Process

After traveling for over two weeks I came back to my garden in full weed bloom .  The plants seemed stunted and mud was still in parts of my space.
 I began to weed , sinking in mud still and could, I swear, hear the gurgling of my soaking plants.
Although the sun was shining it started to sprinkle and I wanted to blow myself up like some kind of umbrella and cover and protect my pants from the rain. It seemed unfair and I wanted to cry, NO!
After weeding for three hours and then mulching, I was satisfied and although I can never prove it, I believe the plants were happier and more ready to grow now.
Yesterday, I returned to my garden and it just seemed beautiful to me.  Of course it is  not perfect, but much better from the process of working with the plants and just being there the way it is.
It is the process that this is about.  Sowing my seeds and plants, not concerning myself with product and what ifs and if only s .  Taking care of things I have started and seeing it through and taking pleasure from the wind and sun and the  growing things doing the best it can.
This garden may not be a great producer but I am experiencing the process fully!

State of the Garden, late June

Planting

• After a very cool and wet spring, the garden is finally up and growing. Many of the plots are lovely. With the heat the last few days, things are growing fast. Those of you who have mulched your plot will get the benefit of retained heat and moisture to speed things along.

• A few plots are not planted yet. Our official "plant by" date is June 15.  If you have not yet weeded and planted your plot,  please do so in the next few days. If something in your life has changed and you are not able to tend your garden this summer, let me know immediately.

Maintenance reminders

• Water Issues (should we ever need to water): When you are done watering, do not coil and hang the hoses. Splay them back and forth along a path. This is quicker (both in setting up and putting away) and is easier on the hoses.

• Remember to turn off the water both at the hydrant and in the garden when you are done. A lovely picture of the hydrant shut off valve is on the bulletin board inside the shed.

• Weed Issues: Because we didn't maintain the paths with chips this year, the weeds are getting the upper hand. In some places it's hard to tell where the path is. Try to schedule and extra 15 or 20 minutes into your gardening time to work on the paths. If everyone spends a few minutes at this, it will go a long way to spruce things up. Use your judgment about which weeds to focus on. Clover is an asset. Spurge, not so much. Trees, consider gifting to someone that needs a tree.

• Thistle: Pay particular attention to this bad ass. It's starting to bloom. Bring gloves. 

• Straw: The bales are $6 each. You can put your money in the red box in the shed or give it to me when our paths cross. There are about 6 extra bales. If you didn't order any and want one, let me know. I think there will be enough for everyone who is interested. And a big thanks to Carol for taking her truck to Money Creek to pick up the straw.

• Cardboard: A great solution to kill weeds in unused spaces. Be sure it is weighted down and doesn't blow around in these interminable storms we've been having.

 Vacant plots

• Thanks to all of you who adopted an extra plot. I hope you will have fun with it. I'm looking forward to seeing how your ideas turn out.

• And amazingly, there is still some unclaimed space left--a few flower strips and 2 more plots need adopting. If you have the urge to do even more gardening, let me know. If you have a cool idea you'd like to try, let me know. Otherwise we will have a work day soon and plant the vacant space to rye.

• I am interpreting this dearth of demand for garden space as a one-year phenomenon due to several factors (the weird weather when no one could think about gardening; the iffy-ness about being able to complete a full gardening season here; not knowing where we will be next year, etc.). My optimism still prevails and I plan to begin a "waiting list" page for 2014 soon.

Potato bugs

• Have you seen any this year? I have an incredible crop of potatoes just going to flower and haven't seen a one. Am I missing something or is it (again) our weird weather?

Wildlife

• Turtle: A turtle has been hanging out in our garden and last week got stuck in the fence. Mark and Lea freed it and headed it toward the pond by the dental clinic.

• Voles: I haven't noticed any signs of them this year.  Did Wayne manage to eradicate them?

• Cooper's hawk: Haven't seen this amazing guy hunting from the roof of our shed this year. Could there be a connection with no voles?

Next Year

• Redeemer Lutheran Church has approved our request for garden space on their property. We are meeting with the committee next week to look over the draft of their lease and the designated area. I am feeling very optimistic about this. If any of you gardeners have input or opinions, or would like to be involved, let me know. Our garden belongs to all the gardeners and everyone who wants a voice has one.

STATE OF THE GARDEN

LATE MAY

Plant Starts: There are a few plants left  from plant sale. They are in the wooden box by the bin. Help yourself to what you can use. A small donation would be appreciated. The red donation box is in the shed.

Vacant Plots: There are still plots that have not yet been rented for the season. Pass the word along to anyone you think might be interested. If you are interested in an additional plot or a flower strip, let me know by June 1.

