Sub-irrigated portable micro gardens like the EarthBox are still an undiscovered urban asset in most cities. Garden State Urban Farms in Orange, NJ is doing its best to change that. GSUF founder Lorraine Gibbons and her staff are doing some great work in local New Jersey communities.
Sub-irrigated portable micro gardens are much more productive than in-ground growing, use significantly less water, and can be moved from one location to another if necessary. They leave no trace in the surrounding soil environment since they are self-contained and there is no nutrient run-off.
Sub-irrigated planters (SIPs) also teach more marketable skills than traditional shovel and hoe dirt gardening. That is what is happening here.
via www.gardenstateurbanfarms.com
This week we planted our first outdoor collard greens of the year. We had help from the Friends of the Lifers Youth Corp, whos mission statement is “to provide programs and services that promote self-sufficiency for citizens who were formerly incarcerated or have a criminal record; and to develop programs that assist in juvenile delinquency prevention, individual development, and community improvement.” They were training on our Newark Beth Israel Farm Lot before they start growing their own Earthbox farm in Jersey City. It’s shaping up to be a fun summer season!
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Posted by: Chesley | January 20, 2012 at 05:31 AM