Community Garden Gazette - Issue One - December 19th, 2010
A Letter from your Editor
Welcome to the first edition of Chico’s Community Garden Gazette! I’d like you to imagine the plumpest, juiciest, bright red cherry tomato you’ve ever seen hanging from a cool green vine. Its skin has been warmed by the morning sun and as you pop it into your mouth the juices explode on your tongue filling your mind with the sweet and savory flavors of nature. This is what a tomato is supposed to be like. It’s just one example of the joy we get from growing our own produce and it’s something we think everyone should experience. That’s why a few dedicated souls have come together to create a series of community gardens that will allow this joy to spread throughout our wonderful town.
What is a “community garden” you might ask? Well, it’s just what it sounds like. It’s a garden that’s planted, cared for, and harvested by members of the community who then get to share in its delicious bounty. Basically, we find a small, unused plot of land, and ask the owner if they will let us start a garden there. Then we round up a group of volunteers and get some supplies from the GRUB farm. They are a group of local people whose knowledge of the soil and seasons in Chico is second to none. Then, armed with expertise, tools and a handful of seeds we design and plant a garden.
As it grows, so does our knowledge and friendship. We water and weed and we learn to make compost from natural materials around the yard. We build greenhouses and new potting beds so our plants have comfy homes to grow in. We even built a chicken coop at one garden and we’re looking forward to seeing some fresh eggs when the hens are old enough. And when the fruits and vegetables begin to ripen we get to start harvesting. Then we literally get to taste the fruits of our labor; and they’re delicious!
The produce isn’t the only thing we take away. There’s a definite sense of community at these gardens and we often talk, laugh and tell stories while we work. It’s especially nice to meet like-minded people who are all coming together for a common purpose. Many of us didn’t know a thing about gardening before showing up here so it’s neat to learn together. And it feels great knowing that a portion of our vegetables are going to worthy causes like the Jesus Center and the Torres Shelter to help feed the needy in our community.
Any time is a good time to get involved. Because Chico has such wonderful soil and mild weather fruits and vegetables are able to grow year round here. So there is always something new to plant and something new to pick. Each season brings different types of produce to the table and it’s fun to find and exchange new ways to prepare them. I’ve never eaten so well and it’s exciting to open the fridge and see so many fresh, organic veggies; especially those sweet and sun kissed cherry tomatoes! So please, come out and join us. We’d love to have you! If you’d like to participate you can email us at communitygardens@grub.org or just come on out to one of the gardens on a work day. For more information about GRUB visit their website at www.GRUBChico.org. And be sure to check out our community gardens link at the top of their page. We can’t wait to see you!
Potting goodness,
Jake Davis
Editor
1st All Community Gardeners Potluck
January 15th , 2011
At THE GRUB COOPERATIVE
1525 Dayton Road
Chico, CA
The GRUB COOPERATIVE, founders of the GRUB supported Community Gardens in Chico, CA invite all community gardeners to the 1st potluck of the 2011 season. Bring your favorite homemade dish (copies of recipe to share if you like) and hot tea will be provided.
Time: (4:30 - 5:00pm for those that want a tour of the Herb Garden lead by Sherry, GRUB member & manager of the beautiful GRUB HERB GARDEN). Please RSVP to flo.h.hamilton@hotmail.com.
Potluck Time: 5-7pm in main dining room.
Mark your calendars NOW. The 15th is a Saturday night and you won’t want to miss this gathering. Come and enjoy our favorite “off season activity” - eating delicious, fresh, locally grown and prepared food!!!
Submitted by: Flo Hamilton, Coordinator GRUB supported Community Gardens
Winter Garden Schedule
Jan, Feb, March 2011
We currently have 3 gardens that remain active during the Winter months, Jan, Feb, March. Times and days vary during the Winter months. Call or email if you can’t wait for Spring! Many garden year round in Chico, CA.
