Annual Green & Clean Garden Exchange

by Marna Persechini

On Saturday April 7, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., the Roslindale Green & Clean (“RG&C”) organization held its Third Annual Green & Clean Garden Exchange. This hugely popular event offers advice about various aspects of gardening, including information about plants, shade or sun planting, trimming, composting, and container gardening.

RG&C is an outgrowth of the Roslindale House and Garden Tours of 2002 and 2004. After the last House Tour, a group of enthusiastic volunteers created this new organization whose responsibility would be to work toward getting and keeping Roslindale “green and clean.” To date, RG&C has been involved in a variety of community projects, including the following: participated in the Boston Tree Inventory Project in 2004-2005; worked with the City to design and install a new perennial garden around the perimeter of the Roslindale Public Library and to design and install complimentary plantings in the traffic islands at the intersection of Belgrade, Roberts and Corinth streets; sponsored three Green Garden Exchanges; supported the Litter Posse, a community organization dedicated to keeping Roslindale clean, in its anti-litter campaign with a grant of $500; distributed literature explaining how to request a street tree from the City; and requested and watered new street trees planted in front of the Roslindale Post Office. RG&C continues to meet regularly to explore other possible community activities.

This year, RG&C also grew (no pun intended) the attendance at the Garden Exchange by piggybacking on the Roslindale Village Main Street (“RVMS”) annual Easter Egg Hunt. This year the Hunt had an early starting time of 9:00 a.m., and a very large crowd was in the Village area at 10:00 a.m. The majority of the people went straight to the Garden Exchange housed in the Emerald Society on Birch Street. Co-chairs for planning and organizing the event, Brook Nash and Cynthia Donnelly, were very pleased with the number of people who flowed in and out of the Exchange. Mayor Thomas Menino and City Counselor Rob Consalvo were among those gathering information at a number of the tables.

The information provided concerned topics such as developing compost supplies and deciding which type of containers are best for this activity; recycling; and container gardening. Also included was information on a workshop, providing hands-on experience, that RG&C would be presenting on Saturday, June 2.

At the event, RG&C supplied data on the tree count in Boston, along with guidelines on how to classify different types of trees. It had a separate place for signing up to help with counting and identifying trees, along with information on how to contact the City to obtain a tree for the sidewalk in front of your house. One of the tables featured several different types of pruning tools, along with information on how to use them and when and where to make the most effective cuts.

Also present at the Exchange was a group from EarthWorks, a non-profit organization working toward reconnecting people to the environment. EarthWorks sponsors over 60 orchards, of all sizes, in Massachusetts and has planted over 5,000 trees to date. In addition, the group boasts a Food Project and works with local farmers markets to bring produce to inner-city areas. It has a Youth Environmental Action Program and a tree identification program. The organization also works with residents and merchants to plant and care for trees on their own property. EarthWorks provides year-round opportunities for groups and individuals to maintain trees and urban natural areas. It offers volunteer opportunities to universities, corporations, civic and religious groups, and youth agencies. For more information, please call (617) 442-1059 or e-mail them at admin@ earthworksboston.org.

One of the more popular venues was the crafts table where young people could create their own birdfeeder with heavy string, a pinecone, solid vegetable lard, and bird seeds. Creators simply hung the heavy string on the pinecone, covered it with the lard and rolled it in the seeds, thereby creating a simple and environmentally safe birdfeeder. When asked if the lard was harmful for birds and the environment, Cynthia Donnelly, who was directing the birdfeeder work, replied, “Of course not, it’s vegetarian. The birds can eat it without harm, and it simply returns to the earth.”

Village Books sponsored a very popular table, filled with books about gardening for both adults and children. The silent auction took up two full tables filled with items provided by local organizations and merchants, including the Arnold Arboretum, Birch Street House and Garden, Boston Building Materials Co-op, Carols Collectibles-Plant Nursery, Centre Cuts, City of Boston Public Works Department, Evermore Ceramics, Joanne Rossman, Nuvo, Robyn’s Bar & Grill, Sophia’s Grotto, and Wallpaper City. The volunteers at every one of the tables were friendly and helpful, knowledgeably and cheerfully answering all of the questions posed by seasoned gardeners, newcomers to gardening, and all other interested visitors.

In between visits to tables and participating in activities, the crowd was treated to coffee and donuts in a special area where extra chairs had been set up for refreshments and chitchat. At different times during the event, children were treated to three diverse stories about adventures and experiences in gardening. The children sat in rapt anticipation of these stories about planting, seeds, composting, and worms. The youngsters actively participated by asking and answering questions.

One of the more popular attractions, for both children and adults, was Jorge, a 30-year-old, yellow-headed Amazon parrot from Mexico, who had been handfed and trained by Erica Max, a member of RG&C. The bird entertained all with a running commentary and also sang songs. His favorite answer to most questions was “I don’t care.”

Delighted with the response to the event and very happy about the turnout, Nicolene Hengen, president of RG&C’s Board of Directors, said, “I’m really excited with what Green & Clean has accomplished over the last three years. It’s wonderful to see the public areas in Roslindale green, clean, and blooming. The flowers and plants at the gateways to the Village are very impressive.” She added, “We want to strengthen our relationships with community advocacy groups such as the Roslindale Village Main Street’s program, LANA, [i.e., Longfellow Area Neighborhood Association], and other neighborhood groups and actively collaborate for healthy, vibrant green public spaces.” Looking ahead, Nicolene revealed, “Our next project is Alexander the Great Park, and we will be collaborating with RVMS and St. Nectarios.”

She explained, “We welcome anyone and everyone with an interest in making Roslindale a greener and cleaner neighborhood for all of us. We are always looking for help. All these flowers, greens, and trees that have been planted need a huge amount of regular care and maintenance. The June planting season is fast approaching and the more help we have, the better it will be. Then the work is not so overwhelming or time-consuming for one small group.”

Concluding her remarks with an open invitation, Nicolene made the following request, “So all you gardeners, future gardeners and neighborhood residents who have a desire and interest in helping to keep Roslindale green and clean, please call (617) 325-3537 to volunteer or contact the website or the e-mail address.” To sign up or for more information, see RG&C’s website at www.roslindalegreenandclean.org or e-mail the group directly at admin@roslindalegreenandclean.org.