hottttt

Things have changed quickly to go from bloody freezing to hot as hell. In response I have been trying to water at least every second day and do that as late in the evening as possible to stop wasteful evaporation.

Last week I had lots of little helpers in the form of a horde of kids from the adjoining playground. As I opened the lock, three crowded round me begging to be allowed to water. Typical inner-city kids, they didn't know their plants (Btw, why is it that everything vaguely tall is always a "sunflower"? Today toxicfingers confused garlic with one.) Foolishly I didn't lock the gate after us, only to find the crowd suddenly swell to nine. They were a bit boisterous and overexcited - as I would have been at that age on a hot day with a waterhose - but thankfully they didn't trash the place too much and kept their fingers mostly away from the tempting strawberries in the neighbouring plots.

All this has kept me thinking about the community involvement in this garden - the plot "owners" are mainly white middle-class and middle-aged right smack-bam in the middle of a predominantly young Black and Latino area. It's also very interesting that there is a different garden not too far run by Seeds of Harmony which appears to be much more mixed in terms of ages, ethnicities, etc. And their garden looks much better. I wonder where Parks and Recreation is going wrong... maybe they should just give a plot to the horde of kids - I swear it would be the best-watered plot in the whole garden. And maybe some of them may even learn the difference between a sunflower and a tomato.

The obligatory pictures of plot progress follow. As it was already getting dark after watering they may look a bit strange. Everything is doing fine so far but lots of plants are bolting and going to seed, as expected in this hot weather.

I planted another cucumber and pepper plant. Beans are doing fine although something is eating them. If you squint you can see some carrots sprouting between the broccoli and the peppers.

Someof the collard is still recovering from being covered up.

Zucchini and patty pan squash going through a growth spurt. Just slightly concerned about the mottled-looking leaves of the zucchini - feature of the plant or first signs of mosaic virus?

The sweetcorn. I bet it feels lonely. Sigh. Maybe I should get it some companions.

Second harvest and more prep

What a difference a couple of weeks can make.

There are now about 10 tomato plants in my plot plus 4 more in my backyard. What was left over from what I couldn't fit into my backyard went in yesterday (I see a tomato glut in my future...).

Toxicfingers gave me a contraption for my birthday that seems to be very popular here in the Northwest: the "wall-o-water". It's a ring of ribs that are filled with water and form a teepee around the plant. The water is supposed to heat up during the day and then radiate warmth back during the night. I used it to protect my most feeblest tomato plant, the Gold Nugget Cherry. (Note that the other tomato plants are looking fine and are indeed already flowering)

Everything is doing grand. Second harvest of the year has been some sprouting broccoli and arugula. Both are already starting to flower and I hope they are not too bitter for eating. I need to remember to reseed some more to keep them going over the summer.

The strawberries should also be ready soon (the handful that I will get out of it). So far no sign of slug nibbles; coffee grounds may actually work to keep them away.

The collards and potatoes are sprouting, too. Very exciting!

Started my first set of pole bean sowing, a mixture of Kentuck Wonder and some "Tuscan" beans I got on Earth Day at a community garden stall. I think soon the garden will really start to fill out.

Garden Clear-up

Remember how I said that spring has sprung? Well, not so much this week... Yesterday there was an Earth Day event at Overlook Park to which I cycled through hail. Good outcomes though: ended up with more free seeds (corn, borage, sunflowers) and other free swag (little thermos!).

Which brings me on to my first update on seeds. As I reported a couple of weeks ago, I saved some seeds from a store-bought squash to see if it would be usable. It is!


Now I have to figure out what to do them until it is time to plant them in the garden...

Today was the community garden clear-up (early 9am start - ugh - but new thermos came in handy). Usual suspects turned up to do some work and we managed to clear a path of weeds before turning to our own projects. Another clear-up is scheduled for beginning of May, with more volunteers (hopefully). Apparently all plots have been allocated and there is now a waiting list. Two more people turned up when I was leaving, they were the garden's Produce for People coordinators and have commandeered the raised beds - usually reserved for disabled people but not claimed this year - for growing stuff for the program. They used to be at Reed (famed and fabled for being nice and huge and then being closed to make way for student dorms) and seem very organised.


Before leaving I was checking over my plot briefly. Removed a few weeds but now it's easy if I can keep on top of them. Strawberries are still liking it. Arugula Roquette has germinated - yay!


