CHIMNEY SINK HERBS!!!!!!

Hello gardenders!!

Annie proudly monitors some new planters in fifteen root control bags -- try and climb that, bunnies!
(Can bunnies climb? We shall soon see.)

Question: Do we have a surprise for you?

Answer: Heck yes, we do!

It all started with a trip to the ReStore, in Springfield, MA. Wait, no, it started with an awesome idea, which subsequently led us to the ReStore.

Basically, on Tuesday we went to the Farmer’s Market in Northampton with the intent of doing research in the Smith College library afterwards. Instead of going to the library, we randomly visited the Smith College garden (very cute). And then the library was about to be closed so we decided not to visit.

Smith College Student Garden.

So what do we do when we decide not to do research? We think of additions to make to the garden. Our new idea: an herb garden, potted in old sinks (well, actually we were thinking bathtubs, but they turned out to be too expensive. But, anywho, that part comes later).

So, let's take that and rewind it back. Last year, Garden Interns Crystal and Reesha bought old window frames from a place called the ReStore for making cold frames that would extend the growing season. The ReStore is a nonprofit that receives donations of--and later sells--building materials from old buildings and demolished houses. We later learned that the ReStore staff is able to salvage about 85% of building materials from a given house when they deconstruct it by hand! Crazy insane! We called up the ReStore via 411, and found out their store hours: 9-6 Tuesday thru Friday (ie. There was still time!).

We drove to the ReStore and after seeing a bathtub for $200, decided that amount was probs no bueno for the garden budget. So we kept looking. Toilets would have been great, too, but they were still a bit pricey. AND THEN. We found out there was a sale…on bathroom sinks. HOORAYYYYYYYY! So we bought one and brought it back to the garden to see if our plan would work. We used bricks to support the sink and keep the drain off the ground. AND IT WORKED!!! So we bought four more sinks. And then we broke one of them. So we went back to buy one more sink! And bricks that came from a house built in 1724. Antique bricks!

Needless to say, we’ve recently spent a lot of time at the ReStore. And you know, sometimes nature calls when you spend a lot of time somewhere. So we went exploring for a restroom, found one, AND THEN WE FOUND A GARDEN AS WELL. Needless to say, excited giggle fits were had by all. Turns out, the ReStore is part of an organization called Gasoline Alley, which also includes a salon, garden, and art gallery, all built around the idea of social consciousness in entrepreneurship. Check it out, at gasolinealleyfoundation.org !!!

But back to the garden, ‘cause you know, that’s what we’re about. In the garden, we were introduced to Pete Merzbacher, who, just this year, started an urban garden in a parking lot next to the ReStore.

Oh hey Pete.

He showed us all of his plots, gave us a delectable cucumber from the garden (jealous -- our precious Divas are being lame-o's), and took a video of us for his blog (newgrowth.weebly.com). It’s kind of embarrassing how enthusiastic we are in the video. Whatever, we think gardening is cool! We think Pete is cool, too (also, we like your blog).

(L) Ampitheater seedling area -- and the view from the top!

(R) Starts by the New Growth plots -- and a no till area.

So visit New Growth, at 250 Albany Street in Springfield, and see what Pete’s got going on. Or, visit the blog! And don’t forget to click the “Get Involved” tab -- Gardening is fun for everyone!

Once we left the ReStore, we went to pick up some herb plants from Andrew’s Greenhouse in Amherst, MA. While setting up our five surviving kitchen sinks

and exactly 100 of our 1724 bricks by the garden fence,

filling the bottom with rocks and the rest with dirt, and planting our new Chimney Sink Herb Garden, we decided to take a lot of pictures. And here they are for you, enjoy!

Hope you enjoyed!

In other news, we’ve started to sell large amounts of large zucchini to MHC Dining Services. We didn’t go to the Farmer’s market today, because we would literally have had 3 peppers to sell. Oops!

However, we have GIANT WATERMELON BABIES!!! And so many of them.

Brittany screamed. For two minutes. Annie almost peed her pants, half from excitement, half from laughing at Brittany.

Until next time,

Peace, love, and veggies,

Annie and Brittany

MHC Student Garden Interns