Make Music Winter 2021

Check out these events from Make Music Winter 2021. All events held on December 21:

Winter is here! Make Music on Tuesday.

Make Music Winter is just around the corner, with a dozen new cities joining to create a musical winter solstice on Tuesday, December 21!

Check out the new Carol Cart in Knoxville TN, an array of interactive music events in Ossining NY, Christmas caroling in Muskogee OK, a drum circle in Port Hueneme CA, music in the State Capitol rotunda in Austin TX, the nationwide Mutant Toy Parades, and so many more live, participatory events to ring in the season.

Just visit makemusicwinter.org, and then join a music-making event near you!

Kitty Rescue

November 28, 2021

Hi Folks,

Over the holiday, the West 104th Community Garden rescued four adorable kittens from the garden and neighboring yard. As medical costs are significantly high, the Steering Committee is seeking donations for their care. Cat Committee member, Nikki is fundraising to cover the vet expenses via GoFundMe.

https://go fund.me/4ef75bd5/

Meet (from left to right): Maggie, Bart, Lisa and Ralphie. Probably about 8 weeks old but that’s a guess. They are pictured in my bathroom, where they have been for the last week.

yes 👏 The good news is that they seem healthy and are certainly friendly. Before they can be adopted they have to see a vet. We are using Brilliant Vet Care, a new vet in the neighborhood, which is giving us discount rates. The goal is to raise enough money to cover the first vet visit and the spay/ neuter, which will come in a few weeks.

Any support you can offer will be greatly appreciated.

Updates (5)

December 19, 2021 by Nikki Kowalski, Organizer

Tinsel a female garden cat is available for adoption.

Purrfect Angels of Inwood has a recently captured w104 garden cat ready for adoption, her name is “Tinsel”, but they have lots of really sweet cats waiting for a loving home.

Please reach out to them if you’re interested (see FB link below). 
https://www.facebook.com/PurrfectAngelsofInwood/?ref=page_internal

Thanks from the Garden Cat Committee!

December 18, 2021 by Nikki Kowalski, Organizer

Kittens came through spay/neuter just fine. Thanks for making that happen. We are still trying to trap the momcat. We have her coming around every night for tuna. We will keep you posted.

December 14, 2021 by Nikki Kowalski, Organizer

Kittens all adopted in pairs. Everyone goes to vet for spay/neuter this Thursday. Please consider adopting an older cat if you want a single feline for your household. Check out the cats at Purrfect Cats of NYC. The cats are friendly, healthy and and will repay the love you give them.

November 30, 2021 by Nikki Kowalski, Organizer

Dear Nice Humans: with your help, we can pay for the kittens’ first vet visit. They have worms (yuck but treatable) , but not leukemia (yay!). Wonderful staff at Brilliant Vets giving them their best possible start!

November 28, 2021 by Nikki Kowalski, Organizer

Hi Everyone,

Sending a quick update on the 4 kittens: Lisa, Bart, Maggie and Ralphie.  They are heading to the vet tomorrow with Nikki for shots, deworming, Leukemia testing, etc.  Neutering and spaying will happen a bit later.  Photos of their vet visit will follow.

As you can see they like to hang out together and with humans.  Who can resist those cute faces?  Sara, Nikki and a few others are providing hours of attention so they can become socialized and easily adoptable.  If anyone would like a pair or know of anyone who would be interested, please write to the garden email and we’ll keep a list.

The trap is set for the momma cat, since she was recently spotted in the garden area.  Sara Lewkowicz is working overtime on her capture, so please send good energy her way.  
We want to take care of the momma, too, so your donations are still needed, https://gofund.me/4ef75bd5.

Many have been very generous and even others have provided cash outside of the GoFundMe platform.   It is all so much appreciated.  Kitten food, litter, toy donations are also welcome if you happen to have some you’d like to donate.

Ciao and Meow…

W.104.Garden4_Sara.jpg


Putting the Garden to Bed

Good afternoon Gardeners,

Our final meeting and workday of the season is this Saturday, December 4th. We use this final day to prepare the garden for winter and many hands make light work! THERE WILL BE REFRESHMENTS (in case you need another good reason to be there).

