on the fire escape: tomatoes & herbs

July 2nd, 2010 | Posted by Jill in food | garden | south slope - (1 Comments)

Earlier this week, I posted a shot of my ever-expanding fire escape garden, which is in full swing as we storm into July. I got several sweet comments and a few questions about how to sustain a small urban garden, and I’m happy to say that it’s not too hard — at least in my experience with this small collection of herbs and tomatoes. And the cats are totes spoiled by having fresh nip at their beck and call. If you’re interested in learning more, check out this great list of urban gardening blogs over at Apartment Therapy!

My little garden is now punctuated by beautiful cherry tomatoes (at right), which are starting to ripen and making me hungry every time I throw open the window screen to water them. (Oh, how I love the smell of tomato plants in the summer!)

The light was so lovely last night at sunset that I had break out my trusty vintage 55mm macro lens. Check out the shots below in celebration of the simple pleasures!

nikon - first tomato-0039

The very first tomato of the season – yum!

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Oregano and Catnip.

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A sprig of rosemary stretches for the sun.

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Globe basil, and spicy thai basil!

a garden grows in brooklyn

June 29th, 2010 | Posted by Jill in garden | park slope | parks and museums | south slope - (4 Comments)

If it’s one thing I think most Brooklynites can agree on, it’s this: the heat and humidity the last few weeks have been oppressive. A couple of weeks ago, we were trying to slow down, take a deep breath, and relax. But now — forget the park. Every time I return home to my apartment, sweat dripping down my nose, the only relaxation I can do is in front of the A/C!

I’m not alone, either. Frank over at New York City Garden begs for rain, Kitty at New York Portraits heads to the dog beach at Prospect Park to cool off, and Marie at 66 Square Feet opines, “Make it stop!”

But my fire escape plants? They’re undeterred. This morning I discovered a single lovely yellow globe on my sun gold tomato plant and the other clusters are well on their way. My four types of basil are all going bonkers and the rosemary is stretching taller and taller each day. The gardens and parks in my South Slope neighborhood are looking lovely, and it seems that lilies are sprouting up everywhere I look!

While I heft the umpteenth gallon of water from my faucet to the fire escape, check out the photos below!

ISO: single ripe tomato

Sweet basil seeks ripe tomato, preferably of heirloom varietal, for match made in heaven. Willing to discuss open relationship with ricotta or mozzarella.

fire escape garden, pt 2

There have been lots of additions to this growing fire escape garden since I last photographed it — nasturtiums, sage, oregano, thyme, and even my succulents are out and enjoying the heat!

On 6th Avenue at 15th Street, the community garden is in full swing. Stop by on the weekends for a stroll through the beautiful flowers!

expressway oasis

Even this little park off the Prospect Expressway gets some love. It’s so green right now, it’s an oasis!

lilies of the sidewalk

Despite the baking heat from the sidewalk, these resilient lilies enjoy direct southern sun along 19th Street.

long exposures, quiet night

June 11th, 2010 | Posted by Matt in gowanus | on the road | south slope - (0 Comments)

peter in south slope

Warm June breeze, street signals light the dark South Slope. If there is a quiet moment in New York City’s most populous borough, it is not going to be found in the Slope. We bike deep into Gowanus. The industry has mostly gone to bed for the evening. It is nice to find a quiet moment to set up a long exposure.

Gowanus Recycling Facility Security Hut

Being approached by anyone in the dark secluded Gowanus night can be intimidating. This time it is just security. He tells us he saw the cameras and needed to check things out. Not sure why security is always alarmed by cameras. I wonder what truth or weakness they are afraid the photos will expose. We speak softly and respectfully and we are told to carry on.

Gowanus Reflections

A bus driver pulls in after a long shift. He parks his bus along the side of the secluded dirt road. The driver looks confused by our presence as he walks away. We set up a series of long exposures down the dusty dirt road. We capture the machinery as it rests. It is mere scenery without the human drivers and operators that push these machines all day long.

Bus Parking

The stillness of the evening reminds me of the natural beauty that must of have existed here at one time. Long before the industry came in and altered the environment to meet their needs, before the trash was dumped, before the factories were built, before the roads were paved, and long before the Superfund status; this must have been a very different place.

garbage in gowanus

nightfall on the south slope

June 6th, 2010 | Posted by Jill in park slope | south slope - (4 Comments)

Over the last six months, I’ve been experimenting a lot with medium format photography using my beautiful old Mamiya C330F and a variety of films: negatives and slides alike. The experimentation can be both fun and frustrating, but it’s fascinating to see the results when I get them back from the developer every time.

The shots below are a few frames from my first late-night medium format outing around my ‘hood in the South Slope. The ConEd substation at 6th Avenue and 24th Street, a new condo building, even shadows up the block look more dramatic in the moonlight. I can’t wait to go night-exploring again sometime soon!

little boxes on the hillside

my front stoop

living shadows