The Generous Garden - SC

We recently heard of another "Sharing"-type garden in South Carolina called the Generous Garden Project. They too grow food on a volunteer basis and make it available for free to Food Banks, Shelters and others in need. They are excited to announce that they have been gifted with two, twenty acre parcels of land to expand their project! Watch this inspiring video made several years ago when the project was just getting started.  Enjoy, and be inspired!

Check out their site if you wish to learn more about them.

Enough and To Spare, To Give and To Share

Signs indicate where donors can leave materials. Chris tills the ground with greenhouse in the background.

"So, are you getting enough volunteer participation this season?" asked a visitor to the Sharing Gardens last week. The answer is, we're getting "enough" but not very much. Of the 4,000+ seedlings we started in our new greenhouse (mostly from seed we saved ourselves) and the hundreds of those transplanted into the ground, we've probably done 95% of them. But we're not feeling burdened by this and in fact, in some ways we're feeling more supported than ever this season. The donations we're receiving of cash and materials free us to spend less time earning a living and more time in the garden (anywhere from two to six hours a day) growing food to help those in need. Support is showing up in other important ways, outside the garden, that help us keep things moving forward.

Beautiful worm-compost.

For example, Monroe resident John Kinsey has a red-wiggler worm farm in his backyard. He takes kitchen scraps, weeds, grass clippings and other organic material and feeds it to his worms who turn it into fantastic compost and worm castings (poo). He also brings us bags and bags of grass clippings from his own and other people's yards which we use to mulch our plants. John is also growing this year's garlic crop in his raised beds and will grow exclusively Jalapeño pepper plants so that he can save pure seed. He lives close enough that it will be easy for him to share in the bounty of all the other kinds of peppers and garden produce grown at the main garden-site so it's a real win-win all around.

Sam and Becky Bowman, with Chris.

Sam Bowmen has been another friend who's been doing all our small-engine repair and maintenance. Brother to Loren, who started the Monroe Food Bank, and Curtis, who manages it now, he comes from a family of community servants and has extended himself generously to keep our tillers, mower and string-trimmer running smoothly. Sam and John are both examples of people finding where their own talents and interests can intersect with the garden's needs and, though they may not be physically in the gardens with us, their support makes the gardens possible.

Volunteers plant tomatoes amidst straw -mulch paths.

Support has also come in the form of donations of materials and money. Mark and Heather Frystak keep amazing us with their generosity. Heather's family has lived in the area for generations and, though Mark has "married in" he's become a major networker and advocate of the Sharing Gardens by securing donations of coffee grounds (from relatives who run a coffee shop in Albany) and straw from Soggy Bottom Farms near Harrisburg (also part of his new extended family). The Frystak's generosity has not stopped there. Mark keeps a regular watch on the Wish List published on our website and, showed up with 22, brand new, ten-foot T-posts. The really amazing donation followed our request for a set of tires for our 1968 GMC pick-up truck. We were hoping someone might have a used-set sitting in their barn or garage, that they're not needing anymore. Imagine our surprise when Mark sent us an email saying, "Meet me at Les Schwab tire store, and I'll make it happen." And he did. he bought us a brand new set!

Amy, Cindy and Adri sort donated pots and flats.

Our friends and neighbors, Larry and Germaine Hammon, not to be outdone, have donated an 18-foot, fifth-wheel travel trailer, in very good condition. We just need to do some minor repairs and detailing and it's up for sale. All proceeds will go directly into the Garden account. In the past six weeks we have also received a $1,000 grant from the OSU Thrift store, a generous cash donation from Claudia McCue, several hundred dollars in donations from people who have come for seeds and starts at our "Give-aways", and a full $200 donation from the Circle of Children Village/School at Triangle Lake who received the last of our starts on Sunday, June 3rd. Thanks got to Gini Bramlett and the Tribune News for publishing so many of our posts and helping us reach people who don't have internet access. Rann and Doreen Millar bought the Gardens a subscription to the Tribune News so we can clip the articles for our scrapbook. We are also grateful for the delivery of sheep manure from David Wells and steer manure from Mike Spoerl (who also gave us a 55-pound bag of powdered kelp.) Keep it coming!

