Am sure you have ordered your seeds by this time and are anxiously waiting
to get them in the ground!
Thanks to Marion-Polk Food Share and Pringle Creek Community, Redeemer
Community Garden was able to get seeds through the 2nd Annual Seed Exchange
held on February 25th. It was a wonderful time to meet gardeners from other
community gardens and share seeds we had saved along with those donated to
MPFS.

Redeemer Community gardeners will have their first meeting on Saturday,
March 24th, from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. We will start seeds in small containers
to let them get "growing" in our personal greenhouses. Mixed greens,
broccoli, cabbage, chard, eggplant, peppers, green onions, tomatoes are
great to start now. Don't forget herbs: basil, chives, cilantro, marjoram,
parsley, rosemary, sage, summer savory, and thyme can be sprouted indoors
too. Can't you just envision and taste your first salad from the garden?

This month: Any breaks in the wet weather give you opportunity to weed and
till. Getting this soil prep work done now, enables you to plant whenever
you want. Postpone it too long, and wet weather or tall weeds can delay
planting for weeks.
Tonja

A variety of veggies survived freezing weather this winter and we harvested sweet carrots, beets, kohlrabi, little onions, and kale.  Mustard, bitter at the end of last summer, sweetened up for a delicious addition.  Some of these were started by a MPFS volunteer who was experimenting with starting his plants in soil blocks.  They were delivered to the garden and planted the first part of Aug.  Had we planted a month earlier we would have had a better harvest of the cabbage, brussels sprouts and broccoli.

May 18 was our opening day, during which Redeemer members and some of our gardeners planted seed and plants in the ground.  Donations of hundreds of edible plants came from the Marion/Polk Food Share and other individuals.  These were shared with our gardeners and planted in Redeemer plots.

A beautiful dedication ceremony was held in the church for the garden on May 23.  The potted fig tree has been placed in the garden, near the shed.

The cool rainy weather continued through most of June, keeping some gardeners at bay and plants looking a little peaked.  It's truly amazing what this past week of sunshine and warm weather has done for gardeners' spirits and the plants' ability to spring forth new growth.

This past weekend we planted five apple trees, which were donated by Christ the Vine Lutheran Church in Damascus.  These trees will be espaliered along the fence adjacent to Lancaster Dr.  Fruit will be within reach to share with passersby, as well as with our gardeners and the Food Share.  We could still like a few more fruit trees, blueberry bushes, and other edible plants to use as landscape along the south side.  Don't forget to vote for us to receive a fruit tree grant at  http://www.communitiestakeroot.com/Plant/Index  Be sure to follow the directions carefully.

What's Next:  Work parties the last Saturday of each month (9-noon).  We still need to build compost bins, put a step in front of the shed and plantings around it, and cover those weeds on the south side with chips.  Everyone is welcome!

Twenty-five people dug in to spread compost, rototill, lay irrigation, and move a garden shed in the Community Garden on Saturday.  It was a beautiful, summer-like day and we could invision a garden full of good food to come.  It was amazing how much was accomplished.

Jordan from Marion/Polk Food share will bring out a tractor/tiller to finish up our tilling.  We still have chips to spread on the paths, the last faucet to install on the water system, and the shed foundation to stabilize.   Some of this may happen on Sat. 5/15.  The tilling and irrigation work are critical to growing food and should be our priority.  Volunteers will be welcomed and greatly apprecated.

PLANTING DAY: Saturday May 15.  10:00 AM
We will begin with seed starts that have been planted in the greenouses of Mike from Peace Lutheran, Tonja and myself from Redeemer, and the Marion Polk Food Share at Pringle Creek Community greenhouses. Starts will  be planted in Redeemer's plots with plenty of extras on hand to give to our gardeners.

Watch the Video of seed planting work party at Pringle Creek Greenhouses.

I should be thankful for all the little stumbling blocks that come our way.  They are gentle reminders to keep this process in prayer and put it in God's hands.  The compost and rototilling worries are over.  The rest of our compost is being donated; David will be available to pick it up; Dan is back and able to spread it AND till it in for us; and Don is recovering well from his surgery.

Next - we need donations of about 40 yds. of chips, by May 8, to cover the pathways...

Next Meetings for Garden Committee:
Thur. April 29, 3:30 - Work Party Details
Tues. May 11, 3:30 - Plan the Dedication Ceremony

Applications are now being accepted for plots in the Redeemer Community Garden - Opening May 15.

As this is our first year, there will be things to work out, but we look forward to offering space and gardening together.  There will be a total of 30 plots, each 6 ft. x 24 ft.  We are offering one plot per household for non-commercial use.  Water and hoses will be available on-site.  Some tools may also be available, but it is recommended you bring your own.

2010 Application and Rules 

View Map

Please understand the rules, then return a signed copy with the $25 non-refundable annual fee to: Redeemer Lutheran Church, 4663 Lancaster Dr. NE, Salem OR 97305
Check should be written out to: Redeemer Lutheran Church
Keep a copy of the rules for yourself.  Plots will be assigned in the order that applications are received.

*Measure & stake plots
*Make numbered plot markers (any creative ideas here - lath with painted numbers??? )
*Rake composted soil from pathways into plots
*Spread chips on pathways
*Move garden shed from behind Head Start bldgs. into garden - may involve opening up a portion of the cyclone fence.
*Serve refreshments
*Take digital pictures
*Repair & paint tools (we have 3 donated rakes and a hoe so far)
*Install the water supply line
*Build Compost Bin

We hope to see you there.  If you would like to bring garden tools, wheelbarrow, etc. please do - we'll mark them for you so you can find them to take home.

Dan has to go out of town and won't have time to move the 20 yds. we have.  If there is anyone out there who can bring in a tractor with a scoop and do a relatively simple job for us, it would be greately appreciated.  Please add a comment if you can.  Thank you.

A 2nd load of compost was delivered just inside the gate - we'll need to move it so we can bring more in.  Don, from St. John's, had volunteered to do this but is now recovering from heart surgery.  Lorene then generously volunteered her son, Dan, to move and spread what we have.  Another blessing come our way.  Keep Don in your prayers, for healing and return of strength.

The remaining compost allocated to the MPFS community gardens, was taken by someone from another new garden.  That puts us, and others, in a position of having to purchase, or do without.  Hopefully, Jordan can work out something with the County so we can still get the remaining 4 loads that had been allocated to us.  Stay tuned for the next chapter on compost.