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A boot-leggers’ Kombucha guide

Trevor Dye — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 13:07:22 +0000

If you’re a member of “Dude, Where’s my Kombucha” then you already know. Kombucha, the ancient Chinese remedy known by the Qing Dynasty as “the tea of immortality and the elixir of life,” has been yanked from store shelves around the country. As we speak, Kombucha is being poked and prodded by the government to see if the fermented drink’s alcohol content is just a bit higher than advertised. If so, new labeling and taxation (and a valid ID at purchase?) might soon be in order, and it looks like it could be some time before the stuff’s back on the shelves. So, does this mean panic-time for you jittery devotees desperate for a fix? Maybe, or you could just brew up the booch (hooch?) yourselves.

While pasteurized Kombucha products are still available in stores, the raw (unpasteurized) stuff’s the problem. The more popular raw product starts with minimal alcohol, but, over time, the drink’s yeast continues to convert sugars to alcohol, nudging the content over the 0.5 percent allowed in non-alcoholic beverages.

Pasteurized Kombucha often looks like this

One brand was even found to hit 2.4 percent (not far off from a very, very weak can of beer), according to a study cited in Good Magazine’s initial report on the Kombucha shortage.

Luckily, even less-than-sterile home kitchens (that means you, former Bushwick roommate) can serve as a brewing lab for DIY Kombucha. Unlike home-brewed beer—where the tiniest microbe of bacteria can send you on a defeated march to the store for PBR—DIY Kombucha’s some pretty hearty stuff. If you can brew tea, you can probably brew this too. Here’s how:

———–

What you’ll need:

4-6 tea bags—orange, black, green or white tea in whatever combination (though one bag of black tea is recommended with green and white).
Between 1 and 3 cups of white, cane or turbinado sugar depending on taste preference.
4 liters of distilled water (don’t use tap or spring water).
The “mother” or SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast). This is what makes it all happen; it should be stored in already made Kombucha tea to keep it moist. If the SCOBY didn’t come stored in already made Kombucha and you don’t have any on hand, use 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar.
5-liter glass jar
Clean piece of cloth to cover the jar during fermentation (old t-shirt fabric works. Don’t use a cheese cloth).
Rubber band to fit over the top of the jar
Stainless-steel pot
Wooden spoon
Funnel for bottling
Recycled glass bottles with caps

Where do I get my SCOBY (mother) in Brooklyn?

A Kombucha Brooklyn starter kit

Email Martha@brooklynfeed.com who generously offered a free SCOBY to anyone near downtown Brooklyn in her recent blog post How to Make Kombucha.

You can also take a crack at starting your own SCOBY (this is a helpful video).

Ask a Kombucha-brewing friend or community member: Each batch of Kombucha results in the forming of an additional SCOBY, so frequent Kombucha makers probably have excess on their hands.

You can buy a Kombucha Brooklyn starter kit locally for $25 at one of vendors listed here.

How to brew

1) Bring roughly half of the water to a boil (storing the remaining water in the refrigerator to keep cold). Dissolve the sugar in the boiling water. Turn the heat off and add the tea bags to steep for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, remove the tea bags.

Heed this advice. Photo courtesy of Instructables.com

2) Pour the cold water into the glass jar, then add the tea. Add the SCOBY, rough side down, once the water is no more than lukewarm to the touch (also pour in about 6oz. of the Kombucha tea, the stuff the SCOBY is soaking in to keep moist during storage or the apple cider vinegar as mentioned above).

3) Place the cotton cloth over the jar and secure with rubber band. Store in a safe place at room temperature (cabinets work well – though it may stink up your pantry). Brew for at least 7-10 days, but you can go longer according to preference of strength and sweetness. The less time brewed, the sweeter it gets; Leaving it for beyond the two week mark leads to a dry and strongly acidic taste.

4) Remove the SCOBYs (You should have the mother and the newly formed baby). If you’re storing the SCOBY for future use, keep it in a similar large glass jar, and pour in enough of your freshly made Kombucha to cover it.

5) Using the funnel, fill the glass bottles with your freshly brewed Kombucha tea. Place a plastic liner (recycled produce bags work well) across the top of the glass bottle, then cap to keep the metal bottle top from coming in contact with the still active Kombucha. Let rest for at least two days to get the bubbly effect. Hopefully, after pouring, your brew is bubbly with a small head of foam on top.

6) Optional: Add fruit (fresh or dried) or other ingredients, such as ginger, for extra flavor. If you like a sweeter Kombucha, you can add additional sugar to-taste during the bottling phase. Both the fruit and the sugar will feed the active cultures and add to the fizzy effect of the beverage during the resting period. If you have weak Kombucha after the brewing period, let rest longer during the bottling period.

Some Kombucha fine print

Kombucha has been widely praised for its health benefits, though scientific evidence surrounding the drink is still lacking. The CDC lays out some advice and warnings about consumption here.

For more advanced brewing methods, you can settle in for the 14-part Expert Village video series on Kombucha.

Make your cheap kite, and fly it too

Trevor Dye — Mon, 24 May 2010 13:50:48 +0000

Now put some air under them.

Why fly a kite? Because it’s “an excellent way… to gain a feel for aerodynamic forces,” says NASA. Because we don’t look up enough. Because you can spend an afternoon adrift with the breeze for next to nothing. Whatever your reasons, kite-flying is one of the summer’s simple pleasures. And Brooklyn’s full of wide-open spaces where you can take part. Here’s how to put sticks to string and get your Ben Franklin up in the air.

