Houston Community Garden

Despite my best intentions, we’re more than half way through the season and I’m finally getting a little report on numbers.  The cool and wet beginning spring and early summer meant we watered only a couple of times during May and June. It seems that the weather also affected the growth of heat-loving plants like tomatoes and peppers, which are looking a little rough, although still producing.

The inclusion of private boxes this year has also made numbers for the total harvest and hours spent in the garden change, so comparing one year to the past isn’t quite accurate.  I must say, however, what a wonderful treat it is to have so many folks using the garden on a regular basis and I’m very grateful to everyone for helping to water the community beds as well as their own.

Here’s some numbers to chew on

All are approximate and based on what was recorded in the log.  I’m sure actual time, workers, visitors, and harvest is larger than indicated.

March: 10 hours (prepping for and planting w/2nd graders)

3 different volunteers + 25 second graders and teachers

April:  15 hours

4 different volunteers

May: 85 hours

35 different volunteers (mostly 2nd graders planting the garden)

June: 29 hours

17 different volunteers

July: 42 hours

20 different volunteers

In addition, garden “renters” logged 75 hours of time on their own boxes and general garden maintenance, and we had 10 visitors sign the log. We even had a special note from GOD, who took the time to sign to log and let us know he brought the rain on July 24th.

Harvest has been slow but is quickly picking up as we move into August.  

May brought a surprise batch of Morel mushrooms scattered throughout the mulch.  Just enough for Roger and I to split 

June saw mostly lettuce, radishes, peas, parsley and spinach, but things really kicked into gear in July with 22 different items harvested during the month: 4 dozen garlic bulbs (cured in my garage and now ready to go), 10# of peas, 10# beets, raspberries by the handful, kales, swill chard, basil, and the beginning of zucchini, cucumbers (>15# already!), onions, carrots, tomatoes and peppers.

Harvest usually continues well into September for peppers and tomatoes as well as sweet potatoes and winter squash.  The next month will find us picking lots of pole beans, zucchini and cucumbers, which are always fun to eat and share. And Dill! We have dill! Come get some! Please!!!   And Horseradish. If you want horseradish, let me know. We have plenty that will need to be dug this fall!

Thanks to Joan Redig and Judy Munson, a healthy harvest of items makes it into the hands of folks in the Manor and Heritage Court each week.  And the Food Shelf continues to benefit on Thursdays (when I don’t get rained out! Thanks, also, to Laura Vanderlei who waters on Sundays and Deb Miller who waters on Tuesday evenings when necessary. And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the wonderful volunteer firefighters who fill up our tank: Skifton, Carr and Schutte. Gracias!!!

Over the past week or so, the garden “fairies” have responded wonderfully--weeding and picking up the garden area when possible.  On Tuesday, Karen Bennett and I spent a couple of hours finishing up weeding inside and out, and my six kids for the day did a terrific job staining all the benches and picnic tables.  I must say: the garden looks terrific! Thanks to everyone for stepping up to pull weeds!

Enjoy these beautiful beautiful summer days as we head into fall and place your order for an Indian Summer that will take us--and our garden into October.

See you in the garden!

Audrey

 P.S. Volunteer Karen Bennett is working on putting together some recipes for seasonal produce.  Stay tuned!