3 Sisters Community Garden

Garden clean-up this Sat.: 9 to 12pm. We need your help!

2011-10-05T07:28:00.001-07:00

Saturday, Oct. 8th
9am to 12pm

We've had a great summer. We grew more veggies than ever and learned a lot about how to use the space we have to its best advantage. Now it's time to clean up and get ready for next year. We really need all the help we can get. Jobs will range from the light, like picking up the irrigation tape, to the more active, like pulling out the trellises. We'll also be mowing and pruning our perennials. No expertise necessary. All you need are some clothes you don't mind getting dirty. We'll have drinks and snacks on hand to keep you going.

Please consider helping us out during this important time.

September is Hunger Action Month

2011-09-19T05:28:00.000-07:00

Yes, the month is almost over, but it's not to late to act. The Mid-Ohio Foodbank has declared September Hunger Action Month. Their website offers information, videos, and ideas for ways to fight hunger every day of the month. We recently benefited from the donation of some fresh produce from the Mid-Ohio Foodbank and will be delivering it to the Johnstown-Northridge Food Pantry along with this week's harvest from the garden.

Some sobering news: "According to statistics organized by the Mid-Ohio Foodbank, 5 percent of the Delaware County population is living below the poverty line. There are 25,263 requests at food pantries." Requests at area food pantries are up 44% over the last four years.

Helping out in the garden, either through work or donations, is a simple way to help ease this difficult situation.

Driver needed Monday or Tuesday

2011-09-19T05:21:00.001-07:00

Need someone to drop off veggies at the Johnstown-Northridge food pantry Monday or Tuesday. Who can do it? (It's a short drive and you can stop at Whit's for fozen custard on the way back.)

Driver needed Tuesday morning

2011-09-12T07:34:00.001-07:00

Need a driver to drop off veggies at the Friends Who Share Food Pantry Tuesday morning around 9am. Takers?

Harvest report: 9/4

2011-09-09T10:34:00.000-07:00

It was another great haul this weekend. This harvest was shared with the Johnstown-Northridge Food Pantry. There are still a few tomatoes to come as well as lots more beans and some peppers. Aphids have finished off the cucumbers and all of the summer squash succumbed to squash vine borer, but we did pick more than in previous summers.

There is still a lot to do in the garden, so please take some time to come out this Sunday night between 6 and 8pm to help us work. Your help is really needed.

Driver needed

2011-09-06T06:09:00.001-07:00

I need a driver for the veggies either today or tomorrow. Let me know if you can do it.

Need a driver to take veggies to the food pantry in Johnstown

2011-08-29T13:51:00.001-07:00

Contact me at nickposs@gmail.com if you can do it. Thanks.

Sunday recap (8/21)

2011-08-22T10:34:00.000-07:00

We had a group of helpers from New Albany United Methodist come over to help, and we were able to get a lot done. We picked our largest harvest yet, including: two types of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and several types of beans. We also weeded and fertilized, and the garden is looking better than it has in weeks. The volunteers had just returned from a mission trip to Jamaica where for part of the time they worked on an organic farm. The farm trains people in organic methods and hopes to send several to school to become inspectors for other organic farms. I'm sure there is much we could learn from them and NAUMC hops to have one of the people from the organization visit in the near future.

This harvest will be shared as part of the Back-to-School Kick-off to be held at the Westerville Estates Clubhouse this Tuesday night beginning at 5pm. More info here.

Tuesday (8/23) @ 5pm: School Kick-off at Westerville Estates clubhouse

2011-08-22T10:29:00.000-07:00

The SidebySide ministry will be holding a Fall Kick-Off on Tuesday, August 23rd at the Estates Clubhouse where kids and families can come to get school supplies, clothing, free dinner, and information on the school year’s activities in the. We'll also have fresh veggies from the 3 Sisters Garden and information about volunteering and getting your own plot. Kids and families will come over starting at 5:00 p.m.

Harlem Township Days - Sat.

2011-08-19T06:55:00.001-07:00

We'll be at the Church of the Saviour table. Stop by and see us.

Link to more information.

Updates: harvest and more

2011-08-08T15:37:00.000-07:00

Last week we had a nice enough harvest to make our first drop at the Johnstown/Northridge Food Pantry, and the beans, cucumbers, and squash are still coming in.

Also, I noticed that some helpful people have been out in the garden weeding and doing other work (including adding another level to the pole bean trellis.) Great work!

I saw this cross out in the patch that one of our volunteers has and thought it looked pretty nice. Turns out, it is the frame for a scarecrow. I'll post some pictures of it soon.

We had the kids from the summer program over for a day in the garden and a vegetarian lunch. More details on that later, too.

We'll meet again next Sunday night for more work. If you can't make it, come by any time and pull some weeds.

Sunday work recap (7/24): Quick harvest

2011-07-25T07:45:00.000-07:00

The storm clouds were rolling in, so the youth group and I did a quick pick through the beans and cucumbers. We'll have to wait until next week to do some maintenance.

Work this week

2011-07-22T06:17:00.000-07:00

While Sunday night will be the group night, you are welcome to come out any time to work on your own. In particular, coming out to do even a small amount of weeding (in the cool hours of the day) would really make a big difference.

Weeding: the tomatoes and beans are getting a little crowded and could both use some work.

Picking: The beans are starting to come in, so we'll be picking more Sunday night.

Posts: We have a few more fence posts to put in, so if you want some exercise (or can just stand still and hold a post), come on out.

Also, we need people to deliver the produce to the food pantries. If you are interested in driving, please contact me via Facebook or the Contact link on this page. I need to schedule this on a case by case basis, so I need your contact information if you can do it.

First harvest 2011: It's on

2011-07-22T06:13:00.000-07:00

It wasn't the biggest haul of vegetables, a handful of beans and this nice summer squash, but it's a sign that our hard work has paid off. We'll pick more this Sunday and next week. By the end of next week, we should have enough beans and squash to make a drop at one of the food pantries.

An invitation to the garden

2011-07-18T15:45:00.000-07:00

We're entering a crucial time for the garden. We've worked hard to make this our best year yet, and the garden is looking great.

If you haven't come out to see the garden yet, consider this your invitation. You are welcome to pull some weeds (the tomatoes are looking a little crowded with crabgrass), but you are also invited to just come out and spend some quiet time enjoying the grass, trees, and plants.

The garden is located at the end of the driveway as you approach the church. Be aware of the fishing line fence and look for the black mesh fabric where the gate is. There are two twine ties that secure the gate to a metal pole. Please tie the gate back up when you leave.

Mornings and late evenings are especially beautiful and peaceful. My favorite time in the garden is just after 8pm as the sun is going down. The swallows come out and the temperature drops. (Bring along bug spray if you are out toward sunset or the mosquitoes might interfere with your relaxed mood.) There is also a picnic table where you can just sit and enjoy the birds and fireflies as the light changes over the garden. You can even bring along the kids to play on the playground or the dog to run around the big open spaces.

