Newark Community Garden Coalition

The Newark Community Garden Coalition

The Newark Community Garden Coalition was created this past September to bring different residents in Newark who are gardeners, whether it is at a roof top, vacant lot, or their backyard. The purpose of the coalition is to strengthen and provide support to anyone trying to create a space where we are beautifying and contributing to green eating in Newark. Different working groups were also created, and the Farmer's Market Working Group was created to develop a farmer's market at each ward. This year we did an event for the South Ward in Newark, and this is the summary of the day's event.

I would like to thank Luis Ortiz from Reelmark Entertainment for the great footage!

Election Day; Please vote!

Election Day; Please vote!  On or about the year 2001, I made a decision to become  unaffiliated.  After I saw that the majority vote was democratic, but the republican was elected, I thought this must be some sort of joke.  What I was before doesn't really matter, but what I do know is that BIG government, making the decision for me is NOT good AT ALL. 

As a resgistered voter, I received my ballot.  I notice like every year there are more than 2 parties, did you realize?  I am not the only one, fed up with the 2 party system that seems to think that if Obama gets elected things will remain the same or change, or if Romney gets elected we are going to move forward, or we will arrive to doomsday sooner.  I don't know what the results are going to be tomorrow, but know that you are in control of your life, regardless of who gets elected.  You need to take a stand, and make things happen!

We are joining forces with the Newark Community Garden Coalition, and we are going to make this work, no matter who gets elected tomorrow...However, if you don't go out an make an election, you are telling the Universe that you want someone else to make the decisions for you, is that really what you feel?

Make a decision today, and if you register to vote, make a SELECTION, and make this ELECTION DAY a historical one! Not in US history but in YOUR LIFE...

Please comment below, and let me know if you are going to ROCK the VOTE!

Juggle it All with Leanne Chesser's course

So many online entrepreneurs struggle with all the stuff they have to do with blogging and social media. It’s crazy! How the heck do you stay on top of it all, get organized and get more efficient so you’re more productive and not pulling your hair out every time you have to come up with post ideas and get it all done?

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Have you ever experienced the social media time suck? You know what that is . . . when you sit down to just do one thing on Facebook and you resurface three hours later wondering what the heck happened.

Have you ever wondered what to write on your blog or for your social media posts . . . and spend way too much time figuring it out? Have you ever given up posting because you just can’t think of anything or because it’s just too much?

Have you ever wondered what to do with blogging and social media in the first place?

It’s overwhelming, isn’t it?

Well, there’s a solution for you. Check out Leanne Chesser‘s course all about how to be more productive online and get rid of that overwhelm and confusion once and for all.

It’s a 4-week program full of awesome content, cool and helpful cheat sheets and checklists and a Facebook group for extra help and support.

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And it’s on sale right now for a WAY low introductory price, but only until September 30.

If you’ve ever felt pulled in a bazillion directions . . .

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed with so much to do . . .

Or if you’ve ever felt like you have no clue what to do . . .

This is for you.

Check it out here and let me know what you think in the comments! What’s your greatest struggle with blogging and social media and if you could have any blogging and social media tools that you want, what would your dream tool be?

Feel free to use this post or write your own. But make sure to link to the course at http://www.juggleitallonline.com, link to me at http://www.juggleitall.com and comment here that you wrote a post so I don’t miss it.

and yet, Another garden!



Cucumber



Adopt a Lot at 11th Avenue

Monclova Health Coach went to visit,  yet, another garden... I was impressed that this was all done under the last year.   

The person who started this garden, was enthused and thrilled to be able to share a cucumber, basil, and tomatoes.  When she gave me the cucumber, I said, I'm going to make a raw dish.  Everyone asked, like what do you mean by a raw dish... I said, I'm going to take a picture of it and share it.  The raw food movement has been around for a long time, I learned about it after becoming a vegan over seven years ago.  I love eating cooked food but there is something about raw food that makes me feel excited and happy, that energizes me and gives me new ideas and creations!  Who wants to be able to learn how to create food that is SUPER simple to eat, and make, and doesn't had inches to your waist, but adds health and vitality to your bones and muscles?   Take a walk with me on Saturday, September 15th, visit my events page at Monclova Health Coach, www.facebook.com/monclovahealth and send me a message for more details. 

 



Vegan Raw dish, Cucumber Pasta with Pesto



New Perspective and Continued Commitment

This summer has been a difficult summer trying to build Monclova Health Coach and North Newark Urban Garden.

I never planned to execute North Newark Urban Garden on my own, and I didn't start this by myself.  It began over 12 months ago with a twitter conversation, where I commited myself to start a community garden.  I am still here, and I'm ready once again to recruit and enroll others who are willing to still work with me in the North Newark Urban Garden.  There is an URGENT need to have fresh food,  natural food, and to be able to sustain ourselves in this economy. 

The garden to me was a way to show the world that we can cultivate fresh food, and we don't need to continously go to the supermarket.  Food grows easily with very little effort, why are we struggling in 9 to 5 jobs where we feel disatisfied promoting someone else's agenda, and we are still broke. 

We are in a boat to pharmaceutical land, looking for magic pills, and getting sicker and sicker.  Our kids today need to learn where they food comes from, and how to really have a good QUALITY life.  The garden for me is a place where I can use as an education tool, not just for the community, but for myself. 