First, speak the lingo. The traditional kite starts with a vertical spine or center stick joined to a horizontal spar or cross stick to make the frame. A cover is placed on the frame. The bridle line runs along the length of the spine, or along the spar. The flying line connects to the bridle at the tow point and winds and unwinds on the hand-held reel. Some kites include tails, or strips of ribbon at the bottom.

How to make the classic diamond kite (adapted from here)
You’ll need: thin twine or butcher’s string; tape or glue; plastic or paper bag, newspaper, fabric, etc. for the cover; a bamboo or wood dowel: one stick 90 cm, one stick 102 cm; and decorations to make it an aerial expression of self.

Step 1: Lay the spine vertically, then place the spar horizontally on top (slightly above center of the spine). The spar should be divided equally, with the intersection making right angles. Secure with glue and twine.

Step 2: Score each end of both sticks deep enough to house the twine. Wrap twine around the frame, making small loops that extend from the top and the bottom of the center stick as you pass.

Step 3: Lay the frame face down on the cover material, cutting to fit plus an additional two to three inches. Wrap the excess over the frame and glue or tape.

Step 4: Tie a piece of string to each end loop on the spar, creating the bridle. And do the same along the spine— leaving an extra bit coming off of the bottom loop to create a tail. Add bowed ribbons to the tail.

Step 5: Attach the flying line to the middle of the bridle, creating the tow point. Wrap the fly line onto your reel.

Step 6: Decorate the cover.

The need-to-knows of flying
Launch somewhere clear from obstructions like trees. Prospect Park’s Long Meadow is a good spot (as are McCarren and Marine Parks), and remember “don’t do it with power lines in sight.” Proper winds for flight of a diamond kite should be between 5 and 16 mph. Never run to launch. Stand with your back to the wind and have a friend walk the kite out 50 feet. As it catches, release more line to gain altitude. Release tension to bring the kite back down.

If you want to get deeper in the world of kites:

Visit NASA for everything from kite history lessons to an explanation of the aerodynamics involved.
Check out five other kite design projects provided by Gomberg Kites.
Or for visual learners, watch some kite making videos:
1. Kite from a plastic bag. This lady frightens me.
2. Another kite, this one from a garbage bag.
3. For deeper explanations, search YouTube for the “How to make a kite” series.
4. Go three dimensions with a box kite.
5. Check out “your boy disco Shawn” for turning a profit on mini-kites.

Once you’ve mastered the art of towing the line, you may want to join the Brooklyn Flyers Kite Club or try your hand at aerial panogrophy using a kite. National Kite Month was back in April, but national kite season is just getting started. Happy flying.

Earth Day cont’d, all weekend long

Trevor Dye — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:44:58 +0000

Earth Day’s turning 40 next week, and Brooklyn’s throwing a bash. The day for environmental awareness started with some grass-roots teach-ins and counterculture demonstrations in 1970. Now it’s a full-blown earth-stravaganza with film-screenings, recycling demos, eco-fests and the word ‘sustainability’ floating through the warming air. And since April 22 is a Thursday this year, the celebration’s spread out over the whole week. From a tree giveaway to a greening-your-home workshop, here’s what’s in store around the borough.

Saturday, April 17
The 1st Annual We Can Green Brooklyn EcoFair will feature green-themed lectures from industry experts, green-jobs info, a plant pavilion for gardeners, contests and prizes and live entertainment. There’ll also be recycling stations for bedding, clothes and accessories, bags, luggage, curtains, and stuffed animals. Holy Cross Auditorium & Yard, 2530 Church Ave., between Rogers & Bedford Aves.

10 am-3 pm: FREE TREES! in Clinton Hill Courtesy of Million Trees NYC (Sunday, April 18, too)
The Million Trees NYC imitative will be giving away 200 free trees. All you need is a place to plant & access to water, and horticulture experts will be on hand to give advice and lend a shovel. Trees will be available for individuals, families and community groups for planting on private property only. First-come, first-served until supplies run out. Simple tree planting & care instructions come with the free tree. Putnam Triangle in Clinton Hill (Fulton St. & Grand Ave.)

10 am-4 pm: Electronics Recycle with the Lower East Side Ecology Center (Sunday, April 18, too)
The Ecology Center is holding electronic waste collections to responsibly recycle unwanted or broken electronics. A list of acceptable materials can be found here. Habana Outpost, South Portland Ave. and Fulton St.; Sun: P.S. 29 School Yard, Baltic St. between Henry St. and Clinton St.

Sunday, April 18
8:30 am: Dow/Love Earth Run for Water
Raise awareness for the planet’s drinking water shortage with a 6K run/walk around Prospect Park. When you’re done, hang around the Water Village to hear John Legend and the Roots. $40. Concert: 10 am.

11th annual Gowanus Canal Earth Day Flotilla Spring Clean-Up
The Gowanus Canal has officially been declared a superfund site by the Environmental Protection Agency, identifying it as one of the most polluted bodies of water in New York. Join the Urban Divers Estuary Conservancy for their 11th Annual Gowanus Canal Earth Day Flotilla Spring Clean-Up. Volunteers will use landing nets, or paddle the canal in a fleets of canoes to collect floating debris. Advanced registration required. Email enviromediamobile.udec@gmail.com or call 347-224-5828.

