Concord Village EarthLab

Join the garden committee to start indoor planting!

The 2023 Seed-Starting Workshop Is On!

Monday, March 20th, 5:30 to 7:30pm 

in the 230 Jay Street community room

We’re starting tomatoes, peppers, and flowers such as zinnia and marigold. Participants will plant the seedlings at the workshop, then raise the plant on their windowsill at home. A couple of months later, in late May/early June, we will transplant the mature seedlings into the garden inside the children’s play area behind 195 Adams St.

Register Now for the 3/20 Planting Workshop

At the 3/20 workshop, the garden committee will provide guidance, organic soil, organic fertilizer, and organic seeds.

We ask for $10 per person or $30 per household – which can serve as your garden membership dues for 2023. CVEarthlab Garden is self-funded. We ask residents who use the garden to donate money to help cover annual expenses.

How to Register for the Workshop

Please pay in advance; if you cannot attend the live event, we will pack a to-go bag with everything you need to start at home. Checks, made out to CVOI, can be dropped off at the office or left at the 175 Adam St door station (for Denise Maher, 8-C).  To pay electronically, Venmo @Lee-Stern-4   

After payment is made, RSVP to CVEarthlab@gmail.com, including the names and ages of participants, contact info, and payment method.

Thank you.

Related: ISO Empty Seltzer Bottles for Self-Watering Planter Project

We will be planting seeds Monday evening (indoors). More details to come!

Monday, March 20th

5:30pm to 7:30pm

Stay tuned for registration information.

Thank you!

Raised bed suggestion from NYC gardener/ school garden consultant, Fred Wolf of NatureBased:

We have been using galvanized steel stock tanks as sub irrigated planter systems at our school sites with rat issues. They are virtually vermin proof. 

If there is a budget to completely replace all your beds with these growing systems that would be really the only way to prevent rats from burrowing in your beds. Anything on the ground is ripe for their nests. 

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/sunnydaze-decor-oval-stand-up-steel-raised-garden-bed-625-in-x-32-in-silver?cm_vc=-10005

He says they also need to be raised off the ground and placed away from things the rodents can climb on (like the fence). To elevate the beds, he uses different stuff: 4×4 beams, cinder blocks, bricks, etc.

Should we investigate? Maybe replace one contaminated bed with one tank this season, as a pilot?

Video of how to sub irrigate is below. Photos are examples of tanks (not nec sub-irrigated) used at PS 307.