A Proposal for Unrented Plots: If there are plots still open on June 1, rather than just cover cropping them, we would thought it would be fun to plant a whole plot in just one crop--something that takes up a lot of room that might not otherwise get planted, like  squash, melons, corn, etc. Here is how it would work:

• Each plot would have a "lead gardener".  Others who are interested, whether a current gardener or not, could help out on the crew.
•  Shortly after June 1 we will schedule a "planting day" to get these plots up and running.
• Those who do the work on the plots can decide what to do with the produce. A few ideas: keep it all for yourself; trade it with other one-crop-plot gardeners; donate it to the Food Shelf or other charitable organizations; at midnight leave it on your neighbor's porch. Or--at the end of this season, we could have a gathering and eat what has been grown.
• There are some seeds in the shed available to be used, or bring your own.
• Hours spent working on this plot would count as part of your volunteer hours.
• Besides being a fun project, this can be an opportunity to experiment with something  that you might not otherwise grow. 

If you would like to adopt a "one crop plot" either as a lead gardener or on the crew, let me know.
Also, give me an idea about what you are interested in growing.

Mulch: Straw is available again this year, but the price has gone up (And so has gas! We pay gas mileage to pick it up.) It will be $6 a bale. One bale is plenty for a large plot, a half bale for a small plot. If you want straw to mulch your plot (highly encouraged),  please let me know, so I know how many to order.

Wood chips: In past years one of you gardeners knew the landscaper who brought us the chips. Who was it?  Contact me.

Hunger garden: Every year we seem to use the Hunger Garden for a different purpose. This year Lea is planting it with veggies that can be eaten right out of the garden. After you have worked in the garden for a while and are tired and hungry, enjoy a little snack from this plot.

Opening Work Day-Second Try

--Let's try again--

Community Garden Work Day
Saturday, May 18, 

10 a.m.-1 p.m.

--Jobs--
Bury the water line
Straighten the compost bin sides
Turn and distribute the compost
Tighten fence where needed

--Bring--

Work gloves, shovels, spades, forks

--Bring if you have them--
wheelbarrow
wire cutters
loppers, choppers for the compost

There is a 30% chance of rain on Saturday, 

but it should be warm and not too windy.
Fingers crossed for good weather luck

We will also have plant starts to sell

Mark Your Calendars

• Saturday, May 11, 9-12 a.m.

Plant Sale

In the Garden

Tomatoes, leeks, strawberries, and much more

If you have extra starts or divisions, consider donating them to the sale

All proceeds go to support the garden

• Saturday, May 11, 12-3 p.m.

Opening Work Day

In the Garden

Jobs: lay the water line (again, sigh), turn and distribute the compost, general straightening and prep for the season

Bring: work gloves, shovels, wheelbarrows (if you have one)

This will be a good opportunity to put in some volunteer hours 

and to re-connect with other gardeners and the garden

NEW GARDENERS

• If you are new to our garden, I will be available to give a brief orientation all day on May 11. If you want to get started before that, contact me and we can work out another time. 

SITE FOR 2014

• Lea and I met with the mayor this week to discuss a permanent location for the garden on city-owned land. One site we discussed is at the very west end of Lake Park, just east of the high school. Another possibility would be on land under the bridge after the new bridge construction is done. The discussion is still in the very preliminary stages, but he is supportive. If any of you have occasion to talk with the mayor, city council members, or other city officials, please voice your support for the garden being on either of these sites.

PLOTS AVAILABLE

• Both full and half plots are available this year. If you have friends who like to garden, let them know. 

STATE OF THE GARDEN

Registration

• If you plan to return to the garden and have not yet registered, do so immediately. 
• For the first time in the history of our garden we have available plots and no waiting list. If you are feeling ambitious and would like an additional plot, let me know. Both full and half plots are available. 
• I plan to put out a notice to the general public soon saying that we have plots available and I expect them to go quickly. If you have friends who are thinking of joining us in the garden, have them contact me soon.  

Events

• Seed Exchange--April 27, 9a.m.-noon, in the Mall. 
• Our friends at Watkins have arranged another seed exchange, this time in a warmer location. This is in conjunction with the last Farmer's Market of the winter season. You are invited to bring your extra seeds to trade with other gardeners. 
• Plant Sale--May 4, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the community garden. 
• Buy baby vegetables for a quick start in your garden; 
• If you start your own vegetables, grow a few extras to donate to the plant sale;
• Donate your extra plants to the plant sale. The emphasis will be on vegetables, but all donations will be welcome. 
• 100% of the proceeds go to sustain the garden. 
• We will be scheduling a spring work day soon. (We probably should have done this already, but with all this snow, it's easy to forget that spring is actually going to happen.)

Finding a New Site

• We have made initial contact with some of our city officials and with Redeemer Lutheran Church, but there is nothing substantial to report yet. But do not lose hope. There will be a garden next year. Optimism is hardwired into the genes (jeans?) of all gardeners!

Registration 2013

Only 45 more days until gardening season!

Those of you who had a plot in 2012 have received an email with the 2013 registration form and a copy of the rules. 

Print out and return the registration form, along with your fees. My address is on the form. Save a copy of the guidelines for your own reference. There are no changes in the rules this year, but it doesn't hurt to review them occasionally.

If you want the same plot, registration deadline is February 15. 

As you know, Winona Health will not guarantee us a full season, but our best guess is that it will be fall or later before they are ready to begin work. To hedge your bets, focus on short season crops and don't plant any brussel sprouts or perennials.

We hope to have a seed exchange in February. More details later.

Jan