Amity Works Storefront is closed
February 20, 2007

The Temescal Amity Works Storefront is closed as of January 2007. We are still maintaining the website and the network, and are continuing the project in a more nomadic fashion. The cart is parked in a garage on Shafter Avenue and still roams the neighborhood, the deep freeze of Dec. 2006 did not kill the local oranges, and there is still hoards of citrus to be picked and shared, fresh or preserved..

Our new nomadic nature makes electronic communication all the more neccessary, so please get in contact with us to get on our email list. We can keep you informed of harvest activities, upcoming walks and other programs.

Thanks to all who visited us on 49th st. over the last 2.5 years. We miss the space but still hope to see you in the neighborhood.

Weed Walk Sing-a Long!
December 9, 2006

Michael Swaine and Arcangelo Wessells return to
Temescal Amity Works on Saturday December 9th
to lead another Weed Walk.

Joe Makes Pudding
December 9, 2006

Joseph McHenry brought his kitchen to amityworks
to make persimmon pudding on December 8th during
the Amity Radio broadcast. Check out his recipe below.
It was delicious even though it cooked too fast in our
portable toaster oven!

Persimmon Pudding

Pulp from enough halved ripe persimmons to make 2 cups (about 5 hachiyas)
2 cups sugar
2 eggs beaten
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
pinch salt
1/4 cup heavy cream
4 tbsp. melted butter

1. Preheat oven to 350. Put pulp and sugar into a large bowl. Mix well. Beat in eggs. Put buttermilk and baking soda into a small bowl, and stir. Add pulp and mix well.

2. Sift together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt into a medium bowl. Gradually add to pulp, stirring until well combined. Add heavy cream and mix well.

3. grease a 9"x13" baking dish with some of the butter. Stir remaining butter into batter.

4. Pour batter into dish. Bake until dark brown and toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, about an hour. Set aside to cool. Serve with whipped cream, if you like.

Thanks for the Tomatoes
December 5, 2006

Subject: Thanks for the tomatoes
Date: December 4, 2006 2:50:39 PM PST
To: bigbackyard@amityworks.org

I never got a chance to say thanks.....last spring/summer while walking past your storefront we picked up some free tomato plants. Just wanted to let you know that they grew into healthy and productive members of our backyard with the last fruit harvested this past weekend.
Jill Shearer, LEED® AP
Turner Construction Company

Amity Radio
December 2, 2006

Temescal Amity Works is hosting Jon Brumit and Neighborhood Public Radio (NPR) this month on Friday evenings December 8th, 15th and 22nd from 5-7pm. During the residency at Amity Works, Jon will gather stories and sounds from the Temescal neighborhood. NPR is interested in getting neighbors and passersby to join in the production of live broadcast events, making programs and content by neighbors for neighbors and beyond! Tune in and drop by to contribute ideas, stories, or anything else you might want to hear on your new neighbor, amity radio! Neighborhood Public Radio is an independent, artist-run radio project committed to providing an alternative media platform for artists, activists, musicians, and community members. Their motto: If it's in the neighborhood and makes noise ... we hope to put it on the air.

Please stop in and listen live. If you want to participate with a story, interview or song please email us so we can put you in the schedule.

Triple Drop-Off
December 2, 2006

This weekend gave us three amazing drop-offs from neighbors. Hachiya Persimmons (far below) from 38th st., Avocadoes from 47th st. (below) and an anonymous bag of Fuyu Persommons waiting in the alley when we opened the storefront. By 5:00 PM all of them were given away.

More Figs on 41st St.
November 10, 2006

Down at the other end of 41st st., we got yet another call for figs. This apartment building had 2 venerable fig trees in its back yard, one mission and the other adriatic. Linda (below) had recently pruned them and restored them to an "orchard" state, so we (with help from two visitors from Albuquerque, far below) picked masses of them in under an hour. We made many jars of conserve and gave bags full away on the street.

Baking Day with Sarah Klein
November 5, 2006

On the 28th of October, Temescal artist Sarah Klein baked naturally leavened sourdough bread for 8 hours at the Amity Works space. The event was open to the public, and throughout the day, people came by to help knead, shape, taste or simply talk and observe. Sarah gave away sourdough starter, and Amity works provided a trio of preserves made from local fruit (pear preserves, tangerine marmalade and fig conserve).

Figs on 41st St.
October 24, 2006

Monday morning: a sticky hour picking adriatic figs from an impressive tree on 41st. st.
The figs were perfect.

Even more apples, and pears as well
October 19, 2006

We picked four different varieties of apples and some wonderful pears with Karen and Anisa (and Kenya) in their incredibly large backlot. The storefront smells of apples, with a slight tang of ferment in the air.