Sustainable Flatbush » Features http://sustainableflatbush.org Promoting sustainable living in our Brooklyn neighborhood. Fri, 11 May 2012 19:39:59 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Spring Garden and Compost Schedule! http://sustainableflatbush.org/2012/05/11/spring-garden-and-compost-schedule/ http://sustainableflatbush.org/2012/05/11/spring-garden-and-compost-schedule/#comments Fri, 11 May 2012 19:38:22 +0000 anne http://sustainableflatbush.org/?p=7233 It’s spring planting time at our communal garden and farm! We host Garden Open Hours on Saturdays from 9:30am – 12:30pm and everyone is welcome. Come get your hands dirty with us and learn how to grow herbs, vegetables, and native plants. To join the Garden Team, contact Sheryll Durrant, at sheryll(at)sustainableflatbush(dot)org.


So far this year our Compost Project has diverted over 1,000 pounds of organic waste from the landfill! We collect kitchen scraps at our Community Compost Dropoffs every Saturday from 11am – 1pm. Want to learn how to turn trash into nature’s best soil amendment? Join our Compost Team! No experience necessary, we’ll teach you everything you need to know. Contact Kady Ferguson - kady(at)sustainableflatbush(dot)org – to learn more.

WHAT: Gardening and Composting
WHEN: Saturdays 9:30 – 12:30 (garden open hours), 11am – 1pm (compost open hours)
WHERE: Flatbush Reformed Church Complex, East 21st Street at Kenmore Terrace [map]

See you at the garden!

Photos by Sheryll Durrant

]]> http://sustainableflatbush.org/2012/05/11/spring-garden-and-compost-schedule/feed/ 0 Thank You – Greening Flatbush 2012 Volunteers http://sustainableflatbush.org/2012/04/06/thank-you-greening-flatbush-2012-volunteers/ http://sustainableflatbush.org/2012/04/06/thank-you-greening-flatbush-2012-volunteers/#comments Fri, 06 Apr 2012 12:37:29 +0000 Kady http://sustainableflatbush.org/?p=7090

photo by Laura Kiev - Laura (at) makedocreative (dot) com


~ We never take for granted those who most deserve our gratitude: our volunteers! ~

This year’s Greening Flatbush was one of our biggest undertakings to date. We found ourselves adding more twists like the sustainable art component, live music, and a tasty community meal, but faced being short-staffed for this adventure. Since our non-profit organization is run by local volunteers, we relied on the help of other community volunteers and groups like New York Cares and TimeBanksNYC to produce a successful event.

photo by Sheryll Durrant


~ How beautiful a day can be when kind hearts touch it! ~

Although the weather wasn’t on our side, the positive feedback we received from those who attended and participated was awesome. Everyone had a fabulous time at the event, we all networked with great people and organizations, and the donations we received helped cover the cost of Greening Flatbush.

The success of this event is due in large part to our wonderful volunteers and their efforts. For all the volunteers listed below, we couldn’t have done it without you!

Adam Weber

Allison Braham

Athena Bernkopf

A. Victoria Hunter (TimeBanksNYC)

Brian Batka

Carole Silverman (TimeBanksNYC)

Cori Carl (New York Cares Team Leader) and 10 New York Cares Volunteers (Shift 1)

Dolores Henry (TimeBanksNYC)

Elena Tenchikova (TimeBanksNYC)

Ellen Lehman (TimeBanksNYC)

Emmelyne Louis

Engin Karabagli

Ilana Yamin

Jamey Ellis

Jean Baptiste Joseph (TimeBanksNYC)

Jimmy Ng (TimeBanksNYC)

Karana White

Kevin Butrick (TimeBanksNYC)

Laura Vladimirova

Madeline Schwarz

Metsha Renois (New York Cares Team Leader) and 12 New York Cares Volunteers (Shift 2)

Mona Kidd (TimeBanksNYC)

