Tilling the Soil and our Master Gardeners

On March 17, the City of Church Hill plowed over the CHSC garden plot.  Located on level ground adjacent to the City and police offices, the plot is 50'x50'.  The event was followed by Jeff Bobo, a journalist for the Kingsport Times News.  He is shown interviewing Mayor Dennis Deal, Brian Kramer and Judy Penley.  The newspaper story and an accompanying video appeared in the Times News on March 18th.  The video clip is at the website, timesnews.net.  Tilling will begin shortly.
We have begun to collect seeds for the garden.  A sign and collection box were placed in the senior center and a large number of packets have already been contributed. 
Master Gardeners
The Master Gardener program is an outreach effort of the USDA extension service.  The MG's are volunteer participants that have undergone training and contribute their time in many community projects.  Our garden has received preliminary approval for a Master Gardener Project.  Projects are evaluated using a checklist that looks at community need, sustainability, funding, project costs and duration.  With the approval, a Master Gardener is assigned.

MarciaVandermause is our primary Master Gardener.  She is from Rogersville and has been in the East Tennessee area for about 5 years.  We completed the Project paperwork when she visited the Center and she gave it preliminary approval.  She also had several suggestions about obtaining some PeoplePower for some of the more physically demanding gardening projects. 

We are going to contact Volunteer High School for assistance from the FFA and other students to help grow some plants for the garden, assist in the construction and positioning of the raised beds, and help with some of the other physical chores.

Since the newspaper article there have been several people that have contacted us about how they could participate.  A new transplant from California has no garden space here and wants to work in the gardens.  A neighbor contacted us to volunteer with rototilling between the rows.

Plowing our bit of earth

On Wednesday March 17 at 3:00 the garden site will be plowed and will be rototilled later.  The Kingsport Times News will cover the event.  Mayor Deal will also attend.  Please attend if you can.

Other Gardeners working for the Common Good

From  The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Brunett
"Might I," quavered Mary, "_____ might I have a bit of earth?"


In her eagerness she did not realize how queer the words would sound and that they were not the ones she had meant to say. Mr. Craven looked quite startled.


"Earth!" he repeated. "What do you mean?"


"To plant seeds in ____to make things grow _____ to see them come alive," Mary faltered.


He gazed at her a moment and then passed his hand quickly over his eyes.


"Do you ____care about gardens so much" he said slowly.


"I didn't know about them in India," said Mary. “I was always ill and tired and it was too hot. I sometimes made little beds in the sand and stuck flowers in them. But here it is different.


Mr. Craven got up and began to walk slowly across the room.


"A bit of earth," he said to himself, and Mary thought that somehow she must have reminded him of something. When he stopped and spoke to her his dark eyes looked almost soft and kind.


"You can have as much earth as you want," he said. “You remind me of some one else who loved the earth and things that grow. When you see a bit of earth you want." with something like a smile, "take it, child, and make it come alive."




I go this message from Sam Jones.  She has established a community garden in Johnson City.  Her note tells some of the ups and downs that her group has experienced.  What we are trying to do is not unique.  There is a hunger and thurst for

Re: Senior Center Garden for Chruch HillTuesday, March 9, 2010 7:11 AM


From: This sender is : "Brian Kramer" Brian,

Thanks for doing this for the folks in Church Hill. My project was started in spring of 2008 as a Master Gardener project. The land and tilling were also provided by the city, as well as the water. Does your site have water? I don't think we could operate at all without easy water access, although my research on line shows that some community gardens do get by with hauled or harvested water. The first 2 years were difficult, as the soil was pitifully thin and lacking in any organic matter, even though the city brought in some shredded leaves, it just wasn't enough. Anyway, to make a long story short, this winter the somewhat improved soil has been scooped up w/a front end loader and the garden's been moved across the park where it's located. The city felt they had to have the existing spot for a picnic shelter! And so I'm starting over, but the city does seem to have come to realize that CG's really are becoming more than a passing fancy in towns all over the US and that a showplace garden might actually be a nice addition to the park. There's also talk of duplicating it at other city parks, but now it's just talk.

