I just moved into a new apartment with a private backyard in Brooklyn, NY and I am going to build a farm here. However, right now it is more like a private trash heap...
This is what my backyard looks like right now:
And, oh yeah- none of this stuff belongs to me! It was all left by the previous tenant, and I'm sort of psyched about it.
I moved in during the month of February, so when I looked out my back window all I could see was deep snow covering everything. I had no idea how much trash, ahem, how many treasures were buried in that snow! I actually found a whole set of large votive candles, and when I set them up on the outdoor table (which I also found under snow), they lit immediately as if they hadn't been through 4 months of snowstorms. I'm going to try to use all of these free materials in my backyard renovation.
I plan to transform this space into FarmTina: first growing veggies, then raising animals, then building a barn! OK, no barn. My (adult) sister is a FarmVille addict on Facebook, and when I told her my back yard plans, she said, "You'll have your own FarmVille! I'll help raise your barn." Her only experience with growing food or interacting with animals comes from a simulated digital experience of such. Neither her nor I had ever even met a dog until we were at least 10 or 11 years old. By the time I discovered that vegetables came from the ground, I was old enough to be embarrassed that I hadn't known that sooner.
By growing my food and interacting with it from start to finish, I hope I can learn some things about the world that I've missed by living my whole life in cities. This private concrete space is my ticket to understanding the entire living world! First step: organize.
I LOVE your blog! I googled eggplant, and how I will know when it is ready, as I am growing my own little veggie and flower garden, and I discovered this little treasure! LOVE!
Posted by: Dragonfliesanddaisies.wordpress.com | Friday, September 09, 2011 at 02:43 PM
At least you can still make some use of the remaining stuff. There are a lot of items left by the previous tenant.
Posted by: brooklyn movers | Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 06:26 AM
Hi Martina,
Great blog! Came across your video on the Whole Food's website, through there I stopped by here. I'm very inspired, I'm moving to a new place next month and I might try so of your experiments. Thanks for sharing your adventures.
Posted by: Michele | Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at 02:22 PM
well i think my eggplant are ready then! happy farming!
Posted by: shane | Wednesday, August 01, 2012 at 11:30 AM