Reminder: Greening Flatbush this Sunday

Update 2008.02.25: Read about this event.


Just a reminder that this Sunday, February 24, from 1:30 to 4:30pm, the Gardening Committee of Sustainable Flatbush is hosting Greening Flatbush: Garden Where You Are at the Flatbush Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library at 22 Linden Boulevard [GMAP]. We’ve got a great lineup of speakers, demonstrations and workshops on a range of topics, including community gardens, gardening in containers, composting, street trees and community-supported agriculture.

The event is free, but space is limited. There are still openings available. To register, email greeningflatbush@gmail.com.

Here’s the press release we put together for this event:


Brooklyn, NY — Sustainable Flatbush sponsors “Greening Flatbush”
Sunday, February 24

On Sunday, February 24, residents and other members of the greater
Flatbush community can learn what they can do to beautify and improve
the environment of their neighborhood.

“Greening Flatbush: Garden Where You Are” is an afternoon of short
lectures, demonstrations, and workshops on topics ranging from
planting and caring for street trees to composting with worms in your
kitchen.

“Garden is a verb,” says Chris Kreussling, co-chair of the Gardening
Committee of Sustainable Flatbush, which is sponsoring the event.
“It’s not just a place you visit. It’s something you do.”

“Hearing about what others are already doing can inspire people to
work with their neighbors to take
action,” says Kreussling, who also authors a local gardening blog,
Flatbush Gardener. “We want to build community through gardening.”

Greening Flatbush is Sunday, February 24, from 1:30 to 4:30pm at the
Flatbush Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library at 22 Linden Boulevard.
The event is free, but space is limited. To register, or if you have
questions about this event, please email greeningflatbush@gmail.com.
For directions, see the Flatbush branch web page on the Brooklyn
Public Library Web site, http://www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/.

Sustainable Flatbush provides a neighborhood-based forum to discuss,
promote and implement sustainability concepts in Brooklyn and beyond.
For more information, visit http://sustainableflatbush.org/.


It felt weird to quote myself, but hey, a girl’s gotta do and all that. I don’t know to whom “Garden is a verb” can be first attributed, but I’ll acknowledge here that I cribbed it from the sidebar of those rockin’ gals at Garden Rant.

Japanese Garden, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, February 16, 2008

On Saturday, I visited the Rock Garden on my way to the second meeting of the newly forming Brooklyn Community Gardens Coalition. I visited the Japanese Garden after the meeting.

Japanese Garden, BBG

The Japanese Garden seemed even emptier than a month ago. There was more color on Saturday. Despite the frozen water, hints of Spring, or at least the end of Winter, were there for the eyes hungry to see them. It was lovely.

Soon, soon.
Pieris japonica "Dorothy Wyckoff", Japanese Garden, BBG
False Cypress? Japanese Garden, BBG

This is one of a handful of entrances to the Japanese Garden. This is the view on the approach from Magnolia Plaza.
Entrance, Japanese Garden, BBG
Bamboos at entrance to Japanese Garden

The pond was really, really frozen. Here are several views from different vantage points as I walked around.
Frozen Pond, Japanese Garden, BBG
Frozen Pond, Japanese Garden, BBG
Japanese Garden, BBG
Japanese Garden, BBG
Japanese Garden, BBG

The red arch in the pond is called a Torii. It signifies that a shrine is nearby. It’s surrounded by evergreens; even at this time of year, it can’t be seen unless you ascend the hill path and turn onto a short path leading to it.
Shrine, Japanese Garden, BBG

Several lengths of the hill paths are lined with these beautiful stone gutters.
Gutter, Japanese Garden, BBG

Beneath the ice, the Koi and carp moved slowly, like dreamy ghosts. This one was big enough, colorful enough, and close enough to the surface to get a shot of it. He’s at least a foot long.
Ice Koi, Japanese Garden, BBG
Ice Koi, Japanese Garden, BBG

Related posts

First Crocus
Flickr photo set
Brooklyn Botanic Garden, January 2008.

