Trinidad Ivy City Community Garden Club

Where to Get Info on Our Group

2008-09-14T06:23:00.002-11:00

Hey, we're not so great about updating this blog, but we are still active. If you want to join in, or follow our activities please join our Yahoo Group. Activities are often also announced on Frozen Tropics.

TIC Garden Club Annual Yard Sale

2006-07-13T06:21:00.000-11:00

TRINIDAD-IVY CITY GARDEN CLUB
2nd ANNUAL YARD SALE

JULY 15 10am – 3pm
1100 Block Montello Ave. NE
All proceeds support the planting projects of the Trinidad Garden Club.
trinidadivycitygardenclub-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

http://ticgardenclub.blogspot.com/

NYT: Redefining the Yard

2006-07-13T06:20:00.000-11:00

The New York Times features a really interesting piece on the transformation of a front yard into an edible garden.

Garden Club Strikes More Treeboxes

2006-06-20T14:48:00.000-11:00

After a last minute discovery that the treeboxes intended as recipients of the most recent planting were on DPW's (at lease we think it is DPW, but no agency was listed on the no parking signs) sidewalk replacement route (meaning the treeboxes would be pretty roughed up & it would not be a wise time to plant). So the group concentrated instead on more boxes on the 1100 block of Morse & did a rehab (w/new plants) on a large treebox further up Montello (where the sidewalk replacement was already complete).

WP: Gardened & Growing in Trinidad

2006-06-20T14:43:00.000-11:00

Check out this great Washington Post article on our neighborhood. It evens mentions us!

TIC Community Garden Club Prepping for Spring

2006-03-23T12:55:00.000-11:00

Now that spring is in the air & the bulbs are coming up, it is time once again for the Tinidad-Ivy City Community Garden Club to take up our shovels and make an appearance on the corner.

We did a little treebox repair project last weekend before kicking off the public season for the year. Our bricklined treeboxes on Montello endured a bit of fall/winter abuse.

We decided to undertake this particular task before opening the public season because we want to move forward and welcome new members with the strong message that we don't just want to do one time planting projects. We want to keep returning to the scene of the crime to maintain what we have created.

We believe that building a strong community is about following through & being there for the long run.

Occasional clean-ups are a great thing, don't get us wrong, but isolated events are...um, isolated. They each become just a flash in the pan.

So, while planting treeboxes is fun & the flowers look much better than the debris that once occupied the space, the planting of treeboxes is not our end goal.

We hope that by getting neighbors our out on the street & talking & working together, that maybe a little community building can happen along the way.

And just maybe, if enough of us are out there on a regular basis, we can get to know our neighbors a little better & strive to work together to make Trinidad the best community it can be.
Also check out a reference to this post in the blog Rebuilding Place in the Urban Space.

Beautification Day @ Webb School

2005-11-15T11:41:00.000-11:00

Join us for beautification day at Webb Elementary this Saturday. We will be planting bulbs, doing general cleaning & a little painting to spruce up the school. This event is sponsored by Webb, the Trinidad Ivy City Garden Club, & the Lillian S. Jones Youth Foundation (which has adopted Webb). This is a great chance to get out and do some good while meeting your neighbors. To find out about other TIC Garden Club events join the listserv.

Where: 1375 Mount Olivet Rd NE
When: 8:30am Saturday November 19th (this Saturday)
What to bring: Yourself (wear old clothes) & plenty of energy

Garage Sale Nets Funds for More Flowers

2005-10-03T17:49:00.000-11:00

Our garage sale, held October 1st (the same day as the H Street Festival), netted some much need funds for new soil and plants. The sale also gave group members the chance to chat with passing neighbors about our mission and ways that they can become invovled in what we do. Photos to follow.

Our Table @ the H Street Festival

2005-10-03T17:44:00.000-11:00

Here are a few members staffing the info booth at the H Street Festival. It was a very sunny day, but worth the heat to spread the word to interested neighbors.

Photos from the 2nd Treebox Planting

2005-08-29T02:52:00.000-11:00

Here are few shots from our treebox planting the weekend before last.

Prepping the bed on Montello.

