Throop Learning Garden Work Party
Wednesday, July 31, 8:30am – 10:30am

Hello Gardeners,

As usual, we will have a short work session in the garden Wednesday morning.

This is the season of high growth rate for the Bermuda grass (a warm season grass) that is still present in remnant patches in the Los Robles garden.  We will continue with remediation of those patches, and will continue with our “concrete patch experiment” on Del Mar — we are “plugging” sidewalk cracks in selected areas along Del Mar, since those cracks are nurseries for Bermuda which can eventually spread to the garden.  We will also enjoy some mid-week watering.

Come on out for some early morning fresh air, exercise and companionship!

—Michael Kelley

War on Whistleblowers: Free Press and the National Security State
Thursday, August 8, 7:00pm


As the Edward Snowden and Bradley Manning stories continue to unfold, investigative filmmaker Robert Greenwald’s latest exposé traces the roots of government and corporate retaliation against whistleblowers, the widespread expansion of the national security apparatus and the secret surveillance of American citizens, all of which have risen to new heights during the Obama administration.

The Brave New Foundation production War on Whistleblowers: Free Press and the National Security State focuses on four officials whose lives have been upended by reprisals following their uncovering of acts of wrongdoing. Featuring Daniel Ellsberg and such prominent journalists as Seymour Hersh, Dana Priest, David Carr, Jane Mayer and Michael Isikoff.

A community discussion follows the film.

Location:
The Armory Center for the Arts
145 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena

Admission is free and the facility is accessible to disabled persons.

Source: Conscientious Projector

Hot Weather Garden Care and Seed Saving
Saturday, August 10, 9:00am–11:00am

August and September: hot as can be.  Your plants are searing in the sun.  What can you do as emergency care?

In this garden class we’ll discuss taking care of your soil critters (and your plants) through extreme heat.  We’ll talk about seed saving from summer veggies which are ending their life-cycle.  And we’ll explore soil preparation and what seeds to buy for the cool season which (believe it or not) really is coming soon.

Location:
Community Hall, Holy Nativity
6700 W. 83rd, Westchester/LA 90045
RSVP

Source: Environmental Change-Makers

The Arroyo Food Co-op agreed to a proposal by Transition Pasadena to start “placemaking” outside of the soon-to-open store. Placemaking involves activating or bringing activities to a site in an effort to bring people together and build community.

We will start with building an abundant, free food garden because there is a lot of energy right now around that idea. Watch Ron Finley’s TED Talk to catch the fever. It’s about healthy eating, hope, and sharing, which is a change in mindset.

Therese Brummel and I have already started bringing activity to the site by holding our first brainstorming session there recently. It worked like magic. We met three neighbors. One taught us Tai Chi, right there on the spot, when we showed an interest; and one fixed the hose bib after we left. Success!

It is already an active corner because of a well-used bus stop. I invite you to sit at the corner of Villa and Wilson in Pasadena. I would be happy to meet you there and meet more of the neighbors. Some people are just looking for something to do. Maybe they will join us in building the free food garden in the fall.

Let’s bring some new hope to this neighborhood.
—Sylvia Holmes

Old Pasadena now joins a growing list of communities getting their own Farmers’ Market, starting on August 4th!

Neighborhood Farmers’ Markets:
Villa Parke Center — Tuesdays, 8:30am – 12:30pm
South Lake Ave — Tuesdays, 10:00am – 2:00pm
Playhouse District — Wednesdays, 3:30pm – 7:30pm
Victory Park — Saturdays, 8:30am – 12:30pm
Old Pasadena — Sundays, 9:00am – 2:00pm
Altadena — Wednesdays,
Eagle Rock — Fridays,
South Pasadena — Thursdays, 4:00pm – 8:00pm

Sunday, July 28, 8:30am–10:30am

Here's what's in store:

• Earth based meditation 8:30–9:00am in fruit guild, simple, yet grounding.

• Whatever the plants need; including pruning & watering.

• Continue Bermuda & nut grass abatement. (Sylvia, Michael, Wafic, & Wed group have made tremendous progress)
  

• Harvesting veggies & flowers (volunteers may share harvest). We are also collecting rose petals for herbal sachets.
  

• Picking & arranging some flowers for the lunch tables.

• Painting a bench on back patio.

And of course, there's a delicious potluck lunch after the church service. All are welcome!
—January Nordman

Location:
Throop U.U. Church
300 So. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena

Dr. James Adams of USC will lead an exploration of the natural resources abundant on the Rosemont Preserve and how they were used by early residents of the canyon.  Co-author of Healing with Medicinal Plants of the West and Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences at USC, Dr. Adams is an expert on herbal remedies, antioxidants and human drug metabolism.  

Sturdy shoes and long pants are recommended.

Guided Tour: Medicinal & Food Uses of Plants on the Rosemont Preserve
Saturday, July 27, 9:00am–11:00am

Location:
The Preserve is located at the north end of Rosemont Avenue, just past the chain link fence.  Park at Two Strike Park, 5107 Rosemont Avenue (click here for a map).

The event is free to the public, all ages, no reservations required.

Contact: RosemontFriends@gmail.com

Source: The Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy

Huntington Ranch Open House
Saturday, July 27, 10:30am – 1:00pm

What’s new on the Ranch? Self-tour The Huntington’s urban agriculture site, and take home some fresh ideas for sustainable gardening. Canceled in the event of rain.

Scott Kleinrock, project manager for the Ranch, is a master’s student in landscape architecture at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, who has designed several urban agricultural gardens. He envisions the Ranch as a community resource that will help bolster L.A.’s capacity to establish a sustainable and equitable food system.

Location:
Huntington Library & Botanical Gardens
1151 Oxford Rd., San Marino, 91108

Membership or regular admission to Huntington Library required.

Source: Huntington.org

Fall Garden Planning Workshop
Saturday, August 10, 9:00am – 11:00am

It will be time for fall gardening before you know it, and here to give you a little early inspiration is Gardenerd! Join Christy Wilhelmi for an information-packed class to plan your fall garden. This workshop is designed for people who have a thirst for knowledge and a healthy sense of humor about their obsession with organic gardening. Whether you're a novice or a Gardenerd veteran, you will love this workshop! Copies of Christy's new book “Gardening for Geeks” will be raffled off to attendees.

Location:
Lake Avenue Church
393 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena 91101

Reservation is required.

Upcoming PWP Fall workshops:

• September 21: Rainwater Harvesting
  
• October 9: “Native Nights” with Lili Singer
  

Sunday, July 28, 10:00am–12:30pm

Join Pascal Baudar of Urban Outdoor Skills for a walk along the Gabrieleno trail in Altadena. It's a wonderful location for wild edibles and aromatic plants. You'll see quite a few new seasonal edibles such as black nightshade berries (taste like sugary tomatoes) and other various berries (coffee and redberry), tons of aromatic plants (white sage, California sagebrush, mugwort, etc...), and who knows what else!

Bring water, sun protection, a bag if you want to collect some plants, notebook is a good idea, and camera too.

Location:
Gabrieleno Trail (see website for directions and to RSVP)

Cost: $20.00

Source: Urban Outdoor Skills