Tomatoes and Sunflowers

The sunflowers are in bloom at the garden! The honey bees love them.

The second batch of tomatoes have gone to the food bank today. Unfortunately the first batch split, because we got a ton of rain as they were ripening. More to come, though, because the vines are still loaded. They are all heirloom tomatoes that I grew from seed. I wasn't even sure that they would give up any fruit because they were so tiny when I put them in. I am so happy that they gave me so many.

First Harvest

My apologies for taking so long to update you all on how the garden is doing. Sadly, the butternut trees have not made it through the hot summer. I will try again with more next year.

Let me tell you what we do have growing, though:

Sunflowers, heirloom tomatoes, peppers, bush beans, carrots, corn, thyme, cabbage, peas, lettuce, raddishes (just harvested), cucumbers, and sunchokes. Oh yeah, we also have a few weeds (some are actually edible).

Today was the first harvest of the community garden. Three plastic grocery bags of radishes and half of one of peas went to the food bank.

One thing we are in need of is either tomato cages or stakes. The tomatoes are growing very well, and soon will need some support. If anyone has any extra sticks (about 2 1/2 feet long) laying around, that will do wonderfully.

Also, if someone would like to trim the paths between garden beds, it would really be appreciated. If you would like to volunteer to do a little weeding, just let me know. =)

Below are some pictures of how the garden is doing so far.

Looks like a Garden

Well, now the community garden actually looks like a garden!

My husband was my hero these past couple of days.  I had hurt my wrist, and wasn't able to move the soil from the pile at one end of the lot to the boxes at the other.  He finished it up by himself, hauling the wheelbarrow back and forth in the hot weather.  

So now the garden consists of:

2 6x6 boxes 6" deep

1 box planted with cabbage, carrots, and peas

1 not planted

2 4x8 boxes 10" deep

1 filled with corn

1 filled with jerusalem artichokes

1 "L" shaped box in the corner, 16 feet along fenceline, 3 feet from the fence, 10" deep

not planted

I am really encouraged by the progress.

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.

---

Here is a view of the site looking westward.

---

My son Collin helping out.

---

My lazy cat wouldn't help at all.

---