A Progress Report

 This is a fairly uncommon, though by no means rare photo of snow in Church Hill.  This photos were followed by a real treat, a combination rain, freezing rain and ice storm.  Under it all there are still signs of life in the beds.

This is also a rare photograph it shows the slow march of 10 compost bins, FKA tomato cages, to Spring Planting. The composting action was evident in the warmth of the outside boards on the big bin.

The year-end garden evaluation was held December 9th.  After we worked and ate, the conversation was distilled and recorded.  After it was submitted to the Garden Directors and some suggestions incorporated, this is the lump of work that we would like to do in 2011.

Church Hill Senior Center Garden

2011

Goals & Objectives

Goals

1. Increase senior/public participation in planting, harvesting and maintenance of the Garden
2. Find a long term solution to water availability at garden site
3. Develop and prioritize list of projects requiring funding
4. Continue to expand raised bed and compost bin infrastructure
5. Implement effective partnership between garden facilities and Church Hill students
6. Obtain a long term agreement on continued use of garden site
7. Develop short/long term solutions to path weed control
8. Increase production by 10% in 2011 by more effective use of space, earlier planting, additional beds, greater soil fertility, and increased composting.
9. Implement liability waiver policy and establish garden rules for all participants
10. Publish Blurb book by 4/30/2011 about 2010 garden

Objectives

• Meet with Seniors to discuss garden and need for additional member participation
• Continue to publicize the garden through blog, television and press coverage
• Talk with Elementary School leaders and teachers about including garden in curricula
• Build message center for participants at the garden site
• Include garden activities in Senior Center monthly newsletter
• Contact FFA leaders to ask for participation by raising plants and assisting with bed construction labor
• Talk with Boy/Girl/Eagle Scouts about participation
• Continue conversation with 1st Utilities about water at site. If necessary, seek alternative water storage alternatives
• Talk with Carter Valley Elementary leaders/teachers about garden by late January 2011and present logical plan for their participation.  Ask for their assistance in planting, Sunflower project and offer to supplement their lesson plans about seeds, gardening, photosynthesis etc.
• Schedule and conduct at least one public session about raised bed gardening, sustainable or organic practices, and or composting in conjugation with Master Gardeners.
• Form list of prioritized projects requiring funding, develop costs to implement and raise money to complete at least 2 projects designated as “significant”
• Finalize and submit Fiskars grant proposal
• select and implement Waiver of Liability forms and procedures and develop Garden Rules
• Provide for uniform collection of volunteer hours, weighing produce and reporting of production
• Develop recognition system for Donors
• Continue with organic policies

Well there you have it.  Perhaps too broad, and perhaps too  optimistic.  


We have received a positive reply from 1st Utility.  They will rehabilitate an old connection in the garden parking lot and have water available in the Spring.  They have capped the rates and given us a rate similar to the area churches.  This is a significant step forward for the garden and also in our effort to obtain a grant for the garden.

The work on the Blurb Book has shifted into high gear.  The show and ice storms provided a convenient excuse to stay inside and write.  We are using Google Docs to co-author the tome.  At this point we have over 11000 words, and a reasonably bad opinion of Google Docs.  There is going to be some considerable dancing before the thing is ready to hit the presses, but the text is coming along quite well and starting to sound somewhat coherent. The book has helped me focus on some of the issues that need to be completed and changed for next year.  

Work to finish the Fiskar's grant proposal will restart next week.  We are waiting for an answer from Mayor Deal regarding a long term usage arrangement for the garden.  The "last Call" email was received last week and the submissions must be received by year end.  We are not spending the money until received, but the $1500 worth of Fiskar's tools would be wonderful.  

Thanks to all who helped during 2010.  Merry Christmas and Good Growing in 2011.

Season Statistics

This is the point where we compute the statistics and start evaluating the 2010 garden.  There is some Kale and Turnip greens that will survive the typical Tri-Cities winter. So there will be some additional items to add to the production for this year.  But for all real purposes This Is IT!

 Crop                   Pounds or Units                        

Beans	20.25
cantaloupe	7.00
corn	112.00
corn stalks	47.00
cucumbers	113.00
cushaw	229.50
eggplant	1.00
feed corn	21.50
floral arrangements	34.00
kale	1.00
lettuce	1.00
mustard greens	26.50
okra	17.50
peppers	22.50
plum granny	7.50
puff ball	2.00
radish	19.00
spaghetti squash	39.25
sunflower heads	103.00
tomatoes	162.50
turnip greens	6.75
watermelon	21.50
winter squash	11.00
yellow squash	61.75
zucchini	53.00
	1141.00

In addition we have about 250 cubic feet of compost in process.  This is comprised of 14 truck loads of  shredded leaves and horse manure.  The big central compost bin holds 120 cubic feet and the 10 wire tomato cages have a total of 105 cubic feet of material.  There was one bed that was empty, so it was filled with the same material.  This would be another 25 cubic feet of material. 

In the Spring, there should be enough compost to fill all the existing beds to the top.  We limped along with the basic soil fertility( as found) and only had about 50 cubic feet of compost for soil amendment. With enough strong backs next year, we can do an instant replay and fill the big bin again for some compost to use in the fall and to fill any additional beds that are constructed.  We still have a good supply of leaves that will be available and there should be large amounts of horse manure available by Spring.

The Garden Evaluation meeting will be held December 9th.  Many of those invited have responded positively.  We are hoping for a good turnout and a productive session.  A letter has been prepared asking First Utility District to donate a water connection and water to use for the 2011 season.  We shall see.