Welcome ...

Welcome to the Clifton Place Block Association Community Garden. Since 1991, the garden has been a green oasis for many in this corner of the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn. As is the case with so many New York City community gardens, the Clifton Place Block Association Community Garden developed from the community's need to reclaim and transform a garbage-strewn city-owned lot into a place of beauty and an asset to all in Clinton Hill and surrounding areas.

In its years of existence, Clifton Place Garden (short) has served as a place where neighborly bonds are strengthened, the passion for gardening and nature is shared, friendships develop, and neighborhood children learn. Through its open door policy, Clifton Place Garden has endeared itself to the community. It is not uncommon to hear someone passing by compliment its beauty and express pride and appreciation for what the garden does to the surrounding area.

Going forward, Clifton Place Garden will seek to continue strengthen its ties to the surrounding neighborhoods through composting programs, children's workshops, and unique arts events. And we hope to connect, via this Web Log, to other gardening enthusiasts, and to share the excitement of our urban gardening experience here. Hopefully, this site will be a favorite place you will keep returning to, and if in the neighborhood, you will stop by to enjoy the pleasure of our small, flourishing retreat.

Welcome!

Thursday, May 14, 2009

The Seafood Conundrum

Here is a New York Times article that addresses an issue we all should become more aware of. Like so many other foods, seafood has been, and continues to be, severely damaged by industrialization (chemical run-off, etc.), over-fishing, and detrimental fish-farming practices.

As a result of the sustained pressures place on the world's seafood populations, what is, and should be a reliable and healthy food source, is marred by concerns about heavy metal contamination and the extinction of many species.

Hopefully, this New York Times article and the corresponding Environmental Defense Fund data helps to inform about the current state of seafood.

New York Times
Environmental Defense Fund

Friday, May 1, 2009

Gowanus Nursery

Last week some of our gardeners were asking for recommendations regarding good sources for plants. In response, we provided some of the usual run of the mill places year in Brooklyn (The Brooklyn Terminal Market, Home Depot, etc.). They are run of the mill because they are not places you turn to if you are looking for a good (“exotic”) variety of plants. But they serve a more mundane purpose, in that that at the two sources cited before ( and many like them) you can find colorful and popular plants that meet the budget. And at this moment, that's that not a bad thing.

As fate would have it, though, I met up with neighbor and fellow gardener, Shelly Hagan (member of the Dean Street Community Garden in Prospect Heights), who turn me unto a wonderful resource for exotic garden plants. It is the Gowanus Nursery in Red Hood. Located at 45 Summit (Van Brunt and Columbia streets), this nursery offers up a wide variety of unusual annual, perennials, and shrubs that will allow any garden the opportunity to design a sophisticated garden. And similar to the Terminal Market and Home Depot, their pricing fits within the budget.

Visit them at they website www.gowanusnursery.com. Then go check them out. From what I observed, this nursery's aim is to fill the void that The Terminal Market and Home Depot create with their limited offerings. So if you are looking to load up on Petunias, you may still need to trek over to those places. But if you are looking to create that stunning rock garden, for example, this is definitely the place to go.