The artist applies some finishing touches.
If you have heard the term "farming concrete”, it is now a reality with no jack-hammer required. A new edible portable micro garden (with sub-irrigated planters aka SIPs) is officially opening tomorrow afternoon at 3:30 at PS 39 in Brooklyn. Just like kids, these little gardens can find their way into small spaces anywhere, even on driveways, balconies and rooftops.
I call PS 39 the "little school that could". It may be small, but the community of people who made this garden happen thinks big. It also took some big thinking and open mindedness by school principal Anita de Paz. We need many more school principals like her all across the country.
It is much too early in the Brooklyn gardening season for there to be vegetables to pick but the garden is already a work of art worth seeing. Even if you cannot make the opening tomorrow, stop by at any time and have a look. The garden is located in the front yard of PS 39 at the corner of 6th Avenue and 8th Street, Park Slope, Brooklyn.
With all the publicity about million dollar school gardens (think Alice Waters Edible School Yard extravaganzas), it is refreshing to know that this wonderful garden cost next to nothing. Even the Tea Party would be happy.
The PS 39 community, guided by Project Leaders Frieda Lim (Slippery Slope Rooftop Micro Farm) and Trisha Mulligan made very effective use of recycled materials like wood pallets, plastic nursery trays and soda bottles.
Even without some donated materials, this garden would have cost very little. The cost was largely in sweat equity. Parents, students and staff did the work and they should be very proud of what they accomplished. They walked tall on this project.
There will be much more to come about the PS 39 garden. It is without doubt the prototype school garden of the future. Stay tuned!
More information:
Slippery Slope Farm website
Awesome Bob!! I love the angle and heading. Til tomorrow!
Thanks,
Frieda
Posted by: Frieda Lim | March 30, 2011 at 12:18 AM
And we love the colorful SIP surround. What a way to make growing food fun...and beautiful.
Posted by: H2 | March 30, 2011 at 11:17 AM