Please take this opportunity to come and see what we have done and to think about the people around us who are in need. In the end, this garden isn't for us, but for all the people we hope will benefit from this fresh food grown in their own neighborhood.

Sunday work recap (7/17): Trellises are up

2011-07-18T13:53:00.000-07:00

It was so hot in the garden that I waited about an hour to head out and work. The evening actually turned out pretty nice and I was able to get a lot done. In particular, I set up two trellises: one for the pole beans and one for some tomatoes that didn't have cages. They went in very easily and I think they will be something we can use for years to come. I got the idea for it here, if anyone else wants to try it. I used some fence posts we had laying around instead of bamboo poles and twine for the beans to climb. I'll add another couple layers later.

It made me think about how much I've learned working in the garden. I really didn't know anything about gardening when I started (and still don't know very much). But by trying things, and learning what works, I've made a lot of progress. For anyone who is interested in trying their own hand at it, this should give you hope. It doesn't take know-how, just a willingness to try.

Sunday work night - help needed

2011-07-17T07:18:00.001-07:00

Tonight we need some extra help in the garden to put up some fence posts. In particular, we need a fence post driver. So if you can lend a hand, please join us.

Also, the harvest is fast approaching, so spread the word and stayed tuned for updates.

Sunday work recap (7/10)

2011-07-11T15:20:00.000-07:00

Some of the children in the Souled Out youth group came out to help weed the garden. I stayed to mulch the peppers, fix some broken fishing line, fertilize, and spray Liquid Fence. There are some blossoms on the beans and squash and some green tomatoes are already on the plants. We'll be harvesting in no time, so stay tuned.

Need a volunteer from Harlem Rd. and New Albany UMC to be congregational liaison

2011-07-11T14:02:00.000-07:00

We're approaching harvest time and communication between our congregations is going to be critical. I need someone from each congregation to be available via email or phone who can pass on messages to their respective congregations. You don't even need to be working in the garden to help out. If you can do it, leave a comment or send me an email via the Contact link on the side of the page. Thanks.

What we need to do this week (7/4)

2011-07-06T09:29:00.000-07:00

The most pressing issue at the moment is weeding. The mulch is doing a great job in most of the garden, but the peppers really need help. At this point the grass is encroaching and we need to put down some newspaper underneath the edges of the hay. You can see this in the picture below.

You are welcome to come out any time and lend a hand. Just be sure to use the gate so you don't get caught in the fence. I've added another bundle of newspapers to the blue bin by the front door of the church that you are welcome to use.

In case you didn't know, the church installed a new playground this spring, so feel free to bring along the kids.

There is a work night scheduled for Thursday, but I won't be there. (I will be back for the Sunday night session.) But, again, you are welcome to come out anytime.

Sunday work recap (7/3)

2011-07-06T09:25:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful evening in the garden and I was able to get a lot done. I finished the fishing-line deer fence, mulched the beans with newspaper, and fertilized and applied Liquid Fence.

Some of the plants are looking really good. The tomatoes that were planted in compost are doing really great and there are some blossoms already.

Someone came out during the week and did some great work mulching the tomatoes and squash with newspaper. Even this small amount of help really makes a big difference.

How to keep up with the latest news about the 3 Sisters Garden

2011-07-01T10:33:00.000-07:00

If you are reading this, you probably are already familiar with how to find out the latest information about the garden, but just in case, here is a reminder.

Things are happening fast in the garden, but there are lots of ways to keep up with the latest requests for help and posts about what we are up to. We are trying to limit the number of announcements made in church since there is a lot of information to share. As harvest season approaches, our need for volunteers will increase greatly.

1. Subscribe to receive updates via email

We use our website (www.3sistersgarden.blogspot.com) to post detailed information on the garden. You can be notified by email every time a new post is made subscribing here: http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=ThreeSistersCommunityGarden&loc=en_US

This is the FeedBurner service owned by Google (our blog is also hosted by Google.) Enter your email address and click the activation link the email sent to you by FeedBurner to start receiving updates. You can change your subscription preferences anytime. Also, your email is not shared with marketers or 3rd parties.

2. "Like" our Facebook page

If you are on Facebook, you can receive updates through our page there, including links to the latest blog posts. Simply sign into Facebook, and like our page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/3-Sisters-Community-Garden/366765428809

3. Get updates via RSS

If you don't know what RSS, don't try this method. If you use a feed reader, you can subscribe here: http://3sistersgarden.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss

The email list has been discontinued, but you are always welcome to contact the garden manager through Facebook or the email posted under "Contact" on the website. We've accomplished a lot this year, including sharing fresh peas and lettuce with the Souled Out youth group and the Wide Open worship service hosted by Galena United Methodist at Westerville Estates (more info: http://www.instastore.com/umcg/wide_open).

What needs done this week

2011-06-28T11:04:00.000-07:00

Or if you are unfamiliar with the parlance of middle Ohio: What needs to be done this week.

Really, the biggest thing right now is mulching. Since no on has donated any straw, I think newspapers are our best bet. There is a small bag of them in the blue plastic bin by the front door of the church. If you can bring your own, even better. You can just tuck the pages in under the drip tape and weed barrier. My might want to avoid the row of beans that has not been mulched since I added some seeds that might not have come up yet.. Otherwise, the tomatoes and peppers, even though they already have straw, could use some newspaper to cover up the edges and in between plants.

There will be a work night Thursday. I'll be at church but will be inside if anyone has any questions.

Sunday will be more mulching, weeding, finishing the deer fence, and putting up the trellis for the tomatoes and beans.

Caution!: New fence and gate

2011-06-27T10:48:00.001-07:00

The title might seem a little dramatic, but I really do encourage caution when approaching the garden. I have put up the first row of fishing line on the outer fence around the garden. The fishing line is very difficult to see until you get very close. The idea is that deer will bump into the fishing line and feel nervous about jumping over. There is also an inner fence with a visible row of twine which creates an optical problem for deer trying to figure out how far to jump. There were lots of deer prints visible last night, so I'm glad to get the fence started.

The only safe way to access the garden is the new gate which is on the the west end of the garden. It is really the old gate that provided access to the pea patch. The right side is a metal fence post and the left side is a wooden post that is attached with two pieces of twine to another metal fence post. To access the garden, simply untie the twine and lay the gate down.

Of course, it is very important to put the gate back up when you are finished. Just use a knot that is easy to untie for the next person. In this case below, I just used a bow knot.

As a bonus, here is a look at the new black plastic to keep the weeds off of the ends of the rows. While no one donated any new straw, I found an old mound of straw and borrowed some to create a little traction for walking on it. There is still a lot of mulching to do, but I'll save that for another post.

