Springfield Community Garden needs Adopt-a-bed gardeners
06/11/08 • Posted in: Activism, Springfield by Joey Marchy 1 Comment »
Join the Springfield Community Garden for sustainable, local food this fall.
The Springfield Community Garden is looking for adopt-a-bed gardeners. This is a pretty amazing program and I’m really excited it’s right here in Springfield. This initiative is in step with other programs around the country that emphasize eating locally and organic farming.
Starting Saturday, August 30th, we will be hosting our first season of food gardeners, who will join us in learning how to grow food organically here in Northeast Florida.
The first team of gardeners will get a season-long education on food production put together by JCNI and the County Extension office, including:
- what crops to grow when
- propagation
- organic techniques for pest control and fertilization
- seed-saving and much more
Seeding will begin in September and there will be weekly classes throughout the growing season, all the way to food preservation ideas after the harvest. After the harvest there will be a potluck to celebrate at the end of the season. Depending on the success of this first course we’ll start again in the Spring, with classes tailored to those crops.
Interested gardeners should get in touch now. The garden can accommodate up to 15 individual gardeners, or couples and that’s sure to fill up quick!
At the moment, we are still working on Saturdays to complete the raised beds and will soon begin work on the garden shed. We’re now meeting to work in the morning, at from 8am until we’re finished, to escape the heat.
The shed will be an essential part of the site, and will offer us much needed shade, irrigation through rainwater catchment, secure storage and a small office. Right now we need 2×6 lumber at least 10 feet long, and as always, we prefer to use recycled and reclaimed material, or anything that might otherwise go to waste.
Also here is a general Community Garden alert! They also looking for recycled 2×6 lumber, at least 10 feet long. If you’ve got a source, let them know.
Any interested gardeners should email jaxgreen at gmail dot com, or call Jennifer at 904.657.1177 (you must dial the area code).
More photos of the Springfield Community Garden
Interview with Phillip Ramsey and Jennifer McCharen about the Springfield community garden
I just finished meeting with the County Extension folks, this course is going to kick so much ass. I’ll post details once I type up my notes over at the jaxgreen blog. Looks like we’ll be able to extend the course into the spring/summer season as well, making our little plot a yearlong nexus of food education.
Right now there are only a few slots left for class participants with beds in the garden itself. We can probably accommodate some observers as well, and I’ll have a waiting list. Please let me know if you’re interested.