Barnum Handmade Christmas

Do you dread the mall scene this time of year? Skip it! Go shopping right here in your own neighborhood at the Barnum Handmade Christmas Craft Show! The Barnum Rec Center is hosting a holiday craft show on December 6th, 10:00-3:00pm. Pop in for some lovely little treasures to put under your Christmas tree -- without the traffic. Plus, handmade gifts are far more baller than factory-made, mass produced stuff.

Charlie's Barnum art shop, Barnum's Winter, will be at the Horseshoe Holiday Market, December 13-14 at the Highland's Masonic Center, north on Federal (3550 Federal Blvd.). There are so many great opportunities to shop local this holiday season for unique finds from Denver artists and craftsmen!

Farewell Autumn, Hello New Stuff

What a lovely autumn we had in Denver this year. I took this photo a couple weeks ago before winter descended. Now that winter has officially arrived, I thought I'd take this opportunity to give our new neighbors a heads up: Beware of Barnum hills on snowy days! Cars go up... and then they don't go up anymore... then they come back down. Backwards. Into other cars. It took me a full 30 minutes of bumper to bumper traffic to leave the neighborhood during our first snowstorm last week all because of stupid hills on Knox. Yikes! Take the flat roads if you can and leave plenty of room between cars!

In other news, I've added another page to the blog:  Neighborhood Services, Artists, and Musicians. It's a mouthful, for sure, and it's a work in progress. It's been simmering for a few months since Danyell of Zoologie Pet Services moved into the area and inquired about listing her awesome services for folks on the blog. Shortly after, I discovered A Shoreline Dream, a band whom you might know from CPR Open Air or the South by Southwest festival, also lives in our 'hood. The Nextdoor Barnum website occasionally explodes with requests for local roofers, tree trimmers, and lawn services. My inner librarian screamed, "THERE MUST BE A WAY TO ORGANIZE ALL OF THIS DISPARATE INFORMATION!" So, here's my first attempt at presenting the various talents, services, and home-based businesses that live right here in Barnum. Check it out, yo.

Barnum Market Days Meeting Announcement

BARNUM MARKET DAYS:

A DIY Farmer’s Market for Barnum

• Would you like to see a Farmer’s Market in Barnum next summer?

• Would you like to make money from all of your extra zucchini and peaches?

• Do you dream of raising chickens or of buying eggs from your neighbors?

• Would you like to help Barnum become even more interesting, friendly, and sustainable?

Come join the discussion and find out how you can be involved in this awesome new community adventure!

Barnum Market Days Meeting

Sunday, 02 November 2014

3:00pm

at the Barnum Community Garden (2nd and Lowell)

Rain, snow, or shine!

All interested neighbors are invited!

Questions? Comments? Email: welcometobarnum@gmail.com

Help spread the word! Tell your neighbors! Print this awesome flyer and paper your block!  Spanish translation is in the works and will be added shortly.

Next Barnum Market Days Meeting!

Dude. We have a logo. We're totally legit.

Howdy neighbors!

Here is an online poll that will help us to find the best day and time for the next Barnum Farmer’s Market meeting: http://doodle.com/8kfdha9b42bh4c4s

Please fill it out as soon as possible so that we can all spread the word once we get it scheduled. The deadline for filling out the poll is Oct. 1st. The meeting location will be announced with the final date/time selection -- but it will probably be the library, if the library is open and available during the chosen time.

At this next meeting, I think that the main goals will be:

1. To get a better idea of how many neighbors are interested in actually having farm stands on the market days. Is this worth our time? Are there enough people at the meeting to justify going forward?

2. To get a better understanding of how we can each contribute our efforts to make the market a success for the neighborhood. Who wants to be the contact person for the farm stands? Who wants to create and update the maps for each market day? Who wants to distribute flyers? Who wants to lead meetings or take notes during meetings? Who wants to contact/communicate with local organizations? Etc. There’s a lot to do and no one person can do it all! Are there enough helpers to make this possible?
3. Create a timeline for the market days going forward.

If there’s anything else you’d like to discuss at the meeting, please bring your ideas with you! RSVP for the meeting is not required, but would be helpful! welcometobarnum@gmail.com

PS. I'm still trying to recruit more contributors for the Welcome To Barnum blog! Want to post photos, articles, or reviews regarding your 'hood? Want to share your thoughts with your neighbors? Want to show off cool shit you've found nearby? Send me an email, yo! Even if you're super new to Barnum, you're still welcome. welcometobarnum (at) gmail.com

Barnum Farmer's Market!