Neighbors turned out to help despite the high temperatures.

The digging was hard, but it was a fun time.

Planting decorative grasses on Montello.

We used the last of the plants to replace flowers that had been stolen from a local church.

A glance at our past efforts on Montello.

2nd Planting a Hit

2005-08-22T01:03:00.000-11:00

Yesterday volunteers descended on scattered treeboxes on Montello and Morse. The high temperatures made the work more challenging, but a constant supply of cold water kept volunteers going strong. We planted from 8am until around 2:30, or 3pm. By the end of the day we prepped and planted several treeboxes (tree roots forcing the use of creativity in some spots). We were also able to plant new flowers outside a church on Montello after thieves ripped from the ground flowers that the church had planted. Take a walk down to Morse and Montello to check out the end product. Photos to follow.

Treebox Planting Event Sunday

2005-08-15T07:04:00.000-11:00

The Trinidad Ivy City Community Garden Club will host a treebox planting this Sunday. We will be planting a couple of treeboxes on Montello (1200 block) & a few more around the corner on Morse (1100 block). The group is planning to meet at 8am outside 1220 Morse NE. Latecomers are welcome (but we may be around the corner on Morse). Interested parties should should call 202-397-7470 and ask for Thalia (feel free to just show up if you forget to call. It would also be great if people could bring tools/gloves/trashbags. We will have some tools/gloves/trashbags, but a few more couldn't hurt. In particular, pick-axes & trowels would be useful. Here are the vitals again-

Where: 1220 Montello (1200 block of Montello, or 1100 block of Morse if you're late).
When: Sunday 8am-until we finish
What: a treebox planting party

Post Article on Gardens in Low Income Areas

2005-08-04T08:23:00.000-11:00

Take a look at this article from the Washington Post. It talks about the key role that community gardens can play in underserved urban neighborhoods. Although the Trinidad Ivy City Community Garden Club does not currently grow veggies, it is something we are looking at. Also be sure to check out the slide show that the Post has on its site.

First Project a Big Success

2005-07-26T08:26:00.000-11:00

Some of the spots seemed pretty bleak when we looked at them that morning.

We started work with a small group...

...but we were hopeful.

We had all the materials that we needed.

As the morning progressed lots of neighbors joined in the effort.

It was hard work...

...but we had a great time.

And before 1pm we had planted five tree boxes, cleaned a small access alley, & weeded & mulched a yard.

Cleaning Bricks for Saturday's Planting

2005-07-20T14:57:00.000-11:00

Here are a few shots from tonight's gathering where a few members went to work cleaning old mortar off bricks to be recycled into tree boxes during this Saturday's planting in the 1200 block of Montello NE.

A Neighbor's Small Garden

2005-07-20T14:41:00.000-11:00

This wasn't planted by us, it is neighbor's garden I passed on the way to work. But you can see how just a little bit of work can really pay off by adding color and interest in what would otherwise be just a plain space.

Join Us Saturday July 23rd

2005-07-20T08:57:00.000-11:00

The Trinidad Ivy City Community Garden Club is hosting an event Saturday morning & any interested parties are invited. We will be doing yard work & planting flowers galore. We are also constructing brick tree boxes in which to put the flowers. Check out these before shots if you want a sneak peak at the work site.

When: The action starts at 8am and goes until whenever we wrap up.
Where: The 1200 block of Montello (the intersection of Montello & Morse).

You could always just show up, but it might be a good idea to give us a heads-up so we can make sure we have enough tools & gloves. To get in touch join the Yahoo group "trinidadivycitygardenclub," email us by using the mail to function on the profile page, or call Thalia at 202-397-7470.

FYI- The center house became vacant after it was torched, three years ago, by a serial arsonist. Also, not pictured is the severly overgrown lot (to the right of these houses) that is owned by the city & (in theory) maintained by a contractor.

Welcome to The Trinidad Ivy City Garden Club

2005-07-03T15:18:00.000-11:00

Who we are: the residents of the Trinidad & Ivy City Neighborhoods.

What we are: a community group that seeks to beautify our streets, build bonds between neighbors & increase neighborhood pride through gardening.