Monday, April 19
4 pm: Big Movies for Little Kids: The Lorax and The Man Who Planted Trees
Cobble Hill Cinemas will be showing two children’s short films: The Lorax (25 min.) based on the Dr. Seuss tale and The Man Who Planted Trees (30 min.), a film based on Jean Giono’s short story. $6.50 admission. Cobble Hill Cinemas, 265 Court St.

Tuesday, April 20
Earth Day Take Action for the Earth Event with Axiom
Join the law firm Axiom and the Brooklyn Bridge Conservancy’s Green Team in a volunteer effort to beautify Brooklyn Bridge Park. 6 pm. Brooklyn Bridge Park, 1 Main St.

EARTH DAY! Thursday, April 22
10 am-2 pm: Celebrate Earth Day at The Block Institute with lessons for adults and children on the future of natural resources and how we can preserve them. 376 Bay 44th St., off Shore Pkwy.

3-5 pm: Brooklyn Botanic Garden Earth Day Celebration
Take a family trip to the BBG and pot a plant to take home. $8 for adults, $4 ages 12 and older. Discovery Garden, 1000 Washington Ave.

4-10 pm: GREEN BKSTYLE! At Outpost Lounge
Brooklyn Fashion Week, in an effort toward more sustainable production, invites guests to meet local designers, discuss how to add ‘green’ to your style, and view their latest designs. Designers in attendance will include Trudy Miller, Bweela Steptoe, Melissa Lockwood, Storm’s Den, and others. Free. Outpost Lounge, 1014 Fulton St.

7:30-9 pm: Earth Day with Eco-Chic Home
Emily Elizabeth Anderson of Eco-Chic Weddings will demo some ideas from her new book, Eco-Chic Home: Rethink, Reuse and Remake your way to sustainable style. She will discuss simple projects to make your home stylish and eco-conscious. Projects/crafts will include include: a paper crane chandelier, CD case light and plastic-bag flowers. Pop quiz and prizes are also on the agenda. Facebook RSVP is encouraged. WORD, 126 Franklin St.

Friday, April 23
12-4 pm: Beautiful Earth Day 2010 Block Party
The Beautiful Earth Group will be holding “Beautiful Earth Day 2010,” a block party on Degraw Street between Columbia and Van Brunt streets to celebrate Earth Day. There’ll be music, games for kids, educational displays, local food, tours of New York’s first solar-powered Electric Vehicle charging station and lots of other fun activities with street residents and neighbors. Email info@beautifulearthgroup.com or call Amanda Cleary at 718-488-8426. Degraw St. between Columbia and Van Brunt Sts.

Saturday, April 24
10 am-9 pm: Earth Day at Hattie Carthan Community Farmers’ Market
Celebrate Earth Day at the Hattie Carthan Community Garden with a garden planning workshop and free seed giveaway, followed by feasting and a community workday of various building and spring garden activities. Free. Clifton Pl. and Marcy Ave.

6:30-11 pm: Andi Rae’s 4th Annual Earth Day Celebration
Local NYC artist and environmentalist Andi Rae Healy and country music artist Alex Battles will be co-hosting a benefit concert at Park Slope’s Bar 4. Free, and with a raffle for places around the Slope. Proceeds go to Sustainable Harvest International. 444 Seventh Ave. at 15th St.

Sunday, April 25
11 am-4 pm: 3rd Annual Go Green! Greenpoint! Earth Day Celebration
The 3rd Annual Go Green! Greenpoint! Earth Day Celebration includes vendors selling earth-friendly merchandise, organizations promoting earth awareness, school and community group participation, music, children’s events, health and wellness demonstrations, a recycling station and healthy food and treats. McCarren Park, Nassau Ave., Bayard, Leonard & N. 12th Sts.

1 pm: Earth Day Celebrations at Ikea/Erie Basin Park
Urban Divers Estuary Conservancy is hosting a fun-filled family day in environmental literacy and maritime cultural enrichment in commemoration of the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day. Activities include: Catch and Release Fishing, Live Underwater Video Exploration, Recycling, Kite Flight, Mobile Museum Gift Shop, Refreshments, and Live Music. The day will culminate with the ceremonial launch of the Giant Floating Earth Ball. IKEA/Erie Basin Park, One Beard St.

For an exhaustive listing of events in NYC, here are a few links:
EarthDay.org’s Action Center
Earth Day Listings from GrowNYC/Council on the Environment NYC
Earth Day 2010: 30 Activities for Kids in New York City
Earth Day New York
Celebrate Earth Day in New York City

Is there a BK Earth day celebration we missed? Let us know.

Join a CSA so you don’t miss a beet

Trevor Dye — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 20:39:41 +0000

A yield from Flatbush Farm Share. Photo via Sustainable Flatbush.

Ah, CSA season once again: overflowing boxes of mystery farm-freshness, that connected-to-the-earth feeling and giant zucchinis up the wazoo. Last year we gave you the lowdown on Community Supported Agriculture in Brooklyn and why every locavore, quasi-locavore and their mother seemed to be hopping on the farm wagon. Now it’s registration time again, and there are four new CSAs on top of last year’s already impressive list. A few are already sold-out for the season, but plenty are left to help you fill those crispers.

Brooklyn’s CSAs this year are offering far more than just veggies. You can sign up for fruits, eggs, honey, flowers, chicken… and then you decide if you want a full share every week, a half share every week, a full share every other week or your produce divided on to the backs of three mules delivered every third Thursday. You have options.

