The capital future begins now
Decisions on Ecolocity garden
This note follows up on our 9/22 discussion on the Ecolocity garden and possibility of offering an October 17 garden workshop to the public.
After talking with several folks, including managers at community gardens, I have the following to propose. These are only my ideas, so if anyone has better/alternatives please jump in!
It’s almost getting past time to put in a winter garden, that is, planting some things now that will continue to grow slowly and that we can harvest throughout the winter. I suggest that within the next week, with as many Ecolocity members as possible participating, we plant 3 of our garden beds.
We can choose from winter vegetables, such as:
-spinach
-collards
-beets
-kale
-carrots
-garlic
-turnips
-greens such as arugula, mizuna or mache, aka corn salad)
There are other veggie choices, but I advise that we limit the variety to keep this project manageable.)
To do this we need to:
1)clean out old plants
2)aerate the soil
3) compost
4) buy the seeds or transplants
As for the October 17 workshop, I suggest a focus on three activities:
1) Build arched “covered wagon” frames for the 3 raised beds that were planted with the winter crops
2) Prepare the remaining beds for next year’s cultivation (and improve the soil) as follows:
-3 beds planted with cover crop such as clover or vetch
-3 beds prepared with the “lasagna” method of layering newspaper and mulch
The frames are easy structures that require only 6- or 8-ft flexible PVC pipes for both ends of each bed, plus a straight support pipe.
This frame is covered with fabric row cover that allows light and moisture, while protecting the plants from snow and cold. [I have a contact for ordering the required fabric amount.]
I have seen a demonstration on building the frames and I would be willing to do this for an October 17 workshop.
As for a more comprehensive garden planning workshop, as discussed at last Tuesday’s meeting, it seems to me this is a more long-term endeavor: to find and assemble a Garden Talent Bank – teams of people with different talents and expertise who can advise groups that approach Ecolocity for counsel in starting a community gardens. Any suggestions, anyone?
ACTION ITEMS:
-Decide/approve or offer alternative to the above by next Tuesday’s meeting (agenda item)
-Schedule planting 3 beds
-Select plants
-Budget and arrange for purchase and pickup of seeds/transplants
Gerri
After talking with several folks, including managers at community gardens, I have the following to propose. These are only my ideas, so if anyone has better/alternatives please jump in!
It’s almost getting past time to put in a winter garden, that is, planting some things now that will continue to grow slowly and that we can harvest throughout the winter. I suggest that within the next week, with as many Ecolocity members as possible participating, we plant 3 of our garden beds.
We can choose from winter vegetables, such as:
-spinach
-collards
-beets
-kale
-carrots
-garlic
-turnips
-greens such as arugula, mizuna or mache, aka corn salad)
There are other veggie choices, but I advise that we limit the variety to keep this project manageable.)
To do this we need to:
1)clean out old plants
2)aerate the soil
3) compost
4) buy the seeds or transplants
As for the October 17 workshop, I suggest a focus on three activities:
1) Build arched “covered wagon” frames for the 3 raised beds that were planted with the winter crops
2) Prepare the remaining beds for next year’s cultivation (and improve the soil) as follows:
-3 beds planted with cover crop such as clover or vetch
-3 beds prepared with the “lasagna” method of layering newspaper and mulch
The frames are easy structures that require only 6- or 8-ft flexible PVC pipes for both ends of each bed, plus a straight support pipe.
This frame is covered with fabric row cover that allows light and moisture, while protecting the plants from snow and cold. [I have a contact for ordering the required fabric amount.]
I have seen a demonstration on building the frames and I would be willing to do this for an October 17 workshop.
As for a more comprehensive garden planning workshop, as discussed at last Tuesday’s meeting, it seems to me this is a more long-term endeavor: to find and assemble a Garden Talent Bank – teams of people with different talents and expertise who can advise groups that approach Ecolocity for counsel in starting a community gardens. Any suggestions, anyone?
ACTION ITEMS:
-Decide/approve or offer alternative to the above by next Tuesday’s meeting (agenda item)
-Schedule planting 3 beds
-Select plants
-Budget and arrange for purchase and pickup of seeds/transplants
Gerri
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