This week we used…the Grub Garden Growing Guide (GRUB Garden Project Planting Schedule), Sowing Seeds in the Desert by Masanobu Fukuoka.
Please consider taking this quick survey about student community gardens/spaces on campus. The survey is intended to evaluate the accessibility of community garden spaces, the relevancy of what plants are grown, and understand how students can best support other students in achieving food security. All questions are optional (:
Community Board
The community boards (both in the tool shed and the greenhouse), are open to anyone who wants to post material. What resources would you like to be able to find in your community space?
The Community Garden tool shed has a growing library of texts for practical gardening/farming knowledge and for leisure reading. There are also old photos of garden members pinned up around the shed like a miniature museum. Got some art or info you’d like to add to the community space? Come decorate or post your event/resource.
Starting Seeds
It is nearing the time for us to begin seeding. The greenhouse is not much warmer than outside, and temperatures have been dipping into the low 30’s at night. Regardless of this, we have planted a couple trays of onions.
Our next step for seeding will be to wait for frost to pass and hope it doesn’t come back. We will then begin direct seeding flowers, peas, spinach, and an assortment of other delicious things. We will also plant our cover crops, to grow over the next year.
While we think about what we want to plant, we are also thinking about the next years. Who else might use this space (now or later)? What plants will stay, reseed, or regrow? How can we pass the idea/practice of regeneration to the next caretaker of this area? Seed saving is also another method we encourage. Buying seeds each year is not be sustainable for everyone. If all community gardeners saved their seeds, took what they needed, and offered the rest to other community members, we might be able to sustain a public seedbank on campus.
Accessible & Free Garden Area
The accessible garden area is aimed to be free for student harvesting with priority to those who are most in need and those with mobility aids, will include raised beds, a pollinator garden, and perennial plants for seasonal harvesting. We hope to turn the space into a place to relax among flowers and community.
Plot Prep
The program plot had a large trench dug where the potato row was planted. We started prepping the plot by filling in this hole with nearby soil, roughly leveling it. We then began transplanting the existing kale plants into our designated kale area. Assuming the kale is biennial, it should flower this year and then seed itself for next year. We will also plant seeds to grow the first year greens as well.
Our next step for prep was to make an outline for pathways. Using the map we devised, we marked each vertex with a stake. With this outline in place we can now see where we will need to flatten and weed. For now, all of our prep is done and we can start the paths.
Rebuild Paths
To begin making the paths, we laid down cardboard to stop weed growth. We used discarded cardboard from around the garden, and a bit from the Farm recycling. We then shoveled a wood bark/branch mulch over the weed barrier.
We wanted our path to not follow the regular row system in most other plots and farms. The path in our plot winds through different areas in a shape akin to a river or tree. This sort of path looks more organic, like trails through the mountains.
Greater Garden Area Maintenance
Greenhouse…
A fellow SCARF member, Josh, helped fix the doors while we started seeds. The front door screen has been re-attached, and the back door was bent back into door shape. The next step in the greenhouse is working on the wall/ wall panels. We will need to re-attach the paneling with new screws, as well as connect the wall supports back to the frame. It may also be a good idea to add support to other panels, as they flap viciously in the wind.
The community boards (both in the tool shed and the greenhouse), are to be open to anyone posting material. What resources would you like to be able to find in your community space?
Want your own garden?
Get in connection with SCARF (Students for Community Agriculture and regenerative Farming)!
Business meetings every second and fourth Friday of the month at 4:00PM-6:00PM @ the farm house (bring food if you want)!
Work parties every Friday! 1:00PM-4:00PM
Contact: SCARFatTESC@gmail.com
Instagram: @scarf.evergreen
