Latest revision as of 19:10, 7 July 2008

The Greenhouse Community Garden is located behind TLS in the space outside the greenhouses. This is a community run garden, where volunteers help plant, weed, and water for a share of the harvested fruits and veggies. The 2008 season is just begining.

News and Upcoming Events

• Cosmos in Brocolli still need moved. Today I planted ping tung eggplant, cosmos, zinnias, bulls blood beets, oak leaf lettuce, fortex fillet beans, kale, lacinato kale, bright lights chard, silverbeet (chard). Cucumbers on west edge of hoop house are up, be careful when weeding/watering. Lima beans look good. I left a small patch of arugula and some of the cress for seed. Some of the large pea pods in the small hoop house can be left for seed, otherwise get them while they last- we have heaps of peas. I'll be gone for the next two weeks, it would still be good to plant more lettuce, chard, and beans. Some seeds can be found in the orange shoebox in the metal cabinate at the west end of the head house. Louanne 6/23

• Weeded broccoli- lots of cosmos in this bed that could be moved elsewhere. Don't remember what else I weeded, it has been a few days now! Planted cucumbers along west edge of hoop house, put in 6 more tomatoes, some scallions, butternut squash and yellow summer squash in the hills to the west of the small hoop (first three hills, see tags). I've been planting random pole beans along fence edges. Peas continue to be prolific, get them while you can. Various lettuce, beat greens, herbs also ready. Some chard available. Enjoy- Louanne 6/20

• I did some weeding in beds RB8-10, and small hoop. replanted radishes, planted oriole chard over scallions, replanted radishes and more lettuce in RB8. planted pole beans along fence among peas in areas where peas didn't germinate. Deflowered the garlic-boy that sounds weird! Noticed that lima beans are up along west side of hoop house. a hose had been drug over then ripping some out of the soil. There is a small tag, but they weren't on the map (now are). We might want to get some hay for mulch around tomatos. Louanne-June 11

• Start taking snap peas around the perimeter fence. Some are already perfect for eating, meaning they'll be tougher by next week. - Suegene (June 12)

Compost has arrived! We can spread it in the area designated for tomatoes (Zone C) and anywhere else that needs it.

UPDATE: The compost has been moved into Zone C, which has also been extended about 6 feet to the south (for starters). I would advise that anyone wishing to use some of the compost for top dressing raising beds etc, utilize some of it in the next few days, then we should probably spread the remainder across the tomato patch and get to planting. I'd advise planting the tomatoes a bit more densely than the current cage spacing, but do it more in rows for ready access to plants. Tighter spacing will help keep down weeds by shading them out, then we can just scuffle hoe between the rows - a pretty quick and painless job every couple of weeks.

• Weeded more around the tomato patch plus along the west side of the hoop house. Good spot for someone to put in some climbing beans - Clint 3June

• Weeded beets, spinach, fennel, herbs,arugula, lettuce all rows in hoophouse, noticed that red kale is missing (had seen little sprouts weeks ago, but now nothing) We need to get planting and get stuff out of the greenhouse. planted rhubarb chard in bed with fennel. planted more seeds outside, see map key. Probably not worth planting greenhouse seeds any more at this point. - Louanne

• I thinned the carrots and beets, but probably wasn't aggressive enough, so some additional thinning may be needed next week. I also planted some more seeds (two different peppers and three different tomatoes). Sorry, should've gotten around to this earlier. - Suegene (May 21)
• A friend gave us rhubarb, strawberries and garlic starts, I planted the strawberries in the hoop house near the other strawberries, the rhubarb and garlic are in bed 23. - Louanne

• Our community garden has a Flickr group so all can add and view pics of our garden:
  http://flickr.com/groups/eebcommunitygarden/
  I sent out invitations to join the group, so if you haven't received one, please email Amy, and I'll fire one your way.

• The lost seeds are in the metal cabinet in the headhouse

• Group gardening - Weekend of May 25 2pm

• If you don't have a key to the greenhouse, please ask Clint for one

Seed starting schedule

we don't need to start anything else- work on getting plants outside.

• 21 Mar 08

               Plant           Number of Cells
           rhubarb chard          8
           spinach                8
           habanero               4
           pepper mix pimento     4
           goat horn hot pepper   4
           pizza peppers          4
           cubanelle pepper       4

Items to Harvest

• Lettuce in various places, beet greens, some chard. peas!!!, herbs. 6/23/08

• 5/23/08 Arugula, cress/baby dill, some spinach leaves ready, spinach 'America' starting to bolt-get it now! Random lettuce coming up around garden-leaves can be clipped. Beets can be thinned and eaten. a few radishes are ready.

