The Jack Simpson senior garden of Rural Communities Housing and Development Corp. (RCHDC) dug in on Saturday, April 24th! Cold Creek Compost donated and delivered the compost and the California Conservation Corps (CCC) brought an amazing crew to move the compost, dig tree holes, and level the paths. The Ukiah High School Interact Club moved compost and dug beds, and Together We Can Mendocino was there again, shoveling and digging! Not to mention that enthusiastic effort of the Jack Simpson residents.
The compost was moved and dug into the beds that have an automatic drip system installed by the Higgins family and North Coast Hort. Next steps: Plant pineapple guavas as a green fence, build a tool shed and raised- wheelchair accessible beds, put in a hardscape path and start planting!
To see more pictures of the day, visit The Gardens Project photo gallery!
Monday, April 27, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
The Vermiculture Digest
Greetings CSA Family and Friends!
Today I will say something about “healthy addictions.” Really, this is an important topic. Our brain likes happy chemicals and we tend to find ways to release them. Trouble is, we become quickly habituated to stimulation and then seek novelty to get that same old feeling. Our modern society gives us so many opportunities to be rewarded, but many people can’t handle it. They become addicted to unhealthy things. Of course product developers and marketers exist to get you addicted to buying stuff.
If you are really keen on the topic, see this old radio show I did: http://globalpublicmedia.com/reality_report_evolution_addiction_and_economic_demand
A key point discussed in that show is that we can’t keep from becoming addicted to something. Once we accept this fact of life, the question becomes whether we can work on controlling what we are addicted to and make it healthy and inexpensive rather than destructive and costly.
Why I am writing about this in a farm newsletter?
Because cultivation of plants is a healthy addiction. When I am working on the farm or garden I get to do all sorts of addictive activities. First, I make plans. This sets up the expectation of a reward. But the reward is in the future and the exact timing and quality of the reward is not perfectly known. This is important from a neurological perspective. We want to have expectations fulfilled, but they can’t be totally predictable because fulfillment requires the establishment of tension.
Okay, so the garden plan sets up a potential reward. Then I invest. This raises the stakes. I really don’t want the plants to die. I tend them. Watching them grow feeds mini rewards. “Oh look! The seeds are germinating!” Getting the odd positive reinforcement along the way keeps me hooked. It’s like having a flirtatious conversation.
I really don’t know why, but the plants are beautiful too. I like to gaze upon a thriving bed of rainbow-colored chard. The colors of lettuce are astounding. I grow a light green variety called Salad Bowl and a dark red one called Red Oak Leaf. Seeing them side-by-side is a treat.
I look forward to these experiences each year. In the winter I start to miss them. Seasonality is crucial because it re-establishes novelty. I don’t eat fresh tomatoes out of season, which means I enjoy them all the more when they come off those vines. And the winter provides its own rewards. Tree collards are best in the winter. The occasional snow or hard frost events are fun. An inch of snow on dark green-blue Dino kale is a twice-yearly spectacle.
Exiting Happenings at the Farm. Potatoes will be planted this Friday. Trenches will be dug and the spuds placed about a foot apart. Soil will be tossed over them and they will be periodically hilled. I can’t wait to see them spread their leaves across the whole bed-row and then flower.
While I am obviously having fun, I am a bit anxious right now too. A lot of area has been seeded in beets, carrots and onions. But few seeds have germinated. I go through this every year. Wondering if the seeds are viable, if the soil is alright, if I am giving the beds enough water….on and on. Usually, it turns out fine. Plants have a will to live. But sometimes bad things happen, and I start making back-up plans. I’ve sown a whole flat of onions, for example, and I will probably test the germination rate of those beet seeds in my greenhouse. I don’t want you all to worry, just letting you know what kind of swings I go through mentally. “Talking” about it makes me feel a little better.
The greenhouse has some new occupants that will excite your salivary glands: tomatoes, peppers and tomatillos. No germination to report yet since they just went in this weekend, but they are in beautiful flat soil and on a temperature sensitive heating pad (thanks to David Drell). Amazing to ponder that they will be 2 feet tall in one gallon pots by the end of May…more anticipation.
