Grow Your Own: Suburban Gardening

Gardening Challenges for 2nd and 3rd Graders

2025-09-29T23:46:00.001-04:00

This Councilman cares about the Legacy We Leave

2024-11-01T19:01:00.003-04:00

Help us create history.

Amy Jones Bulluck Endorsed by 4th Ward Councilman

2024-09-25T17:43:00.004-04:00

Hoop Garden Planting lesson

2024-09-23T16:09:00.000-04:00

How do we extend the Growing Season?

Building Hoop Gardens

Beneficial Herbs

2024-05-25T21:06:00.001-04:00

Thus begins a new season in our Historic Garden. We have available beds. The Community convenes at The Louie Bacoat Historic Community Garden on Saturdays during planting and harvesting season.

Come on out to commune and work with us. Take home free varieties of mint and Field Thistle.

Our Garden does not have a fence. This has forced us to find different methods for

discouraging deer and other animals. The large pots at the entrance to the Garden are

planted with sedum and vinca. Deer do not like vinca. Not only do they not like it

they seem to be repelled by it. https://naturesmace.com/blogs/blog/do-deer-eat-vinca

The greenery in the immediated background of this bed is mint.
It is delicious and very fragrant. It is great for drying for tea. It is
also makes a marvelous mojito. We have 4 different kinds of mint in our Garden.

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/147363/the-real-mojito/

Hollyhock is a plant. The flower is used to make a medicinal tea.

People use hollyhock for preventing and treating breathing disorders and digestive

tract problems. Some people apply hollyhock directly to the skin for treating ulcers and painful swelling (inflammation). Hollyhocks stand as beacons for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. These towering blooms serve as pit stops for these vital pollinators, offering a rich source of nectar. The presence of Hollyhocks can transform a garden into a buzzing hub of activity, underlining the plant's role in sustaining the local ecosystem. https://greg.app/hollyhock-toxic-to-humans/

We have loads of thistle that will be dug out and composted. Bring a pot and take home some of this beneficial and invaluable plant.

"...Thistles are very ecologically productive,” Matt said of the plants’ role in Earth Sangha’s meadow restoration efforts. Butterfly and moth larvae, along with a host of other insect herbivores, feed on the pollen, nectar, leaves and seeds, and pollinators and other flower visitors are plentiful as well. Come fall and winter, thistle seeds are great forage for goldfinches and other seed-eating birds..."

https://choosenatives.org/articles/irresistible-thistle-invaluable-native-plant/

Gross Negligence or Stupidity?

2023-07-02T14:31:00.000-04:00

Northern New Jersey is under possible severe weather warnings for this weekend. So why is it that this much protested against worksite has been left like this over the Holiday weekend? Why is this massive crane perched over Englewood and not over the worksite? Why was it not secured? Why was it left over the Holiday?

Is anyone watching what is going on over there? Is anyone listening to the Residents in the area who have been complaining about construction on this site since before the work even started?

I would not like this thing hanging about anywhere near my home. As it is, another 4th Ward Resident sent me this photo because he is concerned about his property, his family and neighbors who live in the area?

Is anyone keeping tabs on this work? Is this okay with the powers that be? Who will be held responsible for any property damage or injuries that could occur as a result of this obvious negligence?

Great Bell Peppers, Finally

2020-10-05T23:28:00.003-04:00

The first really hard frost is due to hit the Englewood area October 29, 2020. The Summer was so very hot that it seemed the Bell Peppers were cooking on the vines. I thought I was not going to get any worthwhile fruit this season. Then it cooled off and I saw the produce in the photos below.

Today, I decided that it was time to harvest. Some of them were beginning to show signs of wear. Alas, they were never going to turn red or yellow before turning brown with rot. All in all, I think I got quite a nice harvest after watching my fruit basically seem to cook on the vine all Summer. I know that sounds crazy, but hey, there it is. Maybe it is Global warming.