So, though we welcome more volunteer participation in the garden, and are grateful to those who have already been coming out in support, you can see, we are being well embraced by the community.

Other Sharing Garden news:

As many people know, we are no longer gardening at the Alpine site. Building the greenhouse in Monroe has meant we must go there at least once a day for watering and we felt it would spread us too thin to manage and maintain both sites. The fence is still up and it appears some local residents are carrying on with the gardening, which is wonderful.

OSU students help us mulch and plant in April.

In April, we had four volunteers from OSU's Geo 300 class come and help us with mulching and transplanting broccoli, kale, lettuce, chard and spinach. They were a huge help. Imagine our chagrin when, only three days later, two of the four rows planted had been decimated by slugs which were practically growing before our eyes. Follow this link to read about the non-toxic, simple solution we discovered to bring these voracious eaters back into balance.

Volunteer, Jennifer Rivais and Llyn wheel a cart-load of starts for Jen's garden.

In May we were invited to give a presentation to the United Methodist's Lady's Tea - an annual event dating back many decades. Ours was one of their best attended (over 35 ladies). We ran a slide-show of about 100 images of volunteers and bounteous harvests, while answering questions from the audience so they could direct the presentation based on their interests. We provided potted Cosmos and Marigolds, and the Church served strawberry shortcake. My favourite moment was when we invited the ladies to come on a tour (the gardens are directly behind the church) and a dozen or so made their way, in their Sunday finest, along the freshly mulched paths and into the jungle of greenery filling the greenhouse. It looked like we'd been graced by a flock of rare, tropical birds. If you are local and have a group who would like to see an inspiring and informing presentation, contact us to set up a time.

Pink Cosmos

On Sunday, June 10th, we hosted a potluck/picnic for the Corvallis Organic Gardening Club - a group that meets monthly throughout the year to share best practices on organic gardening and enjoy each others company. Through the winter months the group meets at the 1st Alternative Co-op in Corvallis for seed swaps and talks on relevant topics. In the summer months we tour member's gardens. It was very gratifying to share about our project and gardening practices. Chris and I both led groups around and fielded questions. The bonus of the evening was live entertainment from one of our favourite, local bands - "When Picks Fly". They brought a down-home, Old-Tyme style of acoustic, stringed instruments. "When Picks Fly" will also be playing at the Farm to Farm Century Ride - our second, annual fund-raiser that features a cyclists' tour of small scale farms, and focuses on "Eating Local and Healthy."

"When Picks Fly" Joe, Kathy, Shep and Warren (l to r) Toe tapping fun at the Sharing Gardens!

Current needs:
We have used up the last of the straw that was previously donated and still have need of several tons more. We use a deep-mulch method that feeds the soil as the worms digest the organic matter from below. The 4-8 inches of mulch also block weeds from growing and moderate the temperature and moisture levels of the soil minimizing our need to water and giving the plants a stable environment in which to grow.

If you are a rancher, or have horses and need to get rid of last year's hay to make way for the new, please bring it to us. We can provide a tax-receipt for your donation and you will know you are contributing to a worthwhile cause.

OSU students apply deep mulch in the paths. The garden uses literally tons of hay, straw and other organic materials each year.

For our full wish list click here.

A Variation on the Sharing Garden

The Haultain Blvd - "sharing" gardens

Slowly but surely, the Peak Moment video that Janaia and Robyn taped of us is making its way around the internet. We've had close to 3,000 views since it was first posted in early spring. We've begun to receive inquiries from people who would like to start a Sharing Garden in their own community.

