Revisiting the Bexley Community Garden

A few weeks ago, I accepted an invitation to revisit the Bexley Community Garden, where I also used to garden a few years ago. It is much larger now and they have a large shed to store supplies. They seemed to have solved their soil fertility problem from 2009. Barb, Diane, Trae and Willie were there to share all of the low-down news and problems. It was surprising that the BCG is having more problems with produce thefts than we do (probably because we at least have locks on our gates). However, I encouraged them not to blame the significant number of sunflowers for giving shelter to thieves; they are such friendly flowers . . ..

Barb has done a fantastic job of creating a front flower bed between the street and the garden. I was jealous of the stone edging (which was donated by one of her neighbors who was replacing a sidewalk).

Diane, Barb and Trae will always have a soft place in my heart. After the first of our murders in August 2010, I didn’t think that anyone would still come to our evening gardening seminars (let alone join the SACG). However, Barb, Diana and Trae were each there the following week (and most of the following weeks as well). Barb even came to volunteer in April.

Trae has become a visible leader at the BCG. Her plots are not just functional, they are beautiful as well. She is not satisfied just growing food; she plans to do it with style and sets the tone for everyone else. A few other BCG gardeners also make an effort to dress up their plots with design. At the SACG, only Betty seems interested in putting some personality into her plot (by adding flags, etc.).

Revisiting the Bexley Community Garden

A few weeks ago, I accepted an invitation to revisit the Bexley Community Garden, where I also used to garden a few years ago. It is much larger now and they have a large shed to store supplies. They seemed to have solved their soil fertility problem from 2009. Barb, Diane, Trae and Willie were there to share all of the low-down news and problems. It was surprising that the BCG is having more problems with produce thefts than we do (probably because we at least have locks on our gates). However, I encouraged them not to blame the significant number of sunflowers for giving shelter to thieves; they are such friendly flowers . . ..

Barb has done a fantastic job of creating a front flower bed between the street and the garden. I was jealous of the stone edging (which was donated by one of her neighbors who was replacing a sidewalk).

Diane, Barb and Trae will always have a soft place in my heart. After the first of our murders in August 2010, I didn’t think that anyone would still come to our evening gardening seminars (let alone join the SACG). However, Barb, Diana and Trae were each there the following week (and most of the following weeks as well). Barb even came to volunteer in April.

Trae has become a visible leader at the BCG. Her plots are not just functional, they are beautiful as well. She is not satisfied just growing food; she plans to do it with style and sets the tone for everyone else. A few other BCG gardeners also make an effort to dress up their plots with design. At the SACG, only Betty seems interested in putting some personality into her plot (by adding flags, etc.).

SACG Fall Work Day Welcomes You

One of the things I love most about the SACG is the enthusiasm of our core group of gardeners for hard work and our work days. Between you, me and the fence post, I could survive on one work day in the year – in April. Everything after that is just gravy. However, the SACG gardeners believe if it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. So, we put the garden to bed in mid-November. We pull errant plants and weeds, spread donated compost, plant bulbs, prop up the fence to survive winter storms, empty and stow rain barrels, pick up and dispose of litter, and dis-assemble the gates and sign. This year we will also have the joy of organizing our new shed. If we have enough volunteers and energy, we should also try to flip the compost bins.

Of course, no army works well unless it is well fed – so there will be goodies to keep your blood sugar up.

Last year, we started in sweatshirts and ended up in t-shirts as the temperatures rose during the day.

Volunteers should bring gardening gloves and a rake. Wheelbarrows and wagons would be great, too, but they are hard to transport.

Like us, the Bexley Community Garden has had trouble with gardeners losing the gardening passion over the summer and abandoning their plots to weeds and rotting produce. They have a lot more space to clean up than we do. So, in lieu of a Fall Garden Clean Up day, they are researching the possibility of renting goats to eat up the weeds and tomatoe vines. Maybe we'll borrow them when they are done:) Check this out in the Columbus Dispatch.