Here are the nuts and bolts of the CSAs still open for the season, hopefully to start you on your way. All prices are for shares of vegetables:

Bay Ridge
Yellow Hook CSA
2010 season: Jun. 10-Nov. 11 (23 weeks)
Full share: $516 ($22.43/wk)
Half share: $268
Requirements: 1 distribution shift per season (3 hours)
Location: Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, 414 80th St.
Email: yellowhookcsa@gmail.com

Bedford Stuyvesant
Bed-Stuy Farm Share (choose Tues. or Wed.)
2010 season: Jun. 5-Oct. 30 (22 weeks)
Full share: $600 ($27.27/wk); low income: $475, $375
Half share: $325; low income: $250, $200
Requirements: 4 hours per season
Location: Bread Stuy Cafe, 403 Lewis Ave. (Tues.); 497 Quincy St. (Wed.)
Email: bedstuycsa@gmail.com

Brooklyn Heights
Sweet Pea CSA
2010 season: June-November (24 weeks)
Full share: $540 ($22.50/wk)
Half share: $280
Requirements: 2 shifts per season (3-4 hours total)
Location: First Unitarian Congregational Society, 50 Monroe Pl.
Email: sweetpeacsa@gmail.com

Bushwick
Bushwick Food Coop CSA
2010 season: Jun. 9-Nov. 17 (24 weeks)
Full share: $540 ($22.50/wk) (sliding scale possible)
Half share: $280
Quarter share: $135
Requirements: TBD
Location: probably Cathedral of Joy, 43 George St.
Email: csa@bushwickfoodcoop.org

Carroll Gardens
Carrol Gardens CSA
2010 season: June-November (24 weeks)
Full share: $540 ($22.50/wk)
Half share: $280
Requirements: TBA
Location: MTA Community Garden, 192 2nd Pl. at Smith St.
Email: carrollgardenscsa@gmail.com

Cobble Hill
Cobble Hill CSA
2010 season: Jun. 1-Dec. 14 (29 weeks)
Full share: $507.50 ($17.50/wk)
Half share: NA
Requirements: TBA
Location: Christ Church, 326 Clinton St. at Kane St.
Phone: 718-856-1882

Crown Heights
Crown Heights CSA
2010 season: June-November (23 weeks)
Full share: $585 ($25.43/wk)
Half share: $370 ($16.09/wk)
Requirements: 2 shifts per season (4 hours)
Location: Franklin Park, 618 St. John’s Pl. (Near Franklin Ave.)
Email: crownheightscsa@gmail.com

Central Brooklyn CSA
2010 season: 22 weeks
Full share: $485-$290 (income based); $120 (food stamps/SNAP)
Half share: $240-$145; $60 (food stamps/SNAP)
Requirements: 4 hours per season
Location: Hebron SDA Church, 1256 Dean St. at New York Ave
Email: centralbrooklyncsa@gmail.com

Crown Heights South CSA
Email: CrownHeightsSouthCSA@gmail.com
Location: St. Gregory School, 991 St. Johns Pl.

Ditmas Park
Ditmas Park CSA
2010 season: 20 weeks
Full share: $500 ($25/wk)
Half share: $350
Requirements: 1 shift per season (2 hours)
Pick-up location: Third Root Community Health Center, 380 Marlborough Rd. at Cortelyou Rd.
Email: ditmasparkcsa@gmail.com

Downtown Brooklyn
Brooklyn Beet CSA
Email: brooklynbeetcsa@gmail.com
Location: YWCA, 30 Third Ave.

Brooklyn Bridge CSA
2010 season: Jun. 8-Nov. 9 (23 weeks)
Full share: $688-$488 ($29.91-$21.21/wk) (income-based)
Half share: $353-$253 (every other week)
Partial share: $418-$318 (every week, less stuff)
Requirements: 2 shifts per season (four hours)
Location: Congregation Mt. Sinai, 250 Cadman Plaza West
Email: brooklynbridgecsa@gmail.com

DUMBO
DUMBO CSA
2010 season: Jun. 8-Nov. 9 (23 weeks)
Full share: approx. $25/wk
Half share: approx. $15/wk
Requirements: 2 shifts per season
Location: Phoenix House, 50 Jay St.
Email: core@dumbocsa.org

East New York
East NY Farms! CSA (2010 info TBA)
Email: janelle@eastnewyorkfarms.org
Phone: 718-649-7979
Location: ENY Farmer’s Market, Schenck Ave., between New Lots and Livonia Aves.

Flatbush
Flatbush Farm Share
2010 season: Jun. 3-Oct. 28 (22 weeks)
Full share: $595-$265 ($27.04-$12.04/wk) (income-based)
Half share: $315-$140
Requirements: 4 hours per season
Location: Flatbush Reformed Church, 890 Flatbush Ave. at Church Ave.
Phone: 212-741-8192 x7

Fort Greene
Fort Greene CSA
Currently sold-out of full-cost shares.
Email: csa@fortgreenecsa.org for info on limited shares for low-income households.