Sunday night work update

2011-06-26T19:44:00.001-07:00

I worked from 6 until it was dark and was able to get a lot done:

laid down black plastic over the unplanted ends of the rows
used newspaper to mulch one of the rows of beans
put up some of the fishing line fence
took down the gate from the pea patch and set it up in the deer fence
fertilized with Milorganite and Miracle Grow (not organic, but at least it's local)
sprayed another coat of Liquid Fence
stuffed my face with raspberries

There were some deer prints, so I really wanted to get most of the fence done. There is more to do this week for people who can come out on their own, but I'll post that later.

Work for this week (Thurs. and Sat.)

2011-06-20T18:24:00.001-07:00

It's nice to see the buckwheat starting to sprout. We added it as a ground cover around the perimeter of the garden.

Here are the things we'll be working on the in garden. If you can't make it either of the nights, you are always welcome to come out on your own time to work as you please.

Thursday (6/23, 6pm):
I won't be out Thursday, but there are many things that we still hope to get done. The tomatoes and peppers are pretty well mulched with straw, but the beans need more mulch and mulch could also be better applied to fill in some of the space between the weed barrier and the plants. There is already grass sprouting up around many of the plants, so some judicious hoeing would really help. I've used up the straw that I brought and I have not heard of any donations, so you might need to bring a bale if you want to help. I'll post an update if anything changes.

Sunday (6/26, 6pm):

We'll be applying the fishing line to the deer fence, fertilizing, and adding black plastic to cover some of the parts of the garden we didn't use, including the parts of the rows that we didn't plant.

Our raspberries are really struggling so if anyone has any knowledge about growing them, it would be greatly appreciated.

Sunday night wrap-up

2011-06-19T19:27:00.001-07:00

I worked alone in the garden for a few hours tonight and was able to accomplish a lot:

set the rest of the posts for the second deer fence
mulch the rest of the tomatoes, some peppers, and a few beans (all with the one bale of hay I brought)
planted more pole beans
stretched out some of the weed barrier
applied another coat of Liquid Fence

The garden is of course very wet--it was drizzling for the first hour I was working--but it looks like most of the seedlings will make it. There will be more to do for Thursday and next Sunday, but I'll put up that information tomorrow.

No work tonight -- Work for Sunday

2011-06-16T12:51:00.001-07:00

No work tonight -- too rainy. We will meet Sunday night. I won't be there until 7pm. If you show up early, the first task is to mulch the plants with hay. We'll also work on the deer fence and plant some more seeds.

Sunday work recap

2011-06-13T16:17:00.001-07:00

To say the garden was muddy would be an understatement (note the boots below), but we were still able to get a lot of work done. Here's what we did:

laid out weed control fabric
planted a ring of buckwheat for groundcover
put up the first of two deer fences
added flower seeds (nasturtium and sunflowers)
reapplied Liquid Fence deer repellant

Most of the seeds have sprouted, too, which is very exciting to see. Even with all of that done, there is still a lot to accomplish this Thursday. In particular, we need to add straw between the weed cover and add more straw to create a couple of paths at the ends of the garden. We'll also need to set up the 8' posts for the bean trellis and the outer deer fence. So if you do have even a little time on Thursday, we really hope you'll come out. I'll be there at 6pm but have to leave for a little bit for choir practice before I return.

Replanting the garden

2011-06-07T19:44:00.000-07:00

For the first time we suffered some serious damage from deer. They ate most of the seedlings that were planted this Sat. Some hardy volunteers came out tonight to not only replant what was lost, but plant even more. They also worked to put in place some deer deterrents until we can work on a more permanent solution.

We've been fortunate to have some great volunteers who are willing to share not only their time, but also their expertise. Here is some advice on planting tomatoes and peppers from one of our garden mavens:

"Tomatoes and some peppers will form additional roots on their stem if the stem touches soil. So, if you have a leggy tomato seedling (which most are, by this time of year), the recommendation is to remove all but the top 3 or 4 branches/leaves and plant the tomato sideways in a trench with just the top 3 or 4 leaves above ground. This eventually gives the plant more root to gather nutrients and moisture.

Since 3 Sisters is so dry and the weather is so hot, I adjusted this technique and planted not only the rootball, but the first 6 to 9 inches of stem down into the ground. This got the rootball down into an area that still held some moisture and was cooler on the 90+ degree days.

The picture is of a couple of the tomato seedlings that we had to pull up because the deer had eaten them. Even only 3 days after being planted, you can see that roots are starting to form on the stem. The rootball has also started to loosen up and send out roots in all directions."

In the ground and underway

2011-06-06T12:25:00.000-07:00

Thank you so much to everyone who showed up on Sat. to help get the garden planted. It has taken a lot of work and planning to get to this point, and your help is truly appreciated.

What do we have to look forward to?

tomatoes
peppers
pole and bush beans
butternut squash
summer squash
cucumber

Also, we had some ingenious volunteers work on the pump to get it to work without overheating and shutting down.

We'll start our regular schedule of maintenance next Sunday. After that, we'll have group work times Sunday and Thursday evenings. Volunteers are also welcome to come out at other times to help with things.

This Sunday we'll be finishing off planting some flowers, doing some more mulching, and laying down weed barrier.

Garden prep wrap-up

2011-06-02T19:08:00.000-07:00

A big thank you to everyone who pitched in to get the garden ready for planting on Saturday. The rows were laid out and holes with compost were prepared for the tomatoes and peppers and other vegetables. The rest of the compost was spread along the rows for beans.

Word on the street is that hand held trowels would be helpful for the work on Sat. So if you have one or two, bring them along.

Garden prep work and planting

2011-06-01T16:32:00.000-07:00

The garden was tilled on Tuesday night, so we are ready to plant.

Garden prep: Thursday, 2 June - 7pm

We need to get the irrigation hoses in place and mark off the rows. Then, we'll do some digging to get the compost into the ground for the seedlings. If you have a garden fork or a pitchfork, please bring it along.

Garden planting: Saturday, 4 June - 9am

We'll gather to get the seeds and seedlings in the ground and get the water running.

Hope you can make it.

First harvest: Peas and lettuce

2011-06-01T12:29:00.000-07:00

The peas are ready to pick as is the lettuce. Some of the lettuce was used for the meal that is served as part of Wide Open, a worship service and dinner that is ministered by Galena United Methodist at Westerville Estates. The youth group, Souled Out, at Church of the Saviour will pick the peas and the rest of the lettuce to eat as part of their Sunday night meetings. Hopefully the rest of the garden will turn out this nice. It is a great way to start the summer.

We want your body! (To help move compost)

2011-05-29T11:28:00.000-07:00

We just a handful of people for a short period of time this Tues. (31 May) at 7pm to help move an incredibly generous donation of compost. The compost is bagged so we just need to lift the bags into our wheelbarrows and move it over to the garden. Please contact me if you are free for this short period of time to make a big impact on the garden.

P.S. Should have an update on the tilling this Monday.

