The 6/15 Green Stoop Sale

Come to the Harvest Festival this weekend--live music, bake sale and plant sale!

Focus on Brooklyn Biscuit Company

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A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of doing open hours on a Sunday when long-time garden member Elizabeth Santiso was selling biscuits with her pop up shop for the Brooklyn Biscuit Company.  I've enjoyed Liz's biscuits several times before--and can never decide between savory or sweet--but this was the first time I'd sat up front and watched as all the people from the neighborhood  came in droves to purchase her biscuits.  What was especially amazing to see was how people came to buy biscuits but then stayed to enjoy the garden.  What she's doing is clearly a huge benefit to the neighborhood, so I decided to learn more and interview her for the blog.

Be sure to check out the Brooklyn Biscuit company's website at: www.brooklynbiscuitcompany.com where you can learn more about Liz and ordering from her directly.  Also be sure to like her Facebook page (link here) for updates and menus on when she'll be selling in the garden.

6/15 Blog: What inspired you to start the Brooklyn Biscuit Company?

Brooklyn Biscuit Company: I started baking at a very young age and went to a trade school in my hometown of Bridgeport, CT where I focused on the baking industry. I have lived through quite a number of different vocations but was always known among my friends and colleagues as the baker in the group. Fast forward, a husband, two daughters later, my husband is from Oklahoma and that's where I had (for the fist time!) biscuits and gravy and the biscuits were out of this world. I came back and tried and failed miserably at making them, I leisurely continued to bake them and perfected the recipe two years later. I then thought to begin adding unique spices, flavors and meats to them. Then I tried my hand at scones, which are sweet biscuits, and the variations on those is endless. I started baking them for the Spring Festival in the garden. I got a great response and they always sold out so quickly, I thought it would be a great side business. Thus - The Brooklyn Biscuit Company!

Blog: How long have you been doing the pop up store at the garden?  What days are you usually there and what hours?

BBC:  I have been doing them for about two years in the garden.  I am usually there on Sundays, weather permitting from 9am until they are gone, which is by 2pm.

Blog:  What are your most popular flavors and how do you decide what to make each week?  And when do you usually sell out?

BBC: Most popular are my Tart Lemon and Blueberry Scones and my Vermont Cheddar and Bacon Biscuits.  I sell out by 2pm, depends on the day. 

Blog:  You have been a long-time member of the garden.  How long have you been a member?  Do you use ingredients you grow for your products? How else does the garden impact what you are doing with BBC?

BBC: My family and I have been members for 12 years. I do use the herbs I grow and the jalapeños, when I grow them. It really is the brainstorm of Sheila McDevitt regarding the popup idea.  She had been mentioning that the garden is a great place to market the products that are produced from the garden by the members. I love doing them in the garden because I am able to introduce people to the garden by letting them know they can enjoy their scones and coffee under the willow and it helps me determine whether this should be a full time job!

Blog:  You bring in a lot of traffic to the garden on days that you are there.  Do you get a lot of repeat visitors?

BBC:  I do have  quite a few, they check Facebook on the weekends to see what my menu is going to be and then they text me what they want me to put aside. I post every weekend, it's a great way to find out what Brooklyn Biscuit is up to.

Blog: What's your favorite story of a visitor coming in for a biscuit and staying for the garden?

BBC: A gentleman and his friend stopped by to buy some biscuits while they were looking for an apartment. I happened to be selling Strawberry Shortcake that day and was really doing well selling them. About two hours later he came back with his wife, his mother and father and his friend again and bought 5 Strawberry Shortcakes, ate them in garden and told me it was the garden that helped make up his mind whether to move to the neighborhood. I see him and his wife almost every weekend now.

Blog: A portion of proceeds come back to the garden.  Do you want to explain how that works and how the garden has directly benefited from this?

