SUMMERTIME IN THE GREEN THUMB GARENS - 2009
By Ivan Krupit
There are times, I thought I have seen everything, but now we have a new first, folks are bringing furniture into the gardens ... stools and even a grill. So maybe we are beginning to loose track of what the main purpose of the GARDENS should be. So let's try again.
We give out l0 x 20 lots, when available, to residents of Covered Bridge with a five dollar refundable deposit. The reason is for the resident to be able to grow their vegetables or even flowers. If you want to picnic, Covered Bridge has a picnic area behind the pool under the trees.
We have a chain link fence around the gardens, with locked gates. Smaller animals can go through, so some of us have put up our own one inch wire or netting around the l0x 20 lots.
Residents, who would like a garden, can get an application from me or Ken at the gardens or from the office. Fill it out and return it to me to keep on file. We do have a waiting list with a number of filled out applications, to be satisfied in order of date filed. We will be adding more lots. For now, it is one lot at a time ... no multiple lots.
Now, we do get weeds in our gardens, so it is good if you use a small cultivator or fork that may help to remove the. I have also tried to put some mulch around my vegetable plants, which does help. I have even tried weed block and even grass clippings to cover the ground, but whenever the sun hits the ground, you are going to get weeds. We also get heavy rains from time to time, so you have to prepare. Years ago the gardens were set up on a slight decline so that the water ran down from the maintenance area. I therefore set up raised beds for my gardens, with 2 x 4 boards that I purchased. You can use any other wood that is available at the time. Soil, though not the best, is set in front of the gates to fill in for this purpose. If you want the best, like miracle grow, you· have to buy it. Good soil has to be developed to get a good loam.
I also use a small folding bench to help me get around my garden, knee pads also help. At one time we installed old carpeting on the paths, but this can prove slippery after a heavy ram.
Nobody said gardening is going to be easy. It requires hard work to set up and maintain. If you don't think you can do it ... Don't start! But you can derive a great deal of pleasure and possible rewards from eating fresh vegetables right from your own garden. There is nothing like picking a ripe tomato, to munch on, right from the vine. You can do this with most of the other vegetables you grow.
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