The SACG festivities begin at 10 a.m., but feel free to come early and get a jump on the work if the spirit moves you. We will be done by 1:30 or earlier if it starts to rainJ

Be there or be square!!

SACG Fall Work Day Welcomes You

One of the things I love most about the SACG is the enthusiasm of our core group of gardeners for hard work and our work days. Between you, me and the fence post, I could survive on one work day in the year – in April. Everything after that is just gravy. However, the SACG gardeners believe if it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. So, we put the garden to bed in mid-November. We pull errant plants and weeds, spread donated compost, plant bulbs, prop up the fence to survive winter storms, empty and stow rain barrels, pick up and dispose of litter, and dis-assemble the gates and sign. This year we will also have the joy of organizing our new shed. If we have enough volunteers and energy, we should also try to flip the compost bins.

Of course, no army works well unless it is well fed – so there will be goodies to keep your blood sugar up.

Last year, we started in sweatshirts and ended up in t-shirts as the temperatures rose during the day.

Volunteers should bring gardening gloves and a rake. Wheelbarrows and wagons would be great, too, but they are hard to transport.

Like us, the Bexley Community Garden has had trouble with gardeners losing the gardening passion over the summer and abandoning their plots to weeds and rotting produce. They have a lot more space to clean up than we do. So, in lieu of a Fall Garden Clean Up day, they are researching the possibility of renting goats to eat up the weeds and tomatoe vines. Maybe we'll borrow them when they are done:) Check this out in the Columbus Dispatch.

The SACG festivities begin at 10 a.m., but feel free to come early and get a jump on the work if the spirit moves you. We will be done by 1:30 or earlier if it starts to rainJ

Be there or be square!!

Bexley Area Community Gardens Share Resources

Faithful readers will recall that two weeks ago, I described how the SACG had been blessed with an abundance of Botanical Interests seeds donated by a wonderful lady in my church knitting group. I offered to share those seeds with any other community garden once the SACG gardeners had been given an opportunity to take their pick of what they would need for their own plots. Only one garden took me up on my offer: The Bexley Community Garden. Barb contacted me and offered a trade. She had been dividing perennial flowers at her own home and would give me black-eyed susan, blue beard and Shasta daisy flowers for our front flower bed. Considering that Barb graduated last year from OSU's Master Gardening Program, I knew these would be great flowers and they were. I just couldn't believe how much there was. It more than filled the SACG utility cart (as you can see from the picture). The BCG gardeners are lucky to have her looking out for them. She spent 45 minutes perusing our enormous seed collection while sipping wine with me on my patio. (Obviously, this was before the current freeze warning;)

Bexley Area Community Gardens Share Resources

Faithful readers will recall that two weeks ago, I described how the SACG had been blessed with an abundance of Botanical Interests seeds donated by a wonderful lady in my church knitting group. I offered to share those seeds with any other community garden once the SACG gardeners had been given an opportunity to take their pick of what they would need for their own plots. Only one garden took me up on my offer: The Bexley Community Garden. Barb contacted me and offered a trade. She had been dividing perennial flowers at her own home and would give me black-eyed susan, blue beard and Shasta daisy flowers for our front flower bed. Considering that Barb graduated last year from OSU's Master Gardening Program, I knew these would be great flowers and they were. I just couldn't believe how much there was. It more than filled the SACG utility cart (as you can see from the picture). The BCG gardeners are lucky to have her looking out for them. She spent 45 minutes perusing our enormous seed collection while sipping wine with me on my patio. (Obviously, this was before the current freeze warning;)

Govenor's Green Halloween This Saturday

At the last FBCG meeting, Diane announced that the Heritage Garden at the Govenor's Residence on Parkview Avenue was having quite the Halloween Party on Saturday, October 17, 2009 and she wasn't kidding. I just received the brochure (which you can review for yourself at
http://www.governorsresidence.ohio.gov/GreenHalloweenPoster.pdf).

