My backyard garden.

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So I talked with my landlord, and he was fine with me putting in some plants around the edge of the lawn.

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Finished the first round of clean up. I wish I had a before pic to show.

I cleaned up one side of the yard, and got some Coast of Maine lobster compost and cow manure compost and added them to the garden.

The whole reason I started this was because I mentioned to my landlord that I was thinking of doing a few tomato plants in pots.

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A beefsteak (bigger of the two) and a 'dealer's choice'. From my landlord!

He had no problems with it, and actually gave me some plants!

So I had some seeds from the community garden last year, (yeah, still pissed about them) so I saw what I had.
Still had some seeds for Thai Dragons, beans, peas, radishes, carrots, zucchini, cucumbers… and that’s not even all of them! Plus I saved some Habanero seeds.

I had started some Thai Dragons and Habaneros in some flower boxes, and I have had a couple sprout already. I tried planting a few more seeds, but no luck as of yet. If I don’t have any luck with the new seeds, I’ll transplant one of the pepper plants into the other box, and do radishes in the one not being used.

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My tomato plants are doing very well! They’re actually even bigger than this, they even have a few flowers starting!

As for the rest of the garden, I put some herb seeds (2 kinds of basil, chives, and oregano) in, and made a row of peas and green beans.

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I talked with the neighbors in my building, as the yard is accessible to both apartments, and they loved the idea, and even bought peppers, cilantro and spearmint! I put the cilantro and spearmint with the other herbs, and planted the peppers on the other side of the peas and beans.

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They look really good, and they already had some flowers on them! They’ve even started to open up, so that’s a great sign! I put a couple zucchini seeds next to them, so they should start going shortly.

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In the last part, I put some cucumbers next to the fence, 2 rows of carrots, and some yellow beans.

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I’ll probably plant some carrots between some of the other plants, as a border between sections,  and to use more of the space that I have.

So that’s all I have to show you today and I’ll keep you updated on the growth! But until then, I’ll be here, just Chuck’n Dirt…

Wow… Capital Roots doesn’t get it.

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Even after the absolute lack of support from the organization, a lack of communication from them, and just a very poor experience with them, they continue to ask me for money.

They can’t ask if I would like to get another plot with them, but they want me to support them.

Why the hell would I support them, when they couldn’t give support to me when I was a gardener with them?

I got yet another ‘donation’ request from them today in the mail. Really? How the fuck did they get my current address?

Ugh… I’ll waste a stamp to tell them to take me off of their mailing list. They can’t even send out a sase with their request.

I just don’t get organizations… ‘Give us money, but when you do, we’ll screw you over…’

Thanks, but no thanks…

Thoughts on my next garden… (Addendum)

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So I was thinking about doing a container garden this up coming year, and then I realized that I have a bunch of plastic storage containers that I’m working on clearing out. They would make the perfect containers for a garden.

Put a few holes in the bottom, get some screen and line the bottom, add rocks and sand, and then layer the soil.

PERFECT! Right?

Thoughts on my next garden.

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So I’ve moved to a new location and I no longer have a vehicle. So, therefore, if I want to grow some plants this year, I’m going to have to start figuring out how to do it. Capital Roots is an option,  but I don’t want to support them again.

My current landlord seems fair. So I don’t think it would be over the top to ask if I could do some container gardening. If I clean up the back yard a but more,  I don’t see there being a problem.

I have a chainsaw, so I could get things looking good. The only issue I foresee is a lack of direct sunlight. My backyard is north of my apartment, so shadow would fall on my plants.

As for containers, work will solve that problem. Soil is also taken care of. But what to add to the soil (if anything) is the question. I have a lot good soils to choose from.

I guess my first thing is to ask my landlord.

Edit: new thought here: Thoughts on my next garden… (Addendum)

Didn’t expect anything different from Capital Roots…

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So, a while back, when I was actually a proud member of Capital Roots, I had suggested that they do a cooking video of the recipes that they had on their website and newsletters. I was told that it was a good idea, but they didn’t have anywhere to do it. I had even offered to do the videos for them on a volunteer basis. They didn’t reply to me on that point.

Ok, cool.

Wandering around on YouTube, I found a video by them, that was doing exactly what I had suggested…

You’re welcome for the idea Capital Roots. Could you possibly acknowledge where the idea came from?

So I’ve figured out who the hot pepper thief is…

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William Campos.

He is the only one who used weed barrier cloth on his plot.

I went over to my plot tonight. Guess what was on my plot? Weed barrier cloth.