Kensington/Windsor Terrace
Kensington / Windsor Terrace CSA
2010 season: Jun. 12-Nov. 21 (24 weeks)
Full share: $540 ($22.50/wk)
Half share: $280
Requirements:
Location: Windsor Terrace Community Garden, 179 E. 4th St.
Email: kwtcsa@gmail.com

Park Slope
Park Slope CSA (Tues. or Thurs.)
2010 season: Jun. 8/10-Nov. 2/4 (22 weeks)
Full share: subscribe to PScsaALL-subscribe@yahoogroups.com for pricing
Half share: subscribe to PScsaALL-subscribe@yahoogroups.com for pricing
Requirements: 5 hours (full share); 2.5 hours (half share)
Location: Garden of Union, Union St. between Fourth and Fifth Aves.
Email: jjanda@igc.org
Phone: 718-707-1023

Prospect/Lefferts Gardens
Prospect Lefferts Gardens CSA
2010 info TBA
Email: info@plgcsa.org
Phone: 347-823-1076

Red Hook
Added Value Red Hook CSA
2010 info TBA
Phone: 718-855-5531

Sunset Park
Sunset Park CSA
2010 season: Jun.-Nov. (22 weeks)
Full share: $475/$315 ($21.59/$14.32/wk) (income based)
Half share: $245/$165
Requirements: 2 shifts per season (4 hours)
Location: St. Michael’s Church, 352 42nd St. at Fourth Ave.
Email: sunsetparkcsa@yahoo.com

Williamsburg
East Williamsburg CSA
2010 season: Jun. 5-Oct. 30 (22 weeks)
Full share: $510 ($23.18/wk)
Half share: $270
Requirements: 1 shift per season (2 hours)
Location: Red Shed Community Garden, 266 Skillman Ave. (Skillman Ave. and Kingsland Ave.)
Email: eastwilliamsburgcsa@gmail.com

South Side CSA
2010 season: Jun. 14-Nov. 8 (22 weeks)
Shares: $710-$320 ($32.27-$14.55/wk): almost endless combinations and prices available for veg., fruit, berries, eggs.
Requirements: various duties, time commitments
Pick-up location: The Woods, 48 S. 4th St., between Wythe & Kent
Email: southsidecsa@gmail.com

Greenpoint-Williamsburg CSA (Wed. or Sat.)
2010 season: June-November (24 weeks)
Full share: $540 ($22.50/wk)
Half share: $280
Requirements: several options (3-4 hours per season)
Location: McCarren Park, between the dog run and the Green Dome Community Garden (Sat.);
Lutheran Church of the Messiah, 129 Russell St. (Wed.)
Email: williamsburgcsa@gmail.com

Veggie-growing guide, part 4: putting it all together

Trevor Dye — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:34:29 +0000

Photo by Mike Lieberman.

Your seeds have sprung to life, you’ve composted, you’ve got your soil and you know where to grow (probably in a whole bunch of containers in one supremely cramped space). Congratulations, you’re well on your way to inviting a friend to dinner just to say, “Dude, I grew this.” Here’s how to prep your planting space, transplant your seeds, acclimate your veggies, teach them to share and just put it all together.

Preparing your containers
The next step is preparing the planting bed or containers. If your mission is abundance, then Miracle Gro or other chemical fertilizers might be for you. They produce softball-size peppers and those giant pumpkins you always see, but remember: chemicals > plants > you.

Otherwise, a compost/peat moss is the way to go. Peat moss loosens heavy clay soils, adds body to sandy soils, helps retain moisture and preserves soil nutrient levels. You can mix it throughout your potting soil or plant bed. For container gardening, some even recommend using a 70/30 mix of peat moss to compost.

Transplanting your seeds
From the ghetto greenhouse, seed cell trays, or a temporary pot; your plants are ready for transplant when the first set of true leaves emerge from the seedlings, and you might also see roots peaking through the drainage holes. And it’s never a bad idea to consult a time and temperature chart. Gently loosen any root ball that has formed and plant them into a space twice the size of the roots. Then back fill, softly packing soil around the roots.

Shock therapy
If your plants will be facing the elements, remember to consult the grow calender from part one, especially if you plan to grow from the ground. Even though the weather is beginning to shift, the ground still needs time to warm up, and a swing of the pendulum back to cold might be a fatal blow in your gardening adventures.

It’s important to prepare them for the shock of transplant. When you notice the seedlings getting close to ready, you can begin conditioning them for the outdoors. Be sure they’re in some shade to start. Initially, put them outdoors of short periods and slowly leave them longer and longer. After roughly half a week, they should be ready for a life outside.

If you've got the room, space your veggies like a big-time farmer.

If you’re putting them into the ground, space accordingly. Since part one already covered avoiding space-hogging plants like corn and pumpkin, be sure to give each plant a few inches around the stem. On the first day of transplant, water generously, especially if it’s a sunny day.

The grand design: companion planting
Plants are living organisms, and they respond to a variety of internal and external factors. One such factor is the surrounding plants. If companion planting sounds abstract, it isn’t; indigenous Americans introduced the concept to our European ancestors by way of the Three Sisters: beans, corn and squash.

Some plants just get along better with others (see chart). Shade-loving plants can be placed under taller full-foliage crops, allowing an ultra-efficient use of space and higher yields. This also can do wonders for pest control. Garlic, for instance, biochemically wards of slugs, ticks, rabbits and many other garden vandals. But companion planting also can improve other nutrient levels. For example, beans, peas and other legumes can be used to fix nitrogen in the soil and spread the wealth to neighboring plants. These are the sort of tricks that can make a dramatic difference.

For deeper study, reference some of the leaders of the Permaculture movement like Toby Hemenway and his home-scale permaculture guide, Gaia’s Garden. And if you want to get really trippy, try planting according to the alignment of the cosmos, where astrology meets agriculture. Just don’t drink the Kool-Aid.

A final take-away
Remember that there are endless methods of gardening. It’s a science, and as such, it requires experimentation. Find what works for you. Our veggie guide should serve as a primer to wet your appetite for the ways of the green thumb. All that matters is that you’re doing it. There’s a good chance a plant or two will die on you—it can happens to the best of us. But it’s all worth it when you take that first bite of a rutabaga you nurtured from nothing to plate.

