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Into the Garden: celebrating 40 years of community

The sign that welcomes people into the garden.
The sign that welcomes people into the garden. Photo by Emma Geotz

WASHINGTON — It was 1974. The occasion? National Food Day, a discontinued holiday today, but at the time, the inspiration for creating The Newark Street Community Garden, celebrating its 40th anniversary this fall. From international residents to families who live right down the street, the garden provides a service to the community of not only convenience and beauty, said Susan Akman, a longtime gardener and member of the board.

At the garden, deemed official in 1975, those first urban farmers brought their own water for their plants on the previously military-owned property. Their water source now runs through their four acres of land to their points of attraction: the playground, tennis courts and dog park.

Walking through the 200 plots, everywhere one looks there is something new. From arrangements of flowers that cover the entire plot to those that have a robust vegetable patch, gardeners have a creative license when planting to leave their own mark on the community garden.

Although there are many local gardeners, international gardeners have a place in the garden as well. While some gardeners protect their plot from deer and fox, a couple from Lithuania has a taller fence around the plot, in addition to a locked gate, to protect the plants themselves. A man from Africa planted fava beans and a pepper that appears to “look like jack o’ lanterns,” Akman said.

While families may come to the garden to grow for their own dinner tables, the garden also serves as comfort for others. A woman who experienced loss during 9/11 came to the garden as therapy, Akman said. “It is a very peaceful place,” she said, adding that she often comes to garden from 5:30 to 6:30 in the morning, finding comfort in the quiet.

A garden for the community, by the community

The trees planted from the Casey Trees organization help to enhance this unique acreage behind the National Cathedral, visible from the garden. Out of the 30 trees planted, only one has been lost. The trees have “made an incredible difference in this community,” Akman said.

Elwood Gautier, a master gardener, has taken his fresh produce tomatoes, yellow squash and lettuce to Miriam’s Kitchen for about three years. “He would wash every head of lettuce” and send them to the soup kitchen, Akman said.

And while some residents might be choosing air-conditioning during the high temperatures D.C. has seen this summer, gardeners were out tending to their cherished plants on a recent day where the forecast was for the mid-90s. There are 190 gardeners tending to one or two of the 200 plots available; there’s about a two-year waitlist, Akman said. Some plots have gone through generations of families.

Members range from toddlers to those in their 90s. The garden’s educational program “is a big hit,” Akman said. Children can plant, water and harvest their own vegetables and flowers, Akman said, and the children’s garden now features a small wooden picnic table and donated animal statues.

The "Kids Only" play set.
The “Kids Only” playground is adjacent to the urban gardens and the dog park. Photo by Emma Goetz

The playground

When the gate to the playground shuts, one is left with the view of animated flowers towering over a plastic treehouse that reads, “Kids Only.” Children play on the bright green monkey bars, and the plastic log slides lead down to a blue padded ground surrounding the play area.

Katterinee Salgado was visiting the playground for the first time, trying something new for the two kids she babysat, she said. The playground was right down the street “so it’s easy” to take the kids down for an hour of play before lunchtime, she said.

The shade the trees provide was much appreciated, not only by Salgado, but also by Doulat Kapoor, who was pushing his daughter in a plastic car stroller down the blue walkway that curves through the playground. Like Salgado and her charges, this family also lives close by. The park is “right for her age,” Kapoor said. The family goes to the park “almost every day.”

For more information about the garden and Newark Park, go to their website.

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Extending roots into the community

 


WASHINGTON — The Newark Street Community Garden is tucked between Wisconsin and Massachusetts avenues: two of the District’s busiest roads. Just north of the garden is the National Cathedral. “We’re fortunate that they haven’t put high rises here; we were worried,” Susan Akman, a longtime gardener, said. The garden, celebrating its 40th anniversary, features 200 plots of land tended by 190 different gardeners. It is the largest of 26 community gardens in the District. Each plot has its own assortment of flowers and vegetables, telling the stories of its caretakers.

Whether sprawled out or carefully organized, each plot reflects the personality and diversity of the gardener. Louisiana native Elwood Gautier meticulously arranges his produce into square spaces and donates it to a local food bank, Miriam’s Kitchen. Many others also make seasonal donations, and gardeners host a day in which they donate produce to SOME (So Others Might Eat).