Go Outside & Grow Something with Children

2019-05-12T02:37:00.000-04:00

Kids Gardening.org
A beautiful and useful Teacher and Community resource for teaching Gardeners of all ages.

"...We create opportunities for kids to learn and grow through gardening, engaging their natural curiosity and wonder. KidsGardening has been a leader in the school gardening movement since 1982. We envision happier, healthier kids learning in the garden and connecting to nature. This improves nutritional attitudes and educational outcomes, enhances social and emotional learning, and gives rise to environmental stewardship in youth across the country. We inspire, support, and connect educators and families by providing garden grants and curriculum, and by cultivating a community of practice. We hope you will join us..." https://kidsgardening.org/what-we-do/

Lesson Plans -
Garden Activities -
Designing a School Garden -
Books and Curricula -
Create and Sustain a Program -
Growing Guides - What will grow when and where

Gardening Basics
Hydroponics - "...Hydroponics, in its simplest form, is growing plants by supplying all necessary nutrients in the plants’ water supply rather than through the soil. Growing plants hydroponically helps gardeners and farmers grow more food more rapidly in smaller areas (greenhouses, living rooms, classrooms, and rooftops, for instance) and to produce food in parts of the world where space, good soil, and/or water are limited..."

Why Leaves Change Colors - "...Chlorophyll isn’t the only pigment contained in plant foliage, but it dominates. Other pigments, such as the yellow and orange carotenoids, are masked in most plants by the strong presence of chlorophyll. However, come autumn, as the growing season winds down, chlorophyll’s dominance wanes. The shortening days (or, more accurately, the lengthening hours of darkness) trigger plants to begin entering dormancy. One manifestation of this process is that chlorophyll begins to break down and the plant reabsorbs some of the elements it contains, such as nitrogen. No longer dominating the scene, the scarcity of chlorophyll allows the yellow and orange carotenoid pigments to take center stage and show their “true colors.”..."

Mycorrhizae & Plants - "...One of the most fascinating group of fungi — and most important to gardeners — are the root fungi, also known as mycorrhizae (my-co-RISE-ee, a term derived from the Greek words for fungus and root). Many species never show themselves above the soil surface, yet they are incredibly important to the soil ecosystem and the plant life it supports..."

Growing and Saving Heirloom Seeds - "...plants that have been valued over time — for qualities such as flavor, beauty, disease resistance, or adaptability — and have been passed down through the generations are often referred to as heirloom plants. They carry with them stories of the people who grew them, enjoyed them, and saved them to pass on to their progeny.

Heirloom plants are also repositories of rich genetic diversity that is now understood to be a vital asset that we may need to call upon at any moment. Much of the world’s population has become increasingly dependent upon a relatively few food crops — and often just a handful of varieties of each of these crops. The lack of genetic diversity leaves these crops vulnerable to insect and disease outbreaks, newly evolving pests, and changing environmental conditions..."

Saving Seeds - "...Open-pollinated plants are the ones to grow if you plan to save seeds. They are the result of natural pollination mechanisms, so the seeds and the plants they produce are more diverse genetically than hybrids. Heirloom varieties are open-pollinated. Seeds produced by open-pollinated plants will “come true” and produce plants like the parents as long as pollen of different varieties of the same species isn’t shared between parent plants..."

Photoperiodism: Can Plants Tell Time? - "...The term photoperiodism is used to describe a phenomenon in which physiological changes occur in an organism in response to day length; that is, the relative amounts of light and darkness in a 24-hour period. In some plant species, for example, the onset of flowering is triggered by day length..."

Choosing Flowers to Welcome a Diversity of Pollinators - "...When the pollen is transferred within a flower, it's called self-pollination and the offspring are genetically similar to the parent plant. Although that can be a successful survival strategy, it doesn't create the genetically diverse offspring that result from cross-pollination between two distinct parent plants. Inheriting genes from both parents results in the genetic diversity that keeps plant populations healthy and is critical if plants are to adapt over time to challenging or changing circumstances. Plants have evolved ways to lure bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, often with the promise of sugary nectar as a reward. Pollinators stop by for a sip, and then move on to other flowers, inadvertently transferring pollen. .."

