Well, it has finally happened, summer. After many long months of cold and wind we have been graced by the presence of warmer weather and that glowing orb in the sky. I am grateful down to the tips of my toes as are the pumpkins and Big Mama lima beans planted at the store.
The urban farm school store is starting to take shape with plans for rare and heirloom chickens in the spring of 2009 to help deter the loss of these breeds in the United States. We have been salvaging materials and have found some of the most beautiful old growth wood, fir doors, lathe, and cedar shake. Our imaginations are running wild with visions of laying boxes and chicken runs all from recycled materials.
The demonstration garden is coming along as well, we have volunteer pumpkins from Toree’s compost pile last year and have planted a large arbor of Big Mama Lima Beans. We have plans for an outdoor workspace and classroom to hold hands-on workshops. We are excited about bringing the joy of eating from the garden to the world around us. Our gardens are growing and we are eating and canning already this year. Visit our garden journal blogs at www.kendrasgardenjournal.wordpress.com and www.toreesgardenjournal.wordpress.com to see what we’re up to in our own gardens.
We hope to see you at one of our workshops or at a Gardenforlife Party at your home. Please, note the change from Saturday mornings to Thursday evenings for classes at our store. It’s that gardening time of year and we’re both more apt to attend a class when we’re done in the garden for the day rather that when the day has just opened its door of gardening and scavenging possibilities to us and we’re sure you feel the same way!
Moving into a house in New West, our first! A garden and a 4 hen coop are in my plans. I will be checking in regularly.
Question: we will be converting lawn area to vegetable garden. what should we keep in mind for soil preparation?
New gardens and chicken coops to boot, fabulous!
patience, patience, patience with lawn to food conversions and i can not express the importance of compost enough.
start planning your layout now and utilize the late autumn and winter months to your advantage by using compost (6 inches with a suppression layer like carboard on top) where you want the new veggie beds or you can sheet mulch (alternating 6 inch layers of greens and browns with the suppression layer at the bottom). in the spring the soil will be friable and the nutrient base will already be established.
remember the adage when starting any garden, “first year sleep, second year creep, third year leap.” it is especially true for vegetable gardens!