Natalia Sucre

Phil Shipman

Rosalia Lucero

Sonaz Safari

Stephen Anh

Tamara Leighton

Tracey Sharpe

Tricia Ang

Veena Muthusamy

Veena’s Mom and Aunt

Vivian Vivas

And a special thank you goes out to the talented Community Meal Specialists:

David Cohen
718 Collective – Berlin Reed, Jesse Gold, Cresta White
Barry Schwartz
Margaret Dunn-Carver and Jeff Campoli

 

~ We (heart) our volunteers ~

SF Team


]]> http://sustainableflatbush.org/2012/04/06/thank-you-greening-flatbush-2012-volunteers/feed/ 0 Join the Sustainable Flatbush Composting Team! http://sustainableflatbush.org/2012/02/08/join-the-sustainable-flatbush-composting-team/ http://sustainableflatbush.org/2012/02/08/join-the-sustainable-flatbush-composting-team/#comments Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:02:33 +0000 Kady http://sustainableflatbush.org/?p=6341 Hi Volunteer Enthusiast!

If you’re interested in composting, gardening, or simply want to get your hands dirty with some friends, join the Sustainable Flatbush Compost Team!

 

We are getting ready to kick off Compost Open Hours at the Flatbush Reformed Church on Saturdays starting this Saturday February 11th, and we are looking for volunteers (no compost experience necessary) to assist with one shift per month, hosting open hours and engaging with neighbors and the community.

 

Compost Crew

Join the Sustainable Flatbush Compost Crew!

Join Us!

 

Compost volunteers help maintain the compost bins and keep track of organic materials collected, and distribute finished compost on the property site, the native plant streetscape, and the edible garden.

 

Time: 2hrs /1 shift per month (more if you choose, composting can be addictive!)

 

When: Saturdays from 11am – 1pm
(Choose a shift – 1st Saturdays, 2nd Saturdays, 3rd Saturdays etc.)

 

Where: At the Flatbush Reformed Church 890 Flatbush Avenue [map]
The compost site is on the East 21st Street side of the property, between Kenmore Terrace and Church Avenue

 

Training and support: Resources and training will be provided during open hours on your shift working alongside Master Composters Anne Pope, Kady Ferguson and other seasoned composters. Work with other members with interest and experience in urban agriculture, community gardening and sustainability.

 

How To SIgn Up? Contact Kady(at)sustainableflatbush.org

 

Volunteers are the heart beat of what we do, and we hope you can be a part of this amazing journey for a sustainable Flatbush and beyond.
]]> http://sustainableflatbush.org/2012/02/08/join-the-sustainable-flatbush-composting-team/feed/ 1 Winter 2012 Composting Schedule! http://sustainableflatbush.org/2012/01/06/winter-2012-composting-schedule/ http://sustainableflatbush.org/2012/01/06/winter-2012-composting-schedule/#comments Fri, 06 Jan 2012 18:28:46 +0000 Kady http://sustainableflatbush.org/?p=6238 As of January 2012, our winter open hours will be:

WHEN: Saturdays 11am – 1pm

WHERE: The Flatbush Reformed Church - East 21st and Kenmore Terrace side (map).  

Check our calendar regularly for schedule updates, changes or cancellations.

See What to Compost to get you started. Turn your kitchen waste into rich soil for the upcoming gardening season!

Composting at the Flatbush Reformed Church

 

 

]]> http://sustainableflatbush.org/2012/01/06/winter-2012-composting-schedule/feed/ 0 Buy Nothing Day Community Meal! http://sustainableflatbush.org/2011/11/22/buy-nothing-day-community-meal/ http://sustainableflatbush.org/2011/11/22/buy-nothing-day-community-meal/#comments Tue, 22 Nov 2011 05:36:00 +0000 anne http://sustainableflatbush.org/?p=6203

Potluck Feast! (photo by Keka Marzagao)

Come to Sustainable Flatbush’s first annual Buy Nothing Day Community Meal on Black Friday (November 25) 2011!

