The Authentic Garden

The Authentic Garden

Five Principles for Cultivating a Sense of Place
The International School of Indiana
Kathy and Sidney Taurel Building
4330 Michigan Road
Sunday, March 8 / 2:00 pm
The International School of Indiana / Free

What makes a garden truly authentic? For American gardeners, this question can be vexing because it is a young nation, still developing its own garden style. American gardeners tend to turn to other national traditions from Italy, Japan or England for inspiration. The result of this stylistic borrowing is the creation of gardens that bear little relationship to local landscapes and history. Claire Sawyers, director of the Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College-regarded by some as "the most beautiful campus in America"-shows how this tendency can be reversed.

Urban Farming Forum

Urban Farming Forum

You well may already have this marked on your calendar but garden enthusiasts will team up to host the city's first-ever Urban Farming Forum. This free event is scheduled for 5:30-7pm Monday, February 2, at Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, 1029 Fletcher Ave. 46203.

This program will be presented by Chris Harrell, Brownfield/urban redevelopment specialist; Sarah Wiehe, IUPUI medical researcher (and ardent gardener); Mathew Jose, urban agriculture specialist and Laura Henderson, founder of Indy's new Winter Farmer's Market.

Main topics will include -

• health and safety issues that may confront when farming urban sites
• how to mend soil if health concerns are discovered in the soil
• what crops are best suited for Indianapolis and related garden growing hints
• how to share bounty from urban gardens with neighbors or public at large by market or through not-for-profit assistance (churches, community gardens, relief assistance or urban schools with fresh produce).

Light refreshments will be served following the meeting to prompt discussion and help chart the course for next steps. Questions should be directed to Chris Harrell at theharrell@gmail.com or 502.298.2832

Spring will come and this will help ready us for the planning and planting ahead!