Veggie-growing guide, part 3: soil

Trevor Dye — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:26:19 +0000

Photo from Greenbudget

Seasonal info: check. Seeds: check. Now on to the dirty stuff—you can’t grow anything without it. There’s a whole lot of earth beneath Brooklyn’s concrete, and it’s all just waiting to be dug up. At least that’s what the “this land is your land, this land is my land” side of me wants to tell you: get out there, scout out an abandoned lot (not a park!) and dig some up. Or, you could try one of several easier ways to get your free dirt. And then, of course, you’re going to compost.

Where to get dirt
Companies like New York Restoration Project and Green Apple Corps host planting events throughout the city. They displace mounds of soil to plug in the new trees, so just show up with a bag or two and scoop some up. But steer clear of heavily industrial areas, and if you’re uncertain about polluted soil here are some tips for repair.

If you’re wary of city dirt and decide to buy starter soil, the same issue of non-organic and organic applies. If you took the effort to get organic seeds, you should keep the entire process organic. Otherwise, most 99-cent stores sell cheap dirt. It’s what you add to the dirt that will turn seeds to bounty.

Composting
What is it? Composting is nature’s recycling. It’s the decomposition of plants, veggies, paper, bread and many other organic materials into a nutrient-rich earthy substance that can be added to soil to help your plants grow. Composting is easy, it works wonders and it isn’t just for people with outdoor spaces. Ideally, you’ll start a sun-baked heap of decaying food and plant materials, but even a close-quarters urbanite can turn scraps into ecology’s black gold.

Compost bin

The primary difference between indoor and outdoor composting bins is size. For indoor composters, Journey To Forever offers an excellent step-by-step guide to setting up a bin, while You Grow Girl has a similar guide for outdoor bins. If you don’t mind creepy crawlers, vermicompost is arguably the best indoor method.

What can go in the compost bin:
Brown ingredients: dried leaves and grass clippings, wood or twigs, newspaper, paper towels, paper bags, hair, coffee grounds, tea leaves, straw, napkins, paper (shredded or whole).

Green ingredients: grass and plant material, fruit and vegetable scraps, egg shells, old bread.

Greens equals nitrogen and browns equal carbon, the goal is an equal balance. When starting your bin try alternating three-inch to six-inch layers of green and brown. And be sure to moisten the heap.

What can’t go in the compost bin:
Meat and seafood, heavy oils, dairy, animal feces (though some people use the feces of animals that eat a vegetarian diet) Yum.

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the Department of Sanitation are leading the borough’s charge of “Composting for a Greener and Cleaner Brooklyn.” They offer composting classes (free aside from a $5 materials fee), including the upcoming class, Composting in the City, on April 8 with Luke Halligan and Jenny Blackwell. Along with many one day classes, BBG offers a 25-hour Master Composter Certificate Program (with a $40 materials fee). Registration for the spring session ended in February, so if mastery is your goal, keep an eye on the BBG Website for the start of the next eight-week term.

For more tips on composting, turn to NYCCompost.org’s New York City Compost Project. To truly delve into the art of compost, BioSystems Solutions and EarthEasy offer extensive guides covering everything from simple composting tricks to the ideal percentage of active bacterial biomass.

Veggie-growing guide, part 2: seeds

Trevor Dye — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:59:21 +0000

So, you still plan to grow your own food. Now that we’ve convinced you it’s possible and provided the quick & dirty intro on schedules, temps, etc., it’s time to talk about seeds. Working from seed, as opposed to an existing plant, takes the process into your hands earlier, which will help you save down the road. Select your seeds carefully, and after first harvest, you can collect new seeds from what you’ve grown. In a few years, you cut industry out of the process altogether. And the controlled conditions of a cozy apartment are ideal for sprouting these tiny incipient fruits and veggies. Here’s a starter course on the seeds you want, the ones you don’t and what to do with them.

Where to buy your seeds
Once you’ve decided what to grow, you’ll likely have to buy seeds. If so, there are some good reasons to support local gardening merchants. They’re the ones who garden around where you will and know the local conditions. When you hit trouble with your plants, these are the impassioned folks you’ll turn to over the orange-vested clock-punchers at the Home Depot. The Williamsburg shop Rose Red & Lavender will be dishing out seeds to celebrate the coming Spring. Just look for an antique baby carriage filled with spring flowers all this month for free heirloom seeds. But if you’re far from the Burg, fear not, there are many stores throughout the borough. Buy your seeds soon, as they become harder to find as the season gets in full swing.

Organic or not?
Just like at the grocery store, when buying seeds, you’ll be faced with the organic versus non-organic decision. Recent studies have shown organic vegetables aren’t any more nutritious than their chemically grown counterpart. The cost difference isn’t what’s in it, but what’s not in it. You pay to keep your food free of chemical pesticides and fossil-fuel based fertilizers.

Go organic, and you’ll spend an extra dollar or two on a seed packet. But depending on the seller, some organic seeds cost less than their non-organic counterpart. For example, non-organic chives cost $1.45 for a pack of 100 seeds at the popular online retailer Park Seeds, but Seed Savers Exchange sells organic chives at $2.75 for a packet of 250 seeds.