New York invests in California’s carbon

US carbon asset manager Natsource LLC said on Monday it has invested in the first forest-based greenhouse gas emissions reductions under California rules. Natsource paid a private owner of a redwood forest in Humboldt County represented by nonprofit group the Pacific Forest Trust for credits representing 60,000 tonnes of carbon emissions. – NY Company Buys First Californian Forest Carbon Credits, PlanetArk

The emissions reductions were created through sustainable forestry on a permanently conserved property in California. This deal illustrates the significant role that management of existing forests can play in addressing climate change. The transaction is the first commercial delivery of certified emissions reductions under the Forest Protocols adopted last fall by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The Protocols are the first rigorous governmental accounting standards in the U.S. for climate projects embracing forest management and avoided deforestation, while ensuring emissions reductions are real, permanent, additional and verifiable. – Joint Press Release (PDF), NatSource and Pacific Forest trust

Links

California Air Resources Board (CARB) NatSource Asset Management LLC (NatSource) The Pacific Forest Trust

Atlantic Yards Camera Club

Update 2008.02.12: Since the original post, I’ve added several more links to posts and photos from the other photographers who were present.


Photographers in a flurry
Photographers in a Flurry

Amid snow flurries and near-zero windchills, a stalwart group of about two dozen Brooklyn photographers, bloggers, citizen journalists, community activists, media and supporters gathered for a “photographers’ rights free expression mobilization.” We stood around in the freezing cold to talk and take pictures.
DSC_8189

DSC_8190

DSC_8191

Storm Approaching

Bloggerazzi (Dave Kenny)

DSC_8217

Party City

Fence as Art

Related Posts

My Flickr set

Links

Atlantic Yards (Flickr photo pool)
Brit in Brooklyn
Dope on the Slope
Fading Ad Blog
featherrock’s Picasa Web Album
No Land Grab
not another f*cking blog! (threecee)
Picture New York

The February 2008 Brooklyn Blogade

Blogade at Faan

Eleanor Traubman of Creative Times and her partner, Michael Sorgatz, hosted the February 2008 Brooklyn Blogade at Faan, a Chinese restaurant at 209 Smith Street.

Blogade at Faan

Eleanor Traubman and Michael Sorgatz
Eleanor Traubman and Michael Sorgatz

Eleanor Traubman
Eleanor Traubman, Creative Times

Adrian Kinloch, Brit in Brookyln
Adrian Kinloch, Brit in Brooklyn

Morgan Pehme, Brooklyn Optimist
Morgan Pehme, Brooklyn Optimist

Frank Jump, Fading Ad Blog
Frank Jump, Fading Ad Blog

Katia Kelly, Pardon Me For Asking
Katia Kelly, Pardon Me For Asking

Joyce Hanson, Bad Girl Blog
Joyce Hanson, Bad Girl Blog

Rob Lenihan, Luna Park Gazette
Rob Lenihan, Luna Park Gazette

Petra, Bed-Stuy Blog
Petra, Bed-Stuy Blog

Chandru Murthi, I’m Seeing Green
Chandru Murthi, I'm Seeing Green

Faan

The Table is Set
The Table is Set

Place Setting
Place Setting

Iced Tea
Iced tea

Abacus Wall Divider
Abacus Wall Divider

Detail, Abacus Wall Divider
Detail, Abacus Wall Divider

Black & White Mosaic Mao
Black & White Mosaic Mao

Curious
Curious

Related Posts

Blogade

Links

Brooklyn Optimist
Creative Times
Fading Ad Blog
Luna Park Gazette

Raccoon Fight

I just heard a raccoon fight in my backyard. It’s the first time I’ve seen a raccoon here in the winter.

I didn’t know it was a raccoon fight at first. When I heard the ruckus, I looked out from the second floor porch, but couldn’t see anything. I went downstairs with a flashlight and looked out from one of the back bedrooms. I saw what I thought was a cat hiding behind one of the Adirondack chairs.

I went back upstairs to the back porch. Then I heard the screeching and screaming again. Decidedly un-catlike. I could tell it was coming from the corner of the yard, but I couldn’t see anything. I thought it might be just beyond one of our neighbors’ fences.

