My View of Life on the Dock
Podcast Host Joey Ciaramitaro with guest City Councillor Melissa Cox taped April 20th, 2013
Click to listen-
Topics Of Discussion:
#BostonStrong
Boston Media Coverage
Good Harbor Beach Footbridge Repair Information
Burnham’s Field Clean Up April 21st, and Burnham’s FieldĀ RevitalizationĀ Meeting May 13th at 7:00PM
Working With Senator Bruce Tarr to revamp the downtown Gloucester Train Depot
Rubber Duck Race
Open Door Empty Bowl Dinner
Joey,Ā Ā Ā Ā Hi my name is Ambrose Orlando and I am getting a group of hopefully quite a few people to go down to burnhams field and clean up on April 21 atĀ 9amĀ if u could give us a shout out on ur page that would be greatly appreciated.ThanksAmbrose
The One At a Time Gang cleaned the field on Saturday while the hard workers of the gardens were preparing their garden beds.Ā Spring has come….
We are at it again.
Saturday, April 6, 2013 at Burnham’s Field, 8:00 am
If anyone has some rakes or clippers please feel free to bring them along.Ā Also do not forget your gloves.
Thank you all
Joey,
Over the last two years, GoodMorningGloucester readers have followed the renovation of Burnham’s Field, the largest open green space in central Gloucester. In fact, many people who’ve read about Burnham’s Field on GMG have volunteered at Burnham’s Field clean-ups and even joined our new community garden. Thanks for all your interest!
The planned renovation of Burnham’s Field continues this Tuesday night with a second public meeting to welcome community input. Back in January, landscape architects from Weston & Sampson and city officials took ideas and comments from a gathering of more than 40 people. Now the community is invited once again to give their ideas and review several concepts for re-shaping Burnhamās Field. Anyone is welcome.
When: Tuesday, March 19 at 7:00 p.m.
Where: The Hive, 11 Pleasant Street (next to Pleasant Street Tea)
Who: Parents, children, neighbors, athletes, nature-lovers, dog-walkers ā anyone interested in Burnhamās Field!
Questions? Call Stephen Winslow, Gloucester Community Development Department, (978) 282-8007 or e-mail swinslow@gloucester-ma.gov
Thanks,
John McElhenny
On Saturday, September 22, 2012, the gardensĀ wereĀ getting readyĀ for the winter. These gardens are really wonderful.Ā Well tended and taken care of.
Joey,
The Burnham’s Field Community Garden was a hive of activity over the weekend. The gardeners held our fall clean-up, pulling weeds, trimming back overgrown plants and making the place look shipshape. Hard to believe the Garden’s been around two summers now. Thanks to all the gardeners – and our friend Donna Ardizzoni of the One Hour at a Time Gang – for rolling up their sleeves and pitching in. The Garden looks great.
- John McElhenny
A troop of gardeners spruce up the Burnham’s Field Community Garden.
Barbara Collins clears an aisle of overgrowth next to her garden plot.
Diane Wolff-Thomas pulls some wayward strawberry plants that developed happy feet and migrated outside her garden plot.
John McElhenny submits-
Joey,
The Burnham’s Field Community Garden has a beautiful new mural designed and painted by the talented kids at Art Haven in Gloucester. The mural was framed and put up at the garden over the weekend by volunteers Joe and Paula Axelrod, Aria McElhenny and Rocky Delforge.
The garden’s fence also features new vegetable sculptures that were designed and painted by the Art Haven kids with Rocky Delforge’s guidance. Public art by young local artists has officially arrived in central Gloucester’s largest green space!
The Burnham’s Field Community Garden just opened for its second season, part of a successful effort that is making Burnham’s Field cleaner, safer and more family-friendly. Come visit soon!
John McElhenny
Joe Axelrod (left) and Rocky Delforge build the frame for the new mural at the Burnham’s Field Community Garden.
Volunteers Aria and Ruby McElhenny, Rocky Delforge, and Joe and Paula Axelrod stand next to the new mural.
Dozens of small sculptures of vegetables and flowers painted by Cape Ann Art Haven kids now decorate the garden’s fence.
A sign honors the young artists who created the sculptures.