Howdy neighbors,

Good news! It looks like Barnum might be getting a Farmer's Market next summer! That's right, we're making our own farmer's market, and it's going to be awesome. If you want to buy or sell homegrown produce, eggs, or cottage foods right here in Barnum, or if you're interested in contributing some skills or ideas to the endeavor, or if you're merely curious and/or want to meet some cool neighbors, stop by the Mean Bean next Saturday, September 6th, 10am for a introductory meeting. Remember, this can't happen without you, so don't be shy! Spread the word, invite your neighbors, and hopefully I'll see you there. Keep being awesome, Barnum!

Barnum Garden Tour: The Barnum Community Garden

Today's Barnum Garden Tour comes from the Barnum Community Garden, located on Lowell between 1st and 2nd Ave.

I met with my neighbors for a neighborhood plant and seed swap, enjoyed some delicious cider (thanks, Wendy!), and had an opportunity to meet Jack, one of the Community Garden's regular and long time gardeners.

Jack gave us all a tour of what's growing this year and filled me in on the garden's policies: the very generously sized garden plots are $40 for the entire season to cover watering expenses (this fee might be waived if you're unable to afford it). To reserve your plot for next year, send me an email for the number to contact, or get the number from Denver Urban Gardens. Otherwise, talk to Jack if you see him in the garden!

This was the perfect time of year to see the Community Garden in all its bounty. It was bursting at its seams with sunflowers, potatoes, tomatillos, squash, corn, cosmos, and a bagillion other sorts of lovely things to eat and admire. Be sure to wander through to see for yourself before the weather turns! For more information on seed/plant swaps and other meetups, join NextDoor Barnum -- an online neighborhood forum.

While there, I also heard a rumor that a Community Orchard is in the works for the adjoining vacant lot. I'm waiting with baited breath for more details. 

And, one final bit of news: The Barnum Neighborhood is in the early stages of planning for a Barnum Farmer's Market next summer! If you're interested in helping to make this a reality, please email welcometobarnum(at)gmail.com to get on the email list and/or come to our next planning meeting!

Barnum Garden Tour: "Barnum House" Front Yard Garden

Today's garden tour looks at the so-called Barnum House front yard garden. The Barnum House is named after the story that P.T. Barnum once lived here (he didn't). Currently enjoyed by only the second family to live there, the original family, the Failings, built the house in 1872 and moved it from 6th and Knox when the 6th Ave. freeway was built.

Our Names: Wendy Lu, Scout and Eva

Edible flowers and some veg - a salad garden!

Garden Style: Mish-mash, xeriscape cottage garden

How Long We've Been Gardening Here: 3 summers

What's New In The Garden This Year: This year, inspired by neighbor Kaye, I installed drip irrigation and what a difference in yield and time spent watering!

A passerby told Wendy Lu this vase was found by
P.T. Barnum in Africa, but the stamp inside reads "New York."

What We Love To Grow: Drought-tolerant perennials, especially flowers, and vegetables. There are also baby fruit trees (peach, green gable plum, service berry bushes) and raspberries. Just added blackberries from the Barnum plant swap, so looking forward to more berries next year!

What We Cannot Grow: Since adding in the irrigation, and because I favor plants with low watering needs, we've done pretty well. I do need to start growing melons earlier, because we often just barely harvest a tiny watermelon in early September.

Biggest Battle: We mulched the entire yard two years ago and since, weeds have been minimal. That said, the so-called "tree of heaven" is constantly trying to stage a hostile takeover.

More edible flowers & kale, tomatoes peaking out.

Our Advice To New Gardeners In The 'Hood: Use mulch, drip irrigation, amend the soil and plant ever square inch to grow food and flowers!

Mini-pumpkin patch.

Favorite Nursery/Supply Shop: I have to stay away from City Floral, but it is coming up on the annual 50% off perennials sale, so I'll be grabbing a few plants to put in before it gets cold.

Bees & other pollinators heart the hollyhocks.

Do you garden in Barnum or Barnum West? Send your pics into the blog! Selected gardens will be featured throughout the summer. Pics can be emailed to welcometobarnum (at) gmail.com.