Planting for Pollinators - "...Pollinators are animals that move pollen from one flower to another so that the plants can produce fruits and seeds. Most pollinators are insects, including bees, wasps, butterflies, flies, ants, and beetles. But some plants are pollinated by birds such as hummingbirds, and some are pollinated by bats..."

Encourage Pollinators & Beneficial Insects - "...And there is an army of tiny helpers eager to lend a hand. They are the beneficial insects, ones that behave in ways that are helpful to the crops we grow. These “good bugs” help out in a variety of ways- by hunting and eating (or using as food for their young) insects that are harmful to our crops, by parasitizing insects we consider pests, or by pollinating the fruiting plants we grow. .."

Teaching History in the Garden - "...Gardens and farms evolved throughout history as people adopted new practices and grew different crops to match needs and available resources. Due to this evolution, agricultural practices can serve as a way to define different eras by exploring their unique planting patterns. Here are a few examples of time periods you could study using a garden:..."

How the Potato Changed World History - "...This genetic uniformity set the stage for an epidemic of disastrous proportions, as the potato varieties grown showed no resistance to the blight, and entire fields were wiped out in a matter of days. The suffering that ensued was horrific, especially in Ireland, which endured one of the deadliest famines in history in terms of the percentage of the population affected. More than one million Irish died, and around twice that number emigrated, many of them settling in the U.S..."

Starting a School Farmers' Market - "...In schools and communities across the country, students are using their campus gardens and local farm produce as fodder for business ventures. As they plant, plan, calculate, design, and promote their produce, they grow socially, academically, and personally. Their communities, too, reap rewards..."

Create a School Garden Business - "...Creating a school garden business can be an exciting venture for students offering real-world challenges and benefits. As students work through the planning and implementation stages, they draw upon the knowledge they have learned in their classes and translate that information into practical job skills. They have opportunities to be creative, practice teamwork, and gain confidence. This lesson provides guidance for helping your students create a simple business plan..."

Botanical Classification – or, What's in a Name? - "...Using the two-part or binomial Latin name (also referred to as the scientific or botanical name) for a plant can help clear up the confusion, at least most of the time. Each specific type of plant has a unique, two (occasionally three) part name..."

Make New Houseplants with a Rooting Pot - "...Making plants from cuttings is a form of asexual propagation—one that doesn’t rely on pollination and seeds. It produces clones—new plants that are genetically identical to the parent plant from which the cuttings were taken. Taking a cutting involves removing a piece of a leaf, stem or root and placing it in a growing medium where it then develops the other parts that were left behind (i.e., a section of stem will produce roots; a root piece will produce a stem)..."

How to Plant a Tree - "...If you pull back some of the soil at the base of the tree, you'll see the tops of the main order roots spreading out at this point. You want to plant your own tree so that the base of the trunk flare (also known as the root collar) is right at the surface of the soil (or slightly above in heavy soil). The flare of the trunk on a sapling is not as noticeable as it is on a mature tree, but if you look closely, you'll see it -- that is, if it's not buried..."

Preserving the School Garden Harvest -"...By exploring preservation methods, both ancient and

modern, students can come to appreciate the climatic and survival challenges faced by people in different places and eras. Older students can examine the chemistry and economics of different types of food preservation..."

Six Easy-to-Grow Herbs - "...Herbs have many historical ties and have been used for centuries for healing, personal care, and dye making, as well as to season foods. There is a lot for students to explore about the history, use, and sensory attributes of the herbs they grow..."

Companion Planting - "...Scattering flower plants throughout the garden and/or planting a border of flowers around your vegetable garden perimeter is a great way to provide food and shelter for beneficials. Try to have something in bloom from spring planting time to fall frost. The flowers of many herbs, such as dill, caraway, and coriander, are excellent attractors, as are the flowers of vegetables like broccoli and radishes, if you let a few plants go to seed..."

