Annual Community Garden Report

Preparing Beds for Winter

Status Report for the Year

2013--our 5th year in the Community Garden--was a mixed bag in terms of both production and appearance. A few of the disappointments were:

1. Illness, surgery, long recovery times, hit our Community Gardeners at critical times. This delayed planting, and allowed weeds to take over for several weeks at a time.
2. Tomatoes were a BIG disappointment. Plants produced little, and the varieties selected by the gardeners--mostly heirloom and historically interesting ones--did poorly. Yields were slim and the 'maters we got were buggy and not very good tasting.
3. Squash plants were hit hard by squash bugs and we got ZILCH. Again, illness among our gardeners allowed the bugs to get ahead of us. 

Among the highlights were:

1. The weather this summer was nearly perfect. Rain fell at exactly the right time and our water bills were not too scary!
2. Nine (9) congregations visited the Community Garden, including First Christian Little Rock, to learn how to start and manage a garden in their congregations. FCC Little Rock made the statewide newspaper which mentioned their new community garden.
3. Four (4) families in the neighborhood routinely picked vegetables for home use and gave substance to our hope to be "A Builder of Community." It was nice to get to know them--and to let them know we'd be glad to see them on Sunday. 
4. Peppers grew like crazy: banana, habenero, bell, etc., did fantastic; a few are still available. 
5. Members of the congregation really stepped up with donations! Straw, lumber, hoses, manure, etc. appeared when we needed them. THANK YOU!

What's Next?

Beds are Seeded with Oats

All the garden beds are being seeded with whole oats to provide ground cover which will reduce weeds next year, and add nitrogen to the soul. Ground covers really work! The front half of the garden has been planted in oats for the last 4 years and are virtually weed free. The beds at the back of the garden were not planted in oats last fall and were very weedy! If you have a home garden we highly recommend a winter ground cover like oats or buckwheat. 

As we put the garden to bed for the winter we'll also plant some radishes, garlic, and leeks. These plants winter over very well in the Ozarks and will be ready to eat in early spring. Yes, the garden works all year long!

Our aim is to make the garden not only productive, but pretty. Over the winter we'll be adding a few amenities like bird houses, improved signage, and attractive fencing in the new watermelon patch just north of the Memorial Flower Garden. Be sure to stop by and visit the garden. It is a great place to pray and meditate.

How You Can Help

We really need straw. If you can donate a bale or two of straw we will be very grateful. We can also use one dimensional lumber for fence pickets, composted manure and, in the spring, any bedding plants you wish to donate. 

Next Year, health and weather permitting, we'll grow way better and more tomatoes, squash, and asparagus (which will be 2 years old and ready for picking).  If you would like space in the garden, or just want to garden with the group, we'd love to have you join us.  In the mean time, a thousand thank yous to you, our brothers and sisters in Christ, for your generosity in assuring that our Community Garden continues to flourish!