Okay, so you're on board with Operation Plant a Row 2012 (thanks for all the emails about this, by the way) and you want to get going. Today and over the next few weeks, I'm going to:
* Show you how to create your row (pictured is a corner of my front lawn that is now a grow space ready for fall planting--it started with a mailbox garden a few years ago and just kept expanding);
* Give you some tips about connecting with your local food bank and determining the culturally-appropriate needs of the particular clientele you will be serving (hint: get "close to the people" as much as possible);
* Help you develop an annual "grow strategy" to maximize your production per square foot (points of reference--aim for about 1 pound per square foot in Ohio, 2 pounds in Atlanta, 4 pounds in Cuba);
* Share some "hunger in America" and around the world jaw droppers so you can see what is sometimes a hidden need in your community (home-bound seniors? yep, they're hungry);
* And spotlight folks doing effective work in helping to feed people in need in their communities (I have a whole bunch of cutting-room-floor stories from national research I did on this for an article not long ago that I've been itching to share with you!) (An actionable tip for today: you may want to volunteer while growing your own row--you'll learn a ton--ask your local community garden if it donates to those in need, and if you can help).
Let's get that row started now because then winter can work in your favor, further preparing your bed for planting. Here are some choices for you. Choose your method and get it done (you can mix and match methods to meet your needs, and there are many other ways to do this as well). I find most anything I want to do in life takes two hours. Seriously.
See if you can do 100 square feet--4' x 25'--because it'll be more satisfying for you to have a significant delivery to your food pantry (and it's easier to do a bigger space than a smaller one because then you have space to move things around--trust me on this one). You most likely have lots of underutilized space around your home or at a school, place of worship, park, or community center near you.
Will Have You Planting Now
Want your row in immediately? Identify your space, mow low, cover with newspaper or cardboard (or used brown paper lawn bags work great, too), and truck in a load of high-quality, organic compost. Mound up to form your row. Mix in organic fertilizer (I'd put in 50 pounds). In Atlanta, I strongly recommend Farmer D Organics. You can have an insta-garden in two hours. In fact, if you choose this method, get seeds and transplants, too, because, frankly, your row is done and you can start the fun and be donating this season. I'll even circle back in a few weeks and tell you about season extension solutions to keep this row going all winter. As for costs, our food pantry growing efforts show that we "made back" the start-up investment in this method in donated food value in one season (one year if you include the sustainably-harvested cedar wood raised bed frames that Farmer D builds and sells as well). (These are the facts--I am not paid to endorse this company, or any company, for that matter, on this blog). The spot where you see that soil delivery in the photo above produced over 100 pounds of butternut squashes, 25 pounds of watermelons, and an endless supply of basil this summer alone.
Will Be Ready for Spring 2012 Planting
Identify your space, mow low, cover with newspaper or cardboard, and pile on chopped fallen leaves (I don't use leaves gathered from chemically-treated lawns). These will decompose over the winter. Additionally, get a compost tumbler (my favorite is EnviroCycle--see my post: If You Get Just One Eco-Thing)--I actually have two so that I have a fresh load of compost every month from one of them) and use this to compost kitchen scraps (veggies, fruits, coffee grounds) all winter (make sure to include 70 percent "browns" for balance--leaves work best). Also, buy a roll of hog wire (it's fun to walk into Home Depot and ask, "Where's your hog wire?"--I know, I need to get a life) and set up two circles (simply cut it, form a big circle, and hook the wires to clasp--it's intuitive; you'll see). Put these in a corner of your backyard. Fill one with yard and garden waste (only that which is not treated with chemicals) (cut anything long into 3" lengths--eh, forget that; I don't really do that--just kind of break it up--the smaller the pieces, the faster it decomposes). Toss from one hog wire circle to the other once a month from now on. You're making compost (it'll be on the bottom of the pile and it looks like dirt and smells sweet). (I get a wheelbarrow full of finished compost--see picture--from this part of my operation every single month.)
Will Be Ready for Summer 2012 Planting
Identify your space, mow low, till up slightly (honestly, I don't even think I did this), and toss cover crop seeds in the row (see my short post about cover crops, with a photo I love, here). At the same time, follow the directions above to get your compost operation going. Done. This is what I did on the side of my house. The cover crops grew right away in the fall, stayed green over the winter, and flourished in the spring. I then chopped them down, tilled them under (not with a tiller; with a hand tool), let them decompose for two weeks, covered them with compost, and planted. Easy, easy, easy. In the spring, if you want, you could decide to do a summer cover crop and further build the soil before planting in the Fall 2012. This is what I'm doing at the St. Pat's Plant a Row. (See below for info about the wood chip paths.) Here's the side of my house last month, by the way (please note this was lawn two years ago). 
Will Be Ready Someday
Ask around to find out what tree removal company near you will deliver free wood chips (they have to pay to dispose of them so they are happy to add you to their list of willing recipients). Use these chips to create your row, and any other rows or patches you want, and any paths you want to create as well. (Plan on a week of 45-minute spreading sessions to get through an average pile, if you are working alone. It's daunting at first, but very meditative once you get into it, and counts as your daily workout. I do this about twice a year. Suggestion: Get together and "chip in" with two friends and help each other spread at each person's home. Or pay someone to spread it--how about some neighborhood teens? They are having trouble finding part-time jobs.) These will decompose over time. Just get the row established now with the wood chips. If nothing else, this you can do. And, by the way, no matter what method you use, compost and wood chips are your friends. They work wonders, save you gobs of money, and help you create a balanced ecosystem (which will make organic gardening much easier for you). Regarding compost, get a system going as soon as possible (even if it's just a worm bin--see my little video here, and listen to what my friend, Richard of the Worms, has to say). As for wood chips, don't put them up directly against your house, but otherwise, go to town. And don't be afraid of mistakes. It's all just experimenting and finding what works for your particular personality and your specific micro-climate. Remember--the garden resembles the gardener. What will your garden look like?
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment