Winter Review

Spring is On the Way

Garlic poking out of the beds

Forestry

During this year, we are going to continue our forestry initiatives. At Shagbark, we are transforming an area of regrown pasture land into a multi-use coppice. Coppicing in a technique of cutting trees that doesn’t kill them and brings the trees into a younger stage of growth. Regrown pasture land is typically dominated by a limited number of tree species all the same age. The lack of diversity in this type of forest reduces the resiliency of the ecosystem as well as food and habitat for native animals. Through sustainable management techniques we can increase specie diversity and the overall health of the forest. In addition we are able to use the coppiced wood for building materials, firewood and various crafts. Any remaining wood can be used to make brush pile habitats for birds or chipped to build soil around the trees. This process benefits the forest, animals, and people simultaneously, which is a goal of all our initiatives at the UGC.

This year our long time apprentice Manny will be joining us in an expanded role to help our forestry initiatives grow.

Manny learning how to run the mill.

Coppicing trees is a great way to sustainably harvest firewood.

A coppiced maple tree cut during winter growing back in spring

Regrowth of a coppiced tree after 2 years

Boys & Girls Club

This year we plan on collaborating extensively with our friends at the Boys & Girls club. We started off with a shelf project using wood milled from the Shagbark farm and old hand tools. We also started a wide array of seedlings that will later be planted across our sharing gardens.

Starting seedlings under grow lights at the Boys & Girls Club.

Planting spring crops kale, cabbage, collards and spinach.

Using hand tools to build shelves for the kitchen

Using one hundred year old planers to process the boards

Natural shelves add a warm touch to drywall and cinderblock decor

The finished product

In addition to running our usual programing at the ReSeed garden, we are excited about our expanded teen apprenticeship program. This paid learning opportunity will develop leadership skills and provide basic training in building, farming, composting and more.

Local Compost Initiative

Over the last few years, we have been developing an alternative method to address the need for large scale composting in our communities. Our model of composting is an example of a resilient and sustainable way to compost on a large scale. It removes the need to transport food scraps to a composting facility and then transport the finished compost to customers far and wide. Instead of creating a business with large fuel inputs and overhead in trucks, fuel, composting facilities, distribution sites, marketing, etc. we can compost right where the food will be grown. Because we make large bins and have lots of different sharing gardens, this model can handle all of the compost needs of our community. Most importantly, this model doesn’t depend on making profit which makes it much more flexible. We hope in the next few years our model can be adopted by other organizations in our area.We’ve been working on expanding compost collection from individuals, restaurants, and organizations in the community. Our friend Ellen started brining her own network of compost to our site. We are also collaborating with our Boys and Girls Club apprentices to increase accessibility to our composting initiative.

Chase and Manny built a 6 by 4 foot compost bin and started filling it with restaurant food scraps.

Creating a large mound of woodchips and horse manure makes for a great garden base after it decomposes.

How You Can Help!

Participate in our Raised bed initiative and turn your lawn into a garden for your family and the community!
Collect compost at your home and make arrangements to deliver it to our site.
Donate to the Underground Center’s initiatives through the link below.

Send us an email at info@theundergroundcenter.org if you would like to help with any of these initiatives.