Opening weekend

The garden is open! I've just sent an email out to gardeners who've signed up and registered, with a map of the plots. The garden is twice-tilled, fenced and laid out.

If you're behind the curve and still want to sign up, never fear. You're still welcome, as long as there's space. We just got an email from a new arrival who might want a big plot, so don't wait too long. But as of today, we are about 60% full, with four 20x20 plots still open. 

The pump is installed, but we're not sure it's primed yet. And we are still arranging delivery of our composted manure. Jesse brought over the garden cart and watering cans today. If you happen to see some good tools at a yard sale this summer and want to donate them to the garden, please let us know. We'll watch over them.

In case it's helpful, here's a link to the Gardener's online garden planner. Very useful if you're headed out to buy some seedlings! http://www.gardeners.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-Gardeners-Site/default/Page-KGPJS

Calling one and all

We're starting to see applications drift into the Town Hall offices. We need to know, by show of hands, how many will be back this summer - we hope that's everyone. If we don't hear from you by Saturday, we'll assume you're going to opt out this summer and start planning for other gardeners.
If you want to garden this summer, follow this link and fill out the application.
We're hoping to have a full census this summer - it's always more fun that way.

Finally, we've got the plowing planned for sometime in the next week. Once that's done, keep you eyes open for an email announcing the annual fence-building day. With just us, it takes three or four hours, minimum, to install. With four or five people, it's an hour, maybe two tops. So please be willing to pitch in.

Thanks and happy spring.

Jesse and Michelle

First hurdle cleared

Each winter, the Agricultural Commission, which oversees the garden, has to go to their boss - the Conservation Commission - and ask to continue using the Flerra space for gardening.
We had that meeting tonight, and the ConsCom was happy to allow us to continue, so that's great news.
A few minor things were added along the way.
Someone is going to go and look at the well to see if it can't be sunk deeper or otherwise improved. It works, but as everyone knows, it's a lot of hard work to raise enough water to keep the plants happy.
We're going to get four old pallets and build a small composter where we've been dumping weeds and year-end waste all along. This, we hope, will let us use the stuff as soil amendments. We'll get that done as soon as weather allows.
We're going to make some improvements to the fence - hoping to keep the local ruminants at bay. This includes putting a wire trip line along the fence row. More details to follow, but we're hopeful we can keep them away.
 So, that's it for right now. We're recruiting actively - if you know anyone interested in digging this summer, have them get in touch.
Thanks

Jesse and Michelle. 

A momentous day

This morning, Michelle and I ordered a bunch of seeds from Baker Creek  Heirloom Seeds. We found them online last year and ordered some cucumbers and tomato seeds, which grew well - at first.
What we wound up with were a bunch of too-spindly seedlings, apparently a result of not giving them enough light.
So, we're going to try again.
For starting in the garden, we bought purple podded pole beans. We've had great success at home with climbing and bush beans. The only purple ones we've been able to find locally are bush beans. The Baker Creek seeds promise climbing purple beans. We shall see sometime in August.
Chantenay Red Core carrots.  We have, almost universally, failed at growing carrots. Last year's yield were weird-looking, multi-legged stick creatures. Think 1950s Sci-Fi monster. But what is gardening if not an annual renewal of hope?
Georgia Southern Creole Collards. Love collard greens and they taste best home-grown.
Blue Curled Scotch Kale. Another favorite. Lost out last year because the chickens kept eating it before it matured.
European Mesclun Mix Salad Blend and Rocky Top Lettuce salad mix.  We like to grow the greens because there is simply nothing like a fresh salad. What bolts goes to the chickens.
Inside, we'll start Gold Medal tomatoes and Pink Berkeley Tie Dies. Never tried either one and after last year's ringing success with tomatoes, we're full of confidence.
Finally, we got some Dragon's Egg cucumbers.  Don't know why we chose it, maybe the name? But whatever, we'll give it a try.
Still hoping to hear from more returning people.

Thanks

Jesse and Michelle.

Welcome to "Spring"

Hard to believe, but spring is at hand. We're trying to recruit gardeners for the coming season - and we want returning people to have first dibs.
The only difference this year: The 10 by 10 plot will not be offered. It's just too tough to shoehorn them into the garden and we had so much extra space last year.
The costs for the 10 by 20 is $20 for a returning gardener
and 20 by 20 is $30 for a returner. 
If you want to return for another summer, please send an email to flerragarden@gmail.com and let us know. If you want a plot in the same spot as last year, add that info to the email. We'll get you as close as we can to where you were last year.
We are planning on having an announcement in The Beacon this week or next and we're hoping to have a full house this year.
Thanks much.
Jesse and Michelle.

End of the year

Sadly, it's the end of the gardening season. Thank you to everyone who made this one of our best seasons so far.
Cleaning up the garden is a multi-step process - we need to make sure everything is clear so Owen Neville can get it plowed and we can get some winter rye planted to help the soil for next year.
Steps:
Take up all non-organic material - weed block, tomato cages, trellises, metal staples, plant markers, etc.
Pull up everything you planted. For the softer stuff, just pull it up and leave it in place. For tougher stuff such as sunflowers and corn plants, those need to be uprooted and dumped in the compost pile by the trail.
Walk through your plot and make sure any rocks you gathered for any reason and other debris is removed - rocks go into the woods along the verge, please.
We're supposed to be out by Halloween, but I think if we get it done by end of day Saturday, we should be fine.
Anything left behind will be absorbed into the mishmash of garden stuff and may or may not reappear next year.
I'll be around this weekend to help those who need it.

Thanks again - it's been a ton of fun.

Jesse and Michelle.

Finally got back to the garden after a vacation. Have to say thanks to everyone - the plots look beautiful. Everything is lush, green and lovely.
Thanks for everything.
We cannot believe it's already September, but time does fly, doesn't it. For anyone interested, Sept. 7 is the annual Boxborough Harvest Fair. It's a great chance to get the garden some visibility and to earn some bragging rights, as well.
 We plan on entering the mammoth sunflower growing at the entrance of our plot. Walking around today, I saw great green beans, some nice tomato plants, squash and a few others. All worth giving it a shot.
The photo on the right is a long-range shot of the sunflower in question. That little person is our daughter Abby.
Thanks to Manisse for the other two photos - on the left is an okra flower. At right are morning glories.
So, please, crow a bit about the summer. The fair is fun  and there is pleasure in having all the hard work recognized.
Again, thanks for your efforts keeping the garden neat and clean. Hope to see you Saturday.

A final note: The garden closes for the winter on Oct. 31 and we'll be having a work day to pull down the fence, clean up the rocks/etc. Please keep your eyes open for an announcement of when that work day will be - we really need the help. Thanks .