One of the things I discovered in New Home 2.0 is that they have a community garden program. Turns out you can get on a wait list. Turns out that, sometimes, your number gets called.
Welcome to The Allotment.
The allotment (M01) on your map as you follow along) is a 10' x 20'. For this section, I paid the princely sum of $45.00 a year. I am required to provide 12 hours of volunteer labor. The site will provide tools and mulch; supplements and plants are our own responsibility. As a bonus, it is a five minute walk from our apartment.
What am I growing this year? I have to do some garden design (still a bit early as our nights are coolish to plant). I order (via the good folks at Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company) two varieties of corn, beans, and potatoes. I have a Spring Barley I will try to get in the ground (so excited be able to run an actual plot of grains in the fall). Likely some peppers and tomatoes and maybe one (and only one) squash plant.
I am genuinely excited about gardening for the first time a while - with the caveat, of course, that we really all know why I am doing this:
LOL What a happy discovery and good on your town or whomever created the allotment space. Nice that it's so convenient for you. I'm guessing it will be a good way to meet other area gardeners.
ReplyDeleteLeigh, I do not even know why I random looked now, but what a happy surprise it was. This is a city based endeavor, along with at least two churches that have allowed the gardens on their property.
DeleteIt will be a good way to get actual climate specific information.
Hey hey TB! A chance to get outdoors and get your hands dirty, good times! A little exercise getting there and back as a bonus. Don't know about wildlife in your neck of the woods, any racoons about? They like corn a bit, what's the fencing like there?
ReplyDeleteNylon12 - The convenience factor is pretty amazing; if not in your backyard, a short walk is the next best thing.
DeleteThat I know of, no racoons - but who knows what adventures await!
If you have a cat, then catnip is a no-brainer.
ReplyDeleteAlas, it often happens that some of your fellow gardeners will have bitten off more than they can chew. If you do a little bit of networking, you might be able to help them dispose of their weeds (a.k.a. bunny-greens). That assumes that you can identify edibles from non-edible weeds.
Consider investing in a pad for kneeling upon when weeding and perhaps a beach-umbrella.
I am happy for you!!!!!
ERJ - Not a bad idea on the cat-nip, although as a member of the mint family, I suspect that having it grown in pots (it is required of mint) will be a necessity.
DeleteI will definitely be on the lookout for "rabbit" donations.
The kneeling pad/umbrellas are good ideas. I am definitely not as young as I used to be.
Thank you! I was incredibly excited when I got the e-mail.
As it's hard for me to get up from the kneeling position, I favor a sitting garden cart. The extra help getting up is often my hoe like a walking stick.
DeleteDO be careful with bunny treats. They will eat toxic greens as fast as good ones and worse even the good greens can cause digestive issues like Horses going from dry hay to fresh lush pasture bloating's and such.
They don't self-moderate well, YOU Have to do it for them.
Michael the anonymous again LOL
Michael, looking at the situation, I do not know that a garden cart will work for the inner part as I abut two other plots. It is a thought for the longer term, though.
DeleteWhat a good deal! FWIW, while Baker Creek does okay with seeds, I have never been very pleased with the quality of their perishable seeds or live stocks. Oddly enough, my go to seed company is Territorial Seed which is in your neck of the woods. They ship to my time specification so things go in at the prime time. Can’t wait to see how your garden grows!
ReplyDeleteEd - Thanks for the recommendation! I am wandering off to their website right now (I suspect my accountant, The Ravishing Mrs. TB, may thank you less...).
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