Grow a Rainbow - "...Eating a diet that is high in vegetables and fruits of all kinds can help you maintain a healthy weight and blood pressure, and may reduce the risk of developing problems such as heart disease and type-2 diabetes. And perhaps best of all, fruits and vegetables add delicious taste and texture to your plate. Children who are introduced to lots of a different kinds of produce at a young age are likely to make these healthful foods part of their diet into adulthood, reaping lifelong benefits..."

Getting Ready to Grow Under Lights - "...To make sure your indoor plants or seedlings get enough light to keep them growing strong, hang the bulbs so that they are just a few inches above the tops of your plants. As the plants grow, raise the level of the bulbs to keep them at the same distance above the plants. You can purchase single or multi-tiered plant light stands with easily adjustable fixtures or, if you’re handy, you can rig up a system to raise and lower your light fixtures..."

The Winter Bird-Friendly Schoolyard

Create Overwintering Habitat with an “Untidy” Garden

Indoor Gardening

Choosing What to Grow: Vegetables & Herbs

When to Plant Seeds

Indoor Seed Starting Q&A

All the Dirt on Soil

Preparing the Soil

Transplanting & Direct Seeding

Plants for Pre-K Gardens

Dealing with Garden Pests & Diseases

Garden Maintenance

Wise Watering

Safe Harvesting

Safe Gardening Guidelines

Maintaining a School Garden in Summer

Plan for a Back-to-School Harvest

Extend the Season with Plant Cover-ups

Put Your School Garden to Bed

Grow Milkweed to Help Monarch Butterflies

Composting

Worm Composting

What Is Companion Planting?

2019-05-12T01:59:00.000-04:00

Garden Members, even if you did not plan it that way, you are involved in a companion planting activity.

Raised bed gardening is "Companion Planting"

"WHAT IS COMPANION PLANTING?

1. How many days from planting to germination? This varies from plant to plant and the information is on the back of the seed packet. If you have purchased young plants, google it. Some plants may be planted in succession throughout the summer as long as you do the Math and allow enough days before frost.

2. Make sure that you are being realistic in your planting choices.

a.  How many days to you have from planting to harvest?

b. Is there enough time for the plants to produce before frost?c. How tall will the plant grow?
d. How much space will each plant require?e. Is it too late in the season to plant cold crop vegetables like lettuce, spinach, broccoli, etc.? According to the Farmer's Almanac, this planting season has 201 days. The season started April 10, 2019 and frost is expected October 29, 2019. The Almanac is generally on target with the frost dates.

3. How much space does a watermelon require to produce? How many days from planting to harvest? (Watermelons need at least 80-100 consecutive days of very warm summer temperatures, at least 80 degrees Fahrenheit.)  If you have 1 or more watermelon plants in 2 square feet, you are not being realistic. The same goes for cucumbers, squash/zucchini, cantaloupes, pumpkins. These plants grow on runners and require a lot of space


4. Are you planting tomatoes in with cucumbers? Have you read up on the care and culture of strawberries?

Do remove any weeds growing outside of your box.
Do participate in helping to spread the wood chips and mulch throughout the garden.
Do use the garbage receptacles provided in the garden. The blue is for recyclables, not plant refuse.
Do pick up and discard any garbage dropped by passersby and put in the recycling bin.
Do help us keep the entire area clean and groomed.

Do remember that when the gray cans are filled, they must be placed on the curb in the 50 feet of space where motorists are not allowed to park near the stop sign on the corner of Lafayette Place and Genesee Ave.

DPW will pick up the Garden debris on Fridays unless they are called for "Special Pickup". DPW Workers will not enter the Garden to remove the garbage bins.

The Garden is under 24 hour camera surveillance.

Mother Nature's Calendar

2018-04-18T16:59:00.001-04:00

The one calendar that man has no control over is the one that governs gardening.
The Old Farmer's Almanac predicts that in the 07631 growing area we gardeners have
201 days in the growing season.