Anyway, there's lots of good web resources to help you in your organization so I won't go into that in an email but I would advise you to get some help, a gardening board, if you will. I'd also advise a written agreement for each plot owner and a small annual fee as well. If you can get a local garden club to donate tools that would be great, IF you have a shed or some place to store them for the common good. Ongoing education on gardening subjects is vital if you're dealing w/inexperienced gardeners. This year I'm trying to find a mentor to pair up with each newbie but that's easier said than done.



The whole project has been a real challenge, but rewarding enough to keep me going so I'm still with it. Good soil is the key, as I'm sure you know, to garden success and of course, that's the thing that takes the most time, energy and resources to build! Lots of volunteers and planned workdays are really helpful too. Be adamant about weeds to your gardeners, otherwise I let them do their own thing. Compost bins are unsightly for sure and I can't recommend any easy, free solutions except maybe using those black plastic circular bins that have holes in the sides for air flow. I had gardeners pull up corn stalks and fill the bins with them, so education on composting is certainly necessary too. Don't assume they know how to compost. Turning piles is an even bigger challenge though haha



It sounds like you're on the right path Brian.  Take before, during and after pictures for any future website or public announcements. You won't regret it.


 I wish you much success in your new endeavor and would like to see it sometime. It should be easy to spot on Main St!



Blessings,

Sam Jones



There is no away- as in, "throw it away"

Assistance on all fronts

chscclasses.blogspot.com

Yesterday was one for seeking and receiving assistance.


1. Tennessee Master Gardeners I talked to Doug Hilton. He is the coordinator for the program. We have been assigned a MG for our project. She will meet with us on Thursday Mar 17, 11:00. at the Senior Center

2. Jean Cope, garden columnist for the Kingsport Times News, suggested that I contact the newspaper since she felt they would consider the garden newsworthy. I talked with their news editor. She is arranging to have a photographer and reporter come out to Church Hill to cover the story. I assured them that publishing a photograph of me would in no way increase circulation of the paper and could result in cancelled subscriptions. I also called the Mayor and Public Works Director to see if we could coordinate the pix and plowing. With great reluctance, the Mayor agreed to be available for the pictures and story.

3. James Newburn from the UT will be speaking on Community Gardens in Kingsport later this month. I have contacted him to see what ideas he can contribute to our project.

4. I visited the raised gardens of Master Gardener Ben Hunter. He has a wonderful setup at his house. I will take pictures and upload to the blog later this week. He also showed me his composting method.. It goes from the raw materials to completed compost in 3 months.

5. I am actively discouraging the City to till a huge plot for us. I have developed a site plan and scanned the plot, but have not been able to upload to the blog. It looks like expanding the garden to this size could take two or three years. Each raised bed will cost about $40.00 for the treated lumber. There will be some additional cost to make the compost bins. The garden must have a good appearance since it is on Main Street. I think if the initial plot is 40' x 40' it will be manageable

test

1. The following are the Objectives of the Implementation Team. It is our goal to be open and transparent in all our efforts. By doing so we hope to create member support for this effort and to reduce resistance to change.
   