Probably the Most Exciting News You Will Hear in a While. Antonia Partridge has been working with me at Brookside Farm for a couple of weeks and we are seriously planning to place chickens on site, both egg and meat types. Details to follow, but the idea is that we improve the soil fertility while adding value to the whole operation. Using chicken tractors I think we can do wonderful things to the troubled area that had symphylans last year.
Your baskets this month are not huge. Start thinking about what to do with leeks, tree collards, chard, kale, and green onions. They might be great together in a frittata. I am still partial to cooking greens in broth for about 10 minutes with some salt and pepper.
I am hoping to have another harvest in mid May and be going weekly around then. Just so you understand the harvest cycle, the produce will really pick up in volume by mid June and baskets are hefty each week though October. Then we close out the year with a couple of monthly deliveries in Nov. and Dec.
Horticulturally Yours,
Jason
Today I will say something about “healthy addictions.” Really, this is an important topic. Our brain likes happy chemicals and we tend to find ways to release them. Trouble is, we become quickly habituated to stimulation and then seek novelty to get that same old feeling. Our modern society gives us so many opportunities to be rewarded, but many people can’t handle it. They become addicted to unhealthy things. Of course product developers and marketers exist to get you addicted to buying stuff.
If you are really keen on the topic, see this old radio show I did: http://globalpublicmedia.com/reality_report_evolution_addiction_and_economic_demand
A key point discussed in that show is that we can’t keep from becoming addicted to something. Once we accept this fact of life, the question becomes whether we can work on controlling what we are addicted to and make it healthy and inexpensive rather than destructive and costly.
Why I am writing about this in a farm newsletter?
Because cultivation of plants is a healthy addiction. When I am working on the farm or garden I get to do all sorts of addictive activities. First, I make plans. This sets up the expectation of a reward. But the reward is in the future and the exact timing and quality of the reward is not perfectly known. This is important from a neurological perspective. We want to have expectations fulfilled, but they can’t be totally predictable because fulfillment requires the establishment of tension.
Okay, so the garden plan sets up a potential reward. Then I invest. This raises the stakes. I really don’t want the plants to die. I tend them. Watching them grow feeds mini rewards. “Oh look! The seeds are germinating!” Getting the odd positive reinforcement along the way keeps me hooked. It’s like having a flirtatious conversation.
I really don’t know why, but the plants are beautiful too. I like to gaze upon a thriving bed of rainbow-colored chard. The colors of lettuce are astounding. I grow a light green variety called Salad Bowl and a dark red one called Red Oak Leaf. Seeing them side-by-side is a treat.
I look forward to these experiences each year. In the winter I start to miss them. Seasonality is crucial because it re-establishes novelty. I don’t eat fresh tomatoes out of season, which means I enjoy them all the more when they come off those vines. And the winter provides its own rewards. Tree collards are best in the winter. The occasional snow or hard frost events are fun. An inch of snow on dark green-blue Dino kale is a twice-yearly spectacle.
Exiting Happenings at the Farm. Potatoes will be planted this Friday. Trenches will be dug and the spuds placed about a foot apart. Soil will be tossed over them and they will be periodically hilled. I can’t wait to see them spread their leaves across the whole bed-row and then flower.
While I am obviously having fun, I am a bit anxious right now too. A lot of area has been seeded in beets, carrots and onions. But few seeds have germinated. I go through this every year. Wondering if the seeds are viable, if the soil is alright, if I am giving the beds enough water….on and on. Usually, it turns out fine. Plants have a will to live. But sometimes bad things happen, and I start making back-up plans. I’ve sown a whole flat of onions, for example, and I will probably test the germination rate of those beet seeds in my greenhouse. I don’t want you all to worry, just letting you know what kind of swings I go through mentally. “Talking” about it makes me feel a little better.
The greenhouse has some new occupants that will excite your salivary glands: tomatoes, peppers and tomatillos. No germination to report yet since they just went in this weekend, but they are in beautiful flat soil and on a temperature sensitive heating pad (thanks to David Drell). Amazing to ponder that they will be 2 feet tall in one gallon pots by the end of May…more anticipation.
Probably the Most Exciting News You Will Hear in a While. Antonia Partridge has been working with me at Brookside Farm for a couple of weeks and we are seriously planning to place chickens on site, both egg and meat types. Details to follow, but the idea is that we improve the soil fertility while adding value to the whole operation. Using chicken tractors I think we can do wonderful things to the troubled area that had symphylans last year.
