We did it! We more than did it! We took pledges for more than 400 fruit and nut trees, vines, and bushes. Not only did we take pledges for these trees, we got the word out to hundreds, or probably thousands of people about the importance of creating a local sustainable food system. And, we had fun doing it. This is the beauty of entering into the work of creating a sustainable future…community. Working together for our future by growing nutritious delicious foods…what more can we ask for.
Thanks to everyone who planned, participated, and planted. Thanks to All People’s church for taking a proactive role in feeding it’s congregation with local food. Thanks to all the friends we made along the way. Special thanks to River West Victory Garden Mobilizer, Sarah Moore, whose vision was compelling and successful.
This is a grassroots movement. Move grass. Grow fruit and nuts.
NOTE – Steins is having a HUGE sale on Fruit trees and Bushes.
New Link to photos from All People’s Church Planting!
Transition Milwaukee and The Victory Garden Initiative are hoping to inspire the planting of 350 Fruit and Nut Trees, Vines, and Bushes, to bring awareness to the number 3 – 5 – 0.
350 is the number of CO2 ppm that are acceptable to prevent run away climate change. We are too high, at 385! and we must get back. Help us localize our food system, reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, build resilient food systems and bring attention to climate change by being counted on October 24th, The International Day of Climate Action…..350 Day!
Things you can do:
* Log on to TheVictoryGardenInitiative.com and tell us how many trees you will be planting, or pledging to plant in the spring.
* We are taking orders for Hazelnut Trees, for just $6, contact sarahworks@wi.rr.com to place an order. Local protein, local fat – what is more important than that?
* Tell your friends and neighbors about this event, hoot and holler ’til they pledge, Help them plant a tree, help your parents plant a tree, help your church plant a tree, help your school plant a tree, help, help, help, plant trees.
* Help us at All People’s Church on October 17th, from 9-2, plant a food forest. Come to the garden at 2nd and Clarke and Bring your shovel!
* Join us at the 350 Carnival on October 24th from 12-3:50, at Gordon Park, while we show people how to prepare a nut seed for spring growth.
* Since you know it is good and right to move away from a consumerist society and protect our earthship, why do you need money?…donate to this cause and we ensure that every dime goes towards planting fruit and nuts trees in our beautiful city.
* Think us lame? Then blog about how you’ve outdone us on TheVictoryGardenInitiative.com or TransitionMilwaukee.com website or log onto 350.org and tell them.
Transition Milwaukee, where Calamity meets Magnanimity.
The Victory Garden Initiative: This is a grassroots movement. Move grass. Grow food
PLEASE VIEW THE COMMENTS TO THIS POST TO SEE ALL THAT HAS HAPPENED!
PLEASE PLEDGE YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN 350 BY ADDING A COMMENT TO THIS BLOG POST!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Responding to the needs of our planet one tree at a time.
~g
Filed under: Uncategorized
It started on my birthday. The family and I planted a dwarf cherry tree in our front yard, just off the drip-line of a much larger maple tree that casts a shadow over a corner of our front yard. Ive heard they start producing pretty quickly. Maybe next year we’ll have a few sour red cherries to munch on, and the year after that – Pie!
One down, 349 to go….who’s with me?
I love this idea Gretchen. We can plant some berry bushes at our house in Bay View.
Put us down for 4 Blueberry bushes!
I have a pledge form made up and have 22 people signed who have pledged to plant a fruit or nut tree, bush or vine! It was really easy i just made it up and took it to a picnic and a meeting last week and a block party this weekend. Oh and Minors garden center said they have lots of edibles left. http://www.minorsgardencenter.com – (414) 354-4886 Also anyone want to plant hazel nuts? you need to plant at least two but we might be buying 10 for $100 if there is interest. they can grow to 20 feet tall but can be trimmed as a bush and they can produce up to 20 pounds of high fat protein!
I just found 350.org and then you. Does it count that I planted 2 blackberry, 2 raspberry and 1 blueberry bushes on Sunday, Sept 20th? I do hope to get some more fruit trees planted this fall as well and will post an update.
If so, then add 5 to your count!
Thats great! We will add 5 to the count and please spread the word, ask a neighbor or friend plant an edible too! We are really moving, I have another 4 neighbors and friends committed for 1 each. All Peoples Church on 2nd and Clark met with Gretchen and I and they going to plant a little food forest! The Urban Ecology Center is down for 14! and I have given a few new people a pledge form to sign on others… if you want apledg form email me sarahworks@wi.rr.com or make up your own!
Kathy – yay! Thanks for finding us. Plant those trees up baby! We’ve got you logged and now we are after your friends and neighbors. Will they make a pledge? If you find any good information about what/how to plant, please keep us informed by adding a comment to this blog!
`Your Fruity and Nutty Friends from the VGI and Transition Milwaukee
Yes, we got you logged kathy! Thanks for your enthusiasm. Keep on growing local.
there are hazel nut that grow only 6-8 feet tall ( Filberts, Beat) so you could try to beat the squirrles to the nuts…… They have them at Johnsons Nursery http://www.johnsonsnursery.com/Home.aspx we might get a # of plants from them for all peoples church. They don’t ship them but they are open unto 7pm week night for the next two weeks.
W180 N6275 Marcy Rd.
Menomonee Falls, WI 53051
Phone: (262) 252-4988
They may not get planted this year but because of the 350 drive there is currently talk about planting edible trees and bushes along all the the Milwaukee river, and maybe the Menomonee and KK rivers too.
And someone else got a warm response from Alderman Nik Kovac’s office about planting fruit or nut trees on the street! (they will have to “look into it “etc…) Other US cities are starting to do this. This is all really exciting!
Also there maybe peace corp volunteers to help us so if people get another planting action organized we might be able to get volunteers for you!
This is fantastic! We are rockin’ it. I love Milwaukee….we are gonna transition this first class city of the Sweet Water Seas.
add 5 to the hickory nut order for the spring..
will get some commitments from friends to plant this fall and send it in for your count.
thanks for organizing this.
yay – Mary Lou, we love you!
Ordered and will plant 2 hazelnut trees in the spring.
Excellent work, Gretchen!
Going to be planting trees to honor my father and uncle. Pine trees is the plan
If anyone has extra edibles ( like raspberries or mulberries) to bring to the 350 event in Gordon Park on Saturday Oct 24th bring them by to share give away as gifts.
We took orders for 43 Hazel Nuts yesterday at Gordon Park bringing our orders up to 127! and orders are still rolling in. we have 88 pledges from individuals to plant other edibles so that bringing us up to 215 not including some larger projects that we have been talking with so…..even though the numbers are not set, I feel like we have achieved our goal, 350 has inspired a lot of trees and bushes that will feed us in the future to be planted! I plan on placing the hazel nut orders on Monday or Tuesday. I will post and an email a pick up spot when they come in in November.
The hazel nut order is expected in (hopefully) next weekend. Nov 13-14-15th ( ish….)
For those of you who only ordered one and I did not hear back from I did not put in for a fall hazel nut for you but If you already paid I can still order for you for the spring or please read your other options below…
All other orders I am hoping that I can just put the little trees in my backyard and have people come and take what they ordered and leave their payments in my mail box if you still owe. Once they arrive picking them up rather quickly will be good as they recommend getting them in the ground as soon as possible. So set aside some time next weekend to dig a few holes and plant your little baby shrubs and will be in touch soon
for those of you who never ordered or were still interested, place your orders soon for spring, I am hoping to place another bulk order in December.