The Cinderella Pumpkin grew in time to be a part of Halloween festivities. October is my favorite month and offers lots to celebrate, a second planting in the garden; my wedding anniversary; special birthdays; preparations for Dia de Los Muertos; and of course Halloween. This year our block has a critical mass of young ones so they’ve organized to trick or treat. Past years have taken families elsewhere to less urban neighborhoods. We confirmed that parents were comfortable with homemade treats that are healthier and more creative. I am very excited to unveil my mini caramel apples, some crab apples, some tiny fujis from our garden. Though sweet, they are more fruit than candy (homemade caramel, thank you). We did not want kids to end up like our little pumpkin friend on our stoop.

I have a vision of urban farms within Oakland linking their skills and creating an urban farm culture in the city. Sigh…but first steps first. I met a fellow urban farmer, Novella Carpenter. She is a writer and farmer just around the bend from us. She offered a farm tour of her flat, garden and “barn.” Novella’s arrangement is exceptionally different from my own. What she has done with the space available through her rental is highly creative.

Her garden is within raised beds sitting on concrete. The concrete has been layers with soil and straw so when you walk into the garden it feels like you are on earth, nice touch! Beds were overflowing with vines and filled with greens. Fruit trees have been kept in large buckets as there is no hole to plant them in. I caught the tour as Novella was directing visitors out of the garden and to the livestock. The area for animals in basically a typical urban backyard, small and concrete. There is a large size shed that serves as the goat barn and a small roofed area further that serves as the nesting area for the chickens and turkeys sheltered from the wind and rain. Before the entrance of the nesting area, was a small enclosure wrapped in poultry wire with kennels inside. I believe this was the roost for the birds. The three goats were a bit skittish with so many people and sought shelter on the stairs leading up to the deck. I had to trade places with them to get into Novella’s kitchen. It was a careful and mutually respectful maneuver.

Once inside, I was dazzled by the cupboards of home canned goods. A sight like that takes me right back to being a child in my grandparents house. It means self-sufficiency, a cook is in the house, and delicious treats at unexpected times of the year. Inside, Novella shared (by my request) how she uses a pair of lopping shears to behead her turkeys. She discussed how she milks the goats on the milk stand she built and the supplies required for dairy goats. Apparently, some investment is required (udder wipes, milk bottles, special food). It was a helpful discussion.

We then moved to the rabbit hutches on the front balcony/deck. This was a small area that did not seemed designed for the number of people standing on it. I was reminded of the balcones Cubanos that one is warned against standing beneath. Here she keeps her two male rabbits separate and a small hutch of a female and offspring. I can’t recall the exact turn around time for rabbits to be ready to eat, but it was quick. In fact, so quick I wondered how she is able to keep up.

From the balcony we went back outside where we discussed a previous experiment in hog keeping (less advisable apparently), how rabbits are “dressed” or undressed (its called removing their pajamas), and bees. One of the details that really stood out for me was the expense of food and supplies for the livestock. My own experiment with urban farming is to create a replicable model for others. I believe small scale subsistence farming for families is a viable option in an urban setting. However, the equation of cost versus money saved (or even earned) has got to benefit the family. By Novell’s description, her equation may not be balancing out. I would love to speak to her in greater detail about this.

She mentioned an idea she has of co-oping livestock between urban farmers. This idea came to her when she was keeping the hogs. True to my own memory at my grandparent’s farm, pigs stink, are noisy, and constantly eat. This is a challenge in the urban setting and to the pocket book. Her idea of sharing food duty made me think that rotating them among farms is also a way to minimize the impact on your neighbors. This shared farming capacity has lingered with me. It is hard to find people around that have interest and skill with livestock. I know my friend and fellow farmer, Stefani, could use a hand with processing her birds. Perhaps if local urban farmers band together, there may be a more cost effective way to acquire food and supplies. Urban farmers of Oakland unite!

Our fresh mint was recently featured in a how to with my father-in-law, Kumar Pallana. Mint makes a great option for chai flavoring, as does lemon grass.

