End of the Month Workday in the Garden

Perhaps the entrance to Peach Blossom Land?

Peach blossoms in the Garland Community Garden contrast with their promise of hope against the backdrop of the winter barren riparian area--home to many.

The Peach Blossom Land is a tale told by Tao Yuanming in 421 about a utopia where the inhabitants lead an ideal existence in harmony with nature, unaware of the outside world. Another title for this story might have been “Wishful Thinking” as it was written during a time of political instability and national disunity in China. A fisherman happened upon this place by chance. The village was located in a forest made up entirely of blossoming peach trees—even the ground was covered solid with the blossoms. He spent a week or two there and then marked his route as he left. The fisherman told others of the place and gave them directions, but no one could ever find it.

What a Great Day in the Garden!

Loving Garland Green, stewards of the Garland Community Garden, work in the garden located at 4022 Naaman School Road throughout the month but the last Saturday of every month is reserved for our end-of the month work session. Yesterday it was time for our February end-of-the month cleanup.

We had an absolutely great workday. The students from North Garland High School Environmental Club joined in to help Loving Garland Green members prepare the garden for spring. People were working in the garden from 10 AM to 3PM.

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Members from North Garland High School Environmental Club worked side-by-side with LGG members getting the Garland Community Garden ready for spring planting - Saturday February 25, 2017

STUDENTS GARDEN PROJECT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOVING GARLAND GREEN MOVED FORWARD YESTERDAY WITH THE SELECTION OF TWO BEDS.

The North Garland High School Environmental Club will take over stewardship of two beds down at the garden. These beds are each approximately 4 feet x 13 feet--about 105 square feet total. This is just the right size for duplicating a Rosalind Creasy gardening experiment that she undertook in 2009.

NOTE: For those who may not know, Rosalind Creasy (Author of The Complete Book of Edible Landscaping) is a gardener from the Santa Barbara area who grew veggies in a 100 square foot plot with the purpose to see how much a family could grow in a small space. In that small area and over an approximate 6 month time period, she raised over $750 worth of food.

Members of Loving Garland Green will assist the students in preparing the soil for planting; selecting the plants; and in setting up a record keeping system. March April May will be the designated months for the student stewardship. Loving Garland Green members will manage the plot over the summer for June, July and August. Then September through the first week of November, the students will resume stewardship.

The goal of this project will be to see how much food (both in poundage amount as well as current market value it's possible for a family to grow in an urban setting in Garland. In addition to the two beds, we will also add two large pots for growing sweet potatoes.

It will be interesting to see what our Garland experiment will yield. I'm predicting more produce and a higher market value. I'll be sure to keep you posted on the progress. for this Loving Garland Green and North Garland High School Environmental Club joint project.

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Daffodils in the Children's Garden herald the coming of spring - Garland Community Garden - February 25,2017

OTHER NEWS FROM THE GARDEN AND MEMBERS

The peach tree in Cheryl Andres' plot has lots of beautiful blooms as you can see in the lead photograph for this article. As far as it being the entrance to Peach Blossom Land, you'll have to come see for yourself. Cheryl is a Loving Garland Green member who is especially interested in preserving native plants and heirloom vegetables. This is a special heirloom peach that isn't even sold any more. The apricot and peach tree donated by Gene and Margie a couple of years ago and planted by me are also all covered in blooms. Who knows, perhaps we will get some fruit from them next year.

Yesterday Anita planted a fig that we will keep pruned back to a large bush size. It's a miracle this thing has survived as I've had it in a pot for about three years.

Donna Baird, our liaison from the Garland Multicultural Commission, was also there yesterday helping us clean up the garden. Donna is bringing a plant for the multicultural garden that is grown by her mother who hails from Taiwan. It is a type of spinach. I look forward to seeing it. I'm wondering if it might be what we call "Malabar Spinach" (Basella alba an edible perennial that we've grown elsewhere in the garden).

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