The last Spring Frost has been predicted as April 9, 2018 and the first Fall Frost is predicted
on October 29, 2018. That gives us 201 days of growing time if we are lucky. It does seem
that there will be little time to grow cold crop in this region as we will surely have a very short spring.

Garden Tasks by the Month: 2018 Growing Season

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Community Garden Members: Please remember that your bed must be cleared, turned and planted by June 15, 2018.

We are looking for volunteers to help maintain the "Teaching Garden".
We also need Volunteers to help during Outdoor Classroom Activities.

"The Holy Land is everywhere." Black Elk

2016-02-17T15:15:00.054-05:00

The Louie Bacoat Historic Community Garden has been in existence as a "Garden" longer than anyone alive can remember. According to "the Old Timers", including Mr. Bacoat's own family, 206 Lafayette Place in Englewood has always been a garden. According to the 1942 "Old Man's draft registration records, Louie Bacoat was already in Englewood, New Jersey. According to his family, he was a farmer in his native Darlington, South Carolina and was already continuing to farm in Englewood, NJ.

Mr. Norman Gainey joined Mr. George Owens and his brother Kenny in the garden in the early 1970s. Mr. Owens and his brother ceased to farm the land in 2012. The land lay fallow in 2013, because of the damage done by the bulldozer and subsequent flooding. The Garden could not be planted in 2013. The County and the Bergen County Parks Department answered our pleas for help in 2014. They brought in heavy farm machinery that tills deeply. They donated 3 tandem truckloads of topsoil and shared the services of some of the County Park's employees. These men were invaluable in the restoration and transformation of the Garden into what it is today. In 2014, Mr. Gainey helped us transform the traditional row garden into a Community Raised Bed garden before moving his family back to his native South Carolina. He helped us all embrace the concepts of water conservation with his signs that demanded we not water his beans. His ideas paid off when his beans were ready to harvest in 35 days without faucet water.

We decided to name the garden after Mr. Bacoat since he is the earliest of the caretakers that anyone remembers. It is evident that the Garden would have had a totally different future if Mr. Bacoat had not chosen to farm the land at 206 Lafayette Place in addition to the land where the current Third Street Community Garden exists. Dozens of residents born and raised in Englewood in Mr. Baciat's time have been interviewed about the garden. Everyone remembers Mr. Bacoat and his horse drawn wagon, the collard greens, knife and lawn mower sharpening and the lands that he maintained in the 4th Ward. Coach Evans remembers riding on the back of the wagon, as a child and helping out in return for collard greens delivered to his Mother as payment.

It is now a Community Garden on City Land that is overseen by the DPW and ran by the Life Long Learners of the Louie Bacoat Historic Community Garden Membership. We are a learning institution and embrace all who share our love of the land. We are also asking that the site be designated a Historic site and preserved as such in perpetuity by the Englewood City Council.

On December 15, 2015, the City Council (Resolution (#254-12-15-15, page 7 of 9) resolved to place the Louie Bacoat Historic Community Garden on the Recreation and Open Space Inventory (ROSI) for a period of 5 years. This is a database maintained by the Green Acres Program of the State of New Jersey. This database includes municipal, county and nonprofit parkland encumbered by the NJ Green AcresProgram. It is our goal to have the site officially recognized as a place of Historical significance.

The African American Advisory Committee will recognize the site as Hallowed Ground on February 18, 2016 as part of the Black History Month Celebration. Join us in accepting this honor.

Place: One Bergen Plaza , 5th Floor - Hackensack, NJ
Time: 6 pm

The Garden is definitely a site filled with African American Memories. We agree with the concepts made immortal by the Indigenous people of the Americas, “all ground is Hallowed” and should be treated as such by humans. The Earth and the Sea are the Source of all life and must be revered and nurtured as such. There is only one PLANET. We must all nurture and care for it, because there is no Planet B.

