UPDATE: FUNDRAISING FOR OUR PARK July 30, 2009

picture from mother earth news, craig elevitch

So here’s the UPDATE: I’m working to get our fundraising stuff in place now that we have a 501C3 fiscal agreement w/ Park Pride.

Base on our last meetings this is what we’re doing…

• FALL FEST-At our last meeting people were interested in a Fall Fest in the West End Park that can highlight and promote some of our urban farming initiatives but also provide activities for young children. We were thinking pumpkins, hay, etc. We talked about a seed swap, local urban farmers bring fresh veggies from their gardens, a map of gardens in the West End/SW Atl and more. If you’re interested in joining the planning committee (which promises to be much fun) please email me: yomara@9to5.org

• SIDEWALKS-one of the major repairs needed in our park is our sidewalks-especially our lovely brick sidewalk (north of the park) which currently makes it difficult for individuals w/ strollers or wheel chairs. Unfortunately, the city is in a major budget crisis and we don’t know how much help they’ll provide! I’m working to put pressure on the City in the meantime, we’re considering kicking off a ‘brick by brick’ fundraising campaign to cultivate private donors and get it FIXED! I’m researching how much it will be to have engraved bricks and once I know we’ll have an outline so neighbors can support by buying a brick!

• FUNDRAISING EVENTS-we’ve talked about doing a semi-formal at the park possibly on the basketball court w/ live music. We’re thinking Spring. We’re still exploring our options. If anyone is interested-please email me at yomara@9to5.org.

• GRANTS-I’m writing a couple of small grants to get rain barrels and start a small children’s garden/outdoor classroom. If funds are secured- we may need some of you handy neighbors to help with some of the projects.

The fall promises to be a busy season. Your INVOLVEMENT is MUY important!

• Next Friends of the West End Park meeting is on August 19, 2009, 10:30am, location TBA
• Next Clean-up is on August 15 at 10:30am (this time we’ve been promised mulch!)

Donations ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE and can be made to:

Friends of the West End Park

Mail to: Friends of the West End Park, 1080 OAK ST SW, Atlanta, GA 30310.

Thanks and I’ll keep you posted!

Play Grocery Store July 29, 2009

This simple grocery store can be made of salvaged wood and other recycled materials at home: left over fabric, table cloth, shower curtain, bins, wooden shoe rack, baskets, etc. Instead of buying bulky a big plastic play store/house-think outside the box and make your own. This option is healthier for the children: you inspire creativity and use wooden materials that are better for your home’s environment. Very cute!

source: http://domesticcandy.blogspot.com/

REUSE: PAPER + JARS July 28, 2009

This is a great idea. Re-use jars and scrap gift wrapping or scrapbooking paper. You can use these for birthdays or wedding favors, to organize your crafting space, hold children’s small toy pieces, give dried herbs (or tea) to friends as gifts or fill with treats for the holidays such as the Day of the Dead. The possibilities are endless.

Thanks to Design Sponge (guest blogger Laura Normandin)-very clever!

Instructions for pencils

1. Cut a strip of paper that is 1″ by the length of your pencil before it’s sharpened. My pencils were 7″ long. Brush Mod Podge on the strip of paper. Lay pencil on one edge of paper, and then with clean fingers smooth down by rotating the pencil. You can roll on a flat surface to make sure paper is adhered. Brush a little Mod Podge under edge of paper if needed. Let dry 1/2 hour before sharpening pencils. Try all different patterns for these, they look great when displayed together.

Instructions for jar lids…

Materials

paper scraps
Mod Podge in matte finish
pencil
scissors
medium craft brush
jars with screw lids
plain wood pencils unsharpened

Instructions for jars

1. Wash jars thoroughly. Remove any labels with Goo Gone or similar product. To remove smells, soak in a bleach solution. Let dry.

2. Lay jar lid face down on the back of decorative paper and trace lightly with a pencil. Sketch a circle that is bigger (the height of the lid plus 1/4″) around the circle. You can use a round object to trace if you can find a similar one in size. Cut slits about 1/4″ apart that go right up the first pencil tracing. Coat inside circle with Mod Podge and adhere to lid. Press down thoroughly with clean fingers. Lay face down on surface and begin gluing strips in a clockwise direction. Coat 2 or 3 strips at a time and fold each one up and over the edge of the lid. Continue until all the strips are glued.

