Monday, December 14, 2009

Winterizing Your Garden

As we have entered our official cold season and skipped what other areas of the United States calls "Indian Summer" in favor of our splash into the wet season, there are a few things gardeners can do to save time and, more importantly, frustrations.

Prepping a garden during the winter ensures that time and frustrations are minimal and that growth is maximal. Want to prevent your garden from harboring weeds, pests, and volunteer starts? Will you be ready and able to plant at the first hint of spring or will you be like me and the past two years, wondering where my head is as I realize I am a month late in my plantings? This year, I am gearing up to create a successful, and early garden.

Fall Clean Up

By now, we should all have cleaned out our garden plots of weeds, garden debris, spent vines, and any fruits or veggies that were not harvested. Some believe that leaving these refuse adds nutrition to the soil, but it can also add diseases, weeds, insect eggs, and other not-so-wanted pestilences.

Add Soil Amendments

Now is a fantastic time to add compost, mushroom soil, and leaves to our plots; by incorporating these amendments now, they will ensure that tiny microbes in the soil can decompose and expose the nutrition before spring's planting begins.

Winter Plantings

The Northwest climate is ripe for winter plantings, such as garlic, shallots, beets, lettuce, etc. if properly covered during frosts. Sowing a cover crop is also a fantastic idea so the soil can recover lost nitrogen and other nutrients.

Mulching and Applying Organic Material


If sowing a cover crop is not a feasible option as it is for some, then covering your plot with a mulch of compost, mushroom soil, or three to four inches of shredded leaves will restrict weed growth and encourage earthworm multiplication for easier spring clean-up and planting. Mulching protects plants from drastic temperature changes, insulates plants, and prevents soil erosion. A secret tip is to not mulch too early as it may encourage pests and disease--wait until after the first frost has occurred. 4-6 inches of pine needles, leaves, straw, corn stalks, and other organic material is a great use of mulching and composting.

Evaluating Garden Design


Lastly, before starting preparations, take a moment to review what worked and what did not. I used grow beds, but built the tops too steeply and caused too much water run-off and therefore soil erosion this past growing season. I will definitely not make that mistake again! A thoughtful plan will save hassles and money.

Soon it will be time to order and plant seeds, so make sure your garden and soil is as ready as you are.

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Square Foot Garden Demonstration, May 16

Bill Rigsby, a Pierce County Master Gardener, will be demonstrating how to construct a squarefoot garden space May 16, 2009 starting 10 a.m. at the Puyallup Community Garden.

Square foot gardening is a new innovative way to garden efficiently while using less space, less water, yet producing more growth. The demonstration is designed to benefit both beginners and experienced gardeners.


PLANNED DEMONSTRATION TO INCLUDE:

* Basics of square foot gardening
* SOIL how to mix your own
* Potato Tower- sample of
* How to Instructions/Potato Tower

All attendees will be invited to participate in an informal question and answer session.

Bill has years of experience in gardening, and is pleased to have the opportunity to meet local people and share some of his knowledge towards Square Foot Gardening. "This demonstration is just the first of many we plan to have available to the public at our learning garden," said Kathryn Powell, Chair for the Puyallup Community Garden and Master Gardener. " To be able to provide opportunities to learn more about gardening is extremely rewarding."

The demonstration will be held at the Puyallup Community Garden located at Brown's Park, 1111 19th Ave SW, Puyallup, WA and will begin at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, May 16. The demonstration is FREE. Bring your lawn chairs. Call Kathy Powell at 253-820-8996 for more information

Saturday, March 28, 2009




This article is being reposted with the author's permission--Emily Knudsen--from The Melon Online. Original article is located HERE.


Well, I have to admit it—the Obamas have surprised me. Late last week, Michelle Obama announced that she will begin converting and cultivating the White House lawn into a fruit and vegetable garden. And, according to her, the whole family is required to pitch in to keep it weed-free (with the exception, of course, of Grandma, who will do whatever she damn well pleases as the matriarch). A local elementary school will also be tending to the garden.

While I expected great things from our new president and his family, I wouldn’t expect such a bold move. Why do I consider this so bold you ask? First of all, the Obamas are planning on tearing out an 1,100-square-foot chunk of the iconic South Lawn. This area has largely been left untouched, but for the notable exception of Eleanor Roosevelt’s victory garden. When author Michael Pollan wrote an open letter to the future president in October, he suggested the idea of planting an edible garden. Yet, he also quickly conceded that the move would be controversial since the lawn (and lawns in general) has become something of an American symbol itself.

Secondly, this action sends a huge signal to the food industry. This move certainly seems to represent Ms. Obama’s discontent with the food industry’s offering of unhealthful, over-processed foods.

The importance of diet was first brought to her attention by her daughters’ pediatrician. Once she was aware of how the food she gave to her children was negatively impacting her girls’ health, she changed her ways. She realized the true importance of a home-cooked meal (with a substantial serving of vegetables)—nutrition. She suggests that those who can’t have their own garden can still beneficially modify their diet by purging their cabinets of processed foods. Since the food industry, as it stands, does not offer many healthful choices, she is simply striking out on her own to provide her family with nutritious meals. (Food harvested from the garden will also be donated to a soup kitchen.) She hopes that as her own children tend the garden, they will be less hesitant to eating their veggies. She further wishes to see the other schoolchildren go home to their families to teach them about the importance of a fresh, local diet.

Back in 1943, the USDA protested Eleanor Roosevelt’s gardening plans, thinking the food industry would take a hit from a proliferation of home gardening. Yet she continued with her effort and ended up inspiring 20 million households to plant their own victory gardens. If we are so fortunate to have the Obamas be equally or even more successful, it is quite possible the food industry will suffer the consequences.

But if you ask me, that’s precisely the point. As consumers, we need to demand better from those who provide us our meals; our health depends on it. And there is no better way of doing that than relying on our own soil and capability to provide ourselves with our own sustenance. So, the fact that Michelle Obama is thumbing her nose at the giant lobbying forces of the Monsantos and Cargills of the world for the well-being of her family and the nation is a daring move indeed. If the new White House garden catches on in suburbia and cities across the country, the following may be large enough to force change upon the food industry. Then we can declare our victory over the now destructive food industry.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Garden Clean-Up with Parks and Recreation Appreciation Day, April 18th

Bring your gloves and tools and...

GET BROWN AND DIRTY!

At Brown Property, our very own Puyallup Community Garden.

When: April 18th, 2009

Time: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Contact: Puyallup's Park and Recreation for more information at: 253-841-5457 or email Jen at: puyallup.community.garden@gmail.com

Address: 1111 19th Ave SW, Puyallup, WA

For more information on registering for your own garden plot, visit Parks and Recreation's garden website.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

American Community Gardening Association Membership!

Puyallup Community Garden has officially joined the prestigious ranks of the American Community Gardening Association.

You can view our specific webpage by clicking HERE.

If you have recommendations or changes to make, talk to Jen by emailing puyallup.community.garden@gmail.com

We are gearing up for a new and improved location and season, so keep checking back to find out more.