Members of the Community have come together in support of the garden. 3,514 people from all over New Jersey have given their support by signing a Change.org petition. This petition asks that the City of Englewood designate the Louie Bacoat Historic Community Garden an historic site. We all fear that if this is not done the bulldozers will return and the garden will become an "impound parking lot" as was the plan.

Update: The Louie Bacoat Historic Community Garden was on the December 15, 2015 agenda. Gardeners were officially given permission to Garden there as is documented in the minutes from that meeting.

Mother Nature IS in Control

2015-11-17T21:52:00.003-05:00

Last year, this time we had collard greens that looked like the one in this photo. We donated to the Annual Thanksgiving Dinner at 111 West Street. We will not be able to do the same this year because our cold crop growing season was seriously shortened by, shall we say, climate change. Regardless of how one feels about the issue, down here on the ground where things are growing or not growing, we witness the difference. As a result of the seriously hot and dry weather as compared to the cold crop season of 2014, our growing season was shortened. There will not be any giant collard greens to donate this year. The large greens in the Louie Bacoat Historic Community Garden were planted early summer and somehow survived the hot summer months. The few families that have these greens will no doubt use them in their own Holiday meals.

It was a long, very hot and very dry summer. Weather researchers say that it was one of the hottest and driest summers in 90 years. We purchased 2 flats of collard greens. My friend planted hers right away. I did not. It was clear that the plants were being attacked by cabbage worms and it was too hot to plant them out in the open garden. I kept them in partial shade and hand picked the worms off. I used a safe homemade insecticide. I pampered them until the prolonged hot spell was forecast as coming to an inevitable end. The greens in the photos below can be eaten, but it would mean picking before their time. They are barely infants with the small number of leaves.

What my farming Dad referred to as an "Indian Summer" or unusually warm weather into December could change that, but dare we wish for it?

We shall see what we shall see.

Louie Bacoat Historic Community Garden's 1st Annual Harvest Festival

2015-11-04T13:02:00.000-05:00

Hello.

Welcome to our blog.

The Louie Bacoat Historic Community Garden

Fall Harvest Festival Video

October 31, 2015

A STEAM Education Project

We have come a long way as a Community of Life Long Learners working towards a common goal

in harmony with Mother Nature.

Garden of Hope

Bergen County Parks System

brings in the big machinery.

The harrow disc made it possible

for the blades to go deep.

Not Deep Enough

Percobility: The Rate of Absorption

of Water into Soil

Paying it Forward ---- The Path

2-3-4, Open the Door

2015-11-01T22:10:00.001-05:00

Howard Haughton stopped by
just in time to be put to work

Howard is currently President of
the Englewood Board of Education

We want Howard to have a second term on the School Board.

Under Howard's leadership, we have seen a definite
change in the School Board.

For the first time in a long time
Parents, Community Members
and Teachers have been
treated with dignity.

Under Howard Haughton's leadership, the conversation
has changed to include education.

We like the change in landscape.

Englewood New Jersey Residents.

This Tuesday November 3, 2015

Election Day

Vote columns 2, 3, and 4

to open the door

of opportunity for our children.

Sun Flowers & Lima Beans

2015-09-07T02:25:00.002-04:00

Sun Flowers grow in the
same bed as asparagus beans, basil,
3 varieties of hot peppers, onions,
marigold, 2 types of tomatoes,
egg plant, amaranth (callaloo),
coriander, bok choy, okra,
cantaloupe, oregano, beets,
Companion planted in a
Square Foot Garden

Given the choice of what the plant, the 6 year old chose
sunflowers again.

It is hoped that we will harvest
some worthwhile seeds from these
before the birds get to them.

This is his Mother's first visit to the
Community Garden where she is
shown all the wonderful things her
2 small children
have participated in growing.

Her 6 year old son ran from his bus carrying
this Lima Bean that was sprouted
in his Kindergarten class at Quarles.
This healthy pole bean has
wrapped itself around the
sunflowers that he
also planted from
seed directly
in the garden.

"...And how are the children...?"

