This 30 year old garden features an in the ground row style farming of veggies
The Green Guerrillas and the Fort Green Compost Project (FGCP) donated and helped spread compost and topsoil after the gardeners forked a foot of Parks Department donated wood chips as underlay barrier from their existing “original soil” to continue their treasured method of gardening.
Dancing lessons by professional jazz swingers were provided to picnic goers
Michael Arenulla and his Dreamland Orchestra played music that made you remember what enjoying life is all about
Earth Matter sets up compost stations for events that occur on Governor’s Island . We create a combined station : compost drop off barrels , next to recycling bins and a garbage can, with a colorful sign overhead, to designate each type of waste, in areas where the event takes place to encourage participants to correctly source separate after their picnic or snack.
Carol Crump and Charlie Bayrer demonstrate compost ingredients in Colonel's Row
Carol talks worms to the visitors who have never experienced worm wiggle on the palms of their hands (until that day!)
“Meatopia” A BBQ event that featured many chefs providing tastes of their favorite recipes on the lawn in Colonels Row .
Earth Matter summer youth employee turning a 2 week old pile with the Harlem Hardhat
Harlem Community Justice Center, under the coordination of Damon-Brown-Dobbs, under the coordination of Damon Brown-Dobbs, sponsors a summer youth employment program called the Harlem Hardhats. This group visited our center to learn about how to better utilize the existing compost bins in 2 Urban Garden Coalition gardens - Roberto Clemente Garden on Shakespeare Ave and 167 St in the Bronx, and Pappo’s Garden on E 119 St and Second Ave, NY.
We welcome our interns at our new Governors Island Compost Center Stephanie Stickle and Anna Davis and our summer youth employees Aquil Huggins, Jen Soto and Luis Escobor.
Come visit our Compost Learning Center on Governors Island, at Picnic Point, on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 12-4 pm . We are collecting and processing compost, and welcome all visitors to stop in, ask questions, participate if you would like!
April 14, 2010
Read about Earth Matter’s Bushwick Mushroom Project in the NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/15/garden/15mushrooms.html
FORT GREENE COMPOST PROJECT – FGCP
Do you live in Ft. Greene, Clinton Hill, or the Downtown Brooklyn area? Do you know about the residential food waste drop off at the Ft. Greene Farmer’s Market? This community based, volunteer organized program, now in it’s 5th year, collects over 1500 lbs of residential food waste every Saturday from 8:30 – noon at DeKalb Ave. and Washington Park (Cumberland). The waste is distributed locally for composting.
Ever wonder about what to put or not o put in the FGCP compost bins at the Ft. Greene Market? Or, how YOU can help the composting process along in your home and habits?
The twigs that are less than the diameter of your finger, are ok, if they, along with all your greens, are chopped up smaller than the size of an outstretched hand. The smaller the pieces, the better, for accelerating the decomposition process.
Breaking root balls apart into small sections is also helpful to do before bringing to the market. A whole root ball does not easily break down.
And the apple? You say “of course” it’s good to include.
And yes, of course it’s good, BUT think of your own skin. It keeps everything in your body, blood, organs, etc. from falling out right?
If the apple’s skin or any fruit or vegetables – acorn squash, lemons, what about a coconut? If it is not cut open before putting it into the bin at FGCP then it stays in its original stage, inhibiting the bacteria and fungi from being able to begin the break down process. As all the decomposing food around the apple is breaking down, we pull out whole fruit and veggies that were overlooked.
Volunteers otherwise have to spend a lot of time chopping your old veggies and separating and rejecting sticks and twigs that are too large. Other mistaken compost submissions: please, no dairy, fish or meat products. 
We prefer not to take compostable flatware and cups even though they are compostable.
Please take all compost out of all bags and containers, take off all stickers, elastic bands and ties. This is very helpful to everyone who volunteers to make the compost.
Thanks so very much!
New and return volunteers are warmly welcomed. And needed! To learn more about the FGCP and sign up through email to volunteer at the market to oversee the drop off service or to turn some of this compost in one of the participating community garden, please visit the Ft Green Compost. blogspot.com or come by the Market on a Saturday morning.