Planting update: waiting for the go ahead

2011-05-28T10:01:00.001-07:00

Last Sat. we were able to accomplish all of our jobs except for the biggest: planting the seeds. It has just been too wet. None of the neighboring farmers have been able to till their fields either. With the hot dry weather, we could be ready to go any day and will need all the help we can get as soon as the dirt is turned over. Please watch this space for updates on when we will be meeting. It is likely that we will start planting one evening this week. Depending on how many people show up to help, we might need to work over a couple of evenings.

Remember, you can receive email updates when this website is updated by clicking the Updates by email link and supplying your email. It is a secure service and your email will not be shared.

Rain or shine - community day will go ahead this Sat. (10am)

2011-05-17T08:22:00.000-07:00

We're still planning to meet this Sat. (21 May) at 10am in the garden, but due to the excessive rain, planting might not be an option. The soil has been too wet to till, even for all of the neighboring farms. There is still a lot to do, though. We'll set up all of the irrigation equipment, collect rocks, and put work into the much neglected grape and berry garden (setting up trellises, weed suppression, etc.) We will also do a small amount of planting to create a bed of trap crops to lure pests away from the garden itself. So please plan on joining us whether the weather cooperates or not. We look forward to seeing you.

How does our garden grow?

2011-05-04T08:39:00.000-07:00

Our garden is funded by Church of the Saviour, Harlem Road, and New Albany United Methodist churches, but we rely on help from a variety of individuals and groups. If you would like to make a cash contribution, you can make a check out to Church of the Saviour - United Methodist and note that you would like the money to be deposited in the 3 Sisters fund.

We are also interested in donations of materials. Here is a list of things we need for the upcoming year:

3' x 50' opaque plastic tarps (usually used for landscaping) as well as several bales of straw for weed control
Compost, mulch, or other soil amendments for clay soil
Seedlings: tomatoes, in particular, but we are opening to other plants as well
Garden tools and a container for holding them (currently they have to be left out in the open)
8' metal fence posts, 6'+ tall bamboo stakes, and wire for trellising pole beans

We appreciate the help we have received in the past and look forward to making this our best year yet. You can contact me through the link on the homepage of this website if you have any questions.

Rock and roll

2011-05-01T17:41:00.000-07:00

Tonight we had some outstanding help from the youth group to gather rocks around the garden. The rocks will be used to hold down plastic tarps we hope will keep the weeds in check. Picking rocks was actually a lot more fun than it sounds. We found lots of wild strawberries and blackberry bushes we will return to later this summer.

(Pictured: the only two helpers who were brave enough to be pictured.)

Shoots and leaves!*

2011-04-27T16:50:00.000-07:00

The peas and lettuce are up. We've also moved the water tank and set it up to collect rain water. It was completely full by last Sunday and sure didn't need any more of the rain we got this week. Photos soon.

*Bad joke referenced in the title:
A panda walks into a café. He orders a sandwich, eats it, then draws a gun and proceeds to fire it at the other patrons.

'Why?' asks the confused, surviving waiter amidst the carnage, as the panda makes towards the exit. The panda produces a badly punctuated wildlife manual and tosses it over his shoulder.

'Well, I'm a panda,' he says, at the door. 'Look it up.'

The waiter turns to the relevant entry in the manual and, sure enough, finds an explanation. 'Panda. Large black-and-white bear-like mammal, native to China. Eats, shoots and leaves.'

Community Planting Day: Sat. 21, May - 10am

2011-04-24T17:41:00.000-07:00

We'll be joining together to put our garden in the ground this year on Saturday, 21 May from 10am to 12pm. Everyone is invited, regardless of experience. We'll need help with everything from planting seeds to laying out the irrigation hose to putting up fence posts. We do have some tools on site, but if you have things like shovels, trowels, hoes, etc., feel free to bring them along. You are also welcome to bring along seeds or seedlings to share.

Also, if you are interested in your own spot in the garden, you can fill out this form and email it to me or drop it off at Church of the Saviour. Plots are free, but we encourage gardeners to donate at least 10% of what they grow to one of the two food pantries we serve.

Peas and lettuce in the ground

2011-04-09T18:40:00.000-07:00

While I've been working behind the scenes to get the new pump for the water system, a couple of our great volunteers have started a patch of peas and lettuce. The patch is planted in an area that was heavily composted last year to see how soil improvements would affect the plants. They have also added black plastic to stop the weeds, more compost, and some protection from the deer. We've been fortunate in avoiding problems the last two years, but some deer tracks were seen while they were planting. Can't wait to see how it goes.

Getting ready for our third year

2011-03-04T08:34:00.000-08:00

Plans are taking shape for our third year. Improvements include the installation of a rain water collection system as well as a pump to irrigate the garden. Individual/family plots will also be available again. Stay tuned for more details.

Johnstown Northridge Food Pantry needs your help

2010-07-22T10:26:00.000-07:00

This food pantry in our neighborhood is need of donations. We'll be taking over some of our harvest later in the summer, but they need help now. Here is their message:

The Johnstown Northridge Food Pantry (website) needs some food. We had 100 families come in May, 96 in June and July has been busy too. Many are losing their unemployment because benefits have run out, some have had their married children and families move back home for one reason or another, the children are all home for three meals a day and other reasons.

We need jelly (but not peanut butter), canned potatoes, peas, tomatoes, fruit of all kinds, canned meat of any kind, muffin mix, soda crackers for soup, shampoo and dish soap, and anything else you can eat or drink. Thank you for any help you can give us. Nothing is too small or too large. Our hours at the pantry are at your convenience. Just call 740-924-2835.

Ruth Krumm Pantry director

Important group work session: Thursday, 22 July 6:30pm

2010-07-17T18:25:00.000-07:00

Well, this morning's group session turned into a solo session. I was able to get a lot done, but there is still much to do. The session planned for Thursday is important to get the garden ready for harvesting. We have already lost some areas to weeds, and if we can't get the weeding done this week, we'll lose some more.

If you aren't able to make it on Thursday night, I encourage you to come out on your own during the week. I'll post some details at the bottom on what needs to be done. With a few people helping out, the work should not take long at all.

First I mowed down weeds around the tomatoes, peppers, squash, and melon. Then I hand weeded the squash and pumpkins which are doing really well. I also hand weeded the peppers which are small, but are still coming along.

Next I laid down black cloth around the peppers and squash to suppress further weed growth.

What still needs to be done (in order of priority):

1) Hand weed the melons, tomatoes, and beans. This would be easy to work on if you just have an hour some time during the week and want to come out on your own. The melons are in a short row just north of the squash (visible in the left hand side of the first picture.) The tomatoes are in two rows (seen in the picture below). The beans are in one long row and one short row just north of the family and individual plots. These are in serious need of weeding. I believe there are parts of these rows that have not been weeded since they were planted.

2) Lay down more black plastic around the tomatoes and melons. We'll work on this Thursday night.

3) Add more twine to the tomato trellises and time the rest of the tomatoes higher up on the stakes.

