REDSTARTstudio

Last year I finished working installing the bamboo irrigation system in the Blake Gartden greenhouse, and over Xmas break shot some video of it in operation. Water flows into the greenhouse from a cistern that collects rainwater from the roof of the headhouse. The goal is to water the tropical section of the greenhouse via the aqueduct during the rainy season.

Today we worked with other volunteers for the Mission Greenbelt Project in San Francisco in front of the Sangati Center (on the corner of 22nd and Shotwell ). Developed by Amber Hasselbring, the project proposes to replace city hardscape with curbside gardens. I helped develop the garden designs, and the gardens planted today are designed for birds, and feature plants that have berries for song birds and produce flowers for hummingbirds.

A Google Map of Blake Garden that shows some of the projects that I’ve been involved with (as a volunteer) during the past year:



View Larger Map


Around Xmas time of last year, I was poking around the seep in Australian Hollow at Blake Garden, and really noticed for the first time the strong smell of sulfur issuing from the seep area. I have been placing stones under the seep so I was able to get down close to the pipe without sinking into the mud. Spending some time down there caused me to look more closely at the area immediately under the seep pipe, and with the smell of sulfur filling my nostrils, I began to think that I was looking at something resembling an algal mat. I then contacted my friend David Finklestein , an Environmental Geochemist, and he said:  “Have you tried taking some of the mat and immersing it in vinegar? If it fizzes then you have confirmed the presence of carbonate… meaning it is a carbonate bioherm.”

Yesterday I collected 2 samples: one from an area under the pipe that had more white deposits on it; and another 2-3 feet to the right of the pipe that had less of these deposits. The mats are about 3/8″ thick and attached to a bluish-grey clay. When I immersed a piece in the vinegar, it did indeed fizz, dissolving the carbonate that is present.

Last Friday (Dec. 30, 2008) we decided to stay a little later to enjoy the sunset and the views from Blake Garden. Just before the sun went down, at 5pm we watched as Australian Hollow filled with an amber light.

Blake Garden -- Australian Hollow -- Dec. 30, 2008, 5 p.m.

Today Peter and I went to Redwood Park in the Oakland Hills to check on the Ladybug explosion that happens this time of year at a particular place on the trail in the park. We think that they are breeding beside and over a seep area that runs across the path and behind a bench. There were many more than last year. We were temped to scoop some up and take them to Blake Garden to volunteer for pest control, but only ended up bringing one home with us that traveled surreptitiously under my shirt.