Gardens
Garden goals include beautification, vegetables to harvest, path drainage, and landscaping to reduce labor required to maintain appearances and function.
Tomatoes are a crop grown in a gardens at both the N and S clusters of houses. Hanging tomato bags worked well just south of E-House. Enough of such hanging plants could help to shade and cool the S-side of E-House. Hanging plants require more tending than the general landscape plants this committee seeks to focus on. Indoor house plants are a project of the Hospitality committee.
The sustainability committee is focused on the houses up the hill that need serious heating efficiency improvements. MSC does not budget to fund any gardening. Reimbursements for plants have been approved in the past, but MSC policy requires they be hardy perennial food crops or native plants to be enjoyed for years to come.
Members focus on the land nearest to them because the situation is most familiar, and the there is plenty to do conveniently close by.
Vegetable gardens near M & L houses have been paid for by Little House selling empty beer bottles to micro-brewers ($50 in 2011, and so far >$100 in 2012 which may contribute to better windows for gardening in addition to perennial crops this year).
Introductions of native perennial plants continue to provide more diverse and resilient vegetation that serves ecological functions that desired animals like birds need in their habitat. In 2009 MSC attempted to establish strawberries, blueberries, and gooseberries. Drought reduced established populations of Chives, even with additional watering and four new rain barrels in use. The process of improving garden soil with compost has begun.
Midway Local Food Resource Hub, a new GardeningMatters endeavor blooming out of Hamline-Midway welcomes us as neighbors to access low-cost seeds and plants, gardening workshops, a tool-lending library, newly-established community gardens...
Soils:
If we want abundant harvest from garden crops, and even landscape plants, we need good soil. There is evidence of allopathic poisoning of the soil by certain tree species that we have been removing from around M-House. The effects of Black walnut and Black Locus are of particular concern, yet many tomatoes survived this year. Excessive drainage to sand beneath the thin topsoil in places is of equal concern. Hopefully, compost will slowly address nutrient deficiencies evident in certain discolored leaves. Eventually, we may need soil tests for vibrant. For now we just observe and address obvious problems.
Also a community Notes:
Restoring the Landscape with Native Plants (Free & open to everyone)
Sunday, February 19, 2:00-3:00pm at the North Dale Recreation Center.
Heather Holm, horticulturist and author of the blog, "Restoring the Landscape with Native Plants," speaks on day-flying moths and butterflies and their native food plants. information flyer
Small Plot Gardening 101 (Free Backyard Talk)
Saturday, March 17
Nick Jordan, present tips and tricks learned from gardening in his boulevard. green@sapcc.org to RSVP, our SAPCC website for drop in details.
Volunteer at the Leaf and Kasota Ponds Spring Cleanup
Saturday, April 28, 9:00am-1:00pm
Celebrate your watershed this Earth Day by joining us at the annual Kasota Ponds Cleanup! We kick off with treats at our gathering place on Kasota Avenue, just West of Hwy 280.
After passing out bags and gloves, volunteers may either clean up Kasota Ponds or collect leaves and debris along boulevards and gutters in the neighborhood. RSVP for the event to lauren@sapcc.org.