Saturday, May 11, 2013, I got a call telling me that we had topsoil coming to the garden in 1 hour.
I called my friends and fellow activists, made my coffee and got myself together. I picked up Crystal Brown and headed to the Garden. As we passed Wides Corner we saw the big red Better Image truck turning around at the garage. We had missed the drop of topsoil. We continued pass the Better Image Landscaping business on Lafayette Place. Words do little justice to what we found at the garden. The photo to the right must do that.
An employee from the Mitchell's Auto Body Shop was busy covering what appeared a very tiny pile of topsoil. Tiny, yes compared to the giant pond created where the garden used to be. Have you even been so angry that you screamed inside your elbow? I wanted to do that, but I held my composure. How many more loads of soil and organic matter would be required to cover the entire garden? I would say 8 or 9. Remember now. The City, under orders from someone pretty high up removed over a foot of topsoil from the garden. This is topsoil that had been treated with fertilizer and organic matter by the gardeners for years.
There is a reason that the garden looks like a pond. In October of 2012, the City scraped off vegetation taking topsoil with them. On April 25, 2013, they returned and scraped off over a foot more of topsoil and packed down the remaining soil. On May 3, they sent in the heavy machinery used to pack down the soil and level out the sports fields for the planting of grass and turf. What we have here is some seriously packed dirt that will not absorb this water. 
I spoke with the caretaker and he says that it will take quite a while before this land may be tilled. I just hope that it is finally absorbed. I do not relish the thought of the city poisoning this water to kill mosquito larvae. It is most important to remedy the situation of standing water as soon as possible.
We have 2 more volunteers who have joined the "save the Genesee garden project". They love sweet basil, tomatoes and zucchini and do not like the thought that the garden may be turned into a field of grass. They are making sure that more top soil will be brought to the area and that the farmer will have enough plants, seeds and fertilizer. I have promised to make them some pesto. It is marvelous what we have in common with different people once the conversation commences. Let us hope that the rain ceases and we will have enough machine power to turn the tightly packed soil. Let us also hope that the evil genius from the city has had his fill of "nasty acts" and stops the attack on this small plot of land.
Our Friends...Join Us....!
Better Image Landscaping Services
76 Lafayette Pl Englewood, NJ 07631
(201) 569-6559
198 Lafayette Place
Est. 1976
201-568-0066 Fax: 201-568-8701
Rick Whilby
Red Hills Towing - By Any means necessary
75 Lafayette Place
Englewood, NJ 07631
201-522-1871 Fax: 201-408-5352
Email: redhillstowing@hotmail.com
1 comment:
Lucy -
This is just outrageous behavior from our city government. Please, let us know what we can do to help.
I, for one, will be happy to donate whatever organic compost comes out of my composter this summer. I know it's not much, but if everyone lends a hand...
Also, there is some interest from my neighbors in starting a community garden at the largely unused "park" at the corner of Cambridge Ave & Knickerbocker Road. Fourth ward, third ward, whatever. We're all in this together, and community gardens are the right way to go for so very many reasons.
All the best,
Phil
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