There in lies the biggest challenge.  I have NO CLUE how to grow food, how to mix petemoss with dirt, how to make beds, how to maintain a compost, but I have to pull thru with this.  I know how to prepare it, and how to EAT it! As I love to eat,  and I eat for FUN. 

My relationship with food has changed over the years, we need more than food to survive, but better quality relationships, hugs, a good job, and continued growth and evolvement. 

If you want to be part of this experience please feel free to send me a message at newarkurbangarden@gmail.com and let me know your thoughts!  

A Newark Garden in the open!

As I was driving from Whole Foods in Vauxhall, I drove by Elizabeth Ave.  There I saw a garden in the open...not gated, not bothered, but looking as pretty as it could....

This makes my vision clearer and better for the garden, and I hope that other see this and can join me in the adventure!!

 You can see the rain barrels, the beds with two levels, sticks with plants getting ready to go around it, pots around with the Newark Conservacy labels.

We need volunteers. Let's get inspired North Newark!

A workout!

For me it was definite therapeutic and a workout to work at the garden today.  If you have depression, and/or lack vitamin "D", this is a great opportunity to naturally fight those emotions and boost your immunity! 

There were 4 bags of refuse, and 2 garbage bags picked up from the garden at 3rd Ave and Garside.  The last volunteer was Hilda, who came with a box and a broom, and brushed up a lot of the dirt that was on the sidewalk after some of the weeds were pulled by another volunteer, whose name I didn't get.  Maybe he will be around again, probably since he stated he lives in the neighborhood. Next cleanup plans are definitely Thursday from 6 pm to 9 pm.  Than the next time will be Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.  This is of course, if it is not raining. On the 15th of May, I hope to be able to move all the dead trees and leaves from the property for PICK UP by the city on the 16th of May.  Each day, more and more will be done.  One step at a time, and I can see the garden happen this year! THANK YOU!  

If you want more information, please write to NewarkUrbanGarden@gmail.com.

Let's get dirty!

I would like to invite you to celebrate, participate and bless the opening of North Newark Urban Garden in 2012, and help create and solidify The Urban Garden. 

Where:  248-250 Garside Street, corner of 3rd Ave.
9:30 am to 11:30 a.m.
EVERY SUNDAY 
During the month of MAY
additional times and alternate days will be added later

YOU will be reaping the benefits of harvest if you come throughout the season....

The LAYOUT

Next up, garden boxes and layout! The tape measurer came out and the boxes placed down. We are starting off with about 7 boxes this year with the potential of about 25 eventually. There was a lot of thought put into the layout for now and the future of our garden. It definitely wasn’t a 1, 2, 3 here place boxes downs. While we were in the garden, more onlookers and neighbors are showing interest and offering words of encouragement towards OUR project. They are happy that the lot is being beautified into a community garden. Be sure to stop by and take a look, we are at Garside Ave and 3rd Avenue. See you soon!! 

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

I am contacting you today on behalf of North Newark Urban Garden. North Newark Urban Garden is a city-owned lot that we adopted directly through the city of Newark, NJ. The garden is geared towards providing the inner-city community with fresh fruit and vegetables, while beautifying the neighborhood. We are a committed to build a group to improving the appearance of our neighborhood and creating a bond with our neighbors, and teaching children the importance of where food comes from.

We are very excited about the implementation of the garden and providing the neighborhood with a healthy community. I am contacting you to inquire if YOU would be interested in donating a service towards the program. We would like to make more space for the garden, by getting rid of some of the dead trees on the property, purchasing more boxes, dirt, and pavers. We would like some help in the removal of the trees, clean up, setting up the garden, and ensuring a successful 2012!

We are also documenting our efforts and progress of the garden by film and online media sites, on our blog, Facebook and Twitter pages. YOU would be included as a sponsor of the program.

I hope that you have an interest in the program and look forward to hearing from you soon. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me via email

Spur of the moment we were able to get a delivery of soil from Greater Newark Conservancy, which meant Saturday plans to check out the House Music Festival weren’t anymore. We have all realized to have our North Newark Urban Garden get off and thrive, we all need to make sacrifices, so this will be one of many more to come.

So after the morning judging of (link to blog post), we got changed and all met at the garden to move the soil. Unfortunately, the gates opening is 4-feet instead of 8-feet so the truck wasn’t able to fit into the gates entrance to make the drop inside the garden area. The drop was made mostly outside of the gate. Regardless of where the soil was dropped, we were happy and grateful for it. We rounded up our helpers and started shoveling the soil onto the tarp.

Besides the soil drop, we also cleaned up the weeds and macheted some tree’s down. Well it started off as being macheted and quickly turned to using the chainsaw. Neighbors have been very curious in what we are doing in the lot and interested in being a part of it. We are happy with the progress and without the teamwork we wouldn’t be!

What is Adopt - a - Lot Program?

The adopt-a-lot program is where residents, neighborhood/block organizations, and non-profit organizations in the community commit to caring for City owned vacant land throughout the City, which in turn increases property values, improves the appearance of your neighborhood and could possibly deter illegal activity. 

North Newark Urban Garden attempts to do just that by taking care of the property located on 248-250 Garside Street,  we hope to forge a good bond between the residents creating a healthy community! 

The lot has been rented and now I want to specifically grow vegetables, and create an opportunity for children to learn and grow where their food comes from.