Longtime gardener Akman is always looking for new ideas for her garden, and she works behind the scenes, constantly trying to beautify the entire four-acre park. She has been experimenting with “companion planting,” such as planting cucumbers alongside plants that smell like cucumbers to keep pests away and to attract pollinators. Her garden is filled with radishes, tomatoes, beans, carrots, lettuce, chard and garlic. She also works with young aspiring gardeners, usually ages 2 to 4, and teaches little ones the basics.

While she enjoys her work with the young children in the park, she also cherishes time alone when the garden is quiet. Akman finds solace in gardening, especially early in the morning when only the church bells toll. “I love to come at about 5:30 in the morning,” she said.

Another avid gardener is Marguerite Pridgen, a garden association board member . She has tended a plot for four years after being on the waiting list for more than a year. She describes herself as an ”urban farmer” because she primarily plants crops. “I like to have control of my food supply,” she says. She enjoys growing organic food and shares it with her mother. Her biggest tip for other gardeners is to employ the use of raised beds because they help avoid weeds.

Pridgen is in charge of enforcing the garden’s rules. For instance, gardeners are not allowed to grow invasive plants, grow plants too close to the fence, or neglect their gardens. All of these rules were implemented to ensure that the people tending the gardens actually want to be there. This is especially important considering that there is a two-year waiting list for aspiring gardeners.  When a member is not complying with the rules, she reports them to the board. “People need to stay on top of them,” she said. Recently, issues have arisen because of infractions that are not written directly in the rules, but need to be addressed. A couple has put a grill in their garden, which has been a point of contention for the board. “We try not to update the rules,” she said. She hates to enforce the rules, but “It’s a lot of common sense things.”

Despite issues, the garden community is finding ways to stretch its roots throughout the neighborhood. The garden caters to everyone, with a playground, dog park and picnic area. “We are a community. We help each other. Everyone pitches in to help,” Akman said.

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Oakland fans are No. 1

From left to right: Chris Woodcoff, Logan Anderson, Connor Koresky, Conor Thompson, Dee Delarosa, Jessica Park, Pamela Balmath, Mindy Lee, Thine Aang, Photo by Brache James
Fans party before a recent Saturday game: from left: Chris Woodcoff, Logan Anderson, Connor Koresky, Conor Thompson, Dee Delarosa, Jessica Park, Pamela Balmath, Mindy Lee, Thine Aang. Photo by Brache James

OAKLAND, Calif. —The Oakland A’s still sit on top of the American League West standing, and no one is more ecstatic than their fans. Many were camped out in the parking lot way before the game started on a recent Saturday when they took on the Tampa Bay Rays.

“The thrill of being under the lights, the crowd cheering, and the excitement for your team…nothing beats that,” Shanna Ratliff said. “That’s why we come out for the games.”

Also outside the Oakland Coliseum were members of the Kona Club, having a staff outing before the game. What did they think of the possibility of building a new stadium?

“Just put in some new bleachers or something,” Conor Thompson said. “I would rather the Raiders leave.”

“As far as commerce, Oakland needs the team,” Dee Delarosa added.

“It’s about the colors, not the players.” Thompson said about his dedication to the team. “So the stadium is not the best. No slides, no Build-a-Bear, no sushi … you come to watch baseball.”

Pamela Balmath said supporting the team — and being a part of their continued success — is good for the entire city. “It’s a sense of pride,” she said. “Especially for the people who have been with us for a long time.”

 

 

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Build Pizzeria recovers from fire

BERKELEY, Calif. — BUILD Pizzeria at the corner of Shattuck and Bancroft streets has been a well-received hot spot since opening 15 months ago. The restaurant that offers a sophisticated, modern twist on  pizza was forced to shut down for a week after a small kitchen fire broke out on July 26.

General Manager Jonaten Martinez said no one was hurt, but all the appliances had to be replaced. “The fire broke out about 1:30 a.m.on Saturday night and was a result of procedures being improperly followed,” he said, informing us that an employee left a plastic rack on the stove that then caught on fire.

One of the managers was in the office doing paperwork when suddenly the sprinkler system went off. “We later saw him on the cameras running out from the office through all the smoke that had filled the back,” said Martinez. The pizzeria was cleared by the health department and reopened on Friday, Aug. 1. “There was a really great crowd for the re-opening,” said Martinez.

BUILD offers specialty pizzas from the menu but customers can also build their own: They can choose from among two types of crust, six sauces, seven cheeses and 42 toppings.