In addition to the garden work, this will also be the final meeting of the membership until March 2022, and we’ll be discussing some important topics, including new opportunities for members to get involved in the coming months.  This will also be an opportunity for questions regarding upcoming votes and nominations for the steering committee (a separate detailed email will be circulated on these topics), so please join us!

Saturday’s Agenda:

1. Toy Drive
2. Steering Committee Nominations
3.  Questions about upcoming votes
4. New committees for 2022, and committees that need additional help
5. Volunteers to help with grant writing
6.  Garden tasks-water barrels, cisterns, umbrellas, furniture

Hope to see you there,
West 104 Garden Steering Committee

December Rat Academy

From NYC Health:

Please join us in December for a Rat Academy virtual training to learn about rat prevention methods.

Free, virtual training for:
• Building supers and staff
• Homeowners and tenants
• Managing companies

To pre-register, please click on the dates available and download calendar when prompted.

Rat Academy for Community Gardeners:

Access the Rat Information Portal here
For information on how to sponsor a virtual Rat Academy, contact ratportal@health.nyc.gov

FALL FLEA MARKET: Saturday, September 25

FALL FLEA MARKET

Saturday, September 25, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
(Raindate: Sunday, September 26)

SHOP and help support…
the West 104th Street Community Garden

COME TO THE FALL FLEA MARKET!

When: September 25, Saturday (rain date Sept. 26)
Time: 11AM-4PM
Where: West 104th Street Garden – East Lot
(Between Manhattan Ave. & CPW)

What to expect: Lots of cool stuff including –
home décor – clothes, accessories – cookware tableware – hardware – toys – costume jewelry and more

All proceeds will go to the garden for supplies & plants.


Sunday, August 9 Workday Agenda

Good evening gardeners:

As a reminder, the workday starts at 10 a.m. in the East garden.

Please remember to wear your mask, and stay home if you’re feeling ill. For those that are uncomfortable with in person attendance, a recap of the meeting will be circulated.
Please remember to sign in when you arrive

Agenda:

Meeting topics (15-20 minutes)

  1. New members-introductions, posted membership list
  2. Steering Committee introductions
  3. Safe gardening in the time of Covid
  4. Exterminator/rat update5. Garden security/locking up, etc.
  5. Planting in the east garden
  6. List of first beds to be rebuilt
  7. PayPal

Work day tasks

  1. Finishing rock bed in the east garden
  2. Twig/branch clean-up in west garden
  3. Weeding-East/West garden, around beds, herb garden
  4. Hydrant training
  5. Picnic table sanding and staining
  6. Touch-up newly painted shed

If possible, please e-mail and let us know if you are unable or unwilling to attend the work day.

Sincerely,
West 104th Street Garden

Workday Meeting Minutes for October 19, 2013

104 Garden Workday Meeting Minutes

Date: 10/19/13

Lead by Ann Levine – Steering Committee

1. Announcement of 2nd citation for rat infestation:
Follow–up by Melissa Nichols from Green Thumb.  Discussed possible ways to reduce rodents in garden area: harassment–fill holes with dirt and/or copper mesh, end cat and bird food on sidewalk by large gate and hang “pigeon” poster.  Noted that Maria (owner of now closed pet store on W. 100 St.) was seen putting food out for birds and cats. She needs to be contacted at her home, 435 CPW.
Melissa will contact Green Thumb about acquiring the “pigeon” poster to hang on the outside fence.

2. Private Event Proposal:

Noted proposal was sent to all garden members to review with only a reply from one gardener.  Decided that proposal will be reviewed and edited over the winter interim and presented at the first meeting of 2014 for a vote.

Anna (last name?) suggested we contact NYBotanical Gardens for events procedures/policies and similar venues; agreed to help with the proposal.

3. Stage

Stage “committee” (list members) goal to have final plans completed by the end of ’13.