3) Start weeding around the two new rows of corn. This time the corn has germinated nicely. By picking up the drip tape and moving it out of the way, it should be easy to hoe the two rows to keep the weeds down. The soil was just tilled and the weeds are starting to creep back in.

4) Weed the raspberries and put up the trellis wires. Also, secure the grape vine to the metal posts.

Once all of this work is done, we can start worrying about how we will schedule picking the vegetables.

Group work session: Sat., 17 July - 9am

2010-07-12T07:23:00.000-07:00

It's just about harvest time and we need to get some work done in the garden. We'll meet at 9am this Sat.

Our main task will be weeding. Most of the vegetables need to be weeded, including:

-melon

-squash

-peppers

-tomatoes

-beans

-3 sisters garden

If you can't make it Sat., we would really appreciate your help whenever you can make it. You are welcome in the garden any time. The melons, squash, tomatoes, and peppers are in rows over by the grape vine, so help yourself.

Garden updates

2010-07-12T07:07:00.000-07:00

I'm behind in posting pictures from the garden. These are from a group work night a couple of weeks ago. The garden is really coming along.

We have had some really great help in several areas. We had some new friends of the garden come out to trellis up the remaining tomatoes and another volunteer tilled under a large section of the garden so we could replant corn.

We have also had a neighbor volunteer to water the garden as needed.

We still need lots of help weeding and soon we'll be picking vegetables.

What still needs to be done

2010-07-02T14:17:00.000-07:00

We got a lot of great work done during our short notice work night. The tomatoes were trellised, most of the beans were weeded, and two rows of corn and sunflowers were planted.

We are still in need of volunteers to water the garden once in a while and there is still more weeded to be done. The rest of the beans need to be weeded and the tomatoes and peppers are getting crowded again, too. I don't think we'll have an organized work night this coming week, but people are welcome to come out and help when they have time.

By the way, here is some proof that anyone can participate in gardening. This is my wife with our 4-month-old son who was doing a little weeding out in our plot.

Waterers needed

2010-07-01T06:13:00.001-07:00

We have been unable to find a timer system that is compatible with the low water pressure our tank produces. (It uses only gravity. Next year, we will install a pump and move the tank over to the church to collect rainwater, eliminating this problem.)

So, we need to get some volunteers who are willing to water the garden. Watering takes between 45 minutes to an hour and consists of turning on the spigot at the tank, waiting 20 to 30 minutes, turning the spigot off, attaching the other hose, and repeating the process. Besides turning the spigot on and off and connecting/disconnect the hoses, there is no work required.

We are looking for people who might be willing to water on a regular basis (Wednesday is already covered) and on an intermittent basis. If you are available and interested, please let me know. We really need your help. Thanks

Short notice group work night - Thursday 6pm

2010-06-30T18:19:00.001-07:00

Thanks to a hard working volunteer, a large part of the garden has been tilled. This will allow us to replant the corn and put in some green manure, but it depends on how many hands we have. If you have a spare moment tomorrow night, please join us to help out. We also need to stake the rest of the tomatoes and weed the beans.

Also, if you need to do work in your own garden, the soil is very easy to work with at the moment.

Group work night Wed., 23 June - 6:30pm

2010-06-17T11:51:00.000-07:00

We're having another group work night this coming Wed. at 6:30pm. This week we were able to weed the peppers, melons, and raspberries and thin out the lettuce and radishes.

To be done this week:

-Weed the tomatoes

-Replant corn (much of it didn't germinate)

-Stake the tomato plants

-Weed and thin the beans

If you can't make it Wed., you are welcome to come at your convenience to do your part. Feel free to send me an email if you do so I can keep track of the progress.

We got several large plastic bins, but we still need lots of plastic bags. We could also use more tomato stakes or cages.

Tarp down, sprouts up

2010-06-06T19:15:00.000-07:00

This year, we are trying something new to thwart the squash vine borers: we're covering our squash and pumpkins with Agribon cover. It allows the sun and rain in, but keeps out insects. We'll also apply a BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray to get any find themselves under the cover.

Many of the seeds are sprouted, including the beans, corn, and squash of our three sisters garden.

Our greens are off to a nice start, too.

Upcoming needs

2010-06-04T06:13:00.000-07:00

-60 tomato cages (lots more tomatoes than last year)

-several large plastic bins (to collect and transport the harvest)

-1 and 2 gallon plastic bags (to bag up the vegetables)

-spare garden tools

Please share this with others. Donations can be dropped off at Church of the Saviour during office hours (see the website for details).

Community planting report

2010-05-25T17:25:00.000-07:00

After the rain delay from last Sunday, some volunteers came together last Monday to get the watering system ready for the community planting. We worked the kinks out of the soaker tape and tested the water pressure. Everything was ready for the big day on Sunday.

The rain this week left the garden pretty muddy (some people compared it to walking on the moon, while I thought it was more like walking in marshmallow.) But the rain was pretty much over by the 9am start time (save for a few sprinkles.) Turn out was low, but we were still able to get most of the work done.

We planted several rows of vegetables, including: corn, beans, squash, pumpkins, melons, carrots, lettuce, and radishes. We had a big donation of pepper and tomato plants that filled up two and a half rows. We also laid out the plots for the families and individuals.

One brave volunteer found it easier to go barefoot than plod through the mud in shoes.

We planted another 3 sisters garden in the southwest corner along with lots of flowers and sunflowers.

We also had a nice donation of some extra raspberry plants and several posts to trellis them (and the grapes).

Our work is done for a couple of weeks, but we'll need to weed pretty soon. Also, we are in need of some supplies, especially tomato cages. We'll be getting the word out about these needs soon, so stay tuned.

Canceled: Monday, 17 May volunteer session

2010-05-17T11:21:00.000-07:00

Due to the bad weather, we're rescheduling the water system work for Thursday, 20 May from 6 to 7 pm.

Community Planting: Sat., 22 May - 9 am

2010-05-16T17:15:00.000-07:00

We're happy to announce that the community planting will be held this Saturday, 22 May, at 9am. We welcome everyone who is interested, even if you have never gardened before. If you do have gardening tools, we encourage you to bring them along since we don't have many to share. What we do have a lot of is dirt and seeds, and if it is anything like last year, we'll have a lot of fun. If you do have seeds or plants you want to donate, bring them along and we'll find room.

Stage 2: Watering System Installed - Volunteers Needed

2010-05-13T10:48:00.000-07:00

Update: The work night has been rescheduled for Thursday, 20 May from 6 to 7 pm.

Rain brothers finished up the installation of the new watering system on Monday and the Harlem Township Fire Department has already filled up our 550-gallon tank.

That means we are almost ready to go. We need a few volunteers to help stretch out the lines and get the kinks out of the hose. We will then open up access to the garden for families and individuals.

We'll meet this Monday, 17 May at 6:30 pm at Church of the Saviour. Please send me an e-mail so I can make sure we have enough people. The work should only take a short time.

