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I got there around 10:30 am after seeing that I couldn’t work in the science lab because Rose had waxed the floor. I would come back to work there later.  I started the shed task by taking everything out and stacking it in groups.  Irene came by with lovely little clear plastic boxes to organize things and her power drill!! (That’s Irene for you–always prepared). She had a plan for organizing the shed annex that included new hooks and a shelf. George from HR would help her when he arrived around “3:00 pm”. I went into the school to get labels, and Zoila told me the tale of my science books on the stage. I didn’t move them in the spring because I thought they could be used in 303. However, they were moved onto the stage and up for grabs pretty much, unless I sorted them into some kind of order.  When I went up there, Mr. T. (my knight in shining armor) showed me how he had started to sort them out. I put the items I didn’t want onto tables in the gym and left the items to go to the science lab on the stage. I put a few items I wanted to be sure got to the science lab (field guides, FOSS books) on the floor. Coltrane was playing in the gym, so I enlisted him to help me. I later “kidnapped” him (with Gabi’s permission) to Xochiquetzal. He helped to water and explored on his owned. He dug lots of holes with the tulip digger.

By the time Coltrane joined Irene and I, she had pulled out almost all the shed items and was labeling boxes. We all sat in the shade for a few minutes to eat lunch. We decided we’d better clear out the annex, so the HR guys could work in there. It was about 1:30, and Irene had called the center at least 3 times to see if they were coming. As we emptied out the shed, we decided to have a fabulous raffle at the harvestfest. The chipper, 2nd pole digger and plastic lawn deer would be highlighted items. Bottomline:  get room in the sheds!

About this time, Isiah, Justine and Guadalupe stopped by to ask if we knew the name of a big insect they had placed in the plastic page of an old photo album. It looked like a cicada to me. I consulted with Irene. The boys showed us their collection:  a bee, wasp, cricket. I continued with the fabulous prize theme and gave them a rather large weed poster which I had created by taping weeds with clear packing tape onto a big poster board. Being the littlest, Guadalupe was given the task of carrying this monstrosity. I gave Justin a smaller version of it, and Isiah left with a box of small clear plastic boxes and the remnants of a beehive.  I was inspired by  their curiosity, but  I had to laugh when they returned a half an hour later, still carrying the huge signs. They had found some live insects and had them in some plastic vials we also gave them. They were wondering what a cricket eats. We puzzled this question among ourselves, opting for grass and maybe a smaller insect to see what would happen.

After the boys left, Coltrane went into school to use the bathroom and must have been picked up by Gabi. The HR guys finally came at 4:20–yeah–and I HAD to leave at 5:00 because I had massage clinic.  But, I tell you, it was a repeat of yesterday. James took on the sweeping and cleaning of the floor of the shed–and Irene made sure we used Solumel to clean up the dirt!   George got in there to put in the hooks (Irene had already cut down the board with  saw, using the picnic bench as her work bench –GO IRENE, GO!!). Brandon and Nelson continued their previous work weeding by the four directions beds, Carlos finished planting the Black-Eyed Susans and Howard helped wherever he could.  I left before they finished, feeling very fortunate to take part in such a wonderful garden community.

The HR guys really are wonderful. James is a tall man from Mississippi. He took a big bag of collard greens back to the House. He cooked them up with bacon and onions. His cooking was a big hit!  (He barely got a taste of his creation). Carlos made his Whittier School Gardens debut. He was a landscaper at one time in his life. He helped Irene plant the black-eyed Susans, fixed the hose and told Irene of how he was once in the gangs. They talked about how when he was in gangs, they just got into fist fights. Now it’s a lot more dangerous. He has 5 children, all in their twenties.  George calls himself a carpenter. Irene will enlist him to help with putting in hooks in the shed tomorrow. Today, he took out tons of  ”volunteer” elm trees. Brandon is a tall man who showed me pictures of his two really adorable boys. The two year old looks just like him (Mini-Me). Howard was very quiet but worked very hard. Nelson was also a newbie to our garden. He joked how he and Carlos have the same last name (Ramiriez, I think). Everyone confuses their names.

Selling our produce

Bilingual and math skills come in handy

Garden Journal 8-30-09

Andy and I went to the McKinley Park Farmer’s market today. McKinley Park Farmer’s Market is a fair trade, organic farmers market held the last Sunday of each month during the summer.

Farmers Market at La Palapa on Damen

It takes place at La Palapa Restaurant on Damen at Archer. We brought lemon balm, papalo, collard greens, thyme, sage and chives. We were one of four vendors.  COB, McKinley Park Apothecary y and a farm from Union Pier Michigan were other exhibitors.

Chad from Cob Connection

COB is a farm in Humboldt Park. Chad, their coordinator, had beets, baby carrots, collard greens and organic bug sprays. We bought a bottle made of spinach water and soap.McKinley Park Apothecary has teas, lip balms and salves made by Leslie Fiedler, an herbalist whom I met through my classes at the Chicago College of Healing Arts.

Greens

Lemon Balm

We sold 2 bunches of chives ($4), all of our collard greens ($2), 2 bags of lemon balm ($4), a container of cherrry tomatoes donated by Allie ($2) $2 worth of peaches (at 2 for 25 cents)–donated by Leslie and 2 bags of worm compost ($6) for a total of $16.