Then I saw it, lumbering into view. One of the big mama-jama raccoons. Unhurried and unconcerned. Probably the winner of whatever altercation had just ensued. In the beam of my flashlight, it turned to look up at me, then stood on its back legs to get a better look. Satisfied, I guess, it went under my back neighbor’s deck.

It was all over in less than five minutes, so no photos from tonight’s squabble. You can find photos in my related posts.

Related Posts

Flatbush Wildlife Report: Raccoons and Opposums, July 9, 2007
Midnight Photo Blogging: Raccoons in Brooklyn, July 31, 2006

Sunday, February 24: Greening Flatbush

Update 2008.02.25: Read about this event.
Update 2008.02.22: See the reminder for the latest info.


GreenBranches, a project of the Horticultural Society of New York, at the Flatbush branch of the Brooklyn Public Library
GreenBranches, Flatbush Branch, Brooklyn Public Library

On Sunday, February 24, residents and other members of the greater Flatbush community can learn what they can do to beautify and improve the environment of their neighborhood.

“Greening Flatbush: Garden Where You Are” is an afternoon of short lectures, demonstrations, and workshops on topics ranging from planting and caring for street trees to composting with worms in our kitchen.

Greening Flatbush is Sunday, February 24, from 1:30 to 4:30pm at the Flatbush Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library at 22 Linden Boulevard [GMAP]. The event is free, but space is limited. To register, or if you have questions, please email greeningflatbush@gmail.com. For directions, see the Flatbush branch web page on the Brooklyn Public Library Web site.

Sustainable Flatbush provides a neighborhood-based forum to discuss, promote and implement sustainability concepts in Brooklyn and beyond. For more information, visit their Web site.

Flatbush Branch, Brooklyn Public Library
Flatbush Branch, Brooklyn Public Library

Blogade, Sunday, February 10th

Creative Times‘ Eleanor Traubman and Mike Sorgatz are hosting the next Blogade, the (tries to be) monthly meetup of Brooklyn bloggers, blog readers, and community members, on February 10. RSVP by “quittin’ time” February 1 (next Friday).

WHERE:
Faan Restaurant
209 Smith Street (at Baltic Street)
Brooklyn, NY 11201

I’m not familiar with the area, but it seems to be located near Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Boerum Hill, and Gowanus.


View Larger Map

DIRECTIONS:
Subway: F or G to Bergen Street or Carroll Street. Check the MTA’s weekend service advisories for the latest updates on service.
Bus: B75, B65 or B71.

Cost: $15 at door – covers entree, non-alcoholic beverage, tax & gratuity

RSVP: By Friday, Feb.1st by quittin’ time: ETraubman@aol.com

Meta: Rabies More Popular Than Sex

Update 2010.01.03: Corrected all links to the old Gowanus Lounge domain to the new memorial domain.


Looking at charts of the visits and page views to my blog over the past month, it’s obvious that something unusual happened on February 20 and yesterday, March 1. The first chart is from SiteMeter, the second from StatCounter.
blogstats_sitemeter
blogstats_statcounter
What happened? I got some link love.

I posted about the condoms on 2/16. Gowanus Lounge, another but oh-so-much-more-popular Brooklyn blog, picked up the story on 2/20, and New York Magazine added it to their Web site the same day. And yesterday, New York Magazine picked up the rabies post.

Here’s a table showing the number of visits as reported by StatCounter and Google Analytics. Site meter doesn’t give me a way to view the numbers, and I can’t find a way to capture the Flash-based Google graphics. The numbers are remarkably close, within 5% of each other, so I have some confidence in them.

Source Visits, 2/20 Visits, 3/1
StatCounter 99 124
Google 94 123

I was surprised when the rabies post out-tracked the condoms post. It’s not really a fair comparison. The New York magazine item, a daily feature called Neighborhood Watch, was titled “You, With the Pet Raccoon! Time for Your Rabies Shot” and had a stock photo of a raccoon with gaping jaws. It was also on their home page for most of yesterday. Most of the hits to my blog yesterday were referrals from the New York Magazine home page.