 

Photo by Jennifer Moffat
Photo by Jennifer Moffat

The owners imported wood-fired pizza ovens from Italy that reach 750 degrees and cook the pizzas in three to five minutes. In addition, they offer soups and pastas — which can also be built or customized.

The menu was formulated by the original head chef, who is no longer with the company, and owners Lisa Holt and David Shapiro, who also designed the interior. Lisa Holt’s background in five star hotel interior design is apparent once walking through the doors. Martinez said, “We try to bring Berkeley into the restaurant,” which features wall-size prints of black-and-white photos from People’s Park in the 1960s.

Sous chef Jonathan Popenuck reaches out to local vendors himself to try and acquire the freshest vegetables possible. “The owners told us that the priority is always freshness, never cost,” he said. BUILD continues to experiment with different ways to draw in the crowds, including offering “Cal Night” where students with IDs can access a special menu at discounted prices. The restaurant also hosts fundraisers for the university. A great deal of growth and success is sure to come for this Berkeley gem.

Other stories about BUILD:

• Proud of location

• Reopening

• Options

•  Upscale efforts

• More seasonal fare

• A look at the high-end ovens

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Beyond fruits, veggies at the farmers’ market

Busy crowd observing the tents at the farmer's market Photo by Brache James
Crowds wander among the more than 60 vendors at the farmers’ market. Photo by Brache James

BERKELEY, Calif. — This city has many exciting places to explore, and one of its most treasured is the weekly Farmers’ Market, held on Saturdays at the corner of Milivia and Center streets and in other locations during the week.

Think this is just about fresh veggies and fruit? True to Berkeley’s unique style, there’s so much more. One of the market’s most popular tents is Three Twins Ice Cream. Simon and Maxine Gottlieb greet visitors and sell on Saturdays. “My son actually started Three Twins,” Gottlieb said. “He made ice cream in the morning, sold it in the afternoon and did the books in the evening.”

Eventually, his son hired a catering staffer and recruited his dad to help him deliver the ice cream, and the business took off. The local supermarket took four pints first, and then after the success there, the tiny crew opened up a factory. In 2010, though, money became tight and they had to cut back. They found investors and continued to pursue their dreams. “Now we can be found in all Whole Foods across the country, 65 Safeways, nine or 10 Costcos, all over the East and West Coast, and overseas,” Gottlieb said.

And the name? “I have twin boys, and one of them married twins,” he said. “It’s very interesting, but creative.”

Alan Lipton enjoying his work Photo by Brache James
Alan Lipton performs at the farmers’ market. Photo by Brache James

Not everyone at the market is a vendor.  Alan Lipton provides the shoppers with what he describes as “original acoustic progressive rock.”

“It is my art,” he said. He visits the farmers’ market two to three Saturdays a month, but can also be found at other areas for open mic nights. He found his passion for music after realizing he was happiest “singing a song, not punching the clock.”

“I tend to be a storyteller,” Lipton said, after being asked the inspiration behind his song lyrics. “I can write or sing about a political element with a surrealist approach,” he said.

Lipton expresses himself on many different platforms. He’s a “fictioneer,” scriptwriter and content developer. He also works with [mostly] the acoustic guitar, bass guitar, baglama (a present from his daughter’s trip to Greece) and a mountain dulcimer.

Not only is the farmers’ market home to performers like Lipton, but it is also one of the best places to sell food such as beef and dairy, sellers said. Katie Coffman with True Grass Farms  said people in Berkeley appreciate their organic, 100 percent, grass-fed beef. True Grass Farms recently won the Environmental Stewardship Award for its region for the care of the cows they butcher.

Every day, the cows are moved to a new pasture so that they won’t eat around their own feces. Their beef is 100 percent grass fed and finished. This means that the cows eat grass from the time they are calves to the time the die.

Another company benefiting from the farmers’ market is Saint Benoit Creamery. The owner, Benoit de Korsak, began the company at a farmers’ market in San Francisco 10 years ago. Zoe Wadkins, representative of the creamery, said loyal customers have been coming to them for yogurt, milk and cheese ever since.

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Alameda food bank aims to serve

OAKLAND, Calif. — Many people struggle for food every day in Alameda County and many of those are ineligible for federal aid, such as food stamps. Tiffany Kang, communications coordinator of the Alameda County Community Food Bank, said, “Many people simply buy what is the cheapest,” because they are unable to afford more expensive, though healthier, foods such as fruits and vegetables. That’s where the food bank comes in. The nonprofit organization is a hub and food distribution center for 240 agencies, including the Salvation Army and soup kitchens, its partners in the combating hunger.

