gbronner

The city of Chicago is planning on introducing an ordinance this week to help expand urban gardening and urban farming. The ordinance will help to relax restrictions on parking and fencing as well as increase the size of gardens allowed up to 25,0000 square feet. This will help local entrepreneurs and community groups alike to be able to not only provide fresh and healthy food to the community at a reasonable price but to spurn jobs as a result of this new urban farming initiative.

There is a real problem in some areas of the city where there is no large grocery stores available for people to shop. This is a burden that requires some to go many miles in order to purchase food for the family. Not only that there are many who could benefit from community gardens in other ways as well. Local organizations could setup not for profits and provide employment to local youth and community residents. There is a chance to train young people about agriculture and to help them top...

Well what a wonderful thought to contemplate. I was out yesterday trying to get the grounds equipment organized and ready for some work out on the grounds next week. On the way home I got a call from someone wanting me to stop by today and evaluate their home turf as it has been declining over the last several years and is looking very thin. The kind of call I like best because it is always challenging to diagnose problems and come up with a solution.

Normally I would be excited about these activities but then a Notice from the National Weather Service. A winter storm watch is in effect from late tonight until Friday evening. Potential snow fall in our area 6″ to 8″ Yeah!!!! that is the way to start spring. I really hope that the storm track changes in the next 12 hours because I prefer the thought of some rain especially now.

I am not being greedy in wanting no snow I am actually more concerned abut the poor Easter Bunny. It is hard enough having...

Sunday I turned 54 and while I am not a big proponent of celebrating those type of events it did give me some time to pause and reflect. Most of my life has been involved with gardening. Since I was only a little guy down in Miami helping my grandmother weed her lawn I have been involved.

Having been a commercial nursery owner, landscape maintenance firm owner, interior plant company owner and professional grounds keeper for schools and hospitals I have a pretty extensive background. One thing about the education and the experience I have is that it is something they can’t take away from you. You know what you know and that is something that sometimes people forget.

Some of the best information and education that I have received has been from other gardeners or fellow grounds professionals. The real key to being good at what you do is to never stop learning from others as well as your own experiences. I know a group of people who are in the maintenance business....

In the dead of winter there is not a whole lot going on outside in the garden in northern climates. That is not to say that gardeners are not thinking about gardening. Lots of gardeners are still busy working on garden plans or busy looking through garden catalogs and checking for new things to try when spring finally breaks.

Sometimes it is hard not getting cabin fever at this time of year for the avid gardener. But there is some hope. If you live near a botanical garden there is always a field trip to the conservatory. Many garden clubs and societies hold lecture series that are open to the public. Another good thing is a trip too the bookstore to check out the latest selections. There are always some good ideas to be found there.

You can start a garden scrapbook mine happens to be on line [Link]

A really great way to beat cabin fever is to join several garden forums . Due to the great expansion of the internet it is now...

At this time of the year it seems strange to be talking about waiting for spring. We have had two winter storms already and it is only the 8th of December. I am tired of snow and cold already. That's not why I am thinking of spring. I guess instead of waiting for spring this post probably should have been titled planning for spring.

Doing grounds keeping for a living really is a great job I get to garden all day.The urban garden is a big challenge. One of my greatest challenges is time. No matter what is planned something always pops up to make a detour necessary. That is why I am always planning 4 to 6 months in advance. I have already worked out the planting design for the annual flower beds and also ordered my fertilizer and herbicides for spring. I will save a little money on the early order program but also in case prices go up I will be locked in at the best price.

The lawn equipment has already been sent to the shop for maintenance and repair. Now...