Hey CommonWealth: How Does Your Garden Grow?
So glad you asked! Because the gardens—the whole farm—is gorgeous these days.
We’ve replanted all the vegetables that died in the Hoop House meltdown, and they have been growing steadily. In the photo, you can see the edamame and lima beans up front, and the rows of young cucumber plants on the back right.
To our amazement, most of the tomato plants did not completely die. After the meltdown, the plants looked like fried spinach, but with a heavy pruning, they sent out new suckers that are now reaching toward the ceiling. That we should all be so indomitable!
South of the hoop house, another four rows of tomatoes are coming along nicely. And at the big farm, tomatoes are prolific. (We picked six perfect ripe ones off one plant Saturday morning and there are twice that many green ones.)
There is a good variety of vegetables on the farm, including eggplant, peppers, yard long beans, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, basil, beets, purslane, arugula and mustard greens. Potatoes have been harvested and a cover crop of cow peas planted to add nitrogen to the soil. With the amazing rain, little seedlings are already poking their heads up through that rich CommonWealth compost.
Braden’s stonemasonry skills. Lia, Edith and apprentices have planted the entire lot now and rows and rows of flowers are abloom, with more to show soon.What a happy place it is these days! Thanks to the team of helpers who continue to dedicate many hours to CommonWealth!
Garden School: Composting
Saturday, July 8
11 am to noon
CommonWealth Urban Farms,
3310 N. Olie, OKC
$5, payable on siteAllen Parleir has been building compost piles, as well as composting with worms, for many years, and has a profound appreciation for rot! Participants will get an inside look into CommonWealth’s compost and worm bins, and learn the do’s and don’ts of building compost piles and worm bins to make that beautiful, rich, black substance we call “gardener’s gold.”
Instructor: Allen Parleir, co-founder of CommonWealth Urban Farms.
Thanks for your generosity!
And Welcome Farmer Christopher!
When Christopher Jennings started as an apprentice late last winter, he was terrified of harvesting spinach. Well, maybe not terrified, but intimidated. A neophyte gardener, he wasn’t sure how to go about cutting those tender leaves. Today, he is CommonWealth’s assistant farm manager! (That’s him in the hat.)With great enthusiasm, we welcome Christopher to his new work, seeing that the vegetable farm is planned, planted, picked, preserved and doing all that entails on a daily basis. Working under Lia’s tutelage, he’s come a long way from those first daunting days last winter in the hoop house!AND A BIG THANKS TO ALL who have donated to the CommonWealth Recovery Fund following that fateful day when the hoop house heated to 160 degrees and the lush plants inside died. The loss of income from those crops—and the dire need for help in replanting—required the community’s help. And you all have given generously.
Meet our Community Partners:
The Plant Shoppe