Cindy (last name?) is an industrial designer and agreed to help with drawings if needed.

4. Website Redesign

Lead by Noreen, with Craig, Dinorah; volunteers welcome.  Will do redesign over the winter interim.

5. New Members Orientation

Proposal by Lou to have mandatory orientation for all new members.  No member will be given a plot unless they have completed the orientation.  Lou volunteered to lead the first orientation meetings. Suggested a handbook could be written (or an old existing one edited) to provide members with garden rules, procedures ( with monitor checklist) and plant and gardening guidance. Put orientation dates on the calendar.  Set up “bookkeeping form for member to sign and attach to application for confirmation of completed orientation.  VOTE:  27/yes, 3/no, 1abstain

6. Budget

Noted over $8,000 in coffers (includes $1,000 stage grant).  Garden has kept expenses low in 2013 and made some money from several flea markets.

Ariel mentioned Block Associations caution to keep our account under $10,000 for tax reasons, but it was concluded that was not really a concern.

7. Motion to move butterfly bush in the East garden to the SE coner of the garden by Katy. VOTE:  25/yes, 3/no.  Bush will be moved by Katy and any volunteers this fall.

9. Work day projects and minor announcements:

  • Plant daffodils (not in SW corner of West garden or under tree)
  • Clean grill
  • Turn off water harvesting
  • Add bleach to water system.
  • Do not prune canes near herb garden

Mystery Surrounding the New Queen Bee 

I wrote earlier that I hived a new queen bee on August 7 and released her a few days later, after the hive and she got acquainted. She took a little time to settle in but by August 23 she appeared to be laying eggs, which was confirmed five days later. There was a good age (size) range of larvae in the brood cells which means the queen was laying regularly. A large number of brood cells were already capped which happens about a week after the eggs are laid. It was a good start for the new queen and improves chances that the hive will be large enough to survive the winter. While the hive was queenless for about 6 weeks, the bees produced lots of honey in honey cells as well as in what had been brood cells.

I returned to check the hive on Wednesday, September 11. It was the first time that Tobias Heller (8 yrs old) – a garden member with his mother Barbara – handled the bees and frames. He now has his own bee jacket with veiled hood, and is a natural. We weren’t surprised since he’s been researching bees, listening closely to my explanations for months and explaining a lot about the hive and bees to garden members who came around during hive inspections. Even when the bees were climbing around on his gloved hands, he was calm and collected.

We checked 2 of the 3 hive boxes, and discovered that the first brood from the new queen had ‘hatched’, that there is still capped brood that will produce more bees, but that there were no larvae of any age. That means the queen stopped laying at least a week ago, and maybe longer. We don’t know why, and we’re not sure if she is still in the hive. We tried to think like a bee and thought maybe she was not laying because she was not happy with the existing honeycomb. So we added a new 4th box of frames, and sprinkled some pollen in to encourage the bees to come up and pull out the embossed wax to make honeycomb cells for eggs. We’ll return next week to see what’s happened, with hopes that our guess was right and that the bees are working the wax and the queen is laying again.

Revised Garden Workday Minutes for May 12, 2012

Dear Garden Members,
 
It is our sincerest intention to provide the most accurate minutes possible, but misquotes and other errors are likely to happen.  We are sure you can all appreciate how difficult it is to follow a fast paced, multi speaker and at times, highly charged meeting and simultaneously take notes.
 
Please accept this revised copy of the most recent work day minutes.
 
We hope you find them informative.
 
 
Best Regards,
West 104 Garden Steering Committee

West 104th St Community Garden.
Monthly Meeting Saturday 5/12/12
 
Minutes
 
Meeting started at 10:21 am
 
1) ART WORK in the garden
 
SC: Morse code – current art installation
Vote: To be kept, or to be removed?
Remove: 9 votes
Keep: 9 votes
 
Opinions:
Jean: Said that in 2011 the garden voted the art to be kept as a permanent installation.
Ann: Proposed it to be revisited.
 
