Philadelphia Urban Garden: Summer 2024

06/26/2024

The Jungle Cats

Long before I dug up the garden beds the cats made friends with a squirrel. They're hanging out at what grew into almost a cave that protected the kittens from predators and elements. When I would reach my hand into the bush, I was consistently amazed to find a temperature drop of at least 10 degrees but it felt almost like walking into an air conditioned house in South Florida.

The Blackberry Bramble

I have a forearm wrapped in a blackberry bramble tattoo, owing to the fact that one of my favorite author's is Tom Robbins. I was elated to find the backyard came pre-installed with my very own blackberry bramble. This bramble makes up most of the cave that the cats spent most of their summer inside, keeping cool, dodging pterodactyls, etc.

The Magic Mormon Blackberry Lemonade

I was listening to Chris Wade and Matt Christman's wonderful Inebriated Past podcast series and a little obsessed with their materialist take on Mormonism. I vibe with the Chapo's take that Mormonism is the essential captitalist religion, in that it subsumes its doctrines and adapts them into tradition and practice. The amount of used syringes, empty dope bags, and God knows what else that litters this part of the city is indescribable. I was hoping that the soil had somehow brewed a magic fertalizer, that would immediately turn me Mormon if I could only get the potion right.

Ingredients

• Water
• Ice
• Dissolved orange blossom honey (heat the water)
• Fresh mint
• Blackberries

It didn't work but it's the best lemonade I've ever had. The honey hits like adderall.

06/28/2024

The Kittens Let Me Pet Them

Huma found me long before the rest of the kittens worked up the courage to let me pet them. It took hours upon hours of hanging out in the backyard jungle, tossing various kind of treats, and most importantly gaining the trust of their mom. Huma watches from the window for now, but she eventually rejoins us outside to play with her kin.

Face reveal, be nice pls.

07/13/2024

The Overgrown Garden Boxes

The yard came equipped with two overgrown and broken down garden boxes. I spent the summer and winter pondering what I could do with that space and whether it was repairable.

I purchased some lamb from my favorite grocery store, Al-Amana, a Turkish grocery store connected to the Islamic community center. The cats were not very interested in raw meat. Huma prefers it cooked these days.

07/17/2024

The Table and Umbrella

At some point I cleared enough space to place a newly acquired solar power umbrella that fits in the glass table that came with the yard.

08/03/2024

Backyard, Back Garden Bed, Overgrowth Overview

The prospect of clearing out my backyard was looking bleak. I had kittens to dodge, a full-time job to maintain, self-actualization to achieve, spiritual growth pulling me in all directions, little knowledge, and no help.

Who even knows what those crazy berry jawns are, growing out of what is actually a cat manure, compost pit that reaks of high heaven?!?

08/10/2024

Cleared Out the Front Garden Bed Area

At some point I had cleared out most of the overgrowth around the front garden bed area and purchased a backpack to tote Huma around in. It looks like an alien spaceship and doubles as a Gondula for moving kittens into and out of the apartment.

Isis Gives Birth to Another Litter

Isis gave birth to another litter. She decided to post up in an old pallet that was already on the property to nurse them.