Chris and I are fortunate in that we live very simply and have few expenses which means that we don't have to hold down regular jobs. We have no children at home. The Sharing Gardens is almost a full-time project for us. Here is the link to another Peak Moment video that offers a scaled-down version of growing food, teaching others about gardening, and sharing in the harvest. Perhaps an easier place to start if you're feeling daunted by taking on a whole garden project.

Your beginning can be as simple as sharing surplus from your own garden with neighbors, or if you have more than you can give away to them, find out when your local food bank meets and bring your surplus to them. They will greatly appreciate it since most food banks get the absolute dregs and leftovers to feed the people who receive food from them.

Would love to hear stories of how your adventures are going,

"Claiming the Commons - Food for All on Haultain Boulevard" (episode 185)

Sharing Gardens Receives $1,000 Grant!

The Sharing Gardens has received a thousand dollar grant from the OSU Folk Club Thrift Shop (LINK) We are very grateful for this donation and it's a funny story how we came to apply for it. Chris and I were on our way to a luncheon put on by the South Benton Nutrition Program - the twice weekly lunch program for Seniors at the Monroe Legion Hall. This luncheon was meant as a "thank you" to several people and agencies that help make their program possible (the Sharing Gardens, Mike Gibson from the Linn-Benton Food Share - LINK, Arlene Moody - free blood-pressure checks and Kathleen Nickerson from Hands On - a group that connects volunteers with organizations that need help. LINK

SBNP - "Thank-you Luncheon". The Sharing Gardens provide fresh vegies weekly, through the growing season.

As we were walking up to the door, Christy Warden, 4-H group leader, met us with a big hug and an application form for the OSU Thrift Store grant. "It's the last day you can apply and the proposal is due in Corvallis by 4:00," she said. "There's a good chance you'll receive what you ask for as they've always been very generous with the 4-H group."

Chris and I talked it over at lunch. If we received the grant, a drive to Corvallis would be well worth it but we hated the idea of burning gas without other reasons to make the 40-mile round-trip drive. It was at that point that Kathleen Nickerson (Hands On), who was sharing our table piped up, "I couldn't help hearing your conversation and, it just so happens that I have to make a stop at the Thrift Store this afternoon anyway. I'd be happy to deliver your application!"

So, we quickly filled it in and gave it to her. We promptly forgot all about it as it was so uneventful and easy to apply. What a great treat, and surprise it was, a few months later, to receive this generous donation. We'd like to encourage all our local readers to be sure and shop at their store at 144 NW 2nd Street in
Corvallis. Supporting them supports us, and many other worthy causes.

Doreen and Merlin in the new Monroe greenhouse, re-potting tomatoes.

We have some new wish-list items. Here's a list of them followed by a link to our full list. Please bring all donations to the Monroe site. Click here for map/directions.

Here are the highest priority items:

Ken makes tomato cages with field-fencing

• Field fencing: the stiff kind, so we can build tomato cages with them.
• Picnic table: With or without awning. Benches or chairs would be nice too. Maybe someone would like to build one for us? We're setting up a really nice, shaded place within the garden fence where visitors can sit and enjoy the scene and help us with projects that don't require being in the field.
• A T-post puller
• T-posts or old well-pipe - We need to put up a few more trellises to support tomato cages and beans. Eight to ten feet tall would be ideal but we can make the shorter ones work. Slightly bent OK.
• Strong wire - also for trellis building. Each row is approximately 70 feet long. 
• Cedar fence boards - we use them to build bird houses and compost bins (among other things).
• Lawn clippings: We have lots of lawn/leaf bags for you to re-use. Just come by when we're there and we'll give you some. Please don't tie bags too tight (makes it hard to re-use them).
  
• Riding lawn mower with bagger: Or someone who could come mow a section of the grass, outside the fence, where we can put in a bunch more squash mounds.
• Spoiled hay or straw - we already received a ton and a half of straw from Mark Frystak and the Soggy Bottom Farms. That will probably carry us for another month but when we start to plant tomatoes and squash we'll be in need of another delivery of a couple more tons. Remember, we can give you a tax receipt if you need it.
• Metal watering can
• Four 16" tires for our farm truck
• Cash donations are also very much appreciated

Jiminy, our 1968 GMC truck - we couldn't do the Gardens without him!

