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This afternoon I had the privilege of meeting up with my friend Kate Copsey of Americas Home Grown Veggie Show.  Garden writer Kate gave a presentation on culinary herbs to a group who gathered at the Simpson Garden in Bowling Green, Ohio.   It was a great opportunity to share with my online network Kates talk so I brought it to everyone on twitter using a live stream.  You can view the presentation on my Ustream account  .

I enjoy growing herbs year-round so it was awesome to learn from Kate a few new things.  Did you know you can put scented germanium leaves into your cake dish before adding the cake batter for a yummy infusion?  In the video provided you can hear all the tips the Kate provided during the lecture that took place this afternoon.

The Herbs Kate Brought For Testing

Kate brought some vinegars and dried herbs for the class to try as well as a few seeds for the attendees to try in their garden. I’m sure if they have any questions about growing them Kate will be happy to share with them. The wildflower seeds I brought with me as a gift from our friends at @Subaru_life . The plant on the table was my lemon grass cutting that Kate had been saving for me from her summer garden last year.

What a beautiful day for a quick interview with Kate Copsey in Simpson Garden Park

Can you believe that is March in an Ohio herb garden. You can bet that a hot topic at today’s event was the cold temperatures we would be getting tonight.

Simpson Garden Park is a community developed garden.   Volunteers maintain a scheduled set of maintenance work, with specific volunteers handling the responsibilities of Garden leader over each of the individual gardens in the park.  Individuals can even arrange to plant specific flowers at the park.  For more information on Simpson Garden Park, visit the park’s website: www.bgohio.org/departments/parks-and-recreation/parks/simpson-garden-park  I can’t wait to visit the park later in the growing season to share what the herb garden looks like at that time.

Kate Copsey / Garden Writer and Radio Show Host

In the video above I asked Garden Writer Kate Copsey to share a little bit about herself and where we can find her on the web.  I hope you will share on this blog post a comment about any herb tips you may have for the foodie friends who visit my site.

Take a break from raking the leaves in your own backyard and adventure out into your community to see what seasonal activities are going on. On October 1st 2011  New Media @TheGardenChat shared the sights and sounds of a community growing together and celebrating the best of Autumn.  During my visit to Philadelphia I had the honor of meeting some amazing people who are making a difference in their community where you wouldn’t normally find fresh organic veggies growing.   It is great business’ like Subaru and Organic Gardening Magazine that support urban farms like the one located just five minutes from central city Philadelphia.

In the image collection below check out the food, crafts, and growing fun located at GreensGrow Farms in Philadelphia.

Subaru and Organic Gardening at Greensgrow Farms celebrate  fresh, local food, crafts and farm fun!

#gardenchat a  Grow* Share * Connect network mentioned on CRS Wire.    MENTION

Calling all my twitter garden tweeps who can’t be with us in Philly this Saturday Oct. 1st for the 4th Annual Subaru Fall Festival at Greensgrow Farms to follow us this year on the #fallfest11 hashtag.  @thegardenchat twitter account will be tweeting live at the event sharing images and tweets as well as sharing with the festival attendees how to use twitter to connect on #gardenchat.

Charming Employee Garden at Subaru Office

First stop today was at the Subaru Office in Philly where I got to visit their charming employee garden which is filled with veggies from the @greensgrow gardens.    It is nice to see a large company that not only gives to the community but also to their employees.  Everyone needs a place to grow!

Tomorrow at the event attendees will be able to help fill the Subaru Outback and Forester on site with a clean gently used or new coat.  Last year they filled a Subaru Outback and they are hoping to beat last years’ donations. All donated coats will go to a shelter in need in the local Philadelphia area.   I’m looking forward to tweeting the car as it is filled with donations.

There is so much going on tomorrow at the event.  I’m thinking the pie making competition and Chili Cook-off might be my favorite.  Attendees can learn about organic gardening and also take part in the Pet Costume event.

TO read more about this event please visit the Greensgrow  Farm  Website or check out this article in the Market Watch that was released internationally.

I hope you join in the tweets tomorrow from your garden by engaging on the hashtag #fallfest11.

Check out Boo Kitty in this image featured on the top left.   He is such a scaredy cat he is actually frightened by the 3 week old bunnies wiggling around in the red colander I was using to transport them to the house for some play time.   This is my world and I shared it real time from my garden this afternoon by tweeting this image out to the network of followers I have connected with in the past 2 years.  The ability to share mobile images  via twitter has me thinking of other ways we could connect even more online using the resources we have available to us.