3. Turn lid over so pattern is facing up. Coat with Mod Podge to seal. Let dry and then screw onto jars.

Warnings of Antibiotics Overuse in Agriculture

Diseases resistant to antibiotics: major threats to food safety and public health

As is well known to the medical community, we face an urgent crisis of antibiotic

resistance. Once considered miracle drugs, antibiotics are becoming less and less

effective at treating infections and disease. Many Americans, including, I would guess,

some in this room, have experienced this problem first hand. Sometimes when drugs

don’t work, it means several days of unnecessary pain and suffering while doctors

figure out that another drug is needed. But increasingly, resistance leads to more dire

consequences. Treating a patient with an ineffective drug can give an infection a

chance to progress to a more serious illness. For cases where none of the available

antibiotics work, resistance becomes a matter of life and death. In addition to rendering

drugs ineffective, resistant strains are often more virulent than their susceptible counterparts.

Antibiotic resistance is of particular concern in terms of food safety. The CDC has found

that half of all human Campylobacter infections2 are drug resistant as are one in five

Salmonella infections.3 Nearly 100,000 of the Salmonella infections would resist

treatment with at least five antibiotics. Salmonella and Campylobacter, the most

common sources of food borne illnesses in the United States, account for well over a

million resistant infections in this country each year.4

Unfortunately, the resistance crisis will not be alleviated by the arrival of new drugs.

The discovery of new classes of antibiotics, once almost a predictable occurrence, has

become frustratingly difficult in recent decades. The unhappy truth is that there are

virtually no new classes of antibiotic drugs in the pipeline.6 Unless we act to preserve

the antibiotics we have, the age of the miracle antibiotics may be coming to an end.

Testimony Before the

House Committee on Rules on

The Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act

H.R. 1549

Presented by

Margaret Mellon, Ph.D.

Director, Food and Environment Program

Union of Concerned Scientists

For full testimony: http://www.ucsusa.org/assets/documents/food_and_agriculture/july-2009-pamta-testimony.pdf

THRIFTING: desk + porch swing! July 26, 2009

Love those legs! I was so excited to find this cute little corner desk-we've been needing a desk forever! (From GOODWILL)

WOW-check out this porch swing-I couldn't believe the price!

It still has a tag on it! Those of you who know me, know I've been wanting a porch swing for years but refused to pay Lowe/Hope Depot's price tag. SWEET!!!

MY TOMATO PLANT : ( July 25, 2009

Okay-I learned my lesson! I must start my pile of compost asap so I can improve my soil. Here are some pictures of the tomato plant-I believe it’s Fusarium wilt. If any of you can recognize what it is or have any ideas for treatment, please contact me or comment.

How many times have you seen one of these at Goodwill? July 23, 2009

SOURCE: http://www.designspongeonline.com-submitted by Chad Kelly

WHAT TO PLANT IN AUGUST in GA… July 22, 2009

VEGETABLES	Sow Indoors	Sow Outdoors	Transplant
Bean, bush snap		XXX
Beet		XXX
Broccoli	XXX		XXX
Brussels sprouts	XXX		XXX
Cabbage	XXX		XXX
Carrot		XXX
Cauliflower	XXX		XXX
Chard	XXX	XXX	XXX
Chinese cabbage		XXX
Collards		XXX
Cucumber		XXX
Kale	XXX	XXX	XXX
Kohlrabi	XXX	XXX	XXX
Lettuce	XXX	XXX	XXX
Mustard		XXX
Parsnip		XXX
Potato		XXX
Radish		XXX
Rutabaga		XXX
Squash, summer		XXX
Spinach		XXX
Turnips		XXX

CULINARY HERBS	Sow Indoors	Sow Outdoors	Transplant
Basil		XXX
Chives			XXX
Cilantro		XXX
Parsley		XXX

source: http://www.motherearthnews.com

PALLETS ARE SHOWING UP EVERYWHERE!

Yes-they’re everywhere…kitchens, porches, bedrooms and this one can be used in your living room, a coffee table. I know it’s not for everyone’s taste but it is clever. I like it and it offers extra storage.

This easy DIY project lets you put your feet up after you’ve finished it. Stop by any warehouse or supply company that has a receiving dock, or visit a pallet recycling center. Ask for two half-pallets. Now you’ve got just about all you need to make your own unique coffee table.

Step 1: Secure the two half-pallets together, one atop the other, using wood screws.

Step: Cut a top and base to size from MDF. Screw to the top and bottom of the pallets.

Step 3: Frame the top MDF piece using lattice strips, mitering the corners, if desired. Paint it your desired color and let dry.

Step 4: Find a decorative sisal rug and cut to fit inside the top; secure with an appropriate adhesive such as Gorilla Glue. Attach casters to the bottom.

source:www.diyideas.com

FREE (or re-used) CURTAIN RODS

Here’s some inspiration from: http://www.diyideas.com