Watermelon

2015-08-05T21:44:00.000-04:00

We may just get to share some watermelon this season. It has been a team effort to keep these magnificent little one thriving.

They are made even more special to us because they were planted by one of our youngest gardens and her older sister.

Brothers Plant Together

2015-06-16T00:31:00.001-04:00

Gardens just keep right on growing even when no one watches.

One day a seed and 9 days later a thriving plant.

Planting marigolds from
seed.

Planting bush beans
from seed.

Planting bush beans.

Justin follows and covers the beans.

9 Days Later

The bush beans on the right
were planted by
the boys.

Cub Scout Troop 171 & The Square Foot Gardening Challenge

2015-06-16T00:14:00.003-04:00

Cub Scout Troop 171

They arrived with their plants and their
Den Mother.

Esther Babb gave them lessons in turning the soil.

She talked with them about why peat moss should
be added to the soil and why the soil also needs
the composted cow manure.

They were taught about tool safety and why the
sharp tools must remain in contact with the soil
in order to keep each gardener safe.

Justin and Lily watch as Den Mom plants.

Lily has no trouble getting
used to the soil between her
little fingers.

The boys marked out the square feet. They were
taught to use the hammer safely.

I think he wants his x-box. He kept asking me
how many hours did gardening require.

9 Days Later

Their produce has taken hold and no longer
droops in the hot sun.

The thirsty plants loves this rainy day.

Bush beans planted by seed are doing very well.
Even the marigold plants are popping up out of
the soil.

The rest of Cub Scout Troop 171 will plant the
rest of the squares later on in the week.

The Children Are Well.....

2015-05-28T01:55:00.000-04:00

4th Ward Council Wayne Hamer
and Anita Newkirk

Esther Babb's Mother paid us
a visit.

The Sisters pitched in to help turn a bed to add
soil amendments to improve water retention and
drainage in the bed.

Our Missionary Sisters arrived promptly at
9 am ready to work. They did their 2 hours,
collected the hugs and moved on.
Thank you again, Sisters.

They helped me turn over the soil in my bed to
add peat moss. I taught them to get down deep.
I was thankful for the help. It was great
to see them loosen up and have some fun.
2 are leaving for another location in a
few days.

Kenneth Walton is our new Superintendent.
He takes hisjob seriously. We were overjoyed
when he arrived with the lawnmower and his
weed whacker and commenced to work.

Mom waits as her sons become acquainted with
my grandchildren in the dirt pile. It will never be
too soon to have that soil spread throughout
the garden.

The grass was cut in the garden and on the ribbon
by the curb. Weeds were whacked along the fence.

This is not true Square foot
Gardening because we
do not have
Vermiculite.

I am determined to find enough to make at least
one bed a true Square Foot Garden with the
prescribed ingredients. Vermiculite was not
available in the local places. i do so love
the look of it. The kids like the
idea of knowing which
square foot
holds their plants.

They got too happy in the dirt.
It was a chore cleaning
the hair on their heads.

"....................And how are the children?"

2015-05-21T23:28:00.002-04:00

Teaching Gardeners: Grades 1 - 3

2015-05-20T01:23:00.003-04:00

Students from Greico, McCloud and the
Middle School

These 2 Greico Elementary School Teachers
take their work seriously. This was volunteer
work for them.

D. Perry, Teacher -
Greico School

Andrea Keenan, Teacher Grieco School

2 teachers from Greico Elementary School
joined us.They prepared the bed for
the 1st - 3rd Graders.

Andrea Keenan and Debbie Perry pose with
students over the bed they just
divided into square feet.

Teaching Square Foot Gardening: Pre K - Kindergarten

2015-05-19T00:37:00.003-04:00

The Lang sisters are
ready to work.

Dad was there with nourishing water for the plants
and support for the effort. Little Sister is wondering
why her watermelon has found a home
in a different box.

Esther Santiago-Babb gives a lesson
in hammering.

Dylan is trying the art of hammering on his
own, while Ayanna watches her little sister
learn to use the hammer.