There is no clear sign of the other variety of arugula yet but I'm hoping there will be soon. I think the broccoli was starting to peek through too. Sowed some chives and another row of broccoli.

Came home, had some breakfast/brunch, and then nerdishly made a list of seeds and a planting calendar. Now I'm feeling sleepy and I need a nap...

Spring has sprung

Today was 74 degrees Fahrenheit (about 24 in Celcius) after nearly week of cold dampness. It just suddenly feels like the planting and growing season is upon us. Amazing what a difference a couple of sunny days can make.

Last week I put in strawberry plants and arugula seeds. No sign yet of the arugula but the strawberry plants seem to enjoy it and are sprouting new growth.


(If you look very carefully, there is a ladybug on one of the leaves...)

When I arrived there were more gardeners I hadn't met before, along with more evidence of work going on in the rest of the garden. Next weekend is a big garden clear-up so I expect to see most of them there.

My task for today was putting in a few beds so I can start sowing carrots (Nelson Hybrid) and broccoli (Zamboni sprouting). Since my sowing times and bed creation are all mixed up, I had to change the drawn plan I carried along, noting what I had sowed where and when. I am going to try and remember to sow little and often. Today I sowed two short rows of carrots and 1 short row of broccoli. Next week I'll sow more of the broccoli.

I also put up some poles that will serve for growing beans (still need to get string and really make sure they are solidly in the ground). It's starting to look respectable (the gardener I met commented that I was "approaching it very methodically").



Oh, and there was a first harvest of sorts: I finished off the day by collecting dandelion leaves for the guinea pigs from areas that haven't cleared of weeds yet.

How to get a plot

On Saturday a new resident across the street from the community garden asked me how to get a plot there. Many of my friends have also asked how to get a community garden plot in Portland, OR. Here's how I did it:

Look at the Portland Parks and Recreation site. They have a map of community gardens. Pick a few that are not too far away from you. Phone them or email them. Remember, community plots are like gold dust. Be prepared to wait. Unfortunately, no plots were available in my preferred gardens but they offered me a plot further away. It's manageable by bike (30 minutes), better by car. At least I'm gardening. I jumped at the chance.

Plotting...

Managed to take opportunity of a rare break in the weather to gig in some fertiliser (organic garden vegetable fertiliser from Howard Johnsons, makers of Zoom! - not sure about the quality but can't fault the attractive packaging - and I got it half-price). Hopefully it does something and I still have plenty to do side-dressings.

I have been wondering about the space I have to grow stuff, given the list I prepared earlier. Since I am an organised type I drew a plan of the plot.

Some factors that influenced my decisions to place things:

• Winter squash are in the area where I suspect someone before me had a compost area. Should be fertilised enough for it to do well.
• Beans are grown along a trellis on the side. May have to change that if I get a neighbour on the plot next to me. Thought first about growing them along the fence but garden manager warned me of the projectile qualities of the big stakes that may prove too tempting for neighbourhood kids. May have the trellis in the middle and use it as shading for more delicate plants that may otherwise be roasting over the summer.
• Strawberries are also far, far away from tempted passers-by.
  
• I initially forgot about the compost bin. It's in the exact location where I've been stacking piles of ripped-out weeds.

On other news, I finally met the garden manager. She seems nice and fired up by the job. Apparently, 5 people have volunteered to be Produce for People coordinator this year (!). I'll be playing back-up in case the "official" one can't do a week. Just by chatting we also organised a garden clean-up combined with a seed exchange.

On yet still other news, I seem to winning out over the weeds. Possibly.

Next week: Probably laying out of beds, getting rid of more weeks, sowing rocket (aka arugula) and building a proper compost area with stakes and chicken wire.

Some statistics

In absence of any real work and the presence of rain, here are some stats about the garden plot.

• Plot dimensions: 10' width x 22' length (3m x 6.7m)
• USDA Hardiness Zone: 8/9
• Zone according to How to grow a thriving vegetable garden: 5, with 240-280 frost-free days, last spring frost date 5-20 March
• According to the Oregon State Extension Service: 150- to 250-day season
• Last usual frost date according to the guy from Garden Fever: early-mid May

Hopefully digging in some fertilizer next week, and getting rid of some more of the weeds.

