Garden update

At last check, the Bishop has plans to spread the compost and plow the garden site early next week. Justin Summers indicated that he thought he could till the site before Sat. If all that comes to pass, my plans are to set up the garden site with row markers Sat morning. The plan is to invite those who would like to join us in planting at noon. The plan is to have Alan Kent supervise the planting of the onions and Steve Woolf and myself will help with the potatoes

I will cut the potatoes into planting size and have them ready to plant. My roto-tiller has a furrowing attachment and I will see if it will make a good planting row. Basically planting the potatoes will involve placing some bone meal under where the potato set will be placed, pushing the set firmly into the soil with the eyes up and covering the potato a couple of inches deep in the furrow. Gardening experts suggest that potato sets be spaced about 15 inches to a foot and a half apart. As the potato plant begins to grow we will then keep "hilling up" the plant so that the new growing potatoes remain covered and deeper in the furrow.

Marc Anderson at Anderson Garden and seed sold us onion plants that are very large when they mature. He suggested a spacing of about six inches between. Alan Kent will show use the proper procedure to plant. Those coming to plant may want to bring a hoe.

It has been recommended that the YM/YW assign teams to each of the five garden plots. Individual families are welcome to select a specific garden or respond to calls to work in the garden as they come up.

Make sure you review the tentative work assignments at the garden sent out earlier. A reminder notice will also be sent for those who may not have saved it. Remember in gardening, everything is cast in cardboard not concrete.
Now is the time to get on board for a great ride. This project will be a powerful force for good in our ward and community.

Weather Update...

Well...today as I was cleaning my house and daydreaming about getting outside to work in my yard, I passed a window and noticed that it was SNOWING outside. What??? Snowing outside, now how was I supposed to get all the projects done in my yard that I had been putting off all week to do on the weekend. Oh well, I guess that's spring weather for you in Cache Valley. So I guess we aren't going to be plowing our garden any time soon...Maybe this was a good thing because I needed to be studying for finals anyway, not enjoying the weather.

Any takers…

Hey out there! It has been suggested that we have an official project photographer and/or historian to chronicle the events of this monumental undertaking.  Any takers?  It could be a committee.  We could have pictures and/or videos of each step.  We could have human interest stories.  I think it's a great idea.  We need to get hoppin' though as deep tilling/plowing will probably start next week.

Garden spot...

Well I hope to keep up on taking pics of the progress of the garden. I had some extra time today, and the weather was great, so I talked my husband into taking a walk with me around the block. It actually ended up being around the entire town, but it was great. We walked past the garden site at Brother Lyman Jensen's house. So here is a pic of what it looks like today.

Garden Site Update

Things will be moving swiftly very soon. Make sure you and your teams are ready to participate. A tentative schedule is included. Keep in mind with gardens that everything is set in cardboard not concrete and be prepared to adjust. However, preparation precedes power.

 

Tentative schedule

• Tuesday April 21 Round up sites
  
• Deep till and or plow after April 25
  
• Fri May 1 Garden set up. Signs put up, irrigation pipe set up, rows marked off
  
• Planting Plan on being available every Sat, to be involved in some planting or preparation activity
  
  • Sat. May 2^nd first planting of onion garden and potato gardens at the Jensen Site.
    
  • Sat. May 9^th First planting of corn, both plots. Three more successive corn plantings every two weeks are planned.
    
  • Sat May 16^th planting pole beans and laying down of black plastic to warm the soil for planting squash and tomatoes. Pole bean planting will include setting up 4 twenty five foot lengths of wire paneling.
    
  • Friday May 29^th and Sat May 30^th planting winter squash, tomatoes and cucumbers
    
• 
  Weeding and fertilizing
  
  • The garden site coordinator will arrange for timely watering, coordinating with weeding and harvest.
    
  • Walk behind roto tilling between rows will be done weekly. Those assigned to roto tilling should coordinate with within row weeders and sprinkling schedule
    
  • Within row weeding and thinning will be done weekly as well. Fertilizing dates will be assigned to the within row weeding teams. The groups assigned to each garden should set up their schedule for weeding.. Make sure you check with the sprinkler schedule and roto tiller.
    
  • As the need arises insect management may be needed
    
• Processing
  
  • The Relief Society will be kept informed on the ripening progress when produce is ready to process, teams will be assigned to do so as a group at designates sites. Pole beans will probably be canned or made available for members to use fresh. Corn can be used fresh as needed. When sufficient quantities are available freezing processes will be held at designated sites. Tomatoes, peppers and onions can be processed as salsa, tomato juice or canned tomatoes.
    
• Harvesting and storage
  
  • Garden site coordinators will keep everyone abreast through the blog site, Sunday program, mass e-mailing, Friendshipper and home and visiting teachers as to how and when potatoes, onions and squash should be harvested. Harvest dates will be establilshed when necessary. Experts will teach us how and when to harvest, how and where to store
    

 

Catch the vision! Join in! Invite friends and neighbors to join! Be constantly aware of who has needs and would benefit from any of the programs Brother Gill

Simplification and expansion of gardens revision4/15/2009

After visiting Lyman Jensen and seeing the garden site he is making available, we are suggesting some changes in the master plan to simplify and expand our resources. Lyman has a plot that can be utilized which is about 65 feet wide and 330 feet ling. We have decided to use this block for most of the ward garden. There is a place for a permanent irrigation pipe and the land is centrally located and easily accessible.

Tentative plans are to have four and possibly five sections or gardens.

Garden 1
Pole beans, cucumbers and winter squash. 60 feet by 30 feet, 100 feet of pole beans 50 feet of cucumbers, and 35 hills of winter squash.

Garden 2
Onions: 12 rows 40 feet by 60 feet
200 feet each of red onions, white onions and yellow onions for a total of 600 feet

Garden 3

Potatoes: 20 rows 60 feet by 60 feet. 200 feet each of Pontiac, Norland, Kennebec, Yukon Gold, and Sandy Wiebe's favorite, for a total of 1000 feet

Garden 4
Tomatoes and peppers. Eight rows of tomatoes for a total 90 plants two rows of peppers for 40 plants

Possible Garden 5
Corn. 30 rows of late maturing corn and 10 rows of early maturing corn for a total of 2000 feet.
You might want to keep your eyes on this plot and watch and help it grow and prosper. Round up and tilling will be shortly upon us and planting is not far behind. Many hands and hearts will be needed to make this truly the Garden of Eden, West. You, your families, friends and community members will be blessed beyond their wildest expectations if they put their might mind and strength into this powerful force for good. May God bless us all and thank you all for your commitments and support, Brother Gill

The more the merrier...

Just wanted to let you know that the Paradise 2nd ward has joined us on the blog...welcome. And let us know if you have any gardening advice, we love anything about gardening.