Also, we're planning the community planting for Saturday, 22 May at 9am. Everyone is welcome to come and plant the garden. Bring any tools you'd like. Additional donations of seeds and plants are welcome, too.

With all the rain, our raspberry bushes have really taken off and we should have a great harvest this summer.

Summer project: storage shed

2010-05-12T14:44:00.000-07:00

Just got the word that we will be putting up a storage shed this summer. Church of the Saviour was given permission to reclaim some unused materials from a baseball diamond in the area. The backstop has already been moved and will be used to set up a new diamond on the church grounds. There is also a concession stand that will be moved to our property. It needs some work (a new floor in particular), but it will provide us with some much needed storage. We'll be looking for volunteers soon to help move and renovate the shed.

First Look: New Watering System

2010-04-26T14:51:00.001-07:00

The folks from Rain Brothers came out today and set up our new water tank.

This 550-gallon tank is made in Ohio and will be filled up for us by the Harlem Township Fire Department.

They also got a start on laying down the soaker tape, but they'll have to finish up later in the week. Since the tank is slightly uphill from the garden, the water system will work on gravity alone.

Once it is set up, we'll be able to test it out. When everything is ready to go, we'll open up planting to our individual planters.

In the long term, we'll hook up the tank to the gutters on the church to collect the rain water. With a small pump we'll be able to move the water to the entire garden--a big improvement over last year. Water was a major limitation for us last year. With the new system we'll be able to plant the entire plot this year, greatly increasing our harvest over our first year.

Water tank fundraiser: Moving towards a sustainable water system

2010-04-18T20:00:00.000-07:00

We're very excited to announce that we are working with Rain Brothers, a local company specializing in rainwater harvesting and sustainable irrigation, to install a new water system in the garden. We'll be installing a 550-gallon tank and several rows of soaker tape that will water the garden as needed using only gravity. Last year, hand watering the garden several times a week using a bird's nest of hoses severely limited our output. With the new system, the watering will be done by gravity, meaning we can plant much more square footage.

Along with the increased output, we will be reducing the amount of water we use since the soaker tape will allow us to water more effectively. We'll also be saving money in the long run since we won't be using water from the line. Instead, we'll be getting it from the pond that catches the excess rainwater from the surrounding area.

But how will the water get from the pond to the tank? The Harlem Township Fire Department fills their trucks from our pond. When we need the tank to be filled, they will drive over and fill the tank for us. So with the exception of the gas needed to drive the fire trucks out to the church (which they are currently doing anyway), we won't need any extra energy to pump or distribute the water.

Most of the cost will be covered the by the budget for the garden provided by the three churches. But we need to raise an extra $300 to cover the rest. We've already had a few donations and the end is in sight. Please consider making a donation. All amounts are appreciated. Checks can be made out to Church of the Saviour - UM with a note that it is for the 3 Sisters Water Tank.

The extra produce from the garden will be a huge help to the Friends Who Share Food Pantry and people all over the Big Walnut area. We are thankful for the help of Rain Brothers who have been able to get us a deal on some of the supplies and have been a big help in planning the system. We also appreciate the willingness of the Harlem Township Fire Department to help in this project.

Tilling and fertilizing

2010-04-10T17:22:00.000-07:00

It was a busy day today. A couple who volunteer in the garden brought over a tractor to till and fertilize. In a short time, the ground was turned over and some high quality horse manure was added. We also added the left over Milorganite from last year, which will hopefully help to keep the deer away again. The ground looks great already and should be even better in a couple of weeks when its time to plant.

The raspberries came back really well and are sending out lots of new shoots. The grape vine made it through the winter too and has lots of buds on it. We'll need to set up some real posts that can support the weight of it this year.

Personal/Family Plots Now Available

2010-03-18T07:57:00.000-07:00

This year we are excited to offer personal/family plots to our neighbors. There is no fee for the plot but growers must agree to donate 10% of their produce to the Friends Who Share Food Pantry. A donation to help cover water costs is helpful, but not required. The complete rules are available here.

Plots will be available on a first-come-first-serve basis. Feel free to send along any questions to me via the comments section or at nickposs@gmail.com.

Getting growing

2010-03-16T16:21:00.000-07:00

Work has already started on the garden for this year. On Friday, 16 February the eight members of the youth group started four flats of seedlings. Within a couple of weeks, the sprouts had already sprung. As you can see, some of them got a little zealous with planting:

We started: cabbage, kale, collards, eggplant, onion, and nasturtium. By this weekend, all the seedlings were well on their way.

The youth have enjoyed seeing their seeds turn in to plants. It will really help us get a jump start on the growing season.

What's new for 2010?

2010-03-10T09:34:00.000-08:00

This year we're back to build on the success of our first year. So what's different?

Publicly available garden plots for individuals or families

We're happy to offer the opportunity for neighbors to have their own garden plots, free of charge. Plots will be between 10'x20' and 20'x20'. Water is available as is limited help in setting up the plots. While there is no cost for the plot, we do ask that people donate 10% of their harvest to the Friends Who Share Food Pantry.

Expanded opportunities for youth outreach

Last year we we're able to work with the summer youth program at Church of the Saviour to help out in the garden. This year, we are expanding that to the youth programs at the other churches that meet during the school year. Members of these groups have already started seeds to plant in the garden and will be active in garden maintenance. We also plan to have more lessons about organic gardening and cooking with vegetables.

New watering options

We are currently looking for new ways to water our garden. One possibility is to install a large water trough. The Harlem Township Fire Department has already agreed to fill it up for us with their excess water. Also, we are looking in to putting the water line from the church underground to eliminate problems with the multiple water hoses.

Overall, we plan to increase the number of volunteers and our produce output. We'll be announcing meetings soon to discuss the details of the garden, so keep your eye on this space.

2009 Report

2010-03-10T09:27:00.000-08:00

Our first year was a great success in many ways and our second year is promising to be even better. Here's is a quick look back at what we accomplished in 2009:

Supplied food to the Friends Who Share Food Pantry
Shared food with neighbors in need
Youth outreach through education programs
Used organic gardening methods
Website with resources and recipes
Community harvest festival

Harvest:

Tomatoes: 94 Lbs.
Beans: 89 Lbs.
Cherry tomatoes: 66 Lbs.
Cucumbers: 67
Zucchini/Summer squash: 36

Also: carrots, peppers, squash, eggplant, cauliflower, broccoli, watermelon, cantaloupe, pumpkins, okra, corn, herbs, radishes, lettuce and raspberries

Thank you to all the volunteers who worked so hard to get our project off to a great start. We look forward to working with you again in 2010.