The Friends of the Governor's Residence and Heritage Garden are sponsoring a FREE shindig which includes:
* The Governor’s giant pumpkin patch (probably more successful than my pitiful patch at the SACG);
* Instruction about growing your own garden;
* Decorating (and keeping) your own pumpkin and/or gourd;
* Instruction on why ladybeetles, bats, worms and other earth creatures are so important to our environment;
* Demonstrations on composting and recycling;
* Guided tours (on-the-hour) of the Heritage Garden; and
* Yummy bison burgers and cider

For security purposes, reservations for the event are required. Please RSVP to paigebilotta@gmail.com or 614.644-7644 x5 to identify all that will be attending. Photo IDs and bags will be checked prior to grounds entry. Event takes place rain or shine.

Govenor's Green Halloween This Saturday

At the last FBCG meeting, Diane announced that the Heritage Garden at the Govenor's Residence on Parkview Avenue was having quite the Halloween Party on Saturday, October 17, 2009 and she wasn't kidding. I just received the brochure (which you can review for yourself at
http://www.governorsresidence.ohio.gov/GreenHalloweenPoster.pdf).

The Friends of the Governor's Residence and Heritage Garden are sponsoring a FREE shindig which includes:
* The Governor’s giant pumpkin patch (probably more successful than my pitiful patch at the SACG);
* Instruction about growing your own garden;
* Decorating (and keeping) your own pumpkin and/or gourd;
* Instruction on why ladybeetles, bats, worms and other earth creatures are so important to our environment;
* Demonstrations on composting and recycling;
* Guided tours (on-the-hour) of the Heritage Garden; and
* Yummy bison burgers and cider

For security purposes, reservations for the event are required. Please RSVP to paigebilotta@gmail.com or 614.644-7644 x5 to identify all that will be attending. Photo IDs and bags will be checked prior to grounds entry. Event takes place rain or shine.

SACG and Bexley Gardeners Attended GTG Awards Ceremony and Harvest Festival.

Last week, Barb, Barb’s sister, Betty, Joe and I attended the Growing to Green Awards Ceremony and Harvest Celebration at Franklin Park Conservatory. We were joined at our table by Betsy Johnson from the ACGA and a FPC volunteer. Barb has attended in past years and explained to us in advance the importance of bringing a substantial side dish since there would be a lot of people there who forgot to bring food. City BBQ catered and all of the food was delicious.

Before the ceremony began, Joe, Betty and I toured the new community garden campus that had opened the prior evening.

Bless his heart, the Mayor wanted us to nominate the Bexley Garden. I nominated the SACG for an award (because I need the money to build more raised beds along Cherry Street and to convert the SACG to a non-profit and won’t qualify for any grants since I am not a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization). Of course, I had no realistic expectations that the SACG would win an award because I’m not blind to the fact that when I make our weekly 12 or so pound produce donations to the LSS Choice Food Pantry and/or Faith Mission I often follow a 90 pound donation from the Four Seasons Farm. I figured that one of the Four Season Farm gardens or one of the twelve new gardens in the University District (which has been working with youth groups to establish urban farmers’ markets) would be prohibitive favorites.

Jim King from the Scotts Miracle Gro Company was the keynote speaker for the evening. He talked about his gardening experience from his youth and how Scotts was the market leader in every country in which they conducted business.

The awards:

Neighborhood Improvement Project of the Year. This $250 award (sponsored by GreenScapes Landscape Company) was to be awarded to the park, gateway, streetscape, school, or other community beautification project which did the most to benefit the surrounding community. It was awarded to Family Life St. Vincent de Paul Pantry Garden on Livingston Avenue. Most of us know this as the community garden at Christ the King Church – which received the Outstanding Community Garden of the Year last year in 2008. Its representative (probably Marjorie) explained how unexpected it was to receive another award in only the Garden’s third year of existence. She explained that the Garden had received a ten cubic yard mountain of top soil last year and it had become an eyesore because it was so tall and they did not know what to do with it. In the Spring, they decided to create flower beds surrounding the Garden and as they began to plant, neighbors spontaneously brought them seedlings and divided plants from their own gardens. See Christ The King Church Has Community Garden on Livingston Avenue near Bexley.