Some nitty-gritty seed terminology
Discriminate. Beware of all “hybrid” or “F1” seeds. Their co-mingled genetics often makes for unpredictable and inferior results. Choose non-hybrid seeds marked “heirloom” or “heritage” for quality guaranteed by generations of breeding, including a superior natural resistance to pests and disease. Open pollinated (OP) is another keyword ensuring non-hybrid status. Some hybrids may not be designated as such, so the safest practice is buying through a supplier that states “no hybrids” upfront.

Germinating your seeds
There are a couple popular methods of germinating seeds that begin with materials as simple as plastic baggies or discarded water bottles. The paper towel/baggie method seems to be the hands-down favorite among garden gurus and outlaw growers with the most invested in skillful germination. With the baggie method (right), the seedlings should sprout after a few days, after which it’s time to transfer them to soil.

The ghetto greenhouse—a simple construction made of a modified plastic bottle—is another viable option (left). A large soda bottle is good for this, and you use soil right away. The point is that there are plenty of ways to sprout seedlings without purchasing a seed cell tray or any such formal equipment. If you sow the seeds directly in soil to start, like in the ghetto greenhouse, be sure to follow the instructions on the back of the seed package. Most seeds go no lower than half an inch to an inch from the soil surface.

The future of your seeds
Seeds can be a one-time expense with the right knowledge. Perpetuate your frugal gardening by saving seeds to exchange with community members, at seed swap parties or through Web forums. This requires a depth of familiarity with your seeds and seed terminology. Seed life varies, as does proper storage methods; here’s a helpful guide for aspiring seed collectors.

Still more to come in our next entry on growing your own food.

How to grow your windowsill salad

Trevor Dye — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:35:00 +0000

Fire-escape pepper photo by Urban Greenscaper. Click on it for lots more inspiration.

Read the rest of the installments in our four-part series on urban vegetable gardening: seeds, soil and putting it all together.

We know, we know… you probably don’t think you have the space or the know-how to grow a measly sprout, let alone the ingredients for a salad. And you might be right. But growing food in tight, urban quarters is not only possible, it’s easier than you might expect. Gardening experts estimate that every square foot of growing space yields almost a pound of food over the course of the growing season. That’s a sizable crop squeezed from even the most meager Park Slope patch of dirt. And if a Crown Heights fire escape is your whole domain, that’s at least a crudité. Here’s how to begin. Where to begin: indoors Since most Brokelynites lack yard access, we’ll start indoors. So long as your radiator isn’t busted, you can start in early March. According to the National Gardening Association, “Almost any vegetable can grow in a container and with a little care can produce abundantly.” So take a look at your containers around the house. If something will hold soil and you can poke holes in the bottom for drainage, it can be part of your container garden. Of course, there’s always something to be said for style points. Gardening indoors requires paying attention to issues like temperature, pollination, light and fertilization. Leafy greens are comfortable at temps into the 60s, while tomatoes, cucumbers and the like require warmer temps around 70 degrees. A south-facing window may be all you need, but if your only view is of a brick wall, then look into buying a UV light. They can run from $30 for spot-grow lights to $300 or more for more intense UV light systems. If you’re blessed with a yard, screw you. Just kidding. But things will be much easier—you can start the seeds indoors, and when they’re ready for transplant (typically when stems are over one inch tall) put them in the ground. Of course, the are some considerations like timing (see calendar below) and finding a spot with the appropriate amount of sun. For those without a yard and who lack the drive to micromanage an indoor project, consider a plot at one of Brooklyn’s many community gardens. Depending on your neighborhood, some may already be wait-listed and some may require a bit of dedication, but others are a matter of sign up and plant. Non-profit groups like More Gardens and New York Restoration Project convert abandoned lots into green spaces every year. See below for a complete list of Brooklyn’s community gardens. So what can I grow and when? Brooklyn falls in Zone 6 of the USDA Hardiness Zoning Map (but you knew that already), so the all-important last frost falls between March 30 and April 30. Beware, transplanting anything into the ground before the last frost is certain death for the crop. Avoid such losses by following suggested start dates. Timing varies, depending on the plant. Some common veggies for Zone 6 include: tomatoes, peppers, green beans, cucumbers, squash, cabbage, beets, collards, carrots, lettuce, peas, turnips, potatoes, melons and so forth. Since our biggest enemy at this point is the last frost date,VeggieHarvest has a helpful calender for tactful growing in Zone 6:

And here are some resources for indoor gardening: GardenGal’s vegetable list and indoor tips WikiHow on Indoor Gardening Garden Guides: How to Grow Indoor Vegetable Gardens How to Buy UV Sun Lamps Keep reading, with all the installments in our series on urban vegetable gardening: seeds, soil and putting it all together.

Learn about Diego Rivera, get free tickets to MoMA

Trevor Dye — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 20:42:05 +0000

Come for the lecture on Mexican Modernism, leave with free tickets to the Museum of Modern Art. Put on your listening shoes for the Brooklyn Public Library’s art appreciation lecture tomorrow, Jan. 23, at Grand Army Plaza; stay until the end, fill out a survey and you’ll receive a free five-person pass to the MoMA ($100 value, and good for the Tim Burton exhibition). Seems like a bribe, we know, but the lecture itself does sound pretty cool.

Tomorrow’s free 4 p.m. talk will be with MoMA’s Diana Bush on art created during and after the Mexican Revolution of 1910-1917. Bush will cover the works of Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo and others. And next Saturday, Jan. 30, also at 4, Bush’ll be back (as will the free ticket opportunity) for the multimedia work of Gabriel Orozco. If the talks whet your appetite for a trek to the museum, the pass will soften the blow of the subway fare. Info here.

