Crop Mob!

The gardens continue to evolve through our colletive efforts, and especially through nature's efforts beyond our control. With June's abundant sunshine, okra and peppers are growing. Green tomatoes are appearing. Squash are hidden treasures to be found.

A recent crop mob of 4H youth gardeners and our own Communities in Schools folks combined forces to accomplish a great deal in the garden! Areas of high weeds were covered with cardboard/newspaper and mulch. Spring plants were removed to make way for new seeds. Thirsty plants were watered. The garden is really taking shape thanks to our volunteers!

Soon, we hope to add a much anticipated art piece to our garden! So stay tuned!

Summer veggies!

Summer vegetables are gradually making their way into the ground! Tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, melons... Most of which we planted this spring in the greenhouse! Its exciting to see plants grow from something so small! And, it will of course be wonderful to start harvesting fruit from these plants!We are putting our artwork to use as we label our crops with colorful signs!

And we have a little bit of several different crops ready to eat: broccoli, kohlrabi, peas, peppers, and okra!

Last week, we added a third garden to our efforts! This garden is within a neighborhood and youth join us twice a week for gardening and activities. In a short period of time, we planted cabbage, broccoli, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, melons, squash... and also planted seeds for corn, sunflowers, and other flowers! Many hands can make the work go by tremendously fast! What we didn't have space for in the garden, the students enthusiastically brought home! It is very encouraging to see the youth so excited about gardening! Pictures from our new garden will be coming soon!

we have a mailbox!

introducing... the G.R.O.W. mailbox!

there should be a weekly to-do list inside. so folks can stop by to spend some time in the garden at their own convienence, check off the things that have been done, make suggestions, etc.

we hope this will encourage visitors beyond our scheduled worktimes!

Garden Art!!!

Yesterday, despite threats of rain, the weather held for a beautiful afternoon in the garden!

We partnered with a local artist - Nancy Canter - to make colorful vegetable signs!  

We spent time planting some summer vegetables, flowers, and herbs including tomatoes, peppers, okra, marigolds, nasturtiums, basil, and rosemary!

We also recognized Josh who has done a tremendous job in the greenhouse this spring. He presented our seed starting project in front of a room full of people last month and expressed what he has learned quite eloquently. Thanks for all your hard work, Josh!

  And thanks for your creativity and participation, artists and gardeners!

Spring continues

Here's a few recent pictures from our gardens!

Plantin' taters!

 Mulching

 Growing brassicas (after a spring shower!)

  Peas and radishes!

Tomatoes, okra, flowers, and herbs patiently waiting to be transplanted!

With a combination of what we've grown in the greenhouse and a generous donation from the Community College Plant Sale, we're planning a planting afternoon next Tuesday! Hopefully we'll get some delicious summer crops in the ground! The planting day is in conjuction with an art activity made possible by the Cultural Arts Council to make signs for the vegetables.

Look for a colorful blog coming soon!

Spring planting

A successful planting day in the garden!

Grapes and blueberries added to our little orchard!

New beds composted and prepared for planting!

Roots and greens direct seeded!

Isles mulched!

Thanks to our gardener volunteers young and young at heart!

Future Fruit!

We seem to be starting a small fruit orchard in our gardens! We have acquired strawberries and blueberries through a generous donation from the cooperative extension. And, we recieved a few grape plants from a local gardener! Of course, these plants will teach us patience as we must wait until next season to enjoy their delicious fruit. But, they will make a great addition to the gardens in seasons to come!

To plant the strawberries, we drilled holes in old shelving for drainage and filled them with soil and compost. We also interplanted some spinach and borage, which are compatible companions with strawberries.

We've planted some peas near the fence for climbing purposes! And, planted radishes in the same bed so the peas don't get lonely!

Our beds are taking shape. Waiting to accomodate new seeds and plants. We've got a cold frame full of a second succession of the cabbage family crops. And, we're hoping to seed some carrots and lettuces soon! Stay tuned as the garden GROWs!