BBC: It's actually part of what customers love about buying my product. Whenever I see they are new, I let them know that a portion of the proceeds comes back to the garden.  That is usually my entry point to letting them know the history of 6/15. Most then take a walk around or sit under the willow and then I direct them to the website. It's great PR for those that aren't familiar with it and many of those have been living in the neighborhood for years!

My family and I love this garden and have spent many hours here when our children were young. My daughters used to call it the "magic garden" because they could hide underneath the willow when it was smaller. It's important to me to give back when I do these pop ups and why they are held in the garden. The first year Brooklyn Biscuit was able to purchase the picnic table and the grill for all to use.  That makes me feel good when I walk by and see people using it and enjoying themselves. 

Blog: What do you see in the future for the Brooklyn Biscuit Company? 

BBC: In markets all over the world!!!!!!! Seriously! 

Movie night this Saturday

Come enjoy The Wizard of Oz under the willow tree.
Pizza will be provided by Toby's Public House! 

Lilac in the Community Garden

Emily took this stunning photo of the lilacs in the community garden this year.  I love it when other gardeners see something in the garden and share with me for the blog so if you have any photos or anything else you'd like to share--I'd love to add it to our community blog!

Thanks, Emily!

Garden Kitty

Some garden members may remember a small orange and white kitten that lived in the garden about 11 years ago.  I became quite attached to this little stray. It was starting to get cold in the garden and I was very worried about him.  I already had a cat and our landlord had said we could only have one cat.  I asked everyone I knew to adopt him but couldn't find him a home.  After a couple months, my landlord finally caved and we adopted this little garden kitty.  We named him Joey (long story) and he was very happy having a home and another cat to play with.  Sadly, Joey passed away on Friday. I'm grateful to the garden for giving me this little guy.  I will miss him!  

Alice's Rhubarb

At Alice's memorial service, many garden members reflected on Alice's love of cooking and food.  Several recipes were mentioned but the one that was mentioned the most--and clearly a favorite of both Alice and the group--was her Rhubarb Cobbler recipe. Another common theme that came up at the service was all the gifts that Alice loved to give to people, so I'd like to share this recipe as one more gift for all her friends and loved ones to share.  

For Alice: Breaths

Here are two videos from Alice's memorial in the garden on Sunday of the group singing "Breaths" by Sweet Honey and the Rock.  My phone limits how long I can record so there are two short videos. Unfortunately I couldn't capture the whole  song but I got most of it.   It was such a beautiful, moving tribute. See below to hear the full song on YouTube.

If you'd like to hear the Sweet Honey and the Rock version, click here

Remembering Alice

Gardeners have shared some beautiful photos of Alice that capture her spirit and her love of other people. 

Also, I found this obituary for Alice online that shares a wonderful description of her life, both professionally and personally.  

Alice's Obituary

Celebrating the life of Alice Gleason

Members of the 6/15 community gathered together on Sunday to celebrate the loving and generous life of Alice Gleason. It was a tremendous celebration of an amazing woman who impacted so many lives.  The evening started out with a pot luck--one everyone agreed that Alice would have approved of.  Then everyone met on the lawn under the willow tree to sing the Sweet Honey in the Rock song "Breaths."  Maureen read a poem and her husband Simon shared words about Alice's life.  Gardeners then took turns sharing favorite memories and impressions of how Alice touched their lives.  Stories ranged from humorous and touching to inspirational and life-changing.  We then carried flowers across the garden to Alice and Simon's plot to create a bouquet where a toast was given.  The ceremony concluded as gardeners spread Alice's remains throughout the garden.  It was truly an amazing celebration for a remarkable individual. 

Our Beautiful New Sign

Has everyone seen our beautiful new sign?  It's gorgeous!  And it links to information on the garden.  This will be so helpful to people during open hours--we can easily point to the rules and tell people where to go to get more information about the garden.  Thank you!

Dates set for Movie Night

Mark your calendar--these will be the movie nights this summer.  More details to come:

1. Wizard of Oz, June 20
2. Grapes of Wrath, August 22

I Totally Love This

I love finding surprises like this in the garden. Smile! 

