January 2023

West Side Community Garden Bulletin

We have relaunched the WSCG’s member newsletter! We intend to publish five times per year, and will use this space to keep members informed about everything that’s happening at the Garden. Enjoy!

Calendar of events

We’re still finalizing the full slate of events for 2023, but here’s a preview of what’s coming, so mark your calendars:

Tulip Festival – April 15 through May 5

Summer Concert Series – May 21, 28 and June 4, 11, 18, more information forthcoming

Annual Benefit – June 15

July 4th Picnic – July 4

Theater in the Garden – Weekends in July and August, more information forthcoming

Movie nights – August 12 and 19, more information forthcoming

Fall Arts and Crafts Festival – September 9 and 10

Investing in our future: Rebuilding the vegetable garden beds

Over the course of six weekends this winter, a team of Garden members—along with volunteers from Trinity School—are in the process of rebuilding the beds in the vegetable garden, a much-needed improvement that will ensure their long-term durability.

Led by Garden member Eric Thirer, the project began last year when two rows of vegetable garden beds were upgraded and it was determined that the rest of the beds would follow suit.

The work isn’t easy: Teams of volunteers are digging trenches around the existing beds, excavating them and disassembling them. Any screws or metal reinforcements in the existing wood are recycled and the wood itself is chipped down for mulch or composting. Other volunteers are sizing, cutting and assembling new four-foot by six-foot beds using planks made out of recycled milk containers and installing them in place, taking the opportunity to make sure the rows are properly spaced and aligned. The new beds are made of a plastic composite material that is expected to last up to 50 years.

“This is a long-term investment in the garden. People have made those investments before and we benefit from them, so now it’s our turn to do it for the future,” said Garden member Mark Schober, one of the leaders of the project.

Volunteers are vital to completing the project, so if you are available on any of the following days (weather permitting) please contact Eric Thirer at eric9442@gmail.com to determine how you can best help out: January 28th and 29th, February 11th and 12th, March 4th and 5th, April 1st and 2nd.

Horticulture hub: There’s more happening in the garden this winter than you think

Take a winter tour of the Garden with member Alison Salzinger and you’ll look at patches of cold, bare soil and dormant plants very differently. To Alison, who works with the live exhibits department of the American Museum of Natural History, winter is still a time when the garden is buzzing, albeit figuratively. Next time you visit, take a closer look and you’ll see signs of life everywhere, including:

Some trees have buds throughout the winter, like the magnolia tree near the 89th Street entrance (whose buds appear fuzzy as they are protected from the cold by a layer of hair).

Some plants, like various grasses and different kinds of milkweed throughout the garden, leave hollow stems that serve as over-winter homes for pollinators, like bees.

The witch hazel tree on the east side of the garden is one example of a plant that will bloom over the winter, showing yellow flowers in February or March.

The leaf litter that covers the ground is not just leftover debris—it is the winter home for various moths, ladybugs and other insects or their eggs.

The Garden thrives thanks to its members

As we begin 2023, it’s important to recognize the many people who keep the garden open and thriving every day. As you know, we are entirely volunteer-operated, and so many members give time and energies throughout the year to accomplish the many tasks required to maintain the Garden as the place we all love, including planting, watering, weeding, maintenance, trash removal, opening and closing the gates, supporting composting, volunteering for events and administrative support. Thanks to everyone.

FAQ

How can I get more involved?

The WSCG is operated entirely by volunteers so there are many jobs to be done. Below are the heads of several committees, please reach out to them directly if you would like to volunteer in that particular area of the garden:

Food: Mira Stulman, 212-875-0632; miranyc1@gmail.com

Composting: Rashmi Sachan, rdsachan@gmail.com

Maintenance: Eric Thirer, eric9442@gmail.com

Finance: Lisa Sarajian, lisasarajian@gmail.com

Fund Raising and Development: Sandy Owen, sowen43@gmail.com; Mia Amato-Kravitz, thedivaondemand@yahoo.com

Music Concert Committee: Randa Kirshbaum, randafay212@gmail.com

Publicity and Social Media: Michael Urias, msurias1@gmail.com

Mailing and Communication: Linda Cardona, lindacardona93@gmail.com

Flower Garden: Judy Robinson, judyrobn@yahoo.com; Tom Thies, opentom@mindspring.com