Community Garden

Tue Apr 14, 2009 12:49 am

I'm going to see a woman tomorrow about a community garden plot! So excited. Wonder if I can apply my square foot gardening principles to that large plot too?

Tue Apr 14, 2009 3:22 am

Wonder what the neighbors will be growing? You can learn a lot from other gardeners...

HG

Tue Apr 14, 2009 4:35 am

In my country of origin, Switzerland, Community Gardens are very popular. People usually build little sheds that often look like miniature chalets, and use the space also for barbques and sitting outside with friends. I can't see why you wouldn't be able to do your square foot gardening in a community garden, it will certainly invite some curiosity from others.

Here's a place just down the road from where I grew up. In the summer, this place is bustling with activity.

Tue Apr 14, 2009 12:58 pm

Curly,
Thanks for the photo.
I've seen many a community garden, sometime one general hut for shared tools, but never where most everyone has their own hut. Way cool.

Tue Apr 14, 2009 4:43 pm

Hey 2cents, I've heard the story of an American tourist who thought he had discovered the slum area of the town, when the train passed a large community garden area, and he saw all the tiny houses and shacks

Here's two more pics for you to enjoy. This one shows up close what some of those plots may look like. Many people take pride in "their" little place. I hear they're currently paying about $400 rent per year, and there are long waiting lists.

Here's an idea of what some of those places may look like in the city surroundings. You'll find them everywhere in the country. It's almost as swiss as cheese. The word for it is Schrebergarten or PÃƒÂ¼nten.

Edited to add: Sorry Lisa, I didn't want to divert from your question.

Wed Apr 15, 2009 12:49 am

We got the plot, 8x25, already has some things "volunteered" in it. A giant rosemary bush, some lemon balm and a couple of lettuces. There are communal rhubarb and raspberry patches and herbs everywhere. including a huge Sweet Bay (shrub!).
We're starting tomorrow to get the patch weeded and the dimensions for the lumber to outline the bed.

Wed Apr 15, 2009 1:05 am

Lisa,
Sorry to get off track, but Curly's photos were too interesting.
Square foot seems to be the natural solution to a place with little room.
Unless you are renting 500 SF or more, I assume SF is a must(anyone who has to assume, can't fully know what they are talking about).

My mother-in-law use to live near the community garden, I use to walk over to the garden just to take a peak. There was some tight spacing of plants(not true SF to my memory).
Only problem I see, is that ground could be somewhat depleated of nutrient. So go heavy on the compost and manure(aged of course).

Curly thanks again. You have me thinking business opportunity in the City!

Wed Apr 15, 2009 2:00 am

HG, very careful to not deplete the soil. When you harvest one plant, before you plant another, you stir in some compost, composted manure... all your soil amendments. Wait a while and then plant your next crops. It's a constant crop rotation.
Also, the community garden I'm going to is not that big or fancy. The sheds are shared, the tools and materials inside are for everyone to share...
I'm very happy.