Fundraiser Report Back/Free Tree Info
We had a very successful fundraiser at the No Kings rally. We are so grateful for all your support. It means the world to us that you support our mission. I’m glad the Ashitaba babies were so well received.
Counting our Venmo, cash, online donations since Zine Fair (03/15/26) after the No Kings rally, as well as other donations that have trickled in since, this is where we stand now:
Mesh Network and TRILL Fund: $1,105.40
Community Fridge/Freezer Fun: $263
General Fund: $122.40
We will discuss the plans to put our first bulk order of mesh node components together at our next MACE meeting April 1st, and possibly April 8th as well. (Both at Swanson Library 5-7:30pm)
Ok, I want to address some conversations had with comrades concerned about us participating in the No Kings event. Yes, No Kings rally is organized by Indivisible - a front organization for the Democratic Party. It is political theater - and basically just a liberal pep rally. We agree! They even cut the mic on multiple comrades during their speeches. Lol - They didn’t even let a scheduled speaker, Anthony Rogers-Wright, on stage. Which is some typical neoliberal bullshit. Shoutout to the PSL, Party for Socialism and Liberation! No Kings is clearly a controlled opposition. They stick to performative non-substantive action, because this is what the ruling class wants.
BUT! We recognize:
There are so many baby socialists/communists/anarchists attending these events.
There are a decent amount of disaffected liberals who are starting to question their party’s complicity in the genocide of Gaza, and the severe inequities of late-stage Capitalism.
There are also so many open-minded people here; and as revolutionaries it is our responsibility to connect with these neighbors.
Also, our local organizers of this rally are pretty rad. They’ve personally invited and welcomed many of the socialist/communist/anarchist orgs in town.
The other side read: “YOU CANT VOTE YOUR WAY OUT OF FASCISM”
There were definitely some confrontations, because of the repurposing of some election signs. There was this mother fuming about our altered Kamala & little blue dot signs. She asked me what we were about, and after we explained we’re against the genocide of Gaza which Kamala fully backed and supported, and that even if Kamala was elected the ruling class has already decided for war on Iran. Before she could even deny that we explained there are videos of her on the campaign trail promising to attack Iran. The mother grew more and more upset as we continued on with our critiques of Capitalism, which her daughter began nodding more and more in agreement. The mother snatched the zine we gave her out of her hand, so we told her our website URL to remember. (Shoutout to you if you’re reading this!) Then the mother pulled her away visibly shaken because we identified as communists. That was my favorite part of the day.
Plant Care Fact Sheets
As promised, here are a list of care sheets for your new plants.
Ashitaba aka Tomorrow’s Leaf
We recommend waiting to plant it outside until Mother’s Day, unless you have a greenhouse, row cover, or a cold-frame to put it in. We also recommend building those to extend your season and get serious about gardening this year.
Global famine incoming, thanks to WW3 & global warming, resulting in water/fuel/fertilizer scarcity.
Lucky for all of you that donated to the Mesh Fund you now have a plant that regenerates a snack everyday! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE save its seed. It is a biennial, meaning it only lives for two years. When it goes to seed please collect this precious resource. If you don’t feel confident germinating them, we will buy it back from you! We paid a dollar a seed for the plants we gave away, that is what we are offering you. The genetics from those seed are desired, because we want to develop our own Omaha-local ecotype for this magical plant!
We don’t have much personal experience with this plant yet. So we’re going to experiment with planting some out early, some dug up and overwintered inside in pots, some started in pots, some mulched, some not, some heavily amended, some not - and FAFO! Please report back with your results!
Inciardi Tomato
“Indeterminate. One of the rarest paste tomatoes available. Brought over by a Sicilian Immigrant in the early 1900s, and is famed for its size, flavor, and amazing yield. This tomato was nearly lost but was brought back from the brink of extinction by seeds saved from only about a dozen gardeners in Chicago.”
Only 80 days to maturity!!! Save this seed as well!! Our seed was sourced from Blazing Star Seed Co-op. They host free seed shares every late Winter/early Spring. Please support this mutual aid project!! They are developing so many local ecotypes geared towards climate adaptation and high yields.
Requires full sun. I always bury any kind of crab shells, fish guts, clam shells etc. under tomato plants. This prevents blossom end rot, and makes for a vigorous slow release organic fertilizer. For that to be a free resource, it can be dumpster dived from most seafood joints. Learn more about why/how dumpster diving is a LEGAL activity here: California v. Greenwood: Supreme Court Case That Changed Dumpster Diving Laws
African Huckleberry
Solanum scabrum - Wikipedia
Do not eat the unripe (green) berries! The alkaloids break down when they ripen, and then become safe to eat. Traditionally used for dye.
Learn all about the care for this plant here: Heirloom Garden Huckleberry Planting Guide: From Seed to Harvest - St. Clare Heirloom Seeds
These plants are second generation from seeds that were sprouted after 13 years in storage.
Redbud Tree
Check out this local native plant nursery’s website to learn more about caring for your new redbud tree!
Redbud (Cercis canadensis) - Great Plains Nursery
River Birch Tree
This tree requires a lot of water. Bottom of slopes. soggy parts of the yard. Near a water feature, and if none of those apply at least an irrigation system with a little extra doused in its zone. They make great landscaping trees.
Learn more about them here: River Birch (Betula nigra) - Great Plains Nursery
Chokecherry
