Songs from the Treehouse

Dana Lyons, Roderick Romero, Jonny Dubowsky and Pastrami singing and performing from the lush willow tree in the heart of the EV

Where: El Jardin del Paraiso, running from East 4th to East 5th Streets between Avenues C and D, Manhattan

When: Tuesday, June 5, 7-9 p.m.

(Take the F to 2nd Avenue, the R to East 8th Street, or the 6 to Astor Place and make your way east)

The concert is free, by donation, but since we’re aiming for $450 we would like to know that we can cover the costs of this rare and special event. And if it’s successful we’re thinking to offer more music from our treehouse.

 So, as does Kickstarter, we’re offering some tempting rewards – donate via Paypal to jkthecat@gmail.com or you can send a check to me (JK Canepa, 716 East 11th St, NYC 10009) or just let me know that you’re coming and what you can offer, and I’ll make sure you get your gift.

For $10-$20

Personalized tour of the community gardens of the Far East Village with JK Canepa, 

Free yoga class with Pastrami known as Ananda Bhairava in the Sixth Street Community Center, Wednesday nights 7-9 p.m.

Bag of bokashi, a ready-to-use activated microorganism medium for fermenting compost so that it’s less odorous and more nutritious, or as a foliage feeder. Comes with personal instructions.

For $20 or more:

Any combination of the above

We’re bringing Dana Lyons, troubadour of the forest movement, to NYC. He’s the author of the anthem “A Drop of Water” as well as “Cows With Guns”, “Ride the Lawn”, “The Tree”, “I Am An Animal”, “We’re All Dead Ducks”, “Willie Says”, and other songs poignant, heartbreaking, and often very funny – and they make you want to move.

Dana has worked with Jane Goodall and John Seed to protect rainforests and chimpanzees; his songs have inspired the Washington State Legislature to demolish a dam across a mighty river. Dana’s a world traveler and he’s coming our way, and we want to be able to bring him to our beautiful, wild little green part of the big city.

Playing from the lovely nest cradling our old weeping willow, as well, are our own rockstars and fellow gardeners Roderick Romero (of Sky Cries Mary) and Jonny Dubowsky, and local legend, musician, performer, raconteur and yogi Pastrami! A side note – Roderick designed and built this treehouse, as well as others around the world. And Jonny is a biodynamic permaculturist with a project called Rock ‘n Renew, located both here and in Hawaii.

Thanks to the generosity of the Sixth Street Community Center, in case of rain they are offering us heir historic and beautiful place, previously a synagogue, just around the corner from the garden, 638 East 6th Street between Avenues B and C.

About me:

I’m a member of this anarchic park and garden so ethnically and biologically diverse, with wetlands, native berries, and vegetable plots complete with Puerto Rican chickens, and a gate that’s open to the public more than any other garden. Also a yoga student of Ananda B, a Time’s Up rider, and a Lower East Side denizen for longer than you can imagine. I co-founded the New York Climate Action Group which was involved in getting net metering passed by the NY State Legislature and we are happy to boast that we have gotten the city to move away from its massive consumption of tropical timber. I love my bike, my cats, my friends, this city, this ever-changing and yet always soulful neighborhood, the trees, the drummers in Tompkins Square Park, the Great Wild Creation that we all are, and avocados.