Upcoming gardening events

2010-03-10T09:00:00.000-08:00

Thursday, March 18th
12-1:30pm
North Broadway UMC (48 E North Broadway, Columbus 43214)
Food Pantry and Garden Roundtable

We are inviting representatives of food pantry and community garden ministries from all nine counties in our two districts to come together to share ideas and resources. Here are some topics we will discuss:

-How to help food pantries connect with gardens across the county
-Food for special diets like diabetes
-Free CFL lightbulbs to pass out (possible deal with AEP)
-Other ideas/resources you would like to share

Lunch will be provided. Bring seeds or any items you have a lot of that you could share with other pantries. Personal Needs Pantries are also invited. Please share the word with any other pantries or gardens in your county.

April 14
6pm
Rain Barrell Workshop
Genoa Township Community Gardens
614-895-1126 for more information
http://www.genoatwp.com/

Permablitz: Community Implemented Sustainable Gardens

2009-09-29T07:12:00.000-07:00

From Australia, a simple idea to promote the use of sustainable, home vegetable gardens. Permablitz organizes volunteers to plant a small, edible garden at someone's home in the span of one day. More information.

Tues, Sept. 29, 6pm - Garden clean up

2009-09-27T14:24:00.000-07:00

It's time to get the garden ready for winter. We can use as many hands as we can get. If you are interested, we will likely head over to Max & Erma's afterwards to support a fundraising effort by the youth group.

Sept. 22 - Harvest report

2009-09-22T10:55:00.000-07:00

The garden has continued to produce tomatoes, squash, and berries even though we have done only minimal maintenance. On Sunday, we picked up the remaining winter squash as well as a few left over peppers and summer squash. This will be shared with the youth group which now meets on Tuesday nights. In total:

-13 spaghetti squash
-5 summer squash
-4 pumpkins
-1 butternut squash
-2 pounds of peppers
-several large sunflower heads

That should pretty much wrap it up for the harvest. Our next job will be to get the garden ready for winter and next year.

Harvest Festival report

2009-08-30T15:15:00.001-07:00

The Harvest Festival was a great success. The food and music were amazing and everyone had a good time. There was a small amount of beans, tomatoes, and raspberries left, so everyone got to tour the garden and take home a bag of fresh vegetables. It was a great opportunity for people from all three churches to share some time together.

The dishes celebrated the vegetables we grow in the garden: fresh salsa, tomato tart, green tomato pie, tomato jam, corn pudding, zucchini bread, cucumber and zucchini pickles, and lots more.

Local old-time musicians volunteered their time to provide a festive atmosphere for the proceedings. Their lively music was a big hit.

More pictures of the festival are including in the slide show below. As harvest season winds down, we'll be featuring more information on gardening and cooking, including many recipes featured in the potluck meal. So check back often. You can also receive updates via e-mail or through our RSS feed.

We will have some squash, cantaloupe, watermelon, and pumpkin on the way which will be shared with our neighbors. We'll have more information on plans for next year (including the opportunity for individual or family plots) very soon.

Thanks to everybody who helped out to make the day such a success.

First Annual Harvest Festival - Sunday, 30 August, 1pm

2009-08-26T09:03:00.000-07:00

Everyone is invited to our first harvest festival to be held this Sunday at 1pm at Church of the Saviour (11239 Fancher Rd., Westerville) [map]. The afternoon will feature a potluck with recipes inspired by vegetables from the garden (and many made with vegetables harvested right here). There will also be live music and lots of games for the children.

It is a great opportunity to celebrate the garden and to spend time with our new friends. We will also be giving garden tours and handing out information about what we accomplished in our first year and what we hope to do in the future.

This event is free and open to the public. We look forward to seeing you there.

Aug 24 - Harvest Report

2009-08-26T07:36:00.001-07:00

By now, the beans are done, the corn is done, and the zukes and summer squash are petering out. This was really the night of the tomato. We picked a whole wheelbarrow full of them: big beefsteaks, romas, and cherry tomatoes. We also had our first carrots and broccoli.

We picked the rest of the cucumbers and dug up the vines, which had been hit by a blight. Here are the stats:

30 bags of large tomatoes (6-8 tomatoes in each bag)
12 bags of cherry tomatoes (20+ tomatoes in each bag)
25 cucumbers
15 carrots
4 zucchini
20 peppers (assorted types)

Next week, we'll have more tomatoes and a few zukes and squash, but things will be winding down. We do have watermelon, cantaloupe, squash, and pumpkins to look forward to.

This harvest was again distributed to the Wednesday youth group and shared with the residents of Westerville Estates.

August 16 - Harvest report

2009-08-26T07:16:00.001-07:00

It's a little late, but I wanted to catch up with the last couple of weeks. We had another great harvest on the 16th. Here's the tally:

Beans - 17 1-lb bags
Corn - 48 ears
Cucumbers - 32
Lettuce - 2 bags
Onions - around 20
Peppers - 16
Summer Squash - 8
Tomatoes - 14 bags of large and Roma tomatoes (approx 8-10 per bag)
Cherry Tomatoes - 16 quart-sized bags
Zucchini - 4

This harvest was shared with the Wednesday youth group who helped to distribute it to residents of Westerville Estates.

Group work night: Mon., Aug. 24 - 6:30pm

2009-08-23T09:38:00.000-07:00

Taking a break from our usually Tuesday work nights. Please join us to pick some veggies and do other maintenance on the garden.

Another harvest

2009-08-13T15:51:00.000-07:00

The group work night was highly successful. According to Judy S.-K., who dropped off the harvest at the Friends Who Share food pantry, we picked:

60 large tomatoes
5 qt bags filled with cherry tomatoes (mostly the yellow variety)
10 large zucchinis and summer squash
2 cucumbers
34 pounds of beans
1 head cauliflower

We picked so much that we are planning for another group work night next week (Tuesday, Aug. 18 at 6:30pm). This harvest will be shared with the youth group at Church of the Saviour who will help to distribute it to residents of Westerville Estates.

Two new problems have cropped up: powdery mildew and squash vine borers. The powdery mildew can weaken plants but rarely kills them. We'll be applying a diluted milk solution to the affected leaves. This has been shown to be as effective as synthetic fungicides. Hopefully, we'll see results soon.

The vine borers are more problematic. It appears that they have affected pretty much all of our pumpkin vines. There are ways to physically remove them, but I did not have much luck in digging them out. Next year, we'll plan ahead to prevent them from laying eggs in the first place.

Tues., Aug. 11, 6:30pm - Group Work Day

2009-08-09T14:16:00.000-07:00

Everyone is invited to come help pick vegetables, weed, and do other routine maintenance on the garden. This harvest will be given to the Friends Who Share food pantry.

Garden pizza party

2009-08-04T19:15:00.000-07:00

On Monday the children from the youth program came over to the garden for the morning. We had fun picking lots of different vegetables and tasting different herbs. Everyone got to take home a big bag of beans, tomatoes, and squash. We cut up the onions, peppers, eggplant, and tomatoes to make pizzas from scratch. The kids got to shape the dough for individual pizzas and then put on their own toppings. Yes, pepperoni was more popular than peppers, but everyone had a great time.

First harvest!