Education Garden of the Year. This $500 award (sponsored by the Hinson Family Trust) was to be awarded to the top garden at a school or other organization that utilizes garden projects for educational purposes. It was awarded to theYWCA Family Center Growing Home Community Garden on Harvey Court. Some people may know this as the successor to the Interfaith Hospitality Network. The representative explained that she had been hired to coordinate the gardening program even though she had no prior experience in gardening. She created five different edible gardens with a theme based on different geographic cultures. There was an asian garden, hispanic garden, african garden, etc. She would work with the children to explain about different foods grown and eaten in various parts of the world. The children – a different group of which circulates every 90 days – helped her plant, harvest and cook the food. Earlier in 2009, Scotts had awarded $2500 to the YWCA to establish this garden.

Paul B. Redman Youth Leadership Award. This $250 award (sponsored by the FPC Women’s Board) was given to an outstanding youth gardener (18 years or younger) to further his/her education and interest in gardening, or to make improvements in his/her community garden. It was awarded to Sedrick Dessin of the Highland Community Garden. His nomination explained that he helped a lot with planting and making zucchini bread. He was very, very cute.

Community Garden of the Year. This $500 award (sponsored by The Scotts-Miracle Gro Company) was to be awarded to the top neighborhood gardening project for beautification and/or food production. It was awarded to the Hilltop Highland Community Garden (at the intersection of Highland Avenue and Floral Avenue). Dan Downing (the Garden's leader) explained that this had been a true grass roots movement that began in response to the City closing the area recreational center. Like the SACG, they are located on an abandonned lot, but unlike the SACG, Dan rented heavy equipment to dig out the endless supply of construction debris. They hope to put a similar garden on every block in the Hilltop area. As mentioned below, Jim King spontaneously jumped up and increased the amount of the award by $2500 in product and funds from Scotts Miracle-Gro. (Scotts had earlier in 2009 awarded $2800 to Friends of the Hilltop to support community gardens through the Columbus Foundation grant application process which began in October 2008). They brought a large and joyful contingent with them to the awards ceremony.

Community Gardener of the Year. This $250 award for the community gardening project (sponsored by Chase Bank) was to be awarded on account of a person who is exceptionally dedicated to his/her neighborhood garden and/or the movement of community gardening in central Ohio. It was awarded to Kelly Hern of the Upper Arlington Lutheran Church Community Garden, which is on Mill Run Drive in Hilliard. The nomination explained that the Upper Arlington Lutheran Church Garden had donated approximately 1700 pounds of produce to area food banks. That’s a lot of zucchini and a lot of trips to the pantry. I figured that was probably 150 pounds of produce donated each week. Jim Smith was so moved that he jumped up and offered her $25 in product and funds from Scotts Miracle-Gro. (We know he meant more than that and he got up later and clarified that he meant $2500). Scotts had earlier in 2009 awarded the Upper Arlington Lutheran Church $2500 to establish its community garden to support the Hilliard Free Summer Lunch program and provide hunger relief programs for the Hilltop area.

Of course, I’m sinfully envious of the enormous Upper Arlington Lutheran Church, and its three campuses, large tract of vacant land on Mill Run in Hilliard, their large number of volunteers, their insurance coverage and how they did not have to constantly dig out an endless amount of construction debris. (Of course, I don't have to worry about deer, either). It’s hard for a suburban garden to win one of these awards.

The program had been scheduled to run from 6-9, but really only lasted from 6:30 until 8:30. We left behind a produce donation for the Plant a Row Program and took an herb seed packet donated by Foertmeyer and Sons Greenhouses.

SACG and Bexley Gardeners Attended GTG Awards Ceremony and Harvest Festival.

Last week, Barb, Barb’s sister, Betty, Joe and I attended the Growing to Green Awards Ceremony and Harvest Celebration at Franklin Park Conservatory. We were joined at our table by Betsy Johnson from the ACGA and a FPC volunteer. Barb has attended in past years and explained to us in advance the importance of bringing a substantial side dish since there would be a lot of people there who forgot to bring food. City BBQ catered and all of the food was delicious.

