The Shed at Lincoln and Washington in Pasadena, home of La Loma Development, will host Repair Cafe on Saturday, October 10 from 10-1.

Repair Cafe will be followed by a presentation by Rishi Kumar of the Growing Home on Repairing the Landscape. Come meet your like-minded neighbors who are looking for ways to decrease stuff going to the landfill, decrease consumerism, and empower people to discover the miracle of growing food.

Bring your broken things and share in the fun of Repair Cafe. We will have tinkers and tailors on hand. Follow Repair Cafe Pasadena on Facebook and Meet-up for updates of specialty repairs we will be offering. This time Around the Cycle will be offering bike repair or consultation.

Of course the Really, Really Free Market will be up and running! Bring something in giftable condition, and take something...free

Parking around the Shed is time limited. Read parking signs. To volunteer or for more info contact Therese.

— Therese Brummel

Transition Pasadena–in collaboration with Pasadena Community Gardens Conservancy and Day One and the Pasadena Public Health Department–has an eager crew who have been meeting with civic leaders and committees and commissioners to discuss the need for Fruit Trees in Public Places. Pasadena has been lagging behind in adopting this kind of idea.

Cities in over twenty other states have adopted plans to allow fruit trees, either singly or in orchards to be planted on public land for citizens to access and care for and harvest. Pasadena Public Health Department has set a priority to increase fresh fruit and vegetable access, especially in low income areas. Planting fruit trees seems to be a sustainable way to grow a food bank of sorts. As drought slowly turns the Central Valley farmlands fallow, we need to build some resilience into our local food security.

Madison Elementary School would like a larger garden and an orchard of ten or more trees. Fire stations are drought-scaping their lawns away. What great places for fruit trees! How about at libraries, parks, parkways? Currently there is a possible fine of up to $1000 for planting a fruit tree in your parkway.

The Pasadena Urban Forestry Management Plan has been reviewed by Dudek Consulting. It will soon be presented to the City Council for approval. Please turn out if you think Fruit Trees in Public Places is a great idea. Dudek does not.

Contact Therese to learn how to get involved or for more information.

Compost Workshop at Throop Learning Garden

Throop Learning Garden is pleased to present a hands-on compost workshop on
Saturday, September 19, 2015
featuring Shelley Powsner and Laura Henne.

These two ladies are experts in turning kitchen and yard waste into excellent compost.

Shelley Powsner will instruct us on thermal and static composting techniques. She will offer a variety of designs for each, and speak to how to choose a compost system that is appropriate for your specific needs. Then we will head outside to actually build a static compost system at Throop Learning Gardens.

 Laura Henne will give us an overview of vermiculture. This is a composting method that is accessible to everyone. She will demonstrate worm bin construction, care and feeding of worms, and harvesting wormcastings. Tools and some materials will be available to build your own bin, and worms will be available to start your own colony.

There will be a lunch break between activities. Bring a dish to pass for a potluck lunch.
This will be a good time to relax and share our stories.

What: Compost Workshop

Where: Throop Learning Garden

When: Saturday September 19 from 10am-2pm

Cost: $15 or 4 Arroyo Seco Network of Timebanks time dollars

Not a Timebank member? Go to http://www.asntb.com

RSVP necessary to attend: email RSVP to: jnordman2@earthlink.net

— January Nordman