Kang’s job includes writing material for the website and brochures, overseeing social media and working with reporters. She said the part of her job she enjoys the most is getting out of the office and meeting with clients, “just standing in line and talking to people who are actually getting food from us.”

She said, “We treat all clients equally, no questions asked.” Food insecurity, she said, comes in many forms, whether it means not having breakfast or not being able to afford apples. “If you’re in line, you’re hungry,” she said.

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Student volunteers package carrots on a recent weekday; more than 13,000 volunteer annually. Photo by Cassidy Hopkins

On a recent weekday volunteers sorted and bagged 1, 700 pounds of carrots and 8,241 pounds of pears for a total of 9,941 pounds of produce. “This is like saying we were able to create the equivalent of 8,251 meals for individuals and families in Alameda County in a couple of hours yesterday morning,” said Sheila Burks, the volunteer coordinator.

Throughout the year the food bank distributes food in many ways, not only through its partner agencies but also through its new mobile pantry.

Most of their clients are children, and Kang said, “The food bank donates to a lot of elementary schools,” and hopes to expand to middle schools. Other agencies that get food from the community food bank are soup kitchens, rehabilitationcenters, the Salvation Army and churches.

Are there people who line up who don’t really need food? Kang said, “Out of 20 people in line, if one person who really needed food is fed, we’re doing our job right.”

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Steel and String: dynamic duo at the market

steel and string
MJ Lee and Kevin Kihara take a break after a morning of performing at the Berkeley Farmers’ Market.

Typically customers at a farmers’ market are grasping for their favorite organic produce. The fruits and vegetables excite the sense of smell and sight, but rarely does anything at the market capture the sense of sound like the musical duo of Steel and String. The unique, shield-like instrument and melodic violin create a harmonious blend of sound.

The combination of the rare Hang instrument and classical violin contribute to the couple’s distinct musical style. Comprised of Kevin Kihara and MJ Lee, Steel and String has been together since Spring 2014 and have been performing as street entertainers at the Berkeley Farmers’ Market for three weeks.

Hang instrumentalist and vocalist Kihara has been playing the unusual instrument for one and a half years. He describes the instrument as the “evolution of the steel drum.” It was invented by Swiss company PanArt in 2001 and 100 to 200 were produced annually. Today, however, production has ceased, which contributes to the Hang’s rarity.

Singer-songwriter and violinist Lee has been playing been playing violin since she was 4 years old. She plays both independently and collaboratively with other artists in the San Francisco area, according to her website,

Referring to the creation of Steel and String, Lee said, “I saw him playing and was impressed with his skills an musicality, so I asked him whether he might be open to playing with a violinist. The rest is history!”

Lee describes the duo’s style as a type of “free-flowing improvisation.” This makes every performance special to those who view their performances. She emphasizes that it is “quality over quantity in terms of audience.” Although massive crowds may not form, to hear feedback from those who do view the duo’s performances makes performing so rewarding for the pair. They are looking to expand their venues where they can play to include schools, restaurants, outdoor festivals and others.

Lee said, “This is a new and exciting venture for us both, and we’re excited to see where it goes!”

 

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Tiffany Kang: tackling nutrition, one story at a time

Tiffany Kang talks to a group of volunteers on a recent weekday. More than 13,000 people volunteer annually. Photo by Cassidy Hopkins
Tiffany Kang talks to a group of volunteers on a recent weekday. More than 13,000 people volunteer annually. Photo by Cassidy Hopkins

OAKLAND, Calif. — The Alameda County Community Food Bank provides many hungry people in the county with wholesome food through the work of staff members such as Communications Coordinator Tiffany Kang. She and the rest of the 80-member staff, and thousands of volunteers, provide for those who may not otherwise be able to put food on the table.

Kang’s duties at the food bank revolve around journalism, social media and press correspondence. She manages the food bank website, writing articles on a multitude of topics and upcoming events, and handles the organization’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Other tasks include “pitching to journalists so that they will cover our events, writing and sending media alerts and press releases to make broadcast TV and radio stations aware of our happenings and cause, … [and] helping our partners,” referring to local businesses trying to increase their exposure by partnering with the food bank.

But for Kang, “The most fun part of my job is going out and reporting with a camera … meeting with clients, … [and] talking with people.”

When Kang meets with people and hears their stories, she places particular importance on “preserving the integrity of their voices.” She emphasizes the ramifications of poverty and obesity on the health of people, particularly children, who comprise 50 percent of their clients.