Your baskets this month are not huge. Start thinking about what to do with leeks, tree collards, chard, kale, and green onions. They might be great together in a frittata. I am still partial to cooking greens in broth for about 10 minutes with some salt and pepper.
I am hoping to have another harvest in mid May and be going weekly around then. Just so you understand the harvest cycle, the produce will really pick up in volume by mid June and baskets are hefty each week though October. Then we close out the year with a couple of monthly deliveries in Nov. and Dec.
Horticulturally Yours,
Jason
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
This Week at the Learning Garden
Hi folks,
Hold on to your hats! It's a good thing we have greenhouses to play inotherwise I'd just have to go home and hide there. This wind sure is frisky.The garden is holding up well, the row covers are intact and shelteringbroccoli and lettuce.
The peas have a good grip n their trellis' and thecarrots are bravely sprouting. The lettuce and spinach planted under cover amonth ago is looking fabulous and will go into the Earth Day salad. It's been a bit quiet this week as the high school is on spring break.
This weeks lettuce and spinach went to the Redwood Coast Senior Center and Piaci's,both great places to have lunch. Today I started organizing the nursery in preparation of the plant sale on the 26th and I noticed we have some broccoli,celery and flowers that are ready to plant.
If you would like to get someplants for your garden please come by the garden this Sunday in the afternoonf or a little 'pre-plant sale'.
The Friday work days have been great fun.I send many thanks to all of you terrific volunteers for all you do and special hurray to Scott for installing new vents in the greenhouse. This Friday we will continue to get ready forEarth Day and also tend to the Food Forest which needs weeding and prepping.
We also have celery to plant, the turnips need thinning, the old brassicas need to go to the compost pile, and we can harvest lettuce, spinach, cilantro, chardand kale. 1:00 -5:00.
cheers Sakina
Hold on to your hats! It's a good thing we have greenhouses to play inotherwise I'd just have to go home and hide there. This wind sure is frisky.The garden is holding up well, the row covers are intact and shelteringbroccoli and lettuce.
The peas have a good grip n their trellis' and thecarrots are bravely sprouting. The lettuce and spinach planted under cover amonth ago is looking fabulous and will go into the Earth Day salad. It's been a bit quiet this week as the high school is on spring break.
This weeks lettuce and spinach went to the Redwood Coast Senior Center and Piaci's,both great places to have lunch. Today I started organizing the nursery in preparation of the plant sale on the 26th and I noticed we have some broccoli,celery and flowers that are ready to plant.
If you would like to get someplants for your garden please come by the garden this Sunday in the afternoonf or a little 'pre-plant sale'.
The Friday work days have been great fun.I send many thanks to all of you terrific volunteers for all you do and special hurray to Scott for installing new vents in the greenhouse. This Friday we will continue to get ready forEarth Day and also tend to the Food Forest which needs weeding and prepping.
We also have celery to plant, the turnips need thinning, the old brassicas need to go to the compost pile, and we can harvest lettuce, spinach, cilantro, chardand kale. 1:00 -5:00.
cheers Sakina
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
This Week in the Learning Garden
Greetings garden friends:
Yesterday was a whirlwind of little kids from Redwood elementary. The childrenin the after school program came over to help out in the garden and wereassisted by adult and high school helpers. A good time was had by all sowingseeds, making compost, and giving the nursery a grand new covering of woodchips.
This week we will continue to work in the nursery setting up tables andmoving plants out from the shade house. Many thanks to volunteer Steve forforking another carrot bed for the next round of seeds we will sow today.Friday is always compost day if you want to learn more about composting, theworkday starts at 1:00.
The adult ROP gardening class will be taking a field trip to Noyo Hill Farm onSunday. Farmer John grows organic vegetables, mushrooms, eggs, sheep, andprovides 60 food boxes a week to our community. I would especially recommendcoming to see his row covers. We will car pool from the high school parking at10:00 am and get back by noon.
Do you have an hour to spare? We are still looking for volunteers to help atour Earth Day celebration April 26th. It will be a fun day of music, food, andworkshops with many informational booths and kids activities. To help out callKim at 937-0113.
calling for rain.
Sakina
Yesterday was a whirlwind of little kids from Redwood elementary. The childrenin the after school program came over to help out in the garden and wereassisted by adult and high school helpers. A good time was had by all sowingseeds, making compost, and giving the nursery a grand new covering of woodchips.
