Bridgeport Beautifies: it's news.

Wouldn't you know, we're in the news again.

Garden gets growing...

For a sampling of past articles:

Bridgeport Beautifies to plant gardens.
Clarifying a mistake.
The Best of the Week

Seed Starting Workshop

In Bridgeport, Sal Gilbertie of Gilbertie’s Herb Gardens, Inc. and members of Public Allies Connecticut led a youth workshop at the Bridgeport Public Library Garden.  Over 40 volunteers were on hand, including representatives from the Green Village Initiative, Gilbertie’s Herb Gardens, Inc., the Bridgeport Public Library, CT NOFA, Public Allies Connecticut, Cook & Grow, Friends of the Bridgeport Public Library and local families.

Even the Mayor of Bridgeport, Bill Finch, joined the group and brought along some family members!  The workshop began with a discussion of what community means to the youth, followed by a lesson and demonstration on seedlings and outdoor plantings in the garden. 

Modeled after First Lady Michelle Obama’s White House garden, the newly installed garden will grow a variety of produce, including onions, potatoes, tomatoes, garlic, eggplant, peppers, beans, peas and various salad greens.  This workshop is one of many initiatives of Bridgeport Beautifies, a major collaborative effort towards youth empowerment and beautification in the City of Bridgeport, created and coordinated by the Public Allies in Bridgeport.

 

Take a walk to the downtown Bridgeport Library and be sure to check it out!

Starting Your Own Neighborhood Clean Up

Our big day event is April 30th, when we join Groundwork Bridgeport in their Park City Sweep!

Some residents in Bridgeport are getting motivated! Cecilia Chavez has been sharing "before" photos of her street on our Facebook:

She tells us she's really excited about posting the "after" pictures!

Here are some ideas for starting your own neighborhood clean up:

• Contact your neighbors and show them your excitement for taking ownership of your street! This may require door knocking, since flyers may only add to the garbage you're trying to get rid of!
• Note who is the most excited and get them involved in the planning.
• Especially take an interest in people who are maintaining their yards - they may be your best allies in taking on the street!
• See if your local municipality allows you free access to dumpsters for a neighborhood clean up. You never know if you might qualify.
• In Bridgeport, check out the Neighborhood Revitalization Zone!
• Name a day that'll be the Big Day...and always plan a rain date!
• Break up volunteers into teams on the Big Day. People who will sort garbage - recyclables in one, waste in another; people who will search the streets cleaning up refuse; and others who will deliver recyclables to the recycling center.
• Make sure you have supplies - garbage bags and gloves are a must!
• Will you serve water? Snacks?
• Celebrate with a potluck style BBQ! Reward yourself and everyone else for all the hard work!

Please add any more tips if you've got 'em!

Kickin' it Off!

Public Allies Bridgeport held their Bridgeport Beautifies March into Spring kick off this past Thursday! Despite this surprisingly snowy spring, we are looking forward to getting into the streets and gardens.

Mayor Bill Finch stopped by to say some words of encouragement. This guy loves beautification projects.

We had all kinds of food, snazzy music, and a wealth of spirited Allies. Kick it off, Bpt. We are rising.

McGivney Mural Magic

The McGivney Community Center caters to a slew of kids in an after school program that helps them with their homework and exposes them to new experiences and opportunities to build skills. On the side of the building hangs a mural painted on plywood. It's been there for about 8 or 9 years, and somewhere in the duration of its existence, got tagged.

Public Allies Bridgeport has started their mural workshops with the kids in the center and artist Sergio Escobar. This week, the kids named themes for a mural, talked about community, engaged in team building games, and came up with their own drawings for design ideas. Next week the paint meets the plywood!

Bombs away!

There are a lot of lots in Bridgeport that can only benefit from some added color and vegetation. The cheap and easy solution?

Seed bombs.

It's not only cheap and easy, it's fun. You can have seed bomb workshops with kids, neighbors, friends, and family. The below links will provide with you with a couple different recipes that can help you on your way.

Seed Bombs on Instructables

Seed Bombs on EcoLocalizer

Ideally, you'll have to throw these bombs down after the last frost, which in Bridgeport, CT, is projected to happen at the end of April. Also, use flower species native to New England - you can often find wildflower mixes in local garden stores.

The big day for the Public Allies Bridgeport team and their partners is April 30th. We will be cleaning up 24 targeted neighborhoods and installing gardens and unveiling murals. You can do your part by having a seed bomb workshop in your neighborhood, or making seed bombs beforehand and then spreading them on April 30th. If you're taking it up, please let us know! We'd love to see pictures, also! You can e-mail us bridgeportpact@gmail.com. Happy seeding!

Graffiti in Green

Here's a cool idea: MOSS.

How to Make Moss Graffiti! You can make it yourself and try it out!


More amazing art and graffiti with moss!  Seriously check these photos out. They'll blow your mind.

Keep it green.