Kang said that those in poverty are more inclined to consume cheaper, though unhealthy, foods to make ends meet. She said the consumption of unhealthy foods is prevalent in elementary school-age kids. So the food bank does provides groceries and meals to students during the summer as well as the school year through some of the 240 agencies they work with, including churches, soup kitchens and the Salvation Army. Kang acknowledges that during summer, “There is almost no guarantee they will get the nutrition they would during the school year.” That is why programs such as the food bank’s new Mobile Pantry and its children’s backpacking program, which allows children easier access to food throughout the year, are important to Kang.

Her desire to help others also feeds her love of storytelling. She aspires to tell her story and that of other people because she is “convicting with, convicted by words.” And part of that involves “preserving the integrity of their voices.” But for her, it is more than just that. “I’ve always been a writer… and I wanted to use my words meaningfully. I wanted to tell true stories,” she said.

 

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Alameda Food Bank: Judgment-free Zone

OAKLAND, Calif. — Last week, my volunteer group and I had the opportunity to observe as well as participate in the work done at the Alameda County Community Food Bank.  The food bank works with 240 agencies, including the Salvation Army, soup kitchens, and rehabilitation centers to distribute food to families in need. Approximately 13,000 volunteers serve each year in the fight against local hunger. Tiffany Kang, communications coordinator, manages social media, deals with reporters and writes for the website. “My own family grew up on food stamps so this area is close to my heart,” Kang said.

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Communications Coordinator Tiffany Kang of the Alameda County Community Food Bank.

The food bank is seasonal-dependent operation, she said. There is always a large increase in demand around the holidays because of family gatherings and the universal desire to provide a nice holiday dinner. During summer, children who would usually receive free breakfasts or lunches at school often go without. More than 50 percent of the food bank’s clientele is children, so the staff has now created a mobile food pantry that can travel to libraries and schools. While the food bank treats everyone with respect, Kang said, and “all are equal,  no questions asked,” if they need food, they make an effort to target some donations to different cultures as they try to think about what kinds of food people of different ethnicities would like to prepare and to eat. Grocery chains donate produce, healthy but often discolored or misshapen, as those fruits and vegetables are less likely to sell. The “purchasing power,” as Kang described it, is that for every $1 in donations, the food bank can distribute $4 worth of food.

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Local organics at work

Half Moon Bay Orchids are sold at the farmers market. Photo by Charlotte Hoppen
Half Moon Bay Orchids are sold at the farmers’ market. Photo by Charlotte Hoppen

BERKELEY, Calif. — On a foggy Saturday morning while many in Berkeley are still sleeping, more than 60 vendors are setting up their stands under white canopies on Center Street here for the weekly downtown farmers’ market. The market opens up at 10 officially, but the sellers arrive by 9 and stay until 3:30.

The market features organic food and drink vendors. Many of the products are locally grown and packaged fresh nearby. The products range from fresh produce to fried food, pastries, seafood and candy.

Simon Gottlieb is a salesperson for the Three Twins Ice Cream stand. He is also the father of one of the founders of the company. Gottlieb started out his career by making and delivering the organic ice cream.

Three Twins started as a small shop in San Rafael, Calif., and now Gottlieb and his son have begun to expand across the country. The company still distributes organically grown products, but Gottlieb has big plans.

“Right now, we are in all of the Whole Foods across the country,” he said. “We’re almost everywhere.”

He said they began with just four flavors: Madagascar Vanilla, Cookies and Cream, Bittersweet Chocolate and Mint Confetti. Now, Gottlieb said, “We have over 100 flavors, three sandwiches, single serves, 21 pints and six quarts.” His favorite flavor is still Madagascar Vanilla.

Not all sellers have food stands: Michael Hsien sells Half Moon Bay Orchids each week. He makes about 60 sales per week at the market; he is also involved with the growth of the orchids at the local nursery. It takes about two years for each orchid to fully develop before selling, he said.

Hsien enjoys the sense of community he is involved in at the farmers’ market. Another who enjoys selling there is Rebekah Swanson, who works for Massa Organics. “I’m actually new to the Bay area,” Swanson said, “but I’ve worked in farmers’ markets my whole life.”

Massa Organics products include rice and almond butter. “Berkeley is a very health-conscious area,” Swanson said. “It’s a wonderful thing to know it’s healthy and to stand by it.”