It has been over a year since I participated in my first live Ustream event on Twitter. One of my foodie friends sent me a message on Twitter to click on over and take a look at what was being broadcast live on a Ustream account.  This event made a lasting impression on me leading me to create my own account that sat for a few months.  I think the biggest ‘issue’ I had with the application was the random commercials that you have no control over unless  you pay the fee to disable them.   I guess nothing is free these days right? As the twitter chat forum #gardenchat is growing I am constantly trying to find new and fun ways to keep the gardener excited about sharing their love for growing.  A few months ago I started pulling together the idea of having a LIVE / video stream broadcast of a garden event.  On August 15th this video live stream event is going to happen in Chicago at the beautiful garden of LaManda Joy who just so happens to be my friend from the  #gardenchat connection.

Ustream : Giving You Front Row To The First Ever Tweet-Up

After many weeks of planning and pulling together trusted sponsors to generate giveaways, I’m excited to share with you the link to the big event.  The first ever ‘tweet-up’  #gardenchat event that will be shared live via Ustream on August 15th in the Windy City.  Listed on the webpage you will find all the  fabulous products that our supporters have donated for those who are attending the event as well as those who will be tweeting from their own gardens across the country.   We have amazing garden guest speakers like *Stacey Hirvela who will be sharing facts about the Hydrangea as well as explaining how garden centers across the country are using a new hydrangea called Invincibelle Spirit to raise money for breast cancer research.   Garden designer and lifestyle expert P. Allen Smith will be attending and sharing information about his involvement at the IGC Show that takes place that week in Chicago as well.   Not only are you going to mingle with the guest as they arrive you will get the inside scoop on the IGC Trade Show that is taking place that week in Chicago at the Navy Pier.

FULL COVERAGE VIA Twitter / and LIVE WEB VIDEO ALL ON THE WEB PAGE ABOVE

If you are not on the VIP list to attend the event in Chicago you are still able to attend this event via cyber space.  The party will be shared via the web on Ustream .   Everyone has a chance to enter the drawings to win the fabulous garden giveaways featured on the #gardenchat Summer Party in Chicago web page.  To qualify just be sure to attend the event on August 15th and support the event by retweeting  products being covered from the trade show floor on the #IGC11  stream.  The IGC trade show floor coverage begins August 16th at 2 p.m. from the Navy Pier.   The winners of the product drawings will be announced on August 22 during the regular #gardenchat event.   If you have any questions about this giveaway or the #IGC11 event please contact me on this blog post by commenting below.

SAME TIME….. Different Place

Grab your drink and kick back on Monday August 15th only we will begin an hour early.  LIVE video stream at The Yarden in Chicago begins at 7 p.m. CT.   Be sure to visit the #gardenchat Summer Party in Chicago Web Page where you will find all the detailed information as well as the live feed as the event takes place. 

SEE YOU IN CHICAGO

Brian of Toledo Grows turning some compost in the downtown community garden.

Early Autumn of this year I had the privilege of photographing  a community garden located in Downtown Toledo, Ohio with Author Kate Copsey.  I have been to many community gardens during my gardening and photography career but there was something about this garden that truly inspired me.   It may have been the drive through my home town  and seeing how things seem to be falling apart.  Sadden by the sight of buildings not being taken care of and the lifeless streets.  When we arrived on location I was surprised to find a warm welcome of  green in the middle of what would appear was once a warehouse district.

One of the most memorable experiences from this visit was the warmth from the people tending the garden.  Brian was so kind to show Kate and I around the facilities. Brians’ love for gardening and teaching the youth how to embrace that adventure shined above any other project garden I had ever toured.  What better way to make your community grow in a positive direction then to teach the children the love of gardening.

Another sign of a prospering project was the involvement of the community.  It was totally a moving clash between country life and city dwelling to see the piles of compost that had been dropped off by local restaurants and chickens living amongst the gardens in the middle of downtown.  Barrels of  ‘black gold‘  (I was totally envious of) that fill the greenhouse that were donated by a local. NO WONDER those trays of sprouts being grown in the greenhouse looked amazing!

From my Flickr Collection :

Below is a slide show presentation from some of the image I took during my visit.

You Can Lend a Helping Hand

Toledo Grows is  in need of Corona Cares tool grant: Creating a youth-led farm in one of the most economically depressed areas in Toledo.They employ youth from the juvenile justice division at the farm who do all of the work with their staff and volunteers. They work with as many as 100 individuals in a given day – youth, …staff and volunteers so quality tools are extremely helpful. To help Toledo Grows receive the Corona Tools,  please “like” or comment to cast your vote.

Visit CORONA TOOLS facebook page and scroll down to the TOLEDO GROWS Icon.   All you have to do is LIKE Corona Tools and the posting about Toledo Grows.    This project means so much to me so please lend a hand to help them win this grant.  The winner will be announced Dec. 1 so please VOTE NOW!