Okay, I finally figured out how to embed a slideshow. Next, I’ll learn to spell. I would have loved to include the diagrams I have of the garden beds but 1) that’s really time consuming and 2) honestly I didn’t refer to my diagrams as much as I did to my notebook. My notebook is vital for tracking what has been planted: where, when, and its performance. The diagrams are good for planning in January to help remind me of the spaces available.

Also, a colleague at Urban Sprouts, Mary Ann, suggested that next time I plant an indigenous garden for Thanksgiving. That is a fantastic idea! I was so sad to have missed this year’s Indigenous Permaculture Seed Saving Conference. After reading about Clayton Brascoupe’s garden in the excellent book The Earth Knows My Name, I was really inspired to experiment with native seeds. The book, by the way, is a series of stories of identity and heritage preservation through ethnic gardens in the U.S. Great stuff!

This year I have finally been on the ball with my garden. I’ve had the time to actually plan out my crops and their intended use. Not all of the crops worked out, but at least I was able to get them in the ground in time. Lessons were learned and next year is another chance. The garden up to now has been a rushed project that I squeeze in between school, work and other commitments. Beds would go unkempt. I’ve slapped some cover crop down to keep it active. However, this year, the garden has looked like a full garden with satisfying results. Most exciting (okay, okay, each season I plant happens to be the most exciting) is this year’s fall/winter garden. I have designated it the Thanksgiving Garden with the intent of growing my family’s Thanksgiving feast. Aside from the annoying whiteflies threatening my pumpkins, it seems to be going very well. I have in my beds, germinating, sprouting and/or thriving the following:
Green Comet Broccoli
Violet Broccoli
Cheddar Cauliflower (not an heirloom but organic)
Flash Collards
Shogoin Japanese Turnips
Japanese Mustard Greens
Winterbor Kale
Redbor Kale
White and Red Kale
Russian Kale
Red Cabbage
Arugula
Speckled Butter Lettuce
Butter Leaf Lettuce
Green Leaf Lettuce
Red Leaf Lettuce
Radicchio Palla Rossa Ashalim
Spinach
Scarlet Nantes Carrots
Parsnips
Blauer Radishes
Bull’s Blood Beets
Yellow Mangel Beets
Chiogga Beets
Red Potatoes
Blue Potatoes
Leeks
Bianca de Maggio Onions
Red Burger Onions
Chinese Golden Celery
Cinderella Pumpkins
Big Max Pumpkins
Italian Cannellini Beans
Hickory King Corn
Purslane
Culinary Sage
Thyme
Oregano
Epazote
Rosemary
Sorrel
Tarragon
Orache
Stridolo
Curly and Flat Leaf Parsley
Fuji Apples
Petite Negri Figs
Meyer Lemons
And of course the Royal Palm Turkey, Tompkins.

Every year, since I was a wee babe, my mother has sung a song to me. She calls it The October Song. I looked all over for it and then realized, this is my mother’s song. There is no mp3 file on the internet. There is no children’s song book. There is only my mother. She believes she learned it in grade school.

As the recent storm approached, I took advantage of the pending rainfall and planted my newly acquired blue radish seeds (thanks Stefani!) along with other goods for winter and Thanksgiving (this year I decided to not only raise my turkey but to grow a Thanksgiving Garden, more about that later). After walking into spider webs, enjoying warm gusts of wind, and the moody lighting caused by storm clouds, I felt October had truly arrived and I wanted to hear the October Song. I decided to transcribe it with help from my husband and my mother.

Alternet the online independent media source, covered urban farming recently in their piece Will Cities Soon Be Able to Feed Themselves? They give a mention of my experience in becoming an urban farmer. I hope the answer to their question is YES!

This is an ode to a courageous rooster full of vigor that fought the fight on his way to the stewing pot today (ode influenced by Pablo Neruda).

Rooster,
beautiful
rooster,
your ruby comb
a testament of health and vigor.
Your arched plumage
a magnificent declaration
of status,
regality,
poise.
Chest broad,
back strong,
feet thick and muscular
like working hands.
Your heart full of courage
that men can only dream of.
Benign majesty,
your flock knew the earth was safe
in your presence.
Oh proud and faithful rooster,
you bestowed your sacrifice
upon mankind
without compromising
your lineage,
or ruining your song.