Photos by John McElhenny
Joey,
The four basketball backboards at Burnham’s Field got a fresh coat of paint over the weekend.
It’s part of a great volunteer effort that created a Community Garden in Burnham’s Field last summer, has organized several field clean-ups and is making Burnham’s Field cleaner, safer and more family-friendly. Thanks to Ben’s Paint on Railroad Ave. in Gloucester for generously donating paint and brushes for the paint project. Check out Ben’s here<http://www.benspaint.benmoorepaints.com/home/home/sb.cn>.
Burnham’s Field is the largest green space in central Gloucester. It’s used a ton by youth sports teams and kids from downtown Gloucester – including many who don’t have yards of their own.
On Saturday, a man who’s lived near Burnham’s Field for 50 years and walks his dog there every day spotted the newly painted backboards and said he’s noticed that kids who play there seem to be taking better care of Burnham’s Field than they used to. Looks like the effort to improve the field is catching on!
John McElhenny
Hoop 2 Before
Hoop 2 After
Hoop 4 Before
Hoop 4 After
Gina Briguglio writes-
Hello Community Gardeners!
Spring is upon us! March 20th marks the official first day of the 2012 spring season and I am sure you are as excited as I am about our 2nd year out at Burnham’s Field. All this sunshine and 70+ degree weather should have you pondering your planting plan š
I need to review my notes from the last meeting but I do believe we have one, possibly 2 plots, open in the garden. In fairness to the many folks who are currently interested, we will hold a ‘lottery’ to determine who will be joining our current gardeners. If you or someone you know is interested please email or message me the name and contact details so I can toss any new names into the ‘hat.’ My personal email is ginabeantown@gmail.com. Deadline of April 1st on submissions.
If you haven’t turned in your dues for the new season ($25 per plot) please mail or drop a check by 57 Prospect Street, Apt 2, Gloucester MA 01930. Checks should be made out to "Burnham’s Field Community Garden." If you have submitted a check that has yet to be cashed…I will be opening a BFCG checking account at Cape Ann Savings Bank this week – sorry for the delay.
Thanks so much and looking forward to seeing all of your smiling faces very soon!
Gina Briguglio
2012 Garden Manager
Burnhamās Field Community Garden
For all past GMG Coverage of The Burnhamās Field Community Garden click here
John McElhenny writes-
Joey,
Seventeen people came to Burnhamās Field on Saturday morning to make the largest green space in central Gloucester a more beautiful place. Mission accomplished! They fixed a fence, erased graffiti, picked up litter and trimmed brush. Local businesses got into the act, too. Paulo, Catherine and Mauro from CleanPro, the Gloucester cleaning company, volunteered two hours of their time. Mamieās Kitchen, a great little restaurant on Pleasant Street, gave free coffee and cookies to the volunteers. Benās Wallpaper & Paint donated paint.
Many of the volunteers came because they had seen the announcement on the blog ā yet another example of GoodMorningGloucester bringing people together to do good things for Gloucester. A short time after the volunteers finished the clean-up, more than a dozen kids were playing on the newly cleaned up courts and field.
Thanks to all who came out!
John McElhenny
Holly Makowsky, a School Street resident, picks up litter alongside the basketball court at Burnhamās Field.
City Councilor Melissa Cox, whose ward includes Burnhamās Field, clears dead brush from next to the fence.
Mauro Silva (left) and Paulo Ferrari, Gloucester residents who work for CleanPro, sweep up broken glass on the basketball court.
Ed Collard fixes a fallen fence with help from Rich Bean (left) and Ron Gilson (in back). Ron was born in Gloucester during the Great Depression. Rich moved to Gloucester seven months ago. They met on Saturday and worked together to clean up Burnhamās Field.
Some of the volunteers who cleaned up Burnhamās Field on Saturday. Front row: Patti Amaral, Melissa Cox, Ron Gilson, Donna Ardizzoni. Back row: Rich Bean, Ed Collard, Bill Cox, Lindsay Welch.
John McElhenny forwards-
A clean-up of Burnhamās Field will take place this Saturday morning, Feb. 25. Volunteers will fix fences, paint basketball backboards, remove graffiti and pick up litter. Local cleaning company CleanPro has kindly offered to donate supplies and staff to erase graffiti. Benās Wallpaper & Paint of Gloucester has generously offered to donate paint for the backboards. Free coffee will be served.
