African Style Urban Gardening

Like many of you, I have self-improvement is on the top of my list of goals for 2017. What better way to bring that to fruition than to attend an into to gardening class? I had the pleasure of joining Baba Ifalade in his private garden where he graciously shared his gardening knowledge and demonstrated his techniques with hands-on interaction.

The class began with a libation offering to honor those ancestors who came before us. A libation is a ritual pouring of a liquid (water) as an offering to a god or spirit, or in memory of those who have "passed on". 

Below are the following topics discussed in the class:

Composting: In order to compost effectively it is important that it is comprised of 50% green matter and 50% brown matter.

Ground preparation: It is important to prepare the ground so that it isnt overly exposed and can retain moisture, while receiving even amounts of sunlight throughout the day and to do so in a matter that is bio intensive in order to assist with weed suppression.

Harvesting: While harvesting leafy greens it is important to utilize the "clip & go" method by removing the leaves closest to the bottom first and work your way up the plant.

Plant health: A sign of a healthy plant is waxy leaves that easily bead off water. It is also important to familiarize yourself with what nutrients certain plants may need to thrive such as nitrogen rich soil or phosphorus and make sure it is present to ensure a good harvest.