The thief has shown themselves, and he was also the one that grew the corn. He is also the one that threw weeds and the like on my plot. He is also the one who dug into the ground to put up fencing. It also surrounded my plot. Again, it’s against the handbook.

Which Capital Roots refuses to enforce. Which is my main complaint against them. The lack of handbook enforcement.

Plot map by: April 30th.

I received it: May 26th.

No tall plants.

Corn was grown in the plot next to mine. (William’s)

People picked my produce.

Against the rules set forth in the handbook, even if permission is given by the plot owner.

So, Amy Kline. What are you going to do about the blantent disregard for the handbook that your organization, which is so fine and upstanding, has put together throughout the years?

Let me guess. Disregard the complaints against you and your organization, and continue to ignore the handbook when it’s convenient for you.

Here’s an idea Amy. Read this entire blog. (Yes, I can see if you’ve done it, I see what entries have been read… And also what search engine has been used. You’re partial to Yahoo search, correct? As you’re using Mozilla Firefox, correct?) Read it from the beginning. Start at the first entry and read every last post. I’ll make it easy for you. Here’s my first post.

Maybe then you’ll understand my feelings towards your organization.

An actual reply…

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Finally got a reply from Capital Roots.

Short version: “Shut up, quit your whining…”.

Thanks Amy Klein. I appreciate the concern towards people that had given your organization money.

My Thai Dragon peppers were stolen, and you refuse to do anything about it. No wonder you have issues keeping people at your Douw street garden. I’m surprised you can keep anyone at any of your gardens with an attitude like that.

Maybe if your organization gave respect, it would get it.

Oliver Holecek has failed in respecting his duties. He does not communicate with people, he only gets information to people when he’s forced to, and using ‘Psych 101’ (give compliment then ask question/favor) for simple requests is laughable.

Respect, I gave it, but did not receive it it return.

This is why I am so frustrated with giving you money. Check the records. For my plot, it was only required that I pay $30. I gave $40.
And then I received my plot map 5 days before it was required to have my plot planted?

Yeah, you fucking better believe I’m going to bad mouth you, even after your pleading to remove my blog post that ‘shines a negative light on your organization’. Yes, I did receive what I needed be successful. BUT ONLY AFTER THREATS OF ASKING FOR MY MONEY BACK! Do you understand that? You applaud incompetence.

I would have paid better attention to my plot. But lack of communication from your group changed my feelings about it overall. Your group had a direct affect on your current complaints against me. I understand it’s easier to blame others than accept responsibility.

Why I’m pissed off is for this reason: You don’t see the issues with why I’m pissed off. You blame me, and refuse to accept any responsibility for the actions of the organization.

Congratulations. You’ve lost another gardener from Douw street.

Capital Roots still can’t communicate.

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So, instead of bouncing my way up the chain at Capital Roots, I sent an email directly to the executive director of the organization.

Not even an acknowledgement of the issue or email.

Not even a ‘I’ll look into this…’ And then blow me off… 

Silence.

That’s it.

Instead of attempting to fix a damaged relationship, they’re just ignoring the issue.

But they must know what they’re doing…

Capital Roots continues to show incompetence…

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So, I had basically given up caring about taking care of my plot, except for the plants that I had already planted. Some of which were my Thai Dragon peppers.

I didn’t complain when the plot next to me planted corn, which was not allowed according to the handbook. I didn’t complain when someone cut some of my plants. I didn’t complain when weeds were thrown on my plot (corn stalks and the like…).

But when I noticed that some hot peppers were missing, yeah, I complained.

I wrote an email to the staff member in charge of the garden where I have a plot, which I paid money for. (Yeah, the one that got me my plot map to me 5 days before I needed to have my plot planted…) In it, I stated what I had noticed, that peppers were missing, and asked what was going to be done about it.

I heard nothing, so I sent another email.

He replied, stating that he had called me, and that I was to call him back at my convenience. I had not received any notification of a missed call or any voicemail. The reason I emailed him was due to the fact that I am not always able to use a phone at work, and a quick email conversation could take place while I was “in the bathroom” or whatever.

I told him that, and he still insisted on a phone call.

Email leaves a paper trail. Plus it saves the conversation.

I emailed him again this morning. Still no email back.

So, I emailed who I assumed was the next higher up from him.

No reply.

So. Blog post.

I had a simple question. A conversation could have taken place already. But due to the lack of communication from Capital Roots, (wow, big surprise there…) this has been drawn out for 2 days now.