Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Upcoming Events, Etc.

Here it is May 14th, and I just updated my "quote of the month" for May (good grief!) It is: "Nature does not hurry -- and yet everything gets accomplished." I'm not sure of the original source; it came to me as part of the signature block in an email from a fellow Denver Urban Gardens volunteer.

I choose it because it is especially fitting, given the current rhythms of my life. Or disruption of rhythms, as the case may be.

I recently went back to work full time, for a new company, in a new industry. My time is no longer my own. I am measuring it out in Eliot's proverbial coffee spoons -- a cupful for gainful employment, one or two spoonsful a day to my garden, the community garden, my family, et al.

I feel a bit like Alice falling down the rabbit hole. The learning curve at work is steep; I'm meeting a whole new cast of colorful characters, and over my shoulder there is the ghost of a grin reminding me that eventually, everything will settle down and I'll find a new rhythm. One that works a little better.

So apologies for the delay in postings; meanwhile here are a couple of cool events on the horizon:

Saturday, May 17, 2008, 8am - 3 pm
Plant-a-Palooza
CSU, Denver Extension Plant Sale (Denver)
Harvard Gulch Park
888 East Iliff Avenue
This is a major fund-raising event for CSU Denver Extension, staffed by Colorado Master Gardeners and offering plants you need to start your own gardens, including colorful annuals and Plant Select perennials chosen to do well in Denver's cklimate; herbs; a wide variety of peppers and tomatoes, including heirlooms, paste and modern varieties. I'll be working this event, chipping away at the volunteer hours I need to achieve full Master Gardener status.

Wednesday, May 21, 7 - 9 pm
"Green Umbrella" Networking Event:
Mapping Our Community Resources (Durango)
The Sustainability Alliance of Southwest Colorado is sponsoring its second "Green Umbrella" networking event. The purpose of this event is to come together to assess local sustainability resources, leading to an online "map" of community assets and opportunities. Their goal is to understand the roles of various participants in contributing to local sustainability in critical topical areas, including energy, water, food, conservation, education, land use, health care, the local economy, and cultural diversity.
Where: Sunlight Room, Durango Rec Center, 2700 Main Avenue, Durango.
When: 7pm - 9pm
More information: RSVP by May 14 to Werner Heiber at 970-769-2688 or werner.heiber@gmail.com, www.sustainableswcolorado.org

Saturday, May 24, 4-10 pm
Launch Event for Colorado Local First
- (Denver)
Held at the D Note in Arvada (7519 Grandview Avenue), this kick-off event features live local music, drink specials, awesome pizza, door prizes from local businesses and more. This event is a celebration of local first, and will be the official unveiling of the Colorado Local First campaign and online directory. The interactive directory is the only definitive resource for finding locally-owned businesses in Colorado communities. For more information, check out the Colorado Local First website at www.milehighbiz.org

2 comments:

Bev5k said...

Greetings! After reading your bio, I have to say, you are a gal after my own heart. I, too, have taken my little domain and am transforming it into my own home grown haven.

We have been here for three years and I have a freezer full of goodies.

But recently, I watch a neighbor have their yard prayed with pyrethroids on a very windy day. Guess where the wind blew the mist... yes, all over my organic gardens with organic soil and everything!

I have been having a battle with Lawn Care companies ever since and have tried to contact countless agencies. No laws have been broken.

I live in Highlands Ranch and it wasn't until then that I noticed companies like Natural Way are touting there pesticides as being safe. They are not safe. And they are creating a chemical fog over our neighborhoods that's far greater than the fog on industrialized food crops. The number of applications, product being applied and necessity of use is not being monitored. Instead, a GREEN lawn is being marketed as a value to homeowners. My neighbors are buying it up like it were snake oil!

Funny thing is, I have a greener yard than they do!

What do I do to get a warning to others -- that though their backyards have officially become organic and pesticide free, the drift of chemicals from their neighbors yard can unknowingly undo all they have done, putting themselves and children to more risk of pesticide contamination because lawn care companies are not applying to their neighbor's yard with food tolerances in mind. You might think that apple from your tree is pesticide free, but the neighbor next door may have contaminated it with their spray... would you still wipe it on your sleeve and hand it to you kid if you knew that?

Bev5k said...

Greetings! After reading your bio, I have to say, you are a gal after my own heart. I, too, have taken my little domain and am transforming it into my own home grown haven.

We have been here for three years and I have a freezer full of goodies.

But recently, I watch a neighbor have their yard prayed with pyrethroids on a very windy day. Guess where the wind blew the mist... yes, all over my organic gardens with organic soil and everything!

I have been having a battle with Lawn Care companies ever since and have tried to contact countless agencies. No laws have been broken.

I live in Highlands Ranch and it wasn't until then that I noticed companies like Natural Way are touting there pesticides as being safe. They are not safe. And they are creating a chemical fog over our neighborhoods that's far greater than the fog on industrialized food crops. The number of applications, product being applied and necessity of use is not being monitored. Instead, a GREEN lawn is being marketed as a value to homeowners. My neighbors are buying it up like it were snake oil!

Funny thing is, I have a greener yard than they do!

What do I do to get a warning to others -- that though their backyards have officially become organic and pesticide free, the drift of chemicals from their neighbors yard can unknowingly undo all they have done, putting themselves and children to more risk of pesticide contamination because lawn care companies are not applying to their neighbor's yard with food tolerances in mind. You might think that apple from your tree is pesticide free, but the neighbor next door may have contaminated it with their spray... would you still wipe it on your sleeve and hand it to you kid if you knew that?