Burnhamās Field across from St. Ann School is the largest green space in central Gloucester. Thereās been a resurgence of pride in Burnhamās Field, including a 20-plot community garden created last summer. GoodMorningGloucester readers got to meet the gardeners in a GMG exclusive video serieshere.
The clean-up of Burnhamās Field will be held rain or shine this Saturday from 8 to 10 a.m. All are invited!
Questions? Contact John McElhenny, jmcelhenny@gmail.com
GMG Series: Whatās New in Jennaās Garden?
Thereās been some drama this week in Pleasant Street resident Jenna Howardās plot in the Burnhamās Field Community Garden. Read on for the photos and details.
By Jenna Howard
Week Six
Last week was a week full of lessons! If you read my week five update, you already know that I made the horrible mistake of cutting dry leaves off my squash. I’m sad to report that the squash did not make it! Unfortunately, in just a matter of a few days most of the squash’s big, beautiful leaves dried up and left the fruit completely exposed to the sun. I had to pull the squash from the garden because it was clear that there was no reviving it. Fortunately I did get five healthy Patty Pan squash from the plant.
I also had a great learning experience with my tomato plants this week. After a few days of high winds, I found all three of my tomato plants lying on their sides. I realized it was not only due to the strong winds but also the fact that my tomato cages were not tall enough. At this point it would be impossible to take the cages off the tomatoes, so I had to come up with another way to secure the tomatoes and keep them upright. I did that using giant stakes and then tying the stalk of the plants to the stakes. I also used gardeners’ Velcro and ties to keep all the stray branches in place.
It was a week of lessons learned! Luckily, the garden is looking much better but I can’t help but feel like there is something missing now that my giant squash is gone.
For Weeks 1-5 click here
Pleasant Street resident Jenna Howard is providing updates on the beets, radishes and other vegetables growing in her plot at the new Burnhamās Field Community Garden. The reports and photos will allow GoodMorningGloucester viewers to follow the gardenās progress with a weekly answer to the question, āWhatās New in Jennaās Garden?ā
By Jenna Howard
Week Three:
"Over the past few weeks the Burnham’s Field Community Garden has evolved into something amazing. Everyday that I visit, I’m surprised to see the growth of all the gardeners’ plots. Our little garden has transformed into a jungle! This week the growth in my garden resulted in the harvest of more veggies — Bib Lettuce, Golden Beets and Radishes! The garden is ever-changing. With the free space I was able to plant some more herbs. The newest additions to my garden are Oregano, Thyme and Rosemary. But the most exciting addition to the garden was the very first strawberry that appeared this week. That strawberry didn’t stand a chance, as I couldn’t wait to eat it. And it was delicious!"
Jenna
Burnhamās Field is the largest green space in centralĀ Gloucester. Recently thereās been a resurgence of pride in Burnhamās Field, including a new 20-plot garden. GoodMorningGloucester is now running a series of video profiles of the Burnhamās Field Community Gardeners. Here are their stories.
By John McElhenny
Burnham’s Field Gardeners ā Todd Bowser andĀ Liz Alexander
Warning: this video might make you hungry. Todd Bowser and Liz Alexander talk about the sautĆ©ed vegetables, pesto and Liz’s amazing red sauce that they plan to create from their garden harvest. And Todd reveals the secret to why his face looks so familiar.
The Burnhamās Field Gardener Series
Burnhamās Field is the largest green space in centralĀ Gloucester. Recently thereās been a resurgence of pride in Burnhamās Field, including a new 20-plot garden. In some ways, the BurnhamāsĀ Field Community GardenĀ represents whatās best about Gloucester: a close-knit, hard-working community that cares for itsĀ neighbors. GoodMorningGloucesterĀ is now running a seriesĀ ofĀ videoĀ profiles of the BurnhamāsĀ Field Community Gardeners. Here are their stories.
Ā By John McElhenny
Ā Burnham’s Field Gardener āĀ Mary Kay Filos
Ā Mary Kay Filos explains why she joined the Burnhamās Field Community Garden and reveals her secret for how to create a lush,Ā beautiful flower gardenĀ in just a few days.
