Tomato and Pepper Planting Party!!

Getting ready for the garden party...

 
 

 Great workers showed up to plant 58 tomato and pepper plants!!  After a little bit of training, everyone became experts in how to plant a tomato plant the "right" way...at least for the Santa Clara Community Garden...dig a wide "bowl" that's a little deep, then get the root ball broken up, lay the plant on its SIDE...yes, its side!  Then careful bury the root ball, and the stem, only leaving a few inches of leaves above the ground, but still within the bowl.  This protects the plant for the April winds that will be coming, while creating a central watering area for the plant.  Works very well!!

Our watering crew did a great job!  Thanks Ben and Matthew!

The Peppers Possey had their system down!!

Some pretty great onion planters were working hard, too!!

 Even the youngest of volunteers helped out!!

 

And plenty of sunshine for everyone!!

 

LOOK WHAT HAPPENED in ONE HOUR!!!

Republic Waste Services probably didn't think I knew what I was asking when I said, "Bring me as much compost as you can...we can use as much as you can bring!!"  Well, they brought us a LOT of compost...and it was PERFECT!!!  Look what happened two days later when we got the word out that there would be a work party on Saturday morning . . .

. . .People started arriving at 9:00 with their shovels and wheelbarrows, and some even arrived IN their wheelbarrow!!  Helpers came in all sizes and ages, and everyone worked together!!  We got 18 50' long beds composted and smoothed out, and we still have enough compost for the other 6 beds, and to see us through the summer...hopefully!!!  

We love using this annual "winter thaw" that only lasts about 2 weeks before getting cold again!  It's a perfect time to get our early crops of peas, beets, lettuce and spinach in.  And with all of this help it didn't take long at all!!

 What a great turnout!!!  Many hands, and wheelbarrows, make short work!!!

 WHAT AN AWESOME WORK CREW!!

And it's a wrap...in just one hour!!

 

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!

The Santa Clara Community Garden began in the spring of 2009.  It's hard to believe that TEN YEARS have flown by so quickly.  At that time I had two teenagers still at home, and other children in and out.  How things have changed!!  I now have 26 kids in my home (piano students!!) and all of our children are happy; most married, some have provided us with 10.5 sweet grandchildren, and all are living independent lives (AND they enjoy gardening, too!!)

We have had so many people participate with the SCCG over these years.  Friendships have been forged, hearts have been helped and healed, planting has been perfected (but is not perfect...yet!), and our souls have soared as we have enjoyed the beauties of being a steward of soil.

And we have another great year to look forward to!!

Blessings From Heaven!!

Last night we looked at the weather forecast...a storm blowing in sometime early morning and bringing a lot of rain...90% chance!!  Ugh!  Our work party was scheduled for 9:00 a.m. and we were supposed to be planting SIX of the beds.  I went to bed, hoping and praying.  At 6:30 a.m. this morning, I awoke to wind howlin' and ablowin'!!  And then, about an hour later, the started pouring down.  By 8:30 I was getting very concerned.  And I kept praying, "PLEASE, can we have a break from the rain by 9:00 so we can get the planting done."  Well, by 8:50 the rain had reduced to a drizzle, at least in the few blocks  around the community garden, and by 9:00 the brave and trusting souls who could come, did!!  And we planted!!  I believe in, and am grateful for, MIRACLES!!!