Harvesting Restrictions

Leave patch of Arugula in RB 11 for seed, also a patch of cress from RB7 is being kept for seed.

• thin greens like cress, spinach, beets, arugula, lettuce. thinned baby greens can be eaten.

To Do

• Areas that can be planted:

• Southwest area of Zone A, Suegene dug up two areas, but they were never planted and have gone to weeds. Pull/dig weeds, leave Allisum along edge. 6/23
• Last few hills in Zone G can be planted.

- Area along west side of hoophouse (outside) with chicken wire - good for pole beans or pickling cukes. cmorse

- Seeds for outdoor planting can be found in metal cabinet at the end of head house near BSP, can plant beans, transplants, etc.

-numerous seedlings are being hardened for outdoor transplant. They should be ready to go by next week.

- Peas can be planted along fence in beds RB20, 19, 18-14 Please plant as close to edge as possible, vines will break if they have to lean too much to reach fence.

- Peas could be planted along hoop house edge, can be replaced later with cucumbers/beans/gourds

- Lettuce can be planted along bed edges

• Finalize seed lists and crops wanted

Nicola bought seeds from Coop 3/22/08 ($12. 63): FEDCO scarlet nantes carrot, climbing nasturtium, calendula, marigold, bibb lettuce. SEEDSAVERS five color silverbeet, genovese basil, scarlet nantes carrot, mixed lettuce.

Wanted List: FEDCO basil thai, basil lemon, fennel, leeks lincoln, cukes super zagross, eggplant swallow/applegreen

ANY brand peas snow, peas podded english, kohlrabi, pepper red mild, cukes english long, cukes pickling, beets, scallions, lettuce all varieties, dill- foliage, cilantro (multiple plantings per year), beans bush: green yellow wax purple

flowers: allysum lots packets, all colors, great for edging borders snap dragons, all colors/sizes

• Look into suplementing soil with compost/manure

If we can organise to meet at my house with shovels and a truck, we can haul as much horse manure as we want.

Specialization

See Adopt a bed below for more

• Bryan is in charge of corn and sunflowers, and when to till the ground
• Louanne is in charge of gourds, lima beans and herb.
• ?Amy can you be in charge of eggplants?

?Does anyone else want a specialty? Up for grabs: flowers, tomatoes, squashes, leafy greens, manure/compost, weeding

Adopt a Bed/ Adopt a Job

Perhaps it would be a good idea for people to be responsible for specific beds or specific jobs (seed starter/transplant manager, watering, fertilizer, pest specialist). We would still all share the produce grown and we can keep track of over all hours put in. This might make it easier to keep track of what needs to be done, and what is ready to harvest. Some areas will need more work than others, some people will have more time than others. With people keeping an eye on specific beds, we should be able to keep on top of water needs, insect outbreaks, weeds, fertilizers needs, etc. This should also let us rotate crops more efficiently, too. Everyone should be willing to care for at least one bed. This should take about 15-20 min per week if you stay on top of the weeds and don't have to do a lot of watering.

Responsibilities:

• 1. Plant bed (or take over one with plants in it)
• 2. Thin seedlings if nec.
• 3. Check water status (most watering done by Clint, Matt and greenhouse staff) but things can get missed
• 4. Weed
• 5. Look for insect damage, nutrient deficiency
• 6. Alert group when ready to harvest
• 7. Find a sub when you are away

This should take about 15-20 min per week if you stay on top of the weeds and don't have to do a lot of watering.

Time Log

Let's keep track of how much time we spend on the garden, like a time card. Please be in charge of your own timekeeping, in 15 minute increments (0.25 hours). Ideally, how much each person harvests should be proportional to the time he or she puts in.

• Amy - Total 1 (3/21/08: 1 hour)
• Bryan - Total 1 (3/21/08: 1 hour)
• Louanne - Total 16.75hrs (3/21/08: 1 hour; 3/30/08: 1 .5 hours; 4/3/08 .25 hrs; 4/6/08: 1.5hrs; 4/9/08: .5hrs; 4/12/08: .5hrs; 4/13/08 1hr; 4/23/08 .75hrs; 4/24/08: 1.25hrs; 5/21/08: 2.5hrs; 6/11/08: 1.25hrs; 6/18/08: 1.5hrs; 6/23/08: 3.25hrs)
• Matt - Total 1 (3/21/08: 1 hour)
• Molly - Total 3.75 (3/21/08: 1 hour 3/30/08: 1.5 hours 4/6/08: 1.25 hours)
• Gordon - Total 2.75 (3/30/08: 1.5 hours 4/6/08: 1.25 hours)
• Nic - Total
• Nicola - Total 4.5 (3/21/08: 1 hour 3/30/08: 1.5 hours 4/6/08: 2 hours 5/24/08: 3hrs)

..... dammit.... I lost track... Tsitsi and I did a bunch of transplanting. Tsitsi and Suegene have also taken plants outside for "hardening". -> estimate is fine!

