October 7, 2008
1 Comment
Events Winter

Warm Winter Wear Drive 2008

Winter is approaching (NOOOOOOOOO!!!) and it is actually starting to get cold out there. Real cold. I have worn hand warmers while walking. Soon it will be full mittens or gloves. Biking now requires a woolen hat that can cover the ears. The horror. All of this serves as a strong reminder that winter is not going to magically pass us by this year. It’s time to break out the knitting needles and make something fantastic for the 2008 Warm Winter Wear Drive!!

What: Knit or crochet up beautiful, warm winter gear for The Redwood Shelter for Abused Women. While I know many of you are from all over the globe we’ve decided to continue to support a Toronto-based organization again because 1. They are doing fantastic work and 2. I am in Toronto and a Toronto-based organization means I can collect and distribute the items from here. You are of course more than welcome to keep it local and make something for a shelter in your area.

    Knit, Crochet, or Sew (New items made by you):

  • Long Scarves – They have need of thick, warm scarves that can wrap around twice for bundling up.
  • Women’s Mittens – They receive plenty of mittens for children but need for larger, adult-sized mittens.
  • Baby Blankets – For bundling babies inside strollers. It’s can get cold here in Toronto. This is an awfully tall order for hand-knitting. Sewn blankets or simple square block quilts are a great alternative.
  • Larger Items – If you were planning to make a couple of scarves, make one large item instead. They have a need for shawls and ponchos too.

How: A simple ribbed scarf is probably the best place to start for a beginner. Ribbing is simply going back and forth between the knit and purl stitches (i.e. knit 2 stitches, purl 2 stitches, and so on). It is a stretchy pattern that makes a nice, thick material. This tutorial will lead you through the process. You can also try free pattern websites like Knitty. If you have any particularly excellent resources to recommend please comment below.

Check out what we sent in 2006 and 2007.

Details: Please mail your items by Dec 1, 2008. Email me at gaylaatyougrowgirldotcom for the address.

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July 2, 2008
26 Comments
Events Places

Columbus, OHIO

Green Minds Project: Gayla Trail

I will be traveling to Columbus, Ohio next week to be on a panel at the Ohio Floraculture Association’s “Short Course” conference. As a result I have set some time aside to see the city and take in gardening in that area. I am told there is an active community of urban gardeners in Columbus.

I know it is very last minute to ask but I am hoping to find some gardeners who would allow me to come into their space and take some pictures of them for my Green Minds photo project. If you would be willing or know someone who is please go to the site and fill out the form. I’m trying to find a diverse range of people so no gardener is too beginner.

And since I have never been to Ohio I would deeply appreciate any suggestions of things to see and do in Columbus, gardening-related or otherwise. And just in case I don’t bring enough film: Does anyone know of a store in the city that still sells medium format film? I am also looking for a health food store and a cafe that serves good espresso-based coffee beverages.

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April 17, 2008
8 Comments
Events Press

Metro Morning Radio

I’m going to be on the Metro Morning show tomorrow morning at 6:30 am talking about urban gardening. The decision to do this was made under what can only be described as influenced by a fleeting moment of temporary insanity. I am very much NOT a morning person preferring to sleep in past 5 am thank-you-very-much.

Anyways I only have to stay awake and be marginally articulate for about 10 minutes so if you’re one of those crazy morning people you can catch me between 6:30 and 6:40 am. I can not guarantee what will come out of my mouth at that hour. I can not guarantee that there will not be 10 minutes of total radio silence.

When: Friday, April 18, 2008 6:30 am.

Where: CBC Radio Metro Morning 99.1 FM in Southern Ontario.

UPDATE: Unfortunately the person who booked me did not put me in the book so-to-speak and I went there only to be sent home. And now I will attempt to go back to sleep.

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April 8, 2008
17 Comments
Events

San Francisco: USF Talk on Garden Literacy

gayla_palmtree.jpg

I’ll be traveling to San Francisco this week to hug some palm trees and give a talk at the University of San Francisco to a group of students on the topic of Garden Literacy. The talk is open to the public so anyone is welcome to come by and hear me discuss writing about gardening online, my own evolution as a garden writer, and the effect Michael Pollan’s “Second Nature” and Lorraine Johnson’s “A Gardener’s Manifesto” have had in reexamining my relationship to nature as a city-dweller and the positive role I can play as a gardener. Phew. Believe it or not that all ties together in a progressive and logical way.

The talk and subsequent discussion is very much geared towards the the students’ curriculum and their own explorations in finding their voice and being creative online, but I hear rumors that there will be snacks and I will be bringing buttons. And really, that’s pretty much how I lure in my audiences these days. They come for the buttons, but they stay for the awesome power of my public speaking might. Or they fall asleep and snore in the back row. That has happened too.

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April 7, 2008
4 Comments
Events You Grow Girl

The You Grow Girl Eighth Birthday and First Annual Celebratory Haiku Contest

Before I announce the winners I just want to take a moment to thank everyone that contributed. Holy cow that was a lot of haiku! Choosing the winners was no easy task.

I have decided that the First Annual Celebratory Haiku Contest will also be the last. That’s not to say that there will never be another contest. There will always be another contest. It’s just that I have hit my personal haiku limit and need to be able to imagine a future for myself without haiku in it. Maybe I’ll come back around to the idea once a full year has lapsed.

Cue the announcer. Here are the winners….

GRAND PRIZE WINNERS

Grand Prize winners will receive:

1. Alexa Burcroff from CO won a grand prize pack:

Mallow takes over
a border like your mother
” just trying to help.”

2. Melissa from California also won a grand prize pack for:

Please, seeds of grandeur,
fulfill your picture promise.
You cost me two bucks.

HONORABLE MENTION WINNERS

Honorable mention winners will receive:

1. C.M. Buxton of Fayetteville, AR:

The butts gather like
flower petals after rain
the gardener sighs

2. Larry West of Louisville, KY:

Tried to grow garden
our neighbor hates native plants
got fine from city

3. Patience Blythe of Austin, Texas:

Sewage pipe collapsed
Front yard left a dirty gash
Opportunity

————

I received a handful of entries that spoke specifically about You Grow Girl and/or offered birthday wishes within the haiku itself. Smarty pantses! A small award goes out to Elaine of Vancouver, BC for Best Birthday Wish / Use of My Name / Ass Kiss Tribute Haiku. Elaine gets a set of our new OVER-SIZED buttons that aren’t even available yet!

Following Gayla’s trail:
Gardening wit and wisdom,
For eight years, the best.

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