Burnhamās Field is the largest green space in central Gloucester. A century ago, it was used as a dumping ground. Today itās an area of green grass, play areas and ball fields where kids play and families socialize. Recently thereās been a resurgence of pride in Burnhamās Field, including a new 20-plot garden. The gardeners have gotten to know each other and built a small community in addition to a place to grow vegetables and flowers. In some ways, the Burnhamās Field Community Garden represents whatās best about Gloucester: a close-knit, hard-working community that cares for its neighbors.
Starting today, GoodMorningGloucester introduces a series of profiles of the Burnhamās Field Community Gardeners. Here are their stories.
By John McElhenny
Burnham’s Field Gardener ā Paula Shevenell
Paula Shevenell describes her secret bug defense technique and how gardening revives fond memories of her dad and mom and the family gardens of her youth. “It really feels good to get my hands in the dirt,” she says.
Here is MouseyDewās Photo of her plot-
Dew writes-
My plot is mostly focused on things that can be used in soup or pasta sauce: cherry and slicing tomatoes, yellow onions, garlic, cabbage, chard and celery. By using creative stakes on the tomatoes, it will help maximize what I can harvest from the space. Iāll probably replace the chard with kale later on to have a little more roughage for the fall. Be sure to bring the Bean by for a visit!
You can follow along the Burnham Field Community Garden Posts on Twitter by following this hashtag- #BFCG
John McElhenny Reports-
Joey,
The plantings are in the ground at the Burnhamās Field community garden! On Saturday, the gardeners finished building the 20 raised beds, put up a fence to keep pets out, and began the really fun part: growing vegetables and flowers to harvest in the months to come. A small sample of ācropsā being planted includes bell peppers, zinnias, carrots, strawberries, lavender, watermelons and marigolds. Thanks very much to the Gloucester DPW for delivering two trucks full of donated compost.
Hereās the area of the Burnhamās Field community garden last week before the garden was built.
Hereās how the garden looks now.
Paula Shevenell uses twine to build a grid to organize her garden plot. One of Paulaās plantings is a lavender plant that kids can touch and smell.
John McElhenny writes-
Joey,
The Burnhamās Field Community Garden has been officially launched! On Saturday, 25 volunteers laid down geotextile landscaping fabric, built 4ā x 8ā garden boxes, filled wheelbarrows full of compost and raked fine-looking garden plots thatād make a Midwestern farmer proud. Twenty individual garden plots are planned, along with a low fence to protect the garden from critters. Thanks go out to the volunteer gardeners for their energy and awesomeness, the Building Center for donating materials, J. Harrison of The Food Project for his direction, Steve Winslow and the Cityās Community Development Department for their support, and Donna Ardizzoni and the One Hour at a Time Gang for sprucing up Burnhamās Field on Saturday morning before the gardeners arrived.
John McElhenny, Allen Street
Gloucester
A truck dumps steaming compost for the community garden at Burnhamās Field. It took 25 volunteers about 2 Ā½ hours to shovel the compost into 4 x 8ā frames for individual garden plots. Twenty plots are planned.
Becky Thompson spreads compost in one of the 4 x 8-foot boxes specially built for the Burnhamās Field community garden. Thompson, who lives right by the field, is one of several Gortonās employees whoāve volunteered to work in the garden.
Gardeners Barb Collins (left) and Marie Rodriguez fill a wheelbarrow with compost. Rodriguez is part of a group of teachers from St. Ann School who plan to use their garden plot to teach children about growing fresh flowers and vegetables.
Tim Burnham from the Building Center delivers wood to the garden site. The Building Center generously donated materials for the construction of the community garden.
Gardener Gina Curcuru spreads compost onto the geotextile fabric beneath the garden. Curcuru is one of the many gardeners who live close to Burnhamās Field and can walk to their plots.
Thanks John for getting us the pictures and the rest of the volunteers and folks who donated time, money and energy to make it happen! You all should be very proud!
John McElhenny discusses community plots at Burnham’s Field in the heart of historic Gloucester MA
Good Morning Gloucester 