Farm and Schools Blog

Happy Fall Everyone,

I think you all can thank me for the wonderful weather we have been having.  After several weeks of poor weather, I decided to use the 40 Whitworth students to harvest the tomatoes so they could start ripening indoors.  OF COURSE, the week after we harvested them, the weather turned beautiful.  Murphy’s Law…

This past week was another great week for harvesting.  With all the help that has been offered at the garden, we are getting much done!  This week we harvested another 260 lbs of potatoes to finish out the rest of the district plot. The first shipment of potatoes went to Second Harvest; 575 lbs.  Thanks to the LDS Youth groups from 17th and 22nd Wards for their hard work.  Another group from University of Idaho is scheduled to come on the 5th.

Many have asked if they can have the same beds next year.  It will be great to have you back!  If you are planning to put fall crops in for spring (garlic, certain kinds of onion sets, etc.) let me know and we will keep you in the same bed.  If you would just like to garden in the beds again next year, let me know and we will reassign in February.  We will be tilling the beds before planting in the spring, so please let me know if you have put any bulbs in so that I don’t till them up!

Next year we will be expanding and using the other half of the field.  If you know anyone who would be willing to donate irrigation pipe to the garden, please give them my contact info.  When we have so many volunteers helping out, it is really great to not have to move irrigation pipe. 

A shed is in the works for the garden.  It is in the planning and design stages now.  It will be a wonderful addition to the garden; a place where more experienced community members can rest in the shade on its covered patio and share their experience with the rest of us.  Providing the opportunity for our students to benefit from our older community members is an important piece among the many objectives of the garden.  The shed will also house a few tools. 

The garden continues to be a labor of love and service.  Thank you for your support and all your hard work. 

See you at the garden!

Lynette

What a great day with 40 Whitworth University Freshmen and our own Alternative Middle Schoolers!  Tuesday we picked 920 lbs of green (and a few ripe) tomatoes, 500 lbs of potatoes and 45 lbs of other veggies.  Monday afternoon I delivered said tomatoes to EVHS, Trent, EVMS, Otis Orchards Elem., East Farm Elem. and  MVMS to ripen on their windowsills.  I delivered the potatoes to the High School for pick up by all of our schools.  EXCITING!

I popped my head into East Farm's kitchen and had a wonderful beet brownie!  What a great use for beets-the kids didn't know what hit 'em! The zuchini bread looked wonderful too!  Nice job Kim and Lori!  Zuchini bread is popular; Cindy from our Alt. Middle School baked some for the kids in thanks for all their hard work!  I know all of our cooks are using the veggies from the garden in great and creative ways!

We still have a few tomatoes out in the field and in Harmony High's beds.  We will get them harvested soon.  The potatoes will also continue to be harvested as fall progresses. 

We are in the planning stages of building a shed.  If all goes as planned, Bill Close and the kids at the high school will build it for us.  Bill has some wonderful plans for this shed. 

The garden is getting close to being put to bed for the winter.  Check back for community cleanup dates.

See you at the garden!

Lynette

The sun came out a little late for the garden tour today, but thanks to everyone that braved the cooler weather. It was fun to meet a few members of the community and share our garden with them.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nVH82fwhAU

This is the Community Garden documentary was made by a three great 4H kids.  They have a company called Pandora DesignProductions.  Nice Job kids!!!!

Hi Everyone,

Saturday is the Community Garden Tour and we are in need of some tour “guides”.  I have no idea how many people will be touring our garden, but when they do, we need people to show them around.  I will have a pamphlet about the garden for guests to read and will also show the eight minute documentary that our 4H group made about the garden.  We just need friendly faces to greet guests and help them wander through the garden. 

This garden has been a positive influence in our community and served a great purpose.  Please take even just an hour or two between 10am and 2pm to come and help out at the garden.  If you can plan to be there, let me know.  If you find that you can come at the last minute, then that is great too.  Every little bit helps.

See you Saturday!

Lynette