2009-07-27T06:34:00.000-07:00

Beans! That's mainly what we got with our first harvest. Both the green and the blue bush beans produced prodigiously (with more on the way soon). We also got a couple of summer squash and and several radishes.

These vegetables will help to feed the kids at the summer youth program hosted by Church of the Saviour (and staffed with volunteers from all three churches). It's a great start to our harvest season.

Garden pests

2009-07-19T16:35:00.001-07:00

We've been fortunate so far and have only suffered minimal damage from a few common garden pests.

First to hit were aphids and flea beetles. The aphids were actually being farmed by ants for a protein rich secretion called honeydew. These insects were easy to control with small doses of diatomaceous earth: and organic insecticide containing tiny particles that break down the exoskeletons of insects. This has to be used judiciously because it can kill pests as well as beneficial insects (and several ladybugs have been spotted around the garden).

Today, we found some striped cucumber beetles hanging out in a flower on a pumpkin vine.

Photo by wormwould

These can be deadly to plants and are hard to control since they can migrate in from other places. Fortunately, they had only reached a couple of plants and were easily picked off. A little more diatomaceous earth was dusted around the base of the plants to kill any larvae that might have been hanging around. If you happen to spot anymore, just go ahead and squish them.

We're doing our best to keep things organic, and so far we haven't used any chemical pesticides at all. A key to our strategy has been the application of beneficial insects; in particular, trichogramma: a tiny, parasitic wasp that attacks the eggs of several garden pests.

I'm sure there'll be more bugs in our future. Let's just hope they're the good kind.

What work is needed today....

2009-06-22T06:26:00.000-07:00

We do not need to water - it is plenty muddy from the rains. BUT newspaper (cardboard) needs to go down between the rows with straw on top as the weeds are now starting to grow as well. There is lots of paper and straw available. Bring cardboard if you have it.

Free Meal and Organizational Meeting: Wed., July 1st - 6:30pm

2009-06-21T07:18:00.000-07:00

Everyone is invited to a "Meet Your Neighbor" and "Garden Organization" meeting Wed., July 1st at 6:30 pm in the Westerville Estates Community Center (11050 Fancher Road, Westerville, Ohio 43084)

A free dinner will be provided with dishes inspired by the vegetables we are growing.

We will be discussing how best to manage the garden resources as well as planning for the future. If you are interested in helping to care for the garden, getting your own plot next year, or figuring out how best to share the produce this year, we hope you will join us for a meal and discussion.

For more information, contact Nick Poss.

What's growing in the garden?

2009-06-15T09:13:00.001-07:00

Here are the latest pictures from the garden. Just about everything has germinated (except for some herbs). There are even a few tomatoes, peppers, and cauliflower fruiting out.

Wading pool gardening

2009-06-14T04:10:00.000-07:00

From Ever-green Gardening Ministries comes a neat idea for a simple and cheap container garden: children's wading pools. Everything can be done for less than $20. A great way to create a garden for small spaces or places where the soil isn't suitable for growing vegetables.

2009-06-12T14:09:00.000-07:00

Hard rains pushed beans out of lines. Mulch helps to prevent this from happening. We would like to put cardboard between rows, just like newspaper, so recycle boxes with us.

2009-06-12T14:05:00.000-07:00

We have the beginnings of cauliflower and banana peppers.

2009-06-12T14:02:00.000-07:00

The tomatoes have a layer of newspaper to block the weeds and mulch of straw around the plants to help retain moisture.

2009-06-10T02:55:00.001-07:00

The straw was delivered to use around the plants...just need a wire snip to cut the baling wire. A little mulch will hold moisture in around the plant and slow down weed growth. Give a direct, watering to the plant before mulching, It also prevents run off of the soil around the plant.

Your help is needed: watering, newspaper and mulch

2009-06-09T05:12:00.000-07:00

The first sprouts are showing up in the garden: radishes, lettuce, and beans. The soil drains very fast and we need your help to make sure the garden is watered every day.

If you are interested in helping, contact Nick Poss at Church of the Saviour, Judy Sharpe-Kosmatka at Harlem Road, or Jean Schafer at New Albany. Even if you can't help out with the watering, we need donations of newspaper and mulch to help keep down the weeds and conserve water.

Upcoming plans: We hope to have rain barrels installed very soon to help with watering and the compost pile should be available this week. More on that soon.

Pictures from the first planting

2009-06-01T06:10:00.000-07:00

An empty plot of dirt isn't much to look at, but it's a beautiful sight when it's filled with happy people and plants. In just a few hours our crew was able to fill up most of the 15000 sq. ft. (at least until we ran out of seedlings and seeds). The grape arbor is up and the raspberries will be coming in this week. More flowers and corn will also be added. It was great day to meet new friends and plan for the future. Thanks to everyone who helped out. If you are interested in getting involved, just contact the church offices at one of the three churches or send an e-mail to nickposs@gmail.com.

Cook for Good - Save money. Eat well. Do good.

2009-06-01T05:02:00.000-07:00

The website Cook for Good has menus, recipes, and cooking tips about cooking efficient, healthy, and cheap food using fresh ingredients. Right now they're promoting a menu and cooking routine that results in meals for just $1.99.

First planting May 30th, 1pm

2009-05-27T09:52:00.000-07:00

Everyone is invited to the inagural planting of the Three Sister Community Garden located at Church of the Saviour UMC (map). You may also join us for a potluck lunch at noon in celebration of Homecoming weekend at Church of the Saviour. We look forward to getting our hands dirty and making new friends. We are looking for donations, both monetary and otherwise so if you have any of the following please bring them along (to use for the day or donate):

Rototillers (especially larger ones will be useful for evening out the soil)
Shovels
Rakes
Gloves
Other garden implements
Scrap wood/trellacing
Fencing

Please feel free to bring along any seeds, seedlings or plants you care to share with us. The 3S Garden Committee will be shopping for plants this Friday and plan to purchase at least some of the following:

Tomatoes
Berry plants
Beans
Asparagus
Corn
Herbs
Zucchini
Cucumber
Melon
Squash/pumpkin
Grapes
Greens
Flowers

Don't forget to check with our website regularly. We'll be posting pictures, stories about the garden, updates about what is growing or available for harvest as well as a few recipes using produce from the garden.

You can keep track of updates on this website by e-mail or by subscribing to our RSS feed.

Hope to see you on Sunday.

Three Sisters Gardens

2009-05-26T10:52:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our website. We've chosen the name Three Sisters for our community garden to reflect the loving support of the three churches who are sharing in this project. But the name also refers to an intercropping gardening technique in which crops grow along side each other. There are many variants, but plants like corn, squash, and beans are often used. This type of planting was common among Native American groups.

The different attributes of the crops benefit the entire group. The stalks of the corn supply support for the beans. The beans add nitrogen to the soil. The leaves of the squash keep down weeds and retain moisture in the soil. By growing together, the crops grow better. That's how we like to think of our community and church, too.