Before the ceremony began, Joe, Betty and I toured the new community garden campus that had opened the prior evening.

Bless his heart, the Mayor wanted us to nominate the Bexley Garden. I nominated the SACG for an award (because I need the money to build more raised beds along Cherry Street and to convert the SACG to a non-profit and won’t qualify for any grants since I am not a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization). Of course, I had no realistic expectations that the SACG would win an award because I’m not blind to the fact that when I make our weekly 12 or so pound produce donations to the LSS Choice Food Pantry and/or Faith Mission I often follow a 90 pound donation from the Four Seasons Farm. I figured that one of the Four Season Farm gardens or one of the twelve new gardens in the University District (which has been working with youth groups to establish urban farmers’ markets) would be prohibitive favorites.

Jim King from the Scotts Miracle Gro Company was the keynote speaker for the evening. He talked about his gardening experience from his youth and how Scotts was the market leader in every country in which they conducted business.

The awards:

Neighborhood Improvement Project of the Year. This $250 award (sponsored by GreenScapes Landscape Company) was to be awarded to the park, gateway, streetscape, school, or other community beautification project which did the most to benefit the surrounding community. It was awarded to Family Life St. Vincent de Paul Pantry Garden on Livingston Avenue. Most of us know this as the community garden at Christ the King Church – which received the Outstanding Community Garden of the Year last year in 2008. Its representative (probably Marjorie) explained how unexpected it was to receive another award in only the Garden’s third year of existence. She explained that the Garden had received a ten cubic yard mountain of top soil last year and it had become an eyesore because it was so tall and they did not know what to do with it. In the Spring, they decided to create flower beds surrounding the Garden and as they began to plant, neighbors spontaneously brought them seedlings and divided plants from their own gardens. See Christ The King Church Has Community Garden on Livingston Avenue near Bexley.

Education Garden of the Year. This $500 award (sponsored by the Hinson Family Trust) was to be awarded to the top garden at a school or other organization that utilizes garden projects for educational purposes. It was awarded to theYWCA Family Center Growing Home Community Garden on Harvey Court. Some people may know this as the successor to the Interfaith Hospitality Network. The representative explained that she had been hired to coordinate the gardening program even though she had no prior experience in gardening. She created five different edible gardens with a theme based on different geographic cultures. There was an asian garden, hispanic garden, african garden, etc. She would work with the children to explain about different foods grown and eaten in various parts of the world. The children – a different group of which circulates every 90 days – helped her plant, harvest and cook the food. Earlier in 2009, Scotts had awarded $2500 to the YWCA to establish this garden.

Paul B. Redman Youth Leadership Award. This $250 award (sponsored by the FPC Women’s Board) was given to an outstanding youth gardener (18 years or younger) to further his/her education and interest in gardening, or to make improvements in his/her community garden. It was awarded to Sedrick Dessin of the Highland Community Garden. His nomination explained that he helped a lot with planting and making zucchini bread. He was very, very cute.

Community Garden of the Year. This $500 award (sponsored by The Scotts-Miracle Gro Company) was to be awarded to the top neighborhood gardening project for beautification and/or food production. It was awarded to the Hilltop Highland Community Garden (at the intersection of Highland Avenue and Floral Avenue). Dan Downing (the Garden's leader) explained that this had been a true grass roots movement that began in response to the City closing the area recreational center. Like the SACG, they are located on an abandonned lot, but unlike the SACG, Dan rented heavy equipment to dig out the endless supply of construction debris. They hope to put a similar garden on every block in the Hilltop area. As mentioned below, Jim King spontaneously jumped up and increased the amount of the award by $2500 in product and funds from Scotts Miracle-Gro. (Scotts had earlier in 2009 awarded $2800 to Friends of the Hilltop to support community gardens through the Columbus Foundation grant application process which began in October 2008). They brought a large and joyful contingent with them to the awards ceremony.