They used a 12 inch ruler to mark the wood.

They hammered in a nail on each line.

Arnold Brown and Esther Babb watch the
progress on the Square Foot Challenge.

Dylan, Cheyenne and James help mark the
12" squares.

After all of the nails were
hammered in they tied string
across the box making
12" squares.

The soil has been amended
with manure and peat moss.
The soil is ready for planting.

The proud ladies pose beside their hard work.

A job well done is a great reward.

Green beans, tomatoes, cucumbers
and watermelon were planted.
We later moved the watermelon
to a bed alone. I explained
how watermelon grows
and the large amount of space
that is needed. Gardeners
must keep their crops
within the confines of the
box. That is a challenge for
the future.

Xavier is in Mrs. Rosensweig's class at Quarles.
He proudly added the Pole Lima Beans that he
sprouted on a napkin in class to the
Pre K- Kindergarten bed. We placed it
in the center and he gently wound the
running vine up the dry branch
and onto the metal stake that
his Mom donated.

It is a very healthy plant. We
will make a trip to water it
every day until the roots catch
on to the soil in its new home.

He is looking to his right now,
because he wants to transplant
his seedlings from beneath
the hoop garden cover.
We decided to leave
that for another
day since
he used
all of
the water
to quench
the thirst of the plants
set out the day before.

The Pre K- Kindergarten age bed has room for more seedlings and seeds. plumwalk2@gmail.com or join us on Saturday morning for another volunteer session.

A Special Thank You To a Group of Very Special People..

2015-05-18T23:14:00.005-04:00

The Grand 2015 Opening of

The Louie Bacoat Historic Community Garden

was a smashing success because of people working together.

Volunteers Make the World a Better Place!

Bishop Patrick Rumble (R)

Rafael Mata (L)

The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints

Missionaries
Sister Kaitin Cooper
Sister Jac Egan
Sister Sam Lovell
Sister Jamie Mortensen

Rafael, David, John and Esther

Rafael never stopped smiling.
He seemed to have as much
fun as the children.

Mormon Helping Hands
The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints

Bishop Rumble and the carpenters assembled
more boxes.

The little ones alternated between work and
playing on the pile of top soil.

The Sisters weeded between the beds.

They weeded the beds.

They turned the soil mixing the peat moss
and manure into the soil to fertilize and
improve drainage.

Our neighbors to the south provided carpenters
with much needed electricity.

Making new Friends...

Bishop Patrick Rumble

Rafael Mater

John Lawton

David Vawdrey

Max Rumble

Mavis Rumble

Patrick Rumble

Patrice Rumble

Annie Fisher

Sister Kaitin Cooper

Sister Jac Egan

Sister Sam Lovell

Sister Jamie Mortensen

Sam Salahudin

Lynne Algrant

Plant Those Sprouting Experiments!

2015-05-13T23:12:00.001-04:00

The grandchildren did not believe that we could
grow peas on a napkin

We allowed leaves to form. The kids called
them Cows because I told them they
were cow peas.

The kids watched them closely as they grew.
They ran in the house asking how the sprouts
were doing.

September 10, 2014. We planted them out in
the garden.

I explained that we were planting
them later in the year than usual.

They really did not care. They got
to play on the dirt pile.

September 9, 2014. We did not
count on the Deer loving cow peas.

Our cow peas were a tasty delight for the deer.

Deer do not seem to like zucchini. The cow peas
that were close to the green squash were not
touched by deer.

The experiment was a success. We did
get a few cow peas. A mixture of
garlic and the hottest pepper
I could find discouraged
the Deer from making
our cow peas
a delicacy.

The zucchini also grew on the napkin. Four zucchini plants produced a fine harvest.

For the humans, not the deer.

...And We Have Sprouts

2015-05-08T00:06:00.000-04:00

All that heat under the plastic dries out the soil

and makes those seeds pop.

Xavier's allergies were bothering him so
he could not go to school, not to mention,
outside or to the garden.

Those asparagus beans are popping.