Welcome 2008!

The wonderful thing about a New Year is the new-ness itself.
The new year is invigorating, but not because of its date. Thanks to the Gregorian calendar, most western countries celebrate the year's turning on January 1st. But countries like Greece, Tibet, Poland, China and Thailand will have their new year on different dates ranging from now until the end of April. So why is the new year so inspiring?
It's a new beginning!
The new year affords a 'fresh start', uplifting the spirit with thoughts of a clean slate and another opportunity to create a vibrant and healthful environment. The new year is a friendly milestone, motivating us and marking change or improvements we hope to make.

Fortunately, resolutions made with fresh eyes, need not be saved for this one time of year. Positive change is something that can be achieved all year, a little every day. Solutions that are sustainable are deliberate, not drastic. And in 2008, Gardeners'Guild emphasizes sharing known ways and exploring new ways to make our environments (air, food, water, shelter) fresher. The group supports a network of people and possibilities, sharing information and sustainable solutions for today's environmental issues. Designed for city gardeners and their urban habitats, GG provides the tools and assistance to grow healthy habits for healthier city habitats.

Realistic solutions require a balance of time, money and effort in the formula. Each person has a means to contribute to a cleaner and healthier future by choosing the best place to invest their resources. Whether growing fresh food with better flavor and nutrition, or cultivating the conversation with a fresh perspective, each citizen has the opportunity to improve our environmental condition.

"Now I know, a refuge never grows from a chin in the hand and a thoughtful pose. Gotta tend the earth if you want a rose". (Indigo Girls) Grow your sustainable oasis in the city this year with GG.
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2008 & the goings-on Gardeners'Guild:
SLICE, or Sustainable Living in City Environments, will continue as GG's curriculum-building initiative, developing new educational tools suitable for urban residents and spaces, making them available through distance learning, ie. structured education via internet. Those projects with the greatest success have been in collaboration with students and beginning gardeners, finding that educating these community members results in enthusiasm and action. GG will also continue in the specific pursuit of urban-centered Permaculture curricula for the purpose of exposing these wonderful (and sometimes bewildering) concepts to a new group with flexibility, creativity, clarity and in ways that are appropriate for urban gardeners.

DUFFE, or Distributed Urban Farming and Food Exchange, is the vision for fresher affordable food in cities. GG is recruiting backyards for food production! The closer it's grown to home, the better it is for everyone -- but there's no need to buy the farm. Residential dwellings have lots of spots to grow, even if there's only concrete. Edibles love pots, so don't be discouraged as an city dweller.
Look online for a description of this initiative, and attend the January Social to get organized.

In companion, GG is growing a new kind of gardening journal to provide fun and easy record keeping. This will be the perfect place to note unusual temperatures, rainfall and document plantings throughout the year. While journal-keeping as a gardener can be a wonderful way to reflect, journals are also an educational tool that helps us learn from our own experiences.
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Fresh new products are coming this way, as soon as next month!
Most importantly, we have found a local potter with beautiful hand-thrown shapes. While big pots are impressive, great things come in small packages when dressed with artistic glazes and created from the love of the craft.
To showcase new artists and celebrate a year in our new space, GG will host an Open House/Member Social at the supply shop, in January. A simple affair, and probably potluck, more details on the way!