• Suegene - Total 8 (3/21/08: 1 hour 3/30/08: 1.25 hours 4/6/08: 1.75 hrs 5/14/08: 0.75 hrs 5/21/08: 1.25 hrs 5/xx/08: 2 hrs)
• Karolina - Total 1.5 (3/30/08 1.5 hours)
• Tsisti - Total 9' (3/21/08: 1 hour 3/30/08: 1.5 hours 4/6/08: 2 hours 5/24/08: 3hrs 5/25/08 1.5 hrs)

to quote Nicola..... darn.... I lost track... Nicola and I thinned all the seeds as they began to appear abundant in their pots. I've put plants out during the warm weather to begin the "hardening" process. Also, I check the plants for watering almost daily.

• Clint - Total 8.0

early May asst weeding 3 hrs; 5/29/08 0.5 hrs, 6/2/08 moved compost, extended tomato patch 1.5 hrs; 6/3/08 weeded/expanded tomato patch and along hoophouse 0.75 hrs; 6/12/08 more weeding - tomatoes and more expansion of weeded area 0.75 hrs 6/13/08 more weeding - 1.5 hrs

Leave of Absence

Let us know when you'll be gone for more than a week during the summer here

• Nic will be gone from the beginning of May through mid-July.
• Nicola will be gone after mid July (fingers crossed).
• Karolina will be gone from mid-May through end June(ish?)
• Suegene will be gone most of June
• Louanne will be gone the last week of June- July 6 and August 16-26
• Molly will be gone May 20-27 and July 15-20

Garden Map

Updated for 2008.

• Rb1= peas, has sunflowers and parsley in it, can be cleared)
• RB2=Spearmint (way too much)
• RB3=Carrots- Scarlet Nante
• RB4= Tomatoes, Bok Choi
• RB5= Tomatoes, Chinese Cabbage, Red leaf lettuce
• RB6= Tomatoes, Red Leaf lettuce
• RB7= Peas, Cress (bolted, can be removed), Dill, cilantro
• RB8= Parsley, radishes, peas, Borage (missing), Lettuce, cosmos
• RB9= Beets, Peas, italian salad green mix, scallions oriole chard
• RB10= Spinach (America, Boomsdale Long Standing, Red stemmed), Peas
• RB11= Arugala (bolted-remove), Lettuce, Peas
• RB12= Kale, blue curled, peas (kale needs to be re-sown 5-21-08)
• RB13= Empty
• RB14= half with greenhouse plant collection, half empty
• RB15=broccoli
• RB16=empty
• Rb17= Fennel, rhubarb chard
• RB18= Herbs
• RB19=empty
• RB20= Empty
• RB21= Empty
• RB22= Garlic and Rhubarb
• RB23= empty (May be used for Greenhouse specimens

• HH1= Spinach, Arrugula, Red Leaf Lettuce
• HH2= Spinach
• HH3= Broccoli Rabbe, Spinach
• HH4= Strawberries- only one survived, can plant something else in here is soil is amended
• HH5= Strawberries
• HH6= Collard Greens- gone to seed collect seed and rip out
• HH7= Empty
• HH8= Empty
• HH9= Empty
• HH10= Empty
• HH11= Empty
• HH12= Empty

• Zone A= 3 beds ready to plant

• Zone C= Heaps of tomatos. Zone c is ooching out into Zone B since nothing has been done there yet.

• Zone F= Starting from end nearest greenhouse: English cucumbers, japanese climbing cucumbers, lima beans

• Small Hoop = peas, big mama lima beans, jerulesum artichokes, amaranth on end

Area in between small hoop and raised bed with columbines: 3 yellow cherry tomatoes, row of scallions, empress of india nastursiums.

Links

• CT NOFA http://www.ctnofa.org/index.htm
• Community Supported Agriculture http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community-supported_agriculture
• Interesting link about corn:

http://www.greens.org/s-r/33/33-01.html http://www.alternet.org/environment/13147

• Victory garden: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/victorygarden/