Community Gardener of the Year. This $250 award for the community gardening project (sponsored by Chase Bank) was to be awarded on account of a person who is exceptionally dedicated to his/her neighborhood garden and/or the movement of community gardening in central Ohio. It was awarded to Kelly Hern of the Upper Arlington Lutheran Church Community Garden, which is on Mill Run Drive in Hilliard. The nomination explained that the Upper Arlington Lutheran Church Garden had donated approximately 1700 pounds of produce to area food banks. That’s a lot of zucchini and a lot of trips to the pantry. I figured that was probably 150 pounds of produce donated each week. Jim Smith was so moved that he jumped up and offered her $25 in product and funds from Scotts Miracle-Gro. (We know he meant more than that and he got up later and clarified that he meant $2500). Scotts had earlier in 2009 awarded the Upper Arlington Lutheran Church $2500 to establish its community garden to support the Hilliard Free Summer Lunch program and provide hunger relief programs for the Hilltop area.

Of course, I’m sinfully envious of the enormous Upper Arlington Lutheran Church, and its three campuses, large tract of vacant land on Mill Run in Hilliard, their large number of volunteers, their insurance coverage and how they did not have to constantly dig out an endless amount of construction debris. (Of course, I don't have to worry about deer, either). It’s hard for a suburban garden to win one of these awards.

The program had been scheduled to run from 6-9, but really only lasted from 6:30 until 8:30. We left behind a produce donation for the Plant a Row Program and took an herb seed packet donated by Foertmeyer and Sons Greenhouses.

Franklin Park Conservatory Opens Its New Community Garden Campus

The Dispatch reported this morning that the Franklin Park Conservatory opened its new community garden campus last night and has activities planned all weekend. Tonight is the Growing to Green Harvest Celebration and Awards Ceremony. Tomorrow is a field-to-table fundraising dinner (which is sold out). There will be classes and seminars, etc. on Saturday and Sunday as listed in the Dispatch.

Be sure to check out those water spickets in my pictures. We can only dream of those in Bexley:)

Franklin Park Conservatory Opens Its New Community Garden Campus

The Dispatch reported this morning that the Franklin Park Conservatory opened its new community garden campus last night and has activities planned all weekend. Tonight is the Growing to Green Harvest Celebration and Awards Ceremony. Tomorrow is a field-to-table fundraising dinner (which is sold out). There will be classes and seminars, etc. on Saturday and Sunday as listed in the Dispatch.

Be sure to check out those water spickets in my pictures. We can only dream of those in Bexley:)

Christ The King Church Has Community Garden on Livingston Avenue near Bexley

Now in its third season, Christ the King Church has a community garden near Bexley at 2777 East Livingston Avenue largely dedicated to supplying its St. Vincent de Paul food pantry. Although three beds have been reserved for individual neighbors (who also share in garden maintenance), and a nearby school gardens two beds, the remainder of the 22 garden beds are maintained by a church gardening team. This Garden Was Selected as the Outstanding Community Garden in Central Ohio for 2008 by the Growing To Green Program in September 2008.

Individuals interested in reserving a garden bed need to contact Marjorie at 237-0720 in the Fall.

Dills Nursery is also supporting the St. Vincent De Paul food pantry this season with its own large vegetable garden at its HQ (between Groveport and Canal Winchester).

Christ The King Church Has Community Garden on Livingston Avenue near Bexley

Now in its third season, Christ the King Church has a community garden near Bexley at 2777 East Livingston Avenue largely dedicated to supplying its St. Vincent de Paul food pantry. Although three beds have been reserved for individual neighbors (who also share in garden maintenance), and a nearby school gardens two beds, the remainder of the 22 garden beds are maintained by a church gardening team. This Garden Was Selected as the Outstanding Community Garden in Central Ohio for 2008 by the Growing To Green Program in September 2008.

Individuals interested in reserving a garden bed need to contact Marjorie at 237-0720 in the Fall.

Dills Nursery is also supporting the St. Vincent De Paul food pantry this season with its own large vegetable garden at its HQ (between Groveport and Canal Winchester).