Week 2: Cold and Rainy

What a difference one week of rain can make! The temperature has dropped from highs close to 90 to now just above 50! While the rain has been wonderful for our soil and new seed starts it has halted us in many ways. 38th was unable to be tilled so it continues to grow weeds. 46th did not receive any new seeds as it was too muddy and we would compact the soil. This would have made it difficult for our new plants to spread their roots.

This did allow for us to work on some other fun projects however. We applied drip tape and header lines at 46th st. for when it eventually does stop raining to water the plants. We sharpened tools, made more tire gardens, did seed inventory and planning of planting what where and when in our gardens, and weed whacked. We made a compost sifter, similar to what a miner would use to sift for gold. We bought and created a mobile chicken coop that we will put in our chicken fence for... ducks ( more likely chickens)! After last years fiasco we are not deterred but wiser. We are getting everything set up before we buy our birds. We will also be getting an older, bigger coop from Robert Sharp along with some of his chickens. This will occur when the ground dries up. Robert Sharp used to work for the garden before I was here and continues to be a friend and wealth of knowledge to us here.

This was a learning week where books and movies were watched on how to do things and why to do things. Back to Eden is a great documentary on Vimeo that we watched and learned about creating a covering like a forest to stop weeds and use less water. Also has a killer soundtrack! just not for me). We have received some tomato and pepper starts that will be going in once things start to heat up again. The starts at Tucker are doing great and will be brought back to our gardens next week. We also learned how to make good soil and plant seeds for a greenhouse at Victory Acres.

P.S. We will be making recipes to give away about how to prepare what we are growing. I am really excited about this. Also Hannah is still in Ireland. But she is letting us know she is doing fine. Zach Arington Garden Manager