Plant Sale Continues

Just a reminder that the plant sale continues. We've still got a few tables of plants including a lot of tomatoes and peppers. If you are on open hours and someone wants to buy plants, just tell them to leave the money in the green donation box that is on the welcome board. 

Big Success--the plant sale, bake sale and festival

After a morning of iffy weather, the day turned out to be a good one for the plant sale.  Unfortunately I was home sick and with a sick toddler, but my husband and daughter were able to take the pictures below.  If anyone else took pictures they'd like to share, please feel free to send to me.  Also, as always, if you would prefer your image not be on the blog, email me and I will remove the photo.

The plant sale continues through the week.  Enjoy! 

Garden Festival

Spring Festival and Plant Sale

Hi, all--

The spring plant sale is this year.  The plant sale coordinators have a great selection of plants and the sale will continue through the week. We still need some volunteers.  Please see below and if you are free, let Campbell Rankin know (campbell.rankin@gmail.com).

*Dates / Hours*
Saturday May 16th 11am-3pm
Sunday May 17th 11am-3pm
Tuesday May 19th 4pm-8pm
Thursday May 21st 4pm-8pm
Saturday May 23rd 11am-3pm

*Plant Sale Volunteers:*
We are looking for 2 volunteers for each shift below. Email me back with
your interest and I will put you on the schedule. Thanks so much in advance.
Saturday May 16th 9am-11am (setup) / 11am-1pm / 1pm-3pm
Sunday May 17th 11am-1pm / 1pm-3pm
Saturday May 23rd 11am-1pm / 1pm-3pm

*Watering the Plants:*
If you have open hours in the next 6 days, PLEASE water the plants that are
for sale. They are either right up front under the willow tree or back near
where the Port-A-Potty is. There is good weather and not much rain in the
forecast, so this is extremely important. Thanks so much in advance.

*Buying Plants in Advance:*
You will not be able to buy plants in advance of the sale. Keeping track of
the money across so many different open hours volunteers will be difficult.
You are welcome to get there early on the 16th for the pick of the litter!

*Things we Need:*
>If anyone has plastic bags, please bring them to the garden for us (they
are for putting people's plants in when they buy them). By 8pm tonight I
will have a bag near the garbage labeled 'for plant sale bags'.
>If anyone has a portable table, please bring it up to the garden before
Saturday. Also please let me know so I know how many more we need.

Garden surprises

I love it when the garden surprises me--like it did the other day when I saw this little guy.

Spring at last!

I think it's finally here people!  Check out the garden if you haven't lately.  It's beautiful and somehow seems extra colorful and amazing after this long winter.  

The future of farming? A Thought-Provoking Article on Vertical Farms

An extremely interesting article today in Huff Post about the vertical farm industry.  Seems like there are some great benefits but a lot of drawbacks, too--would love to hear garden members' views in the comments section!

Vertical Farm Industry Article on Huffington Post

Last chance to join for 2015

Don't forget that this Wednesday, March 25, is the last chance to register for garden membership for 2015--for new and renewing members.  You can register at the general meeting at SJME Lutheran Church at 283 Prospect Avenue starting at 7 pm.

I look forward to seeing you in the garden this year!  

Signing Up in the Snow, A Thank You

I took these pictures at the in-garden sign up earlier this month.  It was exciting to see how many people came out, even though there was still plenty of snow on the ground.  I wanted to share these pictures for a couple reasons. I thought it was so fun to see everyone with their iPads signing up for all their shifts.  First, thank you to the steering committee for all the research and work I'm sure they had to do to set up our sign ups online.  The system seems so smooth but I know that anything like that takes a ton of work. Secondly, thank you to all the committee and other volunteers who were willing to come out in the snow so that people could sign up for the year.  So a big round of THANKS for everyone involved.