otoczenie. Omówi wdrażane na lokalną skalę w wielu miastach Ameryki modele produkcji żywności, recyklingu odpadów i wytwarzania energii, skupiając się na następujących przykładach:

Ground Rules w Filadeflii – w jaki sposób lokalne „centrum gleby” zarządza odpadami organicznymi, prowadzi dwujęzyczne (w języku hiszpańskim i angielskiem) warsztaty nt. użyźniania gleby oraz organizuje poświęcone ekologii i środowisku spotkania dla społeczności lokalnych.

Pacific Garden Mission w Chicago – jak powstały i jak są wykorzystywane dwie szklarnie o powierzchni 2,5 tys. stóp kwadratowych; program obejmuje również szkolenia dla jednego z największych w Chicago ośrodków pomocy społecznej, prowadzącego schronisko dla bezdomnych (200-300 stałych rezydentów oraz do 1500 jednorazowych gości w skali roku).

City Repair w Portland – innowacyjna organizacja typu „non profit” pomagająca mieszkańcom Portland w transformacji miejskich i osiedlowych przestrzeni w obszary ekologiczne i przyjazne mieszkańcom oraz umacniające więź między człowiekiem a światem przyrody.

Anabolic Garden w Los Angeles – realizowany w California State Parks (Los Angeles State Historic Park) projekt rozbudowy ogrodu, w którym są uprawiane rodzime dla tych obszarów, jadalne i użyźniające glebę rośliny.

Cannibal Crafting in Finland

Apr 202012

I’ve already been back for awhile, but wanted to share these photos of the CRAFT OF THE CANNIBAL exhibit and workshop at Hirvitalo in the awesome neighborhood of Pipsala in Tampere, Finland. I don’t have any photos of the opening, but here is a little action from the day after:

People and their hooks

People and their hooks

I put together a giant ball of used yarn gathered from second hand shops here in Warsaw. It has about 3000m in it.

Inside the big ball of yarn

Inside the big ball of yarn

Big Ball of Yarn

Big Ball of Yarn

It hung from the ceiling and people could either add some stitches, or use it to learn how to crochet, which in fact turned out to be unnecessary since many Finns already know how to crochet. The idea was to collectively knit a blanket. Hirvitalo told me they would put the ball in the public library, since in two weeks only about 18 inches (50cm?) was finished. It takes a long time to crochet something! We dyed yarn with plants: apple bark, tumeric, madder, and compost (mostly coffee grounds).

Madder Dye

Madder Dye

DIY Crochet Hooks

DIY Crochet Hooks

Also there was some carving of crochet hooks. Suva made these gorgeous hooks! A master he is.

The Sprout Room

The Sprout Room

Upstairs was a room and microclimate to grow sprouts. The Sprout Room.

Cannibal Monster - Father

Cannibal Monster - Father

There was also an exhibition of my Cannibal Monsters, which caused quite a controversy. Who would have thought? Fortunately, I had my “artist statement” at hand.

Snow in Finland on April 2

Snow in Finland on April 2

The craziest thing of all is that it snowed 40 cm on April 2. The best thing of all is that I met some really fine people.

Earth Day Foraging Expedition - Sunday April 22

Apr 182012
Tasznik - Capsella - Shepard's Purse

Tasznik - Capsella - Shepard's Purse

Are you ready to eat some dandelion (mlecz), nettles (pokrzywy), capsella (tasznik), lime tree leaves (liście lipy), baby sorrel (szczaw), and chickweed (gwiazdnica)? What other treasures will we find to eat in the earliest days of spring?

On Earth Day, Sunday, April 22, at the most wonderful cultural center known as Centrum Promocji Kultury in South Praga, Warsaw, there will be a great day of events. Sławomir Sendzielski and I will be leading a Foraging Expedition in the area the Cultural Center — parks and abandoned spots — looking for greens for an early spring salad. There are also many other activities, such as a Recycling Workshop, Films, Sprout Growing and more. Information (in Polish) here:

http://www.cpk.art.pl/News/view/1820

EXPEDITION at 2-3:30pm
Join us for an expedition to find the wild edible plants of South Praga! We will look for and collect fresh spring plants. Then, back at the Center, we’ll prepare and eat a big, delicious salad! We’ll leave around 2 and return around 3:30. Please bring a bag or basket to collect the goodies, plus a bowl and a fork to eat them with. We will have dressing and homemade bread to accompany it.

EKSPEDYCJA w godz. 14.00-15.30
Dołącz do ekspedycjiw poszukiwaniu jadalnych dzikich roślin na Pradze Południe! Będziemy szukać i zbierać wiosenne świeże rośliny. Potem,w CPK, przygotujemy i zjemy dużą pyszną sałatkę! Wychodzimy o 14.00 i wrócimy około 15.30. Proszę przynieść torbę lub koszyk do zbierania roślin, miskę i widelec,którymi będziesz jeść. Mamy sos do sałatki i chleb domowy!

Kannibaalitaidot / Craft of the Cannibal

Mar 262012

Craft of the CannibalExhibition and Open Craft Workshop with Jodie Baltazar
and Sanna Konola in Tampere, Finland. March 31 – April 22 2012

For Schedule click HERE.

Allotment Sunday - March 25

Mar 242012

This will be the last Allotment Sunday until April 15. This week we should be able to finish trimming the fruit trees, double digging the garden beds, and planting the cold frame. If there is time, I’d like to build another compost bin.

Please join me anytime from 11am – 3pm.

SUNDAY MARCH 25
11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Pixxe – Railroad Garden

Map Wide:

Map to Railroad Garden

Map to Railroad Garden

Map Close:

Paths to Railroad Garden

Paths to Railroad Garden

Directions:
It’s between Żwirky i Wigury and Grójecka.

Via Public Transportation: Take Bus 175, 188, 504, 172, 228,136 to Rakowiec stop (Racławicka i Żwirky i Wigury). Walk west on Rakowiec until you get to Mołdowska. Turn Left (South) on Mołdowska. Follow map to the działka.

Via Public Transportation (Grójecka) Take Tram 7,9, or 15 to Korotyńskiego. Walk North to Racławicka. Turn Left (East) on Racławicka. Left on Sąchocka. Right on Gorlicka. Follow map to the działka.

Via Car from Grójecka: Turn East on Racławica. Left on Mołdawska. As you approach Gorlicka, look for parking. Follow the map to the działka.

Via Car from Żwirky i Wigury: Turn West on Racławica. Right on Mołdawska. As you approach Gorlicka, look for parking. Follow the map to the działka.

Apple Bark Dye

Mar 132012

Last week during Niedziele na działce (Allotment Sundays), in addition to burning a huge pile of vines and twigs, we used some of the trimmings from the apple tree to make some dye. We also took some cherry bark from the dead cherry tree. Look how beautiful this cherry bark looks:

Cherry Bark from old dead tree

Cherry Bark from old dead tree

For the apple, first we peeled off the bark. It was about 200 g of bark from young branches.

Peeling the apple bark

Peeling the apple bark

I poured boiling water over it and let it sit for five days. After that, I added 200g of mordanted wool (mordanted with Alum), brought to a simmer (80C) for an hour, and then let it cool overnight. Rinse and dry. Here is what it looks like. I think the color is very much like the inside of an apple pie, or like honey. Very nice color.

Apple Bark Dyed Wool

Apple Bark Dyed Wool

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