Seed Scattering/Bombing + Saskatoon Cuttings

Just a few GG ideas I thought I'd throw out into the universe for this fall. Anyone interested is encouraged to contact me at theurbangreening@gmail.com :

Event: Seed scattering/Bombing: 

Scattering seeds throughout empty planters, medians, and back allies. The fall is actually a good time to scatter many seeds as the frost helps break the tough outer coat allowing for easier germination in the spring. Seeds can be cast by hand or molded into seed bombs. 

I have many lupin seeds; they're a gorgeous perennial  but not native and not the easiest to grow. I'd like to seeing if we could find some suitable seeds to cast out into the city; native wildflowers in particular, but non-invasive non-native seeds would also be welcome.

Date: ~ End of September

Event: Native Fruit Tree Cuttings:

I thought that it might be an interesting project to take many cuttings from some of the native Saskatoons and Pin-Cherrys in the river-valley. Taking cutting requires clipping about 4 or 6 inches off the growing end of a branch. Best done when the plant is dormant, each clipping has the potential to grow into a new fruit producing tree.  Each sapling could then be planted along the river valley's edge for the future enjoyment of the cities berry pickers.

Date: ~ After the leaves fall.

The Edmonton Journal follows-up on the Edmonton Guerrilla Gardeners first season.

Once again, the Edmonton Guerrilla Gardeners have made their way into the pages of the Edmonton Journal. The article is a general follow-up of a previous Journal article printed earlier this year and provides a brief overview of our first season as an organized group as well as some of our success' and failures.

Jennifer Yang, the author of both articles was quick to apologize for a headline (she had not chosen) as she felt that it misrepresented the story (We forgive you Jennifer). Although the headline, "Someone Digs Guerrilla Gardeners: All flowers surreptitiously planted have been stolen away" reads as though perhaps our effort have been wasted we are continuously reminded that the act of planting and the intentions behind what we do is often more important than the outcome. Due to the nature of our group it has always been expected that a certain percentage of our efforts will be uprooted, literally. In all honesty, if the headline is referring to the Jasper Avenue planting discussed in the first Journal article then it is bang-on as our plants did slowly disappeared from the site; likely into the backyards and planters of nearby homes (as long as someone is enjoying them). We have, however, had some great success as well, such as the planting of a crabapple tree (harder to dig up?) and in general the promotion of the group and act of community involvement through GG. The truth is, Edmonton Guerrilla Gardening is a sociological experiment of sorts  that we're learning from all the time.

Overall, however, I quite enjoyed the article and thought that it spoke well of our efforts, highlighted some of the struggles many new (especially controversial) groups face in their genesis, and expressed our optimistic outlook of the future.

That's not to say we're completely finished for the season. Many seeds and perennials can still be sown and transplanted in the fall to help kink-start another year of Guerrilla Gardening. A year in which we'll be a little more knowledgeable, prepared, and numerous.

The Edmonton Journal follows-up on a first season of Guerrilla Gardening in Edmonton.

Once again, the Edmonton Guerrilla Gardeners have made their way into the pages of the Edmonton Journal. The article is a general follow-up of a previous GG article printed earlier this year and provided a brief overview of our first year as an organized group as well as some of our success and failure.

Jennifer Yang, the author of both articles (but not the most recent articles headline) was quick to apologize for what she felt was a "

A Moss Art Project

A few of us gathered together tonight to work on an art related Guerrilla Gardening Project. The stencil on the left was created from some large refrigerator boxes and will be used to help make the pattern of a giant tree with the city of Edmonton's skyline growing from its crown. The picture symbolizes the often overlooked link between the urban and natural environments.

Moss not Paint: What makes this project unique is that the image will be stenciled with moss. The idea is that over time moss will grow in to create an organic, living picture. A bonus of using moss is that it can always be removed easily without causing any damage.

We'd like to get more of these art based Guerrilla Gardening projects going in the future. Some ideas include hanging plants potted in recycled clothing in public view and having picnics on sod rolled out in front of fed parking meters.

Active Citizens Television (ACTV)

I just had a very productive meeting with Dan from Active Citizens Television (ACTV) (link effective Sep 12, 08); a up-and-coming independent media source in Alberta. I'd like to try and elaborate on what it is they do but I feel as though their business card says it best:

"ACTV is a non-for-profit, youth-driven, new-media initiative to educate,
motivate, and 'ACTV-ate' Albertans to discover and pursue sustainable living
practices and promote ecological consciousness"

Talking with Dan I could sense many similarities between the two group (ACTV and GG) not only in general goals and motivations but also in regards to the growing pains many new movements experience. As our meeting progressed it became apparent that there is much potential for collaboration. ACTV is interested in promoting our activities by creating and posting short films, articles, and helping us with resources and connections with groups similar in nature in return we help provide useful material and projects for them to cover. It truely is a win win situation.

ACVT is launching their website on September 12, 2008 (myspace available now) at a local venue (soon to be announced) and is interested in GG being a part of it in one form or another.

Here's to what will hopefully be a productive and effective partnership!

July 12, 2008 The Old Strathcona Sapling Giveaway.

We had a very successful morning passing out saplings at the Farmers Market, Art Walk, and Rachel Notley's pancake breakfast in Old Strathcona. We handed out more than 160 saplings along with planting instructions and group contact information. I was surprised to see how many people were familiar with the concept of Guerrilla Gardening, the group, or both.

We still have a few less than perfect looking trees that would be great for Guerrilla planting. I think I'm going to walk around my neighborhood and stick a few in the ground; they may not all make it, but some should. If anybodies interested in joining me or taking on a few trees for themselves please get in touch.

Dustin
theurbangreening@gmail.com
432.6181

Edmonton Guerrilla Gardening on C2C.

Here's a link to an article I was recently asked to write for connect2edmonton.com regarding Guerrilla Gardening in Edmonton. C2C is a rapidly growing online community that highlights the interests and passions of many Edmontonians and groups.

Make sure to check out the discussion posted at the bottom of the article.

Volunteers Needed

In order to help get the Guerrilla Gardening word out there and find proper homes around the city for our saplings we're looking for volunteers to help hand out our trees at this weeks Street Performers Festival and Scona Farmers market. Each tree will be distributed with a short 'how-to' and GG contact information sheet. Anyone interested in helping out, or having a few trees please contact theurbangreening@gmail.com

Canada Day Sightseers Take Note of GG Apple Tree.

As it turns out our little crabapple tree had a lot of company this past Canada Day. Located in a prime fireworks viewing spot 1000's of people joined the tree in a viewing of this year's display.

"I was wondering where that tree came from!" exclaimed a man who had set up camp next to the tree. Many others appeared to admire the tree while gathering in a circle around it while waiting for the fireworks to start. Perhaps with a little care and time the tree will become a popular gathering spot for such events. Meet you at the tree?

For more picture visit the Facebook group and click on Photos.

Event: Pantyhose Project, Sign Painting, & Sapling Decision Making

A new GG event has been created; "Panty-Hose Project, Sign Painting, & Sapling Decision Making" for this upcoming Thursday, the third of July. The event it at my apartment so if you haven't been sent an invite but would still like to attend follow the link and request an invite we'd be glad to have you. If you don't have Facebook send an email to theurbangreening@gmail.com. This weeks even will center around some smaller projects we've been discussing; painting signs to be displayed at GG projects and the community garden, trying out a pantyhose flower basket, and picking a date for our saplings.

Also, I'm currently figuring out the ropes of the Activist Agenda; an online news letter that goes out to over 1000 people each Thursday. I'd like to get something in it for this week in response to our sapling trees who are still in dire need of finding homes.

Dustin