The best snowboarding deals near NYC

Trevor Dye — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 05:14:01 +0000

Photo by Sharat Ganapati.

Don’t let anyone tell you that there’s no snowboarding in Brooklyn—unless that person is a park ranger handing out a $350 summons. Outlaw boarders have been known to hit Fort Greene Park after a fresh snowfall, but the tickets they face (it’s illegal) wind up costing a whole lot more than just leaving town altogether. With bus-and-lift-ticket deals that keep day-trip prices under $100, and less during the week, the only real barrier between you and slopes close to NYC might be the snow itself.

Bus-and-lift-ticket deals

Trips from Brooklyn are available five days out of the week from Homage Brooklyn in Cobble Hill, and weekends and holidays from Panda Sports in Bay Ridge (along with bus stops at various locations in other parts of the city).

Reservations for all the trips— including additional outings to Belleayre, Bromley, and some longer treks that require planes—can be made through Emilio’s Ski & Snowboard Shop in Forest Hills. These are, by far, the best deal you’ll find. The transport service covers round trip on a motor couch (complete with video and lavatories) and your lift ticket for $69.99 on weekdays, and varying prices as follows for weekend trips: Mountain Creek ($74.95), Hunter Mountain ($79.95), Vermont trips to Mt. Snow, Okemo and Stratton ($89.95) and a new trip to Gore Mountain ($99.95). For an additional $25 you can add rental equipment, and other packages include lessons for beginners, so everything is covered but mittens. If you decide to take advantage of a deal offered through the resort, you can pay for the shuttle minus the lift ticket for $40-$60 round trip depending on the destination.

The trips depart and return to the city daily, but for some, like the Hunter weekend trip, your return ticket could be held overnight for the next day’s bus. Be sure to sign up online, no walk-ups are allowed.

I tend to skew my allegiance towards supporting the local board shops, but there are other shuttle options for getting to the mountains. Urban Sherpa is an excellent choice with buses departing from Times Square and Union Square. They have similarly priced package deals with most of the same trips and a few not offered by Homage and Emilio, including uber-popular Mt. Killington, AKA “The Beast.”

There are buses and trains from New Jersey Transit, Amtrak, and the like that will get you close, but not all the way. If, for some reason, you find yourself in a time of desperation, Adventure Northeast also offers mountain shuttles, but a round trip to Mount Snow, for example, costs $129 and doesn’t include a lift ticket.

Three tips for beginners

If you’re new to snow sports, there are affordable package deals for beginners. These package typically include rentals, lesson(s), and a lower mountain lift ticket. This specified ticket restricts access to the green (beginner) and a few blue (intermediate) lifts that go a third or half way up the mountain; plenty for an inexperienced rider.

Hunter Mountain’s Hunter One is a lower mountain acclaimed for it’s novice-friendly design. For aspiring snowboarders, this is the spot. The mountain has teamed with Burton, the iconic name in boarding, for Burton’s Learn To Ride Program. The $79 Single-Pak includes a lower mountain lift, a group lesson, and a Burton rental board specially designed to maximize the beginner’s riding experience a.k.a. help to keep you off of your butt. The $109 Try-Pak, offers the same deal at three days of riding.

Camelback also participates in Burton’s LTR package (the only participating resort in Pennsylvania) but charges slightly more at $80 for midweek and $90 for weekends and holiday At Camelback and Hunter, if you decide on the Burton program, you can opt for the Freestyle lesson, where you’ll learn the basics of switch riding, sliding rails or launching jumps.

Mountain Creek has the best Learn to Ride program if you’d like to do it with a friend. Their package includes three Limited Area Lift tickets, three days of rental equipment and three 1-hour group clinics for $119. After the first day, a friend can get the same package for two days at $69. And if you’re not able to ride the beginner slopes after three clinics, the lessons become free until you can (though the fine print mentions lift and rentals aren’t included with the free lessons).

Snowboarding in Vermont, photo by M. Pincus.

Other ways to find deals

The steadfast rule for getting the most value is to go midweek if your schedule allows. All mountains (and the shuttle companies) offer midweek pricing, usually at a discount of $10-$20. The crowds will be significantly less, meaning shorter lines for the ski lifts and more time spent plummeting downhill.

There are others ways to save, and many of them involve using the web. It can be as simple as saving a few dollars by ordering in advance on the resort’s website. For example, save $6.55 online on rental equipment (skis or boards) at Hunter or keep a few dollars in your pocket to buy lunch by getting your lift ticket online at Stratton.

Speaking of Stratton, they post last-minute deals on their Facebook page; most recently, two days of skiing and one night of lodging for $79. You can bet other mountains will follow this trend, so it can’t hurt to friend your favorite mountain, follow them on Twitter, and subscribe to their email list. Most mountains have a Deals page on their site, and that’s always a great place to start. See below for direct links to some mountain deals.

New Jersey
Mountain Creek

New York
Belleayre
Hunter
Windham

Pennsylvania
Blue Mountain
Camelback

Vermont
Killington
Mount Snow
Okemo
Stratton

If you’re buying a board…

Snowboarding.com offers a helpful guide for first-time board buying. When you’re ready to make a purchase, my recommendation is heading to Homage Brooklyn and speaking with the folks there. An entry level set-up—board, boots and bindings—is likely to cost between $300-$500. You might save a few bucks on the web, but as with any hobby, it is important to get to know the guys at your local shop. While you’re there, ask about their efforts to legalize snowboarding in NYC. Above all, you’ll be supporting Brooklyn’s economy.