work party – Page 4 – Green Acres Permaculture Village

Thursday Work Party, May 9 [Photo Set]

By GabrielleMay 13, 20191 commentUncategorized, Urban FarmGAPV, hugelkulture, May 9, permaculture, spinach, Thursday, tomatoes, wheatgrass, work party

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

Thursday Work Party, May 2 [Photos]

By GabrielleMay 6, 20192 commentsUncategorized, Villagebusy season, GAPV, intentional community, May 2, Thursday, work party

Thursday arrived with a bang — literally! I walked around the property before heading to the greenhouse, to get some photos of the blooming flowers before the rain and thunderstorms arrived, much to the chagrin of the pups…

There’s nothing quite like the smell after a good rain. I find everything much richer with color as well!

After putting the good camera out of the rain, I took out the phone to snap more. I found Ann busy trimming the overgrowth in front of Maple house, to create a clear path to access the main garden.

Some of the plants are hardened and ready to plant — and sell — soon!

Justin and Dan discuss hunting and fishing while potting up broccoli and kale starts.

Alex cuddles with Hank, who did okay with the thunder. Amos wasn’t as consolable.

L to R: Rebecca, Justin and Alex. We talked about music but voted to listen instead to the rain on the greenhouse roof, which was its own beautiful music. More music to our ears? The new baby chicks chirping!

Love and rocket stoves,
Gabrielle

Thursday Work Party, April 25 [Photo Set]

By GabrielleApril 27, 20191 commentUncategorized, Urban FarmApril 25, GAPV, greenhouse, intentional community, permaculture, Thursday, work party

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…

Thursday Work Party, April 17 [Photo Set]

By GabrielleApril 20, 20192 commentsUncategorized, Urban FarmApril 17, biomass, GAPV, Hügelkultur, permaculture, Thursday, Turkey Tail, work party

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

Thursday Work Party, April 11 [Photo Set]

By GabrielleApril 12, 20192 commentsUncategorized, VillageApril 11, GAPV, photography, Thursday, work party

Thursday saw a beautiful morning with very mild weather. Perfect conditions for getting some food in the ground! Many of the flats we planted, if not all of them, began from seed in the greenhouse as early as January. After last week’s ‘hardening’, most are now ready for their new homes after a bit of weeding and soil turning with the broad fork.

Dan, Alex, Solan and Max visiting

Solan [above] and Justin [below] planting lettuce

Thursday was also the first work party for Rebecca since she returned from her camping trip out west. We’re elated to have her back with us, as well as Hank and Amos!

Max gets into the cat mint and stalks Hank

Dan takes seasoned bales away from the fig tree to line up near the fence. I may be experimenting with some straw bale planting, if we don’t need them for mulch.

L to R: Dan moves bales, Rebecca and Andreas prepare the bed for planting

At Overhill House, Ann begins planting gladiolas, while Shadow oversees

Some of the beautiful pansies and flora that grace the front of Overhill House.

It felt great to get our hands in the dirt and work together on a fine spring day. The breeze picked up which brought a nice cooling respite from the sun. I headed to DeKist 2 to help Solan and Dan plant beds with bush beans and lettuce while listening to some great tunes. Our early peas weren’t too happy in the raised bed, so Solan made the call: We’ll have more beets!

Photography by Gabrielle, Outreach Coordinator for Green Acres

Green Acres Permaculture Village

Growing community from the ground up.

Tag Archives: work party

Thursday Work Party, May 9 [Photo Set]

Thursday Work Party, May 2 [Photos]

Thursday Work Party, April 25 [Photo Set]

Thursday Work Party, April 17 [Photo Set]

Thursday Work Party, April 11 [Photo Set]