Flamingo Parade – installation on east building wall of the East Garden.
Concern about the vine. Was the art going to cover it? Was it going to affect its growth?
SC: Proposed an online vote for approval of graphic.
Garden Members approved suggestion.
On-line vote to be sent with picture attached and more details about the art size and way of attachment.
 
Vote: If it is to be a temporary installation, will the garden agree to host it?
Yes: 23 votes
No: 3 votes
 
Opinions:
Mary K: Said that the art installation was accepted in 2011 as a temporary piece. However, it remained unclear if every member had seen the graphic previous to that approval.
SC: Even if garden votes to allow the installation, the building owner/management has not agreed (or not) to the installation and the final decision will remain with them.
 
 
2) Request for a volunteer to be chairman for the Special Event committee.
Nobody volunteered.
Current members of the committee will select somebody among themselves.
 
 
3) Proposal from SC: Installation/extension of a fence at the back of the east wall end on the West Garden.
Reason: To prevent tenants from building in the middle to use garden as their private backyard.
 
Vote: whether to install new fence or not?
Yes: 2 votes
No: 18 votes
 
 
Opinions:
Walli: Concerned about spending money. Expressed concerns about financial status of garden.
Lou: Added that screws were methodically removed from existing gate that grant access to East Garden.
SC: Could we have somebody from the garden contact the building’s owner?
 
 
4) Replacement of crumbling brick path in front of east wall communal bed in East Garden.
Vote: bricks on path
Remove during work day (5/12/12): 7 votes
“Clean up” only during work day: 16 votes
 
Vote: brick path
Replace with another hard scape material: 14 votes
Replace with sod: 5 votes
Clean up: 6 votes
 
Extra: Dinorah and Paul to have a final proposal of materials for the meeting to be held in June.
 
Opinions:
Jean: Bricks to be removed once we have a plan in place.
Nikki: Encouraged plan of brick removal to be done on Saturday May 12th because it is a chore that has to be addressed by all members.
Susan Bernofsky: Offered to write grants if Walli will also join her on the task. Walli declined.
 
 
5) SC announced decision to not increase membership fee. Current: $20.00
 
 
6) Announcement of MMNY – Make Music New York, Thursday June 21st event.
 
 
7) Gazebo
Frank to begin work the week of June 21st.
 
Opinions:
Jean: to meet with new carpenter to assess scope of work to be done. Meeting to occur not later than Tuesday, May 15th, 2012.
Question to be asked: “What is duration of job?”
Mary K: pointed out that last year, garden members had decided to forgo
putting any gutters on the gazebo for rainwater gathering; and that the garden
tried to give the barrels and other water collection materials away.
 
 
8) Fire Hydrant.
Should all members call 311?
It was reiterated water should be used moderately due to lack of water access and plenty of rain. Tank in West Garden is full. It will provide enough water to irrigate plants on both sides.
 
 
9) Lids for water barrels.
Request for new flat lids that don’t hold water to discourage mosquito breeding.
 
Jean suggested drilling a small hole in the middle to drain accumulated water into barrel.
Garden approved suggestion. Experiment to be applied.
 
Concern: Wouldn’t this hole encourage mosquito breeding?
Jean thought small hole size might not encourage breeding.
Answer not completely satisfactory.
 
 
10) Removal of plants in communal beds. Main issue: East Garden removal of butterfly bushes and smoke bush.
 
Kim requested clearer rules regarding communal bed management to avoid future misunderstanding.
Mary K explained that each person in charge of a communal bed has the liberty to rearrange plants (add or remove) on their own behalf.
SC agreed with this remark.
 
SC representative (Kate) suggested:
a) Email or note has to be sent to all members in the garden before (NOT AFTER) removing any plant of considerable importance, size, aesthetic qualities, or sentiment attached to another member. This step aims to give enough time to the community to ponder the possibility of using the planting material.
 
b) Rules for Communal beds should be written down from now on, and be posted somewhere where people can refer to. It could be in the website or a copy posted inside the sheds.
 
 
11) Ants on peach tree.
Suggestion: Use of ant traps or mix potions suggested by Jean.