Friday, March 16, 2012

Community Garden Update

I received  my community garden plot assignment in the mail a week or so ago and can't wait to get started over there. The garden is located behind a church in a historic area about a 5 minute drive from my house. The community garden is small, about 100 20'X20' plots. About half of the plots are annual plots which are tilled by a tractor each spring. The other half are perennial plots. With the perennial plots you have to do all of your own tilling but you are able to keep your fencing up year round. Some people have multiple plots.

I chose a perennial plot because I want to have control over the soil, be able to mark off the beds and paths and plant perennial plants like raspberries and asparagus. 

My plot is marked in red on the aerial shot below:


Each row has it's own water tap, I just need to supply my own hose. The area to the top left is an open space. In my mind I picture deer taking a running jump into my plot. (Yikes!) Here is a picture of my plot:


It looks like this area hasn't been occupied in a while. It's going to to take some effort to clear the weeds and get it set up. The garden organizer needs to go out and measure off the plot before I can get started. 

I took a walk around the garden to see what type of fencing my future neighbors are using. 
The plot below is covered on all sides and on top with fencing and netting. After a closer look I discovered blueberry bushes and strawberry plants inside. This section is a berry patch. The same gardener has a vegetable plot in the next plot over. They have high fencing in that plot but no netting on top.

I'm not sure what they grow on the trellis, but I'm curious to find out. 



Most of the perennial plots have 6-8 foot fencing with rabbit fencing on the bottom. I also saw some handmade garden gates, I think I might try to make one of these.




As I was leaving through the churchyard I saw these beautiful blooming trees.


As eager as I am to get started I still have quite a bit of work to do at the house garden. I expect that work at the community garden will start in early to mid April. 


2 comments:

  1. Your new plot looks perfect and the fact that it's been sitting unused is even better - soil got to rest and replenished nutrients and once it's all tilled all those weeds will be composted under the soil :) can't wait to see what you'll do with it :)

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  2. How exciting! You definitely have some work ahead of you! The gardeners probably put up extra high fencing to keep out the deer. Our new garden site was marked off yesterday! Now I have a ton of work to do too!

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