Buy Nothing Day offers an alternative to the consumerist excess of Black Friday: a chance to unshop, unspend, and unwind. Bring a dish to share, or bring ingredients (Thanksgiving leftovers are great) and join the communal cooking fun! Meet your neighbors and join Sustainable Flatbush as we build a local sharing economy.

The idea is to create a space where people can come together to enjoy a healthy free meal, get to know each other, and exchange ideas on how we as a community can become more engaged in the transformation to a society that is more equal and sustainable. To plug out of the mainstream for a day, abandon the tradition of Black Friday that comes with excessive consumerism, and discuss real alternatives.

Hope to see you there!
WHAT:
Sustainable Flatbush first annual Buy Nothing Day Community Meal!

WHEN:
Friday November 25th from 6 until 8pm

WHERE:
All Souls Bethlehem Church
566 East 7th Street (between Cortelyou Road and Ditmas Avenue)
Brooklyn, NY
(map)

]]> http://sustainableflatbush.org/2011/11/22/buy-nothing-day-community-meal/feed/ 0 Project LeafDrop 2011: compost your fall leaves locally! http://sustainableflatbush.org/2011/11/07/project-leafdrop-2011-compost-your-fall-leaves-locally/ http://sustainableflatbush.org/2011/11/07/project-leafdrop-2011-compost-your-fall-leaves-locally/#comments Mon, 07 Nov 2011 21:37:33 +0000 anne http://sustainableflatbush.org/?p=6177 Fall has arrived, and we want your leaves! For our compost!

In 2008, due to budget cuts, the NYC Department of Sanitation discontinued its program to collect fall leaves for composting, instead taking them to landfills as garbage. A group of community gardeners felt that this was both an outrage and an opportunity, as anyone who composts knows that leaves are a valuable resource and shouldn’t be wasted! Residential leaves represent both a major addition (20,000 TONS) to the city’s waste management burden and a missed opportunity to create free, high-quality gardening fertilizer for NYC residents and community gardens.

In 2009 a citywide coalition called NYC Leaves was formed to keep fall leaves out of the waste stream by composting them at local community gardens through a program called Project LeafDrop. Locations to “recycle” leaves can be found all over the city. So don’t put your leaves on the curb where they’ll become trash; bring them to the nearest Project LeafDrop site, where the gardeners will thank you for your gift!

Sustainable Flatbush joined the NYC Leaves coalition in 2009, and since then we’ve diverted many tons of leaves from the landfill. Join us for Project LeafDrop 2011 at our new community garden project, the Church Avenue Communal Garden, located at the historic Flatbush Reformed Church! Our Community Composting program at the garden is growing, so we need your leaves!

Fun with leaves at the Church Avenue Communal Garden

We’ll accept leaves brought by neighbors and collect leaves from the church property, run as many as possible through a shredder, and store these carbon-rich “browns” for our winter compost collections.

WHAT: Project LeafDrop at the Church Avenue Communal Garden
WHERE: East 21st Street at Kenmore Terrace, Brooklyn (map)
WHEN: Saturday November 19th from 11am until 2pm

We welcome volunteers for this project!

Project LeafDrop is a great opportunity to get your hands dirty at the garden and learn more about compost, gardening, and urban soil remediation. If you’d like to volunteer, contact us at volunteer@sustainableflatbush.org or 718-208-0575.

 

Here are some additional Project LeafDrop sites in Kensington, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, and Windsor Terrace:

Compost for Brooklyn
Newkirk Avenue at East 8th Street
Sunday November 20th
2-5pm

East 4th Street Community Garden
East 4th Street between Caton Avenue and Fort Hamilton Parkway
every Saturday and Sunday through November 20th
10am-12pm

High School for Public Service Youth Farm
600 Kingston between Rutland Road and Winthrop Street
Saturday November 19th
11am-4pm

Prospect Farm
Prospect Avenue below the Seeley Street Bridge
Saturdays through December 3rd
11am-1pm

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