July 14, 2023 – It’s been only a year…!
Three newly planted, large-growing trees—two oaks and a basswood—shimmer in the morning sun at SoBro.
…since SoBro Conservancy took ownership of 209 South Broadway.
But what a year! Read about the work we’ve done & the next steps we have planned.
In the fall of 2022, we had our first work party. Over 20 volunteers worked to begin improving the fertility of the soil.
Prep work on beds A & B included suppressing weeds with cardboard, mineral treatments to reduce the pH, compost to increase organic matter, and a layer of wood chips.
During the winter, a collaborative effort between Shanti Nagel at Design Wild and SoBro’s passionate gardening team produced conceptual plans for the beds, the trees, and the infrastructure.
Many thanks to the Dept. of Public Works, City of Saratoga Springs, for connecting our water supply in early May, 2023.
In mid-May, our volunteers planted three large-growing trees, a Chinkapin oak, a swamp white oak, and a basswood. These are some of the best host trees for caterpillars, which play an outsized role in the food web, and for pollinators.
We wanted to engage young people in this project. Constructing our shed was an obvious choice, so we reached out to local schools. The construction trades class at BOCES in Hudson Falls agreed to take it on and we look forward to delivery during the coming school year. We are grateful for funding from the Rotary Club of Saratoga and Stewart’s Shops.
BOCES students build the base of the SoBro shed.
In May, SoBro Conservancy was featured in two great articles that appeared in Simply Saratoga , Home & Garden Issue.
Carol Godette took a deep dive into the history of 209 South Broadway, uncovering that it was the site of mid-19th-century summer “Indian Camps” where they marketed wares to tourists, of a swanky early-20th-century Queen Anne cottage designed by R. Newton Brezee, of Saratoga’s earliest photographed car accident, of several gas stations, and, of course, of SoBro’s regreening project.
What’s next ? A fall 2023 planting in three of our beds.
White and orange flags mark the pathways and the three beds scheduled for fall planting.
We will be planting in the two beds closest to Ballston Ave. and South Broadway, plus the central bed.
We have re-engaged with Design Wild for a second phase of planning. To lay out topsoil berms and to generate detailed planting plans.
We continue to work on improving and preparing the soil.
We are researching options for a timed irrigation system.
To support the work of SoBro Conservancy, donate here.
We are grateful to the generous financial support of numerous individuals, as well as the Saratoga Springs Rotary Club, Ben & Jerry’s, and Stewarts Shops. We would also like to thank the following for their in-kind contributions to our efforts: Bob Israel, Harris Builders, Survey Associates. Saratoga Springs Dept. of Public Works, Pitney Meadows Community Farm, and Wild Ones.