To see our full wish list, follow this link.

Do you need Lettuce Starts or Seed Potatoes?

We've got lettuce!

The Sharing Gardens has a surplus of very healthy lettuce starts - ready for planting. We also have maybe a hundred seed potatoes - various varieties, perfectly sprouted and also ready for planting. Also a bit of chard - Erbette and Rainbow varieties.

You can come by on Thursday, or Saturday morning (May 10 and 12th) between 9:00 and noon at the Monroe garden - behind the Methodist Church in Monroe. 648 Orchard St. Donations welcome, though not required.

Llyn and Chris

Leaving the Nest...Goodbye to Alpine

By Llyn Peabody

After much deliberation and soul-searching, we've decided to close down the Alpine Sharing Garden and focus exclusively on the Monroe site. Since having built the greenhouse (which requires us to water it at least once a day, and open and close vents based on daily and nightly temperatures) we realized it was just going to stretch us too thin to try and manage Alpine as well.

Sign painted by Chris Burns - 4' X 6'

There is a possibility that other people in Alpine may continue to garden there. The Garden Club (a group of about eight people who oversee the park) have agreed to let the fence and the raspberry patch remain. The garden will need major remedial work as much of the grass has already filled in where we had garden beds these last three years. (It's amazing to me how fast it has happened! No need to worry about the lawn coming back!) It's not clear how the garden will be organized and how people can get involved but you can let us know if you want to be put in touch with other interested gardeners and we'll connect you. If there isn't enough interest to keep the Alpine Garden going, the Sharing Gardens will come and remove the fence and use it at the Monroe site as the fencing was all either donated to us, or paid for out of donated funds. The raspberries will be distributed to those who are interested.

Alpine Garden - before the fence

We feel bittersweet at the passing of this milestone. Alpine is where the Sharing Gardens were born and it will always hold happy memories: I remember, before we'd even started the fence, potting up raspberry cuttings donated for use in the gardens and to share with the community. We had an amazing first season that went from ground-breaking on April 15 to our first harvest just three months later on July 13. To me, just new to gardening, it seemed miraculous to turn a lawn into food in such a short time. The Alpine garden was the site for the filming of the Peak Moment TV program (click here to view it) and several fun potlucks. As we frequently gardened without volunteers there, and it was smaller than Monroe, we often felt that Alpine was our sanctuary garden. It provided a place of peace and re-creation. We wish to thank once again, the Garden Club, the Alpine Community Center, all the granting agencies and the dozens of people who gave of their time, money and resources and who helped move the idea from a dream into reality. We couldn't have done it without you.

9.5 weeks after breaking ground

We are very excited about this coming season in Monroe; with  the greenhouse in place we are able to have a continuous supply of starts ready to pop in the ground as space opens up. We're expanding within the fence-line to utilize every available space. We hope to make a shaded area with a picnic table so people can enjoy each other's company while shelling beans, or processing sunflower heads, or whatever other sit-down tasks we can come up with. It's going to be a really nice place to stop by and visit. We hope you will!

14 weeks - 2009

A few specific wish-list items:

• T-posts or old well-pipe - We need to put up a few more trellises to support tomato cages and beans. Six to eight feet tall would be ideal but we can make the shorter ones work. Slightly bent OK.
• A T-post puller 
• Strong wire - also for trellis building. Each row is approximately 70 feet long. 
• Spoiled hay - we already received a ton and a half of straw from Mark Frystak and the Soggy Bottom Farms. That will probably carry us for another month but when we start to plant tomatoes and squash we'll be in need of another delivery of a couple more tons. Remember, we can give you a tax receipt if you need it.
• Riding lawn mower with bagger.

Raspberry Bounty!