Not as many podmates were available for this work party, but Rebecca, Camden and Chris still got a lot done. Plus, the season’s first tomato! The post Green Acres Village, 2nd Work Party, July 11: mulching and weeding main garden appeared first on .
via Green Acres Village, 2nd Work Party, July 11: mulching and weeding main garden
One of the things we ask podmates when they come to live with us, is to be available for four or more hours of (usually physical) work per week, preferably, but not necessarily, during our twice weekly work parties. We all prefer working together. Time passes more swiftly, with lots of camaraderie, plus so much…
via Green Acres Village, First of three Work Parties, July 8: Completing “The Project”
Last Thursday’s work party began early, with Rebecca calling on all pod-mates to be present for a meeting before beginning the myriad tasks that have sprouted up along with the spring weeds!
L to R: Dan and visiting friend, Maynard — busy weeding and prepping beds in the back garden. This is where all the tomato plants went in last season.
Our tasks this morning included planting this year’s tomatoes in the main garden, which we started from seed back in January! I’m excited to see so many varieties go in the ground. My grandparents used to plant about this many in their own garden!
I’ve dreamt all winter about the flavor of organic, homegrown tomatoes.
Ann snapped this while I was removing maple tree whirligigs that had begun to sprout in our plant starts. I was talking about something but I don’t remember what now. It’s not important because TOMATOES! In fact, I took 4 plants with me [and some cucumber seeds] to plant in additional beds where I’m house sitting for several months. [Did I mention I love tomatoes?]
In the greenhouse the previous day, I’d come by to pot up some of the native trees left over from the Tree Planting Project, which will be given away once we start selling plants, to whomever wishes to give them a good home. First come, first served! 2 White Pine, 1 Hazelnut, 2 single Paw Paw and larger pots with 3 Paw Paw in each.
Meanwhile, in the main garden, Andreas and Rebecca weed and prep the beds for the tomatoes — in the background is Justin, planting tomatoes in another bed.
L to R: Alex mulches after Justin plants tomatoes in the first bed.
Some interesting fungus among us — in the lettuce and spinach bed.
Ann takes the trimmings from last week to the Hügelkultur beds behind DeKist 2 house.
Rebecca and Alex started wheatgrass in the greenhouse. Looks lush and amazing now!
Part of our meeting that morning included discussion of tasks that needed to be done as we walked around all the gardens. We have scheduled a second work party every week to keep up with the spring overgrowth and weeding. Stay tuned for more Thursday and now Monday work party posts. Tis the season…!
Love and rocket stoves,
[and tomatoes]
Gabrielle
Another rainy and overcast Thursday morning at Green Acres — but there was no complaining! The main task was to meet to build compost in the main garden, while Rebecca started some seeds in the greenhouse to go into the garden towers.
But first, Ann and Rebecca decide on the front bed at DeKist 2 to plant the berry bushes we have. [These photos reminding me I better get out and harvest some mint before it takes over!]
Solan and Alex weed the front of Maple house gardens.
Dan inspecting the garden on the left and assisting Justin with the compost before the turning begins.
Meanwhile, Rebecca is back in the greenhouse — starting greens — with Hank overseeing
After spreading some seasoned bale straw in the main garden, I took the tomato plants out to harden them before preparing our house for a great turn out for community dinner in the evening! I couldn’t help but notice newspaper headlines being put to their best possible use…
Last Thursday, the rains started and as of this writing, the clouds are still producing misting rain. This weather always reminds of the porch on my grandmother’s home in mountains of Virginia, and the smell of Scotland.
Spring showers didn’t keep us from getting outside to work behind DeKist 2 house, where I reside at Green Acres. It is still lacking a name with some creative flourish. However, plans for this space are certainly going to be creative in coming months!
Ann asked me to get in some photos with my good camera. I snapped these in the short windows between rain showers. The first three will give you a scope of the work to be done here, with plans for a sauna and eventual space for outdoor music performances!
Below, Ann is adding sticks and limbs to the Hügelkultur raised garden beds — an old German horticultural technique that uses compostable biomass to help hold moisture. Justin happily stomps them down until we get some fill dirt on top of them. Rebecca and Alex are digging out limbs and raking up stray ivy in the background.
I got a few shots of what we believe to be Turkey Tail fungus on a rotting stump.
Solan looked underneath them but I think he was undecided about whether we should harvest and there was other work to be done.
I did a little research online and found this from Bay Nature Magazine: Turkey tail (Trametes versicolor) is a species of fungus that closely resembles — you guessed it — turkey’s tail. As a bracket fungus, named because of its shelf-like form, its job is to break down either the lignin or cellulose in rotting wood. As a polypore, turkey’s tail holds its spores in tubes, so its underside should display tiny holes visible to the naked eye.
We’ll have to take a second look and report back!
Solan cutting bamboo for kindling in the workshop.
Amos watching over the hen house — chilling like a Zen master.
Larger view of the back garden with gazebo. L to R: Rebecca, Justin and Ann.
Alex and Rebecca clearing the back fence line.
It was time to put the camera under the dry gazebo and move bamboo stalks for Solan to cut in the workshop, then stack them near the fire pit for kindling.
Until next time ~ love and rocket stoves!
Gabby