First impression, Part 2

Sunday afternoon went on and I still feel the after-effects today. All will become clear in a minute...

I started digging. The shed contains some tools but woefully is missing a good hoe or a spade. The garden claw was useless. I chose a sturdy garden fork to lift up the weeds and then turn them roots-up, in the hope that next time I come round they will have died off a little bit and I can rake them together. Here's hoping.

It was tough work, bringing on profuse perspiration. I also had to fight jeans that kept sliding down, a shirt that was riding up and the thoughtlessness of not bringing any water. Or gloves. Blisters came and went.

Another gardenmate appeared, the one with the much-mulched patch. Bringing edging stones. Showing me the correct usage of the gate lock. Telling me about the kids who sneak in and steal vegetables. Noting that she had asked for my plot to be given out last so they could build a wormery on it, if it hadn't been allocated.

After a couple of hours, this was the result of digging:

The weeds were mainly chickweed and grass, with a few dandelions mixed in for good measure. The soil is not too clayey, as far as I could tell, with surprisingly few stones. One corner of the plot must have had a compost bin on it previously - the weeds were just doing too great and the soil had a nice, almost black look to it.

Thirty minutes' ride back on the bike. I was covered in dirt, I couldn't even wash my hands because the standpipes are still off. My legs ached. I craved something to drink. The cold beer at home was excellent. I love my plot.

First impressions, Part 1

Today was the first day I met my plot. It was gorgeous weather, I had just cycled there for 30 minutes. Nerves were running high: would I like it? Would it like me?

I never knew that surburbia is so close in Portland. Rows of brightly-painted, lawn-manicured, exactly-aligned houses. Weird. A basketball court, full of teenagers trying to break the concentration of their opposition by bad-mouthing them. Cute in a weird way.

The community garden is surrounded by fence and artsy gates, both in bright steel. Looks pristine. As I ride up, someone is getting ready to leave and eyes me suspiciously. An older man and what I assume is his daughter. The lock combination is the secret passcode, the magical 'open sesame'. I feel that the lock code is quite a responsibility for a young whippersnapper like me.

And then there it is - the plot.

Older man points out the envy of the garden, much mulched (and not his). Seem to be nice people. As he sees my obvious despair at the amount of weeds he suggests that there are tools in the shed if I want to get started.

I start digging...

Putting the community into gardening

Part of the "contract" for keeping a community garden plot is, obviously, to keep it maintained and living peacefully alongside other gardeners. Another stipulation is that at least 6 hours per year have to be spent on helping with work parties, garden projects or related events. I guess that is the community part of the community garden.

There is a list of projects for which you can volunteer as the registration form is completed. For example, you can help out in the office during the day, help with city-wide projects or work in the own garden space to help out other gardeners. I finally decided to be a City Garden Fair and a Produce for People volunteer. Perhaps I should have done a bit of research into both before making my choices but in the giddiness of getting a community garden I forgot.

So let's do a bit of digging (great gardening metaphor!):

• The City Garden Fair seems to be held at the Portland Farmers Market in September and involve some sort of growing competition. Actually sounds like quite a lot of fun and not so much like volunteering! I could be wrong though....
• Produce for People is more "worthy". Produce in your plot that exceeds your own needs (or your friends' needs - think zucchini gluts!) are collected and given to local food banks. A great way to get fresh vegetables to people who may not be able to afford them otherwise. There may also be some teaching component to help people to start growing some of their own food.

I really like the idea behind both projects, luckily. I will no doubt mention them again as I go on.

Oh joyous day!

Today - after some failed starts - I received my registration papers for my community garden plot (that's an allotment for Brits or Schrebergarten for Germans) in North-East Portland, OR. Finally! I suppose the office is staffed by volunteers and my emails have just been falling through the cracks. Receiving it almost became an obsession - every time the mail came I was perking up, just to have my hopes dashed every day.

I am quite excited about my first community garden experience and have been looking through gardening books and seed catalogues for the past few weeks now. I have grown vegetables in the past, so I kind of know what to go for and how much to plant. But it will be fun to throw in an "experiment" just to see. I will also have to adapt to gardening in the Pacific NW, which is similar to SW UK in climate but not quite the same. For one, it gets much hotter and drier in summer here.

So there you have it. This blog will chronicle my experiences gardening, warts (slugs?) and all.