Greenhouse galore
June is here and we have finally started construction of the 8×12 greenhouse . We’ve encountered a few hurdles (but nothing that we cannot overcome!). For example:
- many of the “easy to assemble steel fittings” for the greenhouse need to be filed down because contrary to the advertisement, they do NOT assemble easily.
- caulking “guns” can be construed as dangerous inside places like prisons (no surprise there)
The gophers and ground squirrels are running wild. 
Sadly they’ve decimated our entire crop of broccoli and munched on few of the melon seedlings. Luckily we’ve had a bunch of volunteer melons pop up thanks to the quirks and benefits of compost. In terms of gopher control, we are going to try to plant a net of gopher purge (euphorbia lathyrus) around the perimeter of the garden. It will take a year or two for it to sink its roots into the soil deep enough to deter the gophers — but if it works it will be an organic solution to the gopher problem. The roots of the plants are said to make gophers and other burying rodents ill when they eat them. Additionally, the plant re-seeds itself readily, meaning that we should be able to expand the root-net by transplanting the young seedlings.
We’ve had a small but committed group of people coming into volunteer this summer (thank you Nora, Natalie, and Monique!), as well as a huge turnout from the inside. Last Friday we had 27 women show up to help! We’re currently in the middle of harvesting our garlic and onion crops — both very pungent activities. Garlic is an interesting plant: it’s surprisingly delicate (can bruise easily) and is susceptible to sunburn. Not what I would have expected from such a strongly scented crop!
We’ve been building six-foot tomato cages out of some hardy wire purchased at home depot and transplanted the first batch of tomatoes just last Sunday. With luck these new cages will support the tomatoes enough to allow them to grow to extraordinary heights!
The ministry of showing up
“There come times when writing and social theory fails us all… There are the patients who die ‘stupid deaths,’ to use the Haitian expression; there is the violence one sees coming from miles away and is powerless to stop; there is the misunderstanding of one’s peers who have bought in the brightly packed myths and mystifications, however briefly. during these bad times–and times are always bad for people somewhere–there is solace to be found in returning to first principles and simply remaining at one’s post as a servant attending to the needs of the sick and the poor. This is what the theologian Jennie Black calls ‘the ministry of showing up.’… The intended consequence of tending to the sick, or visiting prisoners, or clothing the naked or burying the dead to name a few of the corporal works of mercy) is to help the person at hand…. The unintended ramifications of such efforts, when they are ambitious enough, may be significant, reaching far beyond our immediate understanding.”
-Paul Farmer
This Weekend: Spread Thin
Friday was an epic day of marmalade making. We partnered with Fallen Fruit Project to make nearly 360 jars of marmalade. We will be selling it to support the garden and Get on the Bus. Please feel free to buy some, or just donate. Email us if you want to get in on the action. There will soon be pictures. Tons of volunteers and interested people showed up to give their support to our local, organic foods movement. Plus the marmalade was delicious. Another successful weekend at the garden. We will begin transplanting tomatoes next weekend, I think. Beds are nearly dug in the middle section, where tomato plants will soon grow. The paths are defined, we planted some cucumbers and the cabbage, beans, radishes, and melons are starting to come up. The onions look nearly ready to harvest. Plus tons of women came! It was great! We shared some chard, beets, lettuce, and carrots together, and had plenty of fun. We will be going back in on Friday and Sunday of this weekend.
Weekend of Glory
This weekend was amazing! We got so much done! We are almost finished digging (we’re doing french-intensive beds) the beds in the middle. We will probably be ready to fill them and plant them in the next few weeks. The greenhouse is inside of the garden, though still in boxes. We planted several beds of cucumber, beans, and melons. We are pulling out most of the cover crop and planting summer crops. Plants are growing well in a greenhouse outside and we will soon be transplanting tons of tomateos. Yesterday we took a huge bag of chard(and some beets)–we could hardly carry it–to the medical unit where it will be turned into delicious and healthy meals for many women.
Everything is going so well because so many people have been showing up from inside and outside. Thanks to all our volunteers and supporters. We really appreciate all your hard work and dedication.
FRESH
Last night there were almost twenty people at the movie, FRESH, (http://www.freshthemovie.com/) The responses were positive but frustrated, as one might expect. Most of the women had no idea about how wide spread the Food Industrial Complex expands, but the movie really helped to contextualize what Cultivating Dreams is all about. One woman, knowing that she can’t really control her diet, is going to suggest to all her visitors and correspondents that they spend a portion of their weekly food budget on local food. How awesome is that?! The movie really helped to ignite interest and concern.
So, (comment on this) one student volunteer argues that systemic change in the Industrial Food Complex will happen because of large consumers: prisons, hospitals, colleges, public schools, nursing homes, McDonalds etc, use their consumer-preferences to make that change, rather than individual households or people. What do you think?
Also, here is a picture from a back yard gardening party (no cameras allowed inside of Cultivating Dreams).
April Sowers Bring May Growers
This weekend has been filled with gardening. We spent Friday afternoon gardening in the back yard, mostly transplanting tomatoes, and such (pictures coming!). Today, Sunday was our first Sunday back inside Cultivating Dreams for the year. We had been going sporadically on Saturdays, due to rainy weather and budget restrictions, but today made up for all the past setbacks.
There were almost thirty people working this morning! We worked together to dig beds, plant cabbage and gourds, begin to fix the irrigation, and pull plenty of weeds. It was a great time filled with lady bug sightings, singing old pop songs and Disney tunes, and building connections. Some gifts of the garden today were connecting with Mother earth, and recognizing the connections between all the women (and Sam) and with the earth, breaks from the humdrum of life, and the taste of dirt.
This coming week is going to be equally busy, with a Monday seminar in which we will be watching Fresh, a Thursday morning delivery of the greenhouse(!!), and two gardening visits: Friday night and Sunday Morning. We can’t wait to get back there!
Welcome!
Welcome to the blog for Cultivating Dreams: Dawn’s Community Garden.
