Contact Information

It has been brought to my attention that I need contact information on my blog.  Silly me to not think of it.

You can send a comment on any posting, and that goes to my email, or you can email me (Sarah Scutt) yelmcommunitygarden@gmail.com.

This information has also been added to the right.

Starting Small

I have a small area leveled and ready for the garden boxes.  They will be made from 1X6 fence boards, which are a little less than $2 apeace at Home Depot.

I have also ordered a couple of butternut trees from the Arbor Day Foundation, and am anxiously awaiting their arival.

It's so funny... as I was digging to level the spot, the John Denver song "Inch by Inch" played over and over again in my head.....

I received an encouraging email from Chris Hyde over at the Wendell Berry Community Garden in Olympia.  He let me know about the Olympia Seedling Network, and offered a bunch of seedlings.  Thank you!

All Clear

I have finished clearing away the scotch broom from the east section of the lot.  Next, I will be "weed whacking" whats left (if someone has a brush mower to help, that would be awesome), laying down cardboard as a weed blocker, and building the barriers to hold the soil.  The first beds will be along the fenceline to use fence as a prebuilt support for vertical vegetables such as squash, zuchinni, peas, beans, and tomatoes.   In front of those will be carrots, kale, and other shorter vegis.

A generous supporter brought a truckload of manure.  Thank You!

I have also received offers of coffee grounds for compost from the Blue Bottle, and Cafe Elite.  Thank You!

I have received a donation of grape vines!  Thank You!

I am also thinking that fruit and nut trees, or kiwis would be a very effecient way to get food growing in the long run.  Any type of edible perennial plant.  Those types of things would be able to be planted without the raised beds.

I have also started painting a sign with paint donated by Jerry's Color Center.  Thank You!

All I really need to get things growing is soil to mix with the manure.  I have put an ad on craigslist asking for someone to pick some up from someone with an ad for free soil in Lakewood.

Much to Do, But Take a Look

As promised, here are a few pictures of the garden so far. There is a lot of work to do, but I have heard that nothing good comes from sitting around.

Here is a view of the site looking toward Yelm Ave.

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Here is a view of the site looking westward.

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My son Collin helping out.

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My lazy cat wouldn't help at all.

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The Beginning

Well, we have begun!

Volunteers have come to help, and they have helped a lot.  We have started to get rid of the scotch broom with limb loppers.  Also, we have been getting rid of a lot of the locust branches, which could give someone a scratch or two.

The garden is located behind the Blue Bottle Espresso cafe in downtown Yelm.

Here are our short term goals:

• Clear the scotch broom along the fenceline
• Lay cardboard over the weeds
• Build raised beds out of fence boards or rocks (which there are some on the property)
• Get plants in the ground and let them grow

Here are a few things we need:

• We will need soil and manure to fill boxes
• We will need some more plants and seeds to fill the garden beds (I have started a few)
• If someone has a woodchipper, it would be appreciated in order to turn these branches into mulch for the garden.
• Lumber for raised beds

If you would like to help out, this is what is needed.  You are welcome to come out any time and pitch in when you have time.

Pictures will be posted soon.