Bidwell Community Teaching Garden
1700 Bidwell Avenue
Chico, CA
Contact: Flo Hamilton (Cell) 209-985-2770) flo.h.hamilton@hotmail.com
Community Garden Coordinator
The Jesus Center Garden
Corner of 14th and Mulberry
Chico, CA
Contact: Julissa Winton (Home) 530-891-4608 wintonjason@hotmail.com
The West Lindo Garden
305 West Lindo Avenue
Chico, CA
Contact: Liz Daniels (Cell) 321-6897 solutions@happyfeetreflexology.net
WE WILL BEGIN USING THE GREENHOUSE AROUND THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY, 2011
Submitted by: Flo Hamilton, Coordinator, GRUB supported Community Gardens
Composting School At The Bidwell Teaching Garden
The Baileys, Amber, Tom, and Thor have been composting for over 30 years at the Bidwell Garden site. It just came natural to them as did offering their garden space in answer to the GRUB call for community gardens in Chico. How blessed we are to have this ¼ acre site for growing food for the hungry, a space large enough for our community greenhouse, and as the location of our modest school of composting.
We use wire bins for short term composting (ready in 3-4 months) and long term composting is, well, a pile that sits for up to 3 years relatively untouched except for watering during the hot summer days in Chico. We are selective when building our long term compost piles, using a common sense approach that works perfectly. When you come to visit you will witness first hand how to compost for the short term or long term - your choice!
Another program that finds it’s home at the Bidwell site every Wednesday is the ARC/GRUB Garden Club. The ARC of Butte County (Serving the Developmentally Disabled since 1953) meets weekly with Stephanie Elliott, GRUB member and Community Garden Program Director. Students learn gardening skills of preparing the soil, planting, watering, and weeding; as well as enjoying the outdoors with all the fresh air and sunshine. There is a lot of excitement each week as everyone piles into the van and heads to the garden under the supervision of Wyatt from ARC/Chico and Gaylord from ARC/Orville. From sign painting to weeding to the days of harvesting, everyone just loves coming out to the Bidwell Community Teaching Garden.
Submitted by: Flo Hamilton, Coordinator GRUB supported Community Gardens
COMMUNITY GARDENS GREENHOUSE
at
The Bidwell Community Teaching Garden
1700 Bidwell Avenue
Chico, CA
Thanks to everyone’s support and hands on help, The COMMUNITY GARDEN GREENHOUSE, located at our Bidwell Garden, is nearly finished and ready to use. Yea, we did it! And just in time I might add. The cover went on just two weeks ago as the weather was getting cold and the rains were upon us. The last step was enclosing the two ends, putting on a screen door, and suddenly there it stood, a 20’ x 10’ greenhouse. Amazing.
The project started in late summer. I sat in the Bidwell Garden at the Baileys residence with a clipboard, pencil, and paper and just waited for inspiration to guide me. Gardens have a way of designing and revealing themselves if you sit long enough and just wait. That’s what happened on the late summer day in November. “We are going to need some potting benches inside the greenhouse - What do they look like? Enclosing the ends, how will I do that? And, as each question arose, ideas started taking form. And where is the best spot for the “portable greenhouse”? Better ask Tom Bailey who has gardened in this ¼ acre yard for well over 30 years.
It was a lovely day…sitting in the garden on that late summer afternoon just being inspired to design our very own greenhouse. One of the things I just love about gardening is just how visual it is. Yep, I am a natural when it comes to visualizing. Love the process. Oh, “I see” is such a fun way to create.
It was a great afternoon and very productive. The potting table design was sketched out, Tom came out and we found the perfect location for this Winter, and a list of materials needed was compiled. The greenhouse project had begun.
Shelly raked the area in preparation for the frame. Tom and his son Thor Bailey drove the metal stakes in that support the “ribs” of the greenhouse. Flo assembled the plastic pipe that forms the ribs and installed a pole in the middle to attach the whole frame and keep it stationery. Without that support, on a windy day your greenhouse can end up in your neighbors yard!!!
Mari showed up on those last two important days to dig holes for the end posts, dig a little deeper around the anchors, and just worked unceasingly till it was finished. We did it! We got a greenhouse and 6 potting tables built before Winter rains and cold would have nixed the project. Hooray, now we can enjoy the warmth of the greenhouse on those cold, rainy days as we fill our pots with soil and seed. YES, Dorothy was right…“you don’t have to go any further then your own backyard” … and in our case, your own community garden, to feel right at home.
Footnote: Here is a list of the supplies we are looking for to get the greenhouse operational:
- Potting Mix
- a hose or maybe two
- a watering wand, a short one
- popsicle sticks for labeling or old plastic plant tags work well. Permanent black marker or pencil.
Thanks everyone,
Article by: Flo Hamilton, Coordinator
GRUB supported Community Gardens