Fort Greene Compost Project – A history - Over four years ago, in 2005, a small group of compost minded community gardeners envisioned a neighborhood waste reduction program via a voluntary residential food waste drop off site at the Ft. Greene Farmer’s Market. The original concept called for farmers to take the scraps back to the farm, with local commnity gardeners taking some as desired. The initial volume, however, was insufficient to interest the farmers. The logistical issues of hauling food waste and fresh produce in the same truck were also a problem. Instead, a rotating schedule of four community gardeners was established and scraps were hauled in a wheelbarrow.
In 2006, the Citizen’s Committee for NYC funded the purchase of an industrial tricycle to haul the increasing volume.
By mid 2008, it was felt the increasing volume (then over 750 lbs) would overwhelm the established system. FGCP entered into a collaboration with Added Value to compost at Red Hook Community Farm in spring 2009. Two garden sites were also added to the rotating schedule, and one garden withdrew to pursue local neighbor and gardener drop off.
Current volume (over 1500lbs) and hauling distances require the use of a truck, which is sometimes donated usage, and sometimes a rental. The trike is still used for short hauls.
This has meant expenses beyond sundry items. After a surevey of participants, a voluntary donation of $1. per drop off was introduced in fall 2009 to wide acceptance.
The funds also provide incentive for two farms (Rexcroft and Conuco) to take a small portion of the waste. Some of the materials have also been diverted to volunteers working large backyard compost systems.
Currently, participating gardens are Carlton Avenue Bears Community Garden, Prospect Heights Com. Farm, the Secret Garden, and Woodbine St. Block Assoc. Com. Garden.
Although currently funded exclusively by user donations, these dozens of volunteers enjoy the support of Grow NYC Greenmarket and the appreciation of the wider community.
EcoStation food growing garden bed, adjacent to the Secret Garden, Bushwick NY.
Linden Broadway Farmer’s market manager, Travis Tench, is clearing the land to prepare for growing early veggie starter plants for seasonal farmer’s market.
EcoStation: NY is a Brooklyn based NYS not for profit organization. The Secret Garden Farm and Nature Preserve is adjacent to the Linden-Bushwick Community Garden, located in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn, in an interior land lot, not visible from Broadway. Enter by way of the Linden-Bushwick Community Garden gate, located at approximately 9 Linden Street. Walk through the Linden-Bushwick Community Garden, and up the slight hill at the back of the garden.
EcoStation: NY volunteers are developing this natural area for use for environmental education and composting food waste. The Secret Garden is open Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from Noon – 4 pm. Volunteers are welcome to come by and check out the Center, join in the making of compost, and participate in the ongoing creation of this environmental center. Classroom groups are also welcome to visit the Secret Garden.
For more school group EcoClassroom or Nature Preserve information please contact: Sean-Michael 646-393-9305. For information about composting or mushroom workshops call Kendall 718-285-8150. To volunteer at the Secret Garden Farm or Bushwick Farmers’ Market call Travis 502-494-0628. For general garden inquiries call the Garden Manager Mr. Joseph 917-442-2713.
Check back at this website for listings of free environmental workshops that will be offered during 2010 season.
Community Garden: The community garden is adjacent to the nature preserve. EcoStation: NY is a member of this garden as well. The entire area of the center and garden is 2/3 of an acre. Pictured above is Travis Tench, hard at work, digging out a stump to make way for more area to grow food in the garden
EcoStation: NY plans to grow Callaloo greens and lots of other produce that will be available at the Bushwick Farmer’s Market this spring.
The Bushwick Farmer’s Market is on the corner of Linden and Broadway. Market times are Wednesdays 10 till 6 pm from May to December.
The farmer’s market accepting residential food waste drops off from the public for a suggested donation of $1. This compost is processed at the Secret Garden Nature Preserve.
Hey check out our Pumpkin Smash we had last Wednesday. See the video on James Hodges Blog:
http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/19920Thanks James Hodges. Great video editing. We had a fun time.
Note: we only used a half an ounce of gas to power the chainsaw. Hee Hee had fun.
The Brooklyn Ink writer Alessia Pirolo featured Earth Matter’s Bushwick Composting Station on their blog. The story feature our own Farmer Kendall.
Check it out:
http://thebrooklynink.com/featured/the-composter
Thanks Alessia!