For Sale at the Pre-Demolition Salvage Pickin' and Porch Party June 4 10 AM - Noon

Pre-Demolition Salvage, Pickin' and Porch Party

Sustainable Norcross, The City of Norcross and The Deconstructed House host a Pre-Demolition Salvage, Pickin' and Porch Party on Saturday, June 4th, 2011 from 10am-12pm.

LOCATION is 155 North Cemetery St. at intersection with Bostic St., Norcross, 30071, conveniently located one block west of Buford Hwy. and two blocks east of historic downtown Norcross.

FREE ADMISSION. Join us for live old timey music,

artwork featuring salvaged building materials from Recentered Pieces,

memory quilts from repurposed favorite t-shirts or ties by Gail's Quilting Services

sustainable networking, and opportunity to purchase architectural salvage, fixtures, heart pine flooring and more from 1900 - 1930 period houses scheduled for demolition. Payment accepted by cash or check payable to City of Norcross.



TREATS available for purchase from Wholly Pops, a provider of refreshing local, seasonal and organic frozen fruit popsicles.

ENJOY costumed characters and storytelling about the old ball field and adjacent properties by Norcross Ghost Tour.

SPONSORS
Sustainable Norcross, an organization dedicated to the greening of communities, provides community-based opportunities to engage in supporting sustainable practices.

City of Norcross, certified by the Atlanta Regional Commission as a silver level Green Community, was chartered in 1870. It was created as a railroad town and summer retreat for Atlantans because of its “high altitude, balmy breezes, pure water and mild seasons”. This forward thinking community is protecting its historic claim to fame while simultaneously becoming the place to imagine for a creative and diverse population.

The Deconstructed House was founded to divert re-usable building products and architectural salvage from landfills.

Contact sustainablenorcross@gmail.com 770-246-0083.

Imagine! Fun Stuff in Norcross

Wow, the busy season is off with a bang and there are plenty of ways to get involved. If you cannot volunteer in person, we have an ongoing need for funds, supplies and materials, assistance with writing, publicity, social media, planning and execution. For more details about any of the following Green Community activities sponsored by Sustainable Norcross in conjunction with the city, contact 770-246-0083 or sustainablenorcross@gmail.com.

Friday May 20 – 8 AM – 9:30 AM – Walk to School with select students of Summerour Middle School. Be part of the Kick Off of Safe Routes to School. Donate small incentives to give away to 6 – 8 grade students.

Saturday May 21 – 8 AM – 11 AM – Assist with Bike Rodeo for designated students of Norcross Elementary and Summerour Middle Schools led by Norcross PD. Donate small incentives to give away to 5 – 8 grade students.

Saturday May 28 – 9 AM – Install donated wood raised garden beds at new location of the Community Garden at Norcross Cultural Arts and Community Center (NCACC). Bring your own shovel and work gloves to help spread the love…and dirt in this Eagle Scout project. Beds will soon be available to rent. Volunteer to be on the garden governing board to decide when, how much, etc.

Saturday May 28 – 9 AM and Ongoing through the summer – Weed, water and plant additional donated seedlings at 4 existing beds at new NCACC Community Garden. Produce goes to charity. These are different from the new beds being installed same day. Donate hose, pistol grip nozzle, hose reel, garden tools, wheel barrow or garden cart, paper yard debris bags, money for supplies, etc.

Saturday May 28 – 1 PM – 3 PM
Tuesday May 31 – 9 AM – 3 PM
Wednesday June 1 - 9 AM – 3 PM
Hand deconstruct and salvage materials from 2 city owned properties scheduled for demolition. Prepare best items for sale at the Pre-Demolition, Salvage Pickin' and Porch Party on Saturday June 4 from 10 AM – noon. Other materials will be recycled or repurposed. Some may be used in a public art creation. Be a part of this innovative community project. Bring work gloves, hand tools, cleaning supplies.

Saturday June 4 – 10 AM – Noon – Help with this fun event and sale of salvaged materials from 2 early 1900’s houses and out buildings, 1960’s office building and other goodies owned by the city. Bid on a piece of Norcross history. Proceeds from the Pre-Demolition, Salvage Pickin' and Porch Party used to offset costs of the project.

Saturday June 11 - 10 AM Water Saver Rain Barrel Class at NCACC - see right sidebar.

Imagine yourself an active part of the greater Norcross community. And smile…you may be on camera.

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Let's Hear It For The Girl Scouts! And...You?

Friday nine second grade Girl Scouts from Simpson Elementary School planted veggies at the Norcross Community Garden. The area was a buzz with activity as girls excitedly set to work clearing out the weeds and winter cover crops and got down to business. In no time squash, tomatoes, peppers and basil had been planted, watered, mulched and were happily basking in the late afternoon sun. The plants had even been sung to as the girls spontaneously broke into song a few times between planting tips offered by leader Jennifer Bonacci.

Saturday the happy scene repeated itself when Girl Scout Troop 3317 tackled the remaining two beds. The eight first graders, also from Simpson, chose sweet potatoes, onions, 2 types of tomatoes, strawberries, and beans that they started from seeds.

Leader Anila Ballerstedt organized this service project after meeting Connie Weathers of Sustainable Norcross while picking up at the Peachtree Corners CSA sponsored by Sustainable Peachtree Corners co-founder Robin Montri. Talk about perfect timing.

According to Laura Laszlo, founder of Norcross Charity Garden, they lost their space after two years of operation and were at a loss how to carry on. Relocating to the campus of Norcross Cultural Arts and Community Center was a natural.

Originally a project of Comcast Cares in 2009, employee volunteers had installed and planted four wooden raised garden beds beside the Latin American Association. Last summer Pattie Baker, a/k/a Sustainable Pattie, founding member of Dunwoody Community Garden, visited the site and saw the beds languishing. Pattie promptly recruited fellow volunteer Bob Lundsten to help plant and water the beds, keeping the veggies and the concept of a community garden alive.

Now Peachtree Corners Girl Scouts have breathed life back into the little garden. But they will not be tending the beds over the summer. That’s where YOU come in.

Ideally a community garden would have a small group of volunteers to manage the process, make a few decisions about how the garden will function and dig in to make it happen. That group could include you. Lend a hand to weed, water and watch veggies grow. Gardening is great exercise and can be a fun social outing to boot.

Not the play-in-the-dirt kind of person? First, you do not need a green thumb to be a successful gardener. Come join the fun and learn by doing. Seven to nine year old Girl Scouts can do it, and so can you.

Still not convinced to get your hands dirty? You can always donate money or materials. Here’s a partial wish list: 100 foot garden hose, pistol grip nozzle that shuts off when not squeezed, hose reel, watering cans, hand tools, work gloves, garden cart, paper lawn debris bags, gift cards to garden or home stores, seeds, plants, …oh, and did I mention money? Or writing an application for a grant?


Girl Scouts have blazed the trail for us. Now who will step forward to guide us on the journey?