What’s in the ground:

I know that I’ve been a big proponent of not over watering, but as I said in that blog, tomatoes are a whole different story. They are %85 water, so they need to be soaked regularly. However, the main problem gardeners run into is not over watering, but watering the wrong way. When you water tomatoes, you want to keep all of the water at the base of the plant, at the soil. Plants have natural mechanisms for catching water, such as those little hairs on the stems of tomatoes, which is perfect for adequate rain fall. But when it comes to gardening, the conscious gardener makes sure to water the soil, not the plant. By watering the soil and not the tomatoes, you will avoid bottom rot, those black spots on the bottom of tomatoes. I know it’s premature to write this, but with the jump on the season the heat gave us and the benefits of getting into good habits, I hope this advice is well taken.

What’s going on in sustainability:

This past week a great company called Deloitte Accounting partnered up with the Enterprise Center and our Walnut Hill Farm to donate the money and labor to build a shed. The entire day was a pleasant surprise. I was happy to learn that the shed would not be some cheap rubbermaid snap together, but actual wood. And I was impressed that accountants can take off that white collar and get their hands dirty, I’ve never seen a volunteer group do that much weeding.

But the best thing I learned was the power this type of project can have on society. I feel that there are too many people in the sustainable community who shun corporate help. Now, this may stem from experiences of corporations wanting unbridled advertisement or exposure from the project, by doing very little work in return. So maybe I’m just lucky that we got a good group. But really, it’s not just luck. I’ve worked with other corporations before with a similar result.

What I realize is, first, that these corporations heavily affect much of the labor structure and commerce in this country. But what I also realize is that in these corporations are good people who have a multitude of ideals and interests. And if my project can help foster and bring together people who didn’t know they shared such ideals even though they work together every day, then the consciousness that I promote is really spreading.

Providing this opportunity just enhances the energy around this movement and encourages people to think differently by creating that culture in their lives. Plus, we got a for-profit to use some of that excess money and reinvest in the community and not just their own pockets. Now, maybe the powers that be do this for deceitful reasons, and maybe there are corporations that are too far gone beyond the point of decency (BP and Halliburton come to mind). But as with anything else, blanket statements never cover anything and I couldn’t have been happier with the workday. I met some great folks, spread some great energy and the shed looks great.

Until next week, this is the note from the urban homestead.