This week we will continue to work in the nursery setting up tables andmoving plants out from the shade house. Many thanks to volunteer Steve forforking another carrot bed for the next round of seeds we will sow today.Friday is always compost day if you want to learn more about composting, theworkday starts at 1:00.
The adult ROP gardening class will be taking a field trip to Noyo Hill Farm onSunday. Farmer John grows organic vegetables, mushrooms, eggs, sheep, andprovides 60 food boxes a week to our community. I would especially recommendcoming to see his row covers. We will car pool from the high school parking at10:00 am and get back by noon.
Do you have an hour to spare? We are still looking for volunteers to help atour Earth Day celebration April 26th. It will be a fun day of music, food, andworkshops with many informational booths and kids activities. To help out callKim at 937-0113.
calling for rain.
Sakina
Monday, April 6, 2009
Orchard Apts. Dig In!
Out with the lawn and in with the garden! On Sunday, April 5th, the residents of Orchard Manor and Village Apts. of the Rural Communities Housing and Development Corp. (RCHDC) pulled out the lawn, laid out the garden beds, and spread the compost for the new resident garden. A big thanks to Ed Madson and Mark Rauch of Mendocino College for cutting the lawn, the newly formed volunteer group "Together We Can Mendocino" for contributing their time and labor, Cold Creek Compost for providing the compost, Nor Cal Wood Products for the redwood posts, Chevalier Vineyard Management for installing the fence, and Dark Horse Farming Co. for augering the holes. Next up: The Ukiah High Welding class is completing the steel gates for the garden, irrigation to be installed, and start planting!!
To see more pictures of the day, visit The Gardens Project Photo Gallery. To be involved in more garden work parties, check out the Events Calendar.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Dig Into the Coast Community Gardens!
Community gardens are spaces of common ground where all kinds of people come together to grow healthy food. Each garden is unique in its own way: some provide space for individuals to grow their own fresh produce, others grow food collectively and distribute the produce to volunteers, while others grow food for the Food Bank or local schools. All improve our quality of life, beautify neighborhoods, provide food security, strengthen social connections, and preserve green space. If you’re looking for a healthy way to make new friends, learn useful skills, and reap the abundant harvest, check out one (or all!) of our Coast Community Gardens.
The Learning Garden at Fort Bragg High School (300 Dana Street, Fort Bragg) is an on-site Farm to School program and center for education in community-based agriculture. Volunteer workdays are held every Friday from 1-5pm and volunteers always leave with helpful gardening tips, new friends, and fresh produce in hand. Low cost workshops and events are held periodically in the garden, including an annual Earth Day celebration held the last Sunday of April. Contact Sakina Bush, Noyo Food Forest Learning Garden Manager, at (707)964-9232 for more information.
The Noyo Come-Unity Garden at Thanksgiving Coffee is a traditional community garden where individuals and families rent plots to grow their own fresh produce. It is located in the south harbor of Fort Bragg adjacent to the world famous Thanksgiving Coffee roasting headquarters. The Garden hosts eleven individual plots and a large communal garden space where food is grown and donated to local shelters and food banks. This garden is led by Noyo Food Forest Community Gardens Coordinator Katrina Aschenbrenner who can be reached at (707)964-3979. Community workdays are held most Sundays from 1-4pm, weather permitting.
The Caspar Community Garden provides space for people to garden and encourages community members to grow organic produce for themselves, for the Caspar Community Center, and for people in need. Volunteer workdays are held on Sundays from 10-2 and can also be scheduled during the week by contacting Liz Haapanen at (707)964-1674 or Alexandria Alexander at (707)964-5512. The garden is located behind the Caspar Community Center at 15051 Caspar Road.
The Mendocino Community Garden was founded in 1997 and is the longest growing community garden on the coast. The organic garden is tended jointly by all who work within it and the bulk of the food goes to the Fort Bragg Food Bank and local soup kitchens. Community workdays are held on Saturdays from 11-2 and the garden is located on the east side of the Mendocino Recreation Center. Contact S.A. Ephraim at (707)937-3037 for more information.
Contact the Noyo Food Forest at (707)964-0218 if you are interested in supporting community gardens or if you have land within the City of Fort Bragg that could be turned into the next community garden.
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