community garden plans

[Steph]

The planning of a community garden is now officially going to be
discussed in the planning meetings for the park set to be built off of
Wright Mtn. Rd. Chuck told me that they will be holding a General Mtg
(for the general public) sometime in the winter to discuss the park.
He is having a private planning meeting with the architects for the
park the first week of November and they will discuss how a community
garden could be set up.

If you have any ideas for how a community garden should be set up post
them here. Chuck wants any information we have to offer by Tuesday the
3rd of November so he can discuss the ideas with the architects on the
4th.

I suggested that the community garden which could be anywhere from 1/2
an acre to 1 acre be set up with raised beds and imported soil. Each
bed should have access to a water source (hose).

Any other ideas???

Steph

[Michelle Schneider]

We should think about protecting the stuff from the critters in the area. I know we had to put wire under our raised beds after the gophers ate all our stuff one year. Takes the little critters a while to find you, but once they do, you have to start over essentially, 'cuz they eat everything. This year, they're attacking my front yard - plants are disappearing right and left. We'd also want some of it fenced or something to keep the ground squirrels, etc. out...or maybe there's a better way to do these things...just wanted to get that idea out there. -Michelle


> Date: Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:45:15 -0700
> Subject: community garden plans
> From: hike...@gmail.com
> To: transition...@googlegroups.com

[Mary]

It would be nice to incorporate as much permaculture into the garden
design as possible. Raised beds are great. Permaculture frequently
utilizes key hole, spiral, or circular beds built right on top of the
ground with lots of layers of compost, soil, worms, and mulch. We
have plenty of rocks for edging! Other permaculture concepts include
the use of berms, swales, companion planting, water features,
compost
piles, seed growing areas/greenhouses. Almost all landscaping is
edible....lots of fruit trees, vines, berries, herbs. Flowers like
marigolds and petunias are planted with veggies for pest control.
Companion planting is another big part of permaculture, some plants
do
better when planted with other plants, and some vegetables deter
pests
from other plants. For example, cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower do
well with onions. The onions deter cabbage worms that eat holes in
the leaves. I am not an expert but I am very excited about the
project!

It would also be lovely to have some dining tables in the garden area
and of course we need art! I have a friend that does large benches
and sculptures with cement and mosaic tile!


We should have a meeting before the deadline. Perhaps we could put
together some ideas on Sun. the 1st of Nov.


Mary