In my inbox.
-JAY
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Dear Jason,
GET YOUR GROW ON with DC’s first Edible Urban Garden Tour hosted by Loulies.com, Friday, July 15th from 5-8PM.
Explore city spaces and residential gardens that will open their doors and gates for the public to see what growing good food in our own backyards, front yards, rooftops, and empty lots is all about. It’s a chance to ask questions, learn from and hear what inspires some of DC’s best gardeners.
The tour will start at the beautiful, plant-filled garden shop named Old City Green and stretch through the revitalized neighborhoods of Shaw, Bloomingdale and Ledroit Park. Plus, see for yourself and learn more about Common Good City Farm the community garden that Prince Charles recently toured as part of his inspiring Future of Food visit to DC. A map of tour locations will be distributed on the day of the event at Old City Green. The tour is self-guided and will cover several miles so a bike or a car is recommended.
By organizing this tour, we hope to support the “grow your own” movement and create a community event designed to be a resource for so many local residents interested in finding ways to grow their own food.
Suzanne and I have worked on Loulies for almost three years. What we have learned from our readers and beyond our circle of followers is that people are interested in and are looking for ways create a more “natural kitchen” especially in urban environments. For some this means buying organic, shopping the farmers market, or making it a habit to eat local or in-season by growing your own food. Even in an urban setting, you would be surprised by how much a little piece of land can produce – lots of luscious tomatoes, fragrant herbs, and figs or other fruit so ripe and juicy just off the tree. They are foods that are not just for growing on the farm. The Edible Urban Garden Tour is about getting ideas for, learning how to and being inspired to grow an urban garden. It gives people a chance to see, ask questions and learn from other gardeners in the area. It is also about getting some super local food in your diet, enjoying the simple pleasure that comes from growing your own, and seeing three urban neighborhoods in DC where the local food movement is at its best. There is no place better to find real food than from right next door to your own kitchen.
The following gardens will be part of the tour:
Old City Green – This beautiful corner garden shop will be our start and ending location and has a beehive to learn all about urban bee keeping.
Ed Bruske – Full front yard vegetable garden, composting pile and slow cook blogger.
Jeff Herron – Front garden patch and upper balcony with fruit trees, tomatoes, greens and herbs.
Mikaela Seligman – Front garden with raised beds designed and built by Mikaela and her husband that includes vegetables and a few medicinal varieties of herbs.
Eva Hambach – Petite city garden with rain barrel feature.
Common Good City Farm – Amazing urban food system that is designed to be a replicable model for other urban, community-based farms. Large variety of vegetables, many fruit trees, herbs and herb spiral and lots of greens. Learn about how they grow food, educate and help low-income community members meet their food needs.
Marion Street Garden – One of the sweetest gardens you will find in the city inspired by City Blossoms and grown by children.
DC Greenworks and Bread for the City – Amazing views from this sunny rooftop garden with raised-beds flowing with food. Just opened, this is the garden’s first season of growing.
Sidra Forman – Stunning container and backyard chef’s garden with an interesting variety of vegetables and beautiful flowers.
Temple Garden – A bit on the periphery, but worth a visit if you have time to see this beautiful community garden.
The tour will end at Old City Green with a community-potluck (bring a dish to share if you like), seasonal cocktail and viewing of the film A Community of Gardeners.
Tickets: To purchase tickets for this event, visit www.loulies.com. Tickets are $10 each, with a portion of the proceeds to support Eat Local First DC.
Please let me know if you are interested in learning more about the event or have questions. And, feel free to pass this on through your website!
Best, Bettina Stern, Loulies.com