   FROM DIRT TO DINNER
   
   i. Identify & Prepare Site
   ii. Develop several raised beds to ensure access for all members
   iii. Establish funding mechanisms for purchase of seeds and plants
   iv. Develop forms and policies to keep track of money collected and disbursed.
   v. Implement soil testing, improvement, and other ecologically sound programs and processes.
   vi. Create, publish and enforce rules for the garden
   1. Garden planning and allowable pest control programs
   2. Weeding, pathways, and access
   3. Problem prevention and resolution
   4. Fall garden chores
   5. Gathering, distribution, and preservation of produce
   6. Preparation of site for winter
   7. Evaluation of past garden and development of garden plan and programs for following year
   vii. Develop Donor List
   1. Person/Company contacted
   2. Specific Item/service requested
   3. Who Contacted
   4. Date
   5. Phone #
   6. Result
   7. Follow Up date
   8. Product/Service donated
   9. Thank You Letter Sent
   10. Name etc added to Donor List
   viii. Create and maintain Garden Diary
   1. Temperature and Rainfall Records
   2. Planting Plat diagram
   3. Dates & Varieties Planted
   4. Harvest Records
   ix. Integration with garden with Master Gardener/USDA Extension Service
   x. Create, update and maintain CHSCGARDEN Blog
   1. Establish
   2. Identify Photographer
   3. Publicize blog and develop method of updating and loading Photos
   xi. Develop Environmental Education Programs
   1. Contact Schools/teachers
   2. Develop plans and programs for student visits to see planting, growing, weeding, harvesting etc.
   3. Record of visits and evaluation of results
   xii. Create wikihow or Blurb.com book to show process from dirt to dinner.
   

This is the site of the garden to be. Not Eden, Yet.

There are some interesting things going on today. I thought I would just attach the emails. I sent a emal to Jean Cope. She is the gardening columnist for the Kingsport Times News. The following 2 emails are her reply

Re: Idea for News Column - Great!
From:
"Jeanne Cope"

To:
"Brian Kramer"
Hi Brian, sorry to be late answering your message. I have thought so much about that wonderful project and the benefit to the community from accomplishing it. Several things come to mind, first it is so important and beneficial that I believe the Kingsport Times News would be willing to send a photographer and staff writer to cover the news and I suggest you contact them in this regard. A feature article would be very interesting to many people and could contain more words than the 425 they request from me. Additionally, it would be great if the Master Gardeners in your area would agree to provide assistance on a regular basis throughout the growing season. The person to contact is Doug Hilton, who decides which projects the MG's can sign up for and gain credit hours for their year's total hours in community service. He does not have a computer, but his phone is 423/239-9433. I would appreciate if you would let me know the outcome with the paper and Doug. Best of good wishes to you in this project.
Jeanne Cope
The Joyful Gardener
jectn3@embarqmail.com


Re: Idea for News Column - one more idea...
From:
"Jeanne Cope"
To: "Brian Kramer"

Brian, contact Sam Jones (a lady Samantha). She began a community garden in downtown Johnson City about 2 or 3 years ago. The town donated the land and did the heavy preparation. She can give you some ideas that will also help speed your project. Her email is:
Sam Jones: simpleintn@yahoo.com The also has a wonderful newsletter with many great ideas.
Bye for now,
Jeanne

I also started working in ernest on getting some product donated for the garden. The following letter was delivered to The Home Depot this afternoon.

Home Depot
Angie Birothe, Store Manager
Kingsport TN

Dear M/S Birothe,

The City of Church Hill has approved plans for a garden for the Church Hill Senior Citizen’s Center. A plot near City Hall has been identified and the City will plow and till the site for the CHSC. Like most governmental units, funds for the City are tight. The program, as approved, requires that the project be self-funded and self-regulated. Assistance is being provided by the Tennessee Master Gardener’s program, the USDA Extension service, and members of the CHSC. A copy of the Proposal, implementation plan and plot diagram is attached.

We are seeking assistance from The Home Depot to provide materials for the raised beds. The plot diagram is an ambitious project and can be done in two or three phases. The following construction materials are needed:
• Treated 2”x 6”- 8’
• Treated 2”x 8”- 8’
• Treated 2”x 8” – 10’
• Treated 2”x 8” – 12’
• 3” Deck Screws
Thank you very much for your consideration. The garden will provide many benefits to the center Members as well as educational opportunities to Church Hill Elementary School Students. If you have any questions about the project, you may contact me at 423-256-2152 or kramerbwestie@yahoo.com.

Church Hill Senior Center Community Garden

The Community Garden was introduced to the Senior Center Members on March 4. The Mayor of Church Hill, Dennis Deal outlined the Cities Contribution of land for the garden site. The City will plow and till an area 100'x100' in the next few days.