The new site was changed to a different location. The new new location is behind the county garage not far from the current site.
The good thing about this site is that it can't be sold. There are a couple of not so good things though. The plots are 10' smaller then the old plots. So I will loose 400 square feet of space. My neighbor (since you are only allowed one per address) is on the waiting list for a plot. I have made three different garden layouts so far. Plan One, if we only get two plots together. Plan Two, if we get all three together and Plan Three , if we get two together and one separate.
The other not so good thing is that the land will not be prepared until late winter or early spring, depending on the weather. The original plan was to have it done this fall. I guess that there are reasons, unknown to the Garden Committee as to why this is not being done. You must remember that this is government at work. The land will be prepped using a tractor and spader. This method is much better then conventional tilling.
I also received a copy of the soil test for the new site.
It really would have been very beneficial if the soil could have been prepped this fall. Oh well, it's a good thing that my favorite garden center is having a big sale! All bagged humus, dehydrated manure and leaf compost is 75% off! So far I have purchased (30) 40lb. bags of humus for .80 a bag and (30) 40 lb. bags of dehydrated manure for 1.29 a bag. I think that I will be there tomorrow buying some more!
I'm also in the process of contacting local schools to find volunteers to help with the move. Farmland Preservation has been told by "The Powers that Be", that there will be no help available to the gardeners from the county workers for the move.
That's about it for now. I will post additional information as it becomes available.
Whew! Sounds like a ton of work. I don't know if you'd want to go this route, but my hubby volunteers at the Friends of the Library. When they need (wo)man power to lift and move, they contact the local minimum security prison. The inmates are polite and hard workers. It's a win-win situation, since it's free labor for the club, and the inmates get to get out for a few hours. They are always well supervised. Just a thought. Good luck on your adventure!
ReplyDelete~~Lori
I was thinking of checking into people who have to do community service hours to help out also. I will have to run that by Farmland Preservation first though.
ReplyDeleteToo bad the soil couldn't be prepped this year. We were able to spread 2 truckloads of composted manure on the Impact community garden last fall and it made all the difference. I also added 6-24-24 to boost the low P&K. I can only imagine what dealing with the government is like!
ReplyDeleteDave, I have no idea why they can't do it now. The weather is still good. It must be due to approvals or something like that. Prepping it now would make a big difference. The magnesium is very high which I attribute to when they took the sample (after long periods of rain) and the fact that this soil has had grass growing on it forever. Am I correct? I really can't see getting any early crops in there. Time will tell.
ReplyDeleteIt is a shame that they aren't turning the soil before winter as that would give you a chance to get off to a better start next year. Is it something to do with manpower being needed elsewhere/
ReplyDeleteSorry the last comment was me - I was logged in as my husband. - Ooops
ReplyDeleteSue, It has nothing to do with manpower. The woman that is doing it is the Director of the Seed Farm. I think that it has to do with the zoning approvals. The original plan was to do it in the fall and then again in the very early spring. It's definitely going to cut our season short next year.
ReplyDeleteGood new bad news.I hope the good news starts to outweigh the bad very soon.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that things are progressing, even if slowly. I guess we'll be in the same boat next year as far as starting gardens over again.
ReplyDeleteAlso, great find! I don't think I've ever seen manure or compost on sale a that price!
Mrs.P, I sure do hope that the good news starts out weighing the bad news soon!
ReplyDeleteThomas, Hopefully you will find a good place with good soil!
How about those prices! I couldn't believe it! They have a lot left from this year and want to get rid of it.
That's a great idea to buy those sale items now..you must have taken your smarts from me, since I didn't think of it :o)
ReplyDeleteWow, sounds like so much work to do all over again! Any chance of a school or 4-H group doing a project or participating?
ReplyDeleteRobin, after you put so much work into the community garden spot this last year, now you have to move and start over? That must have initially been a disappointment. I can imagine all the work involved with setting up a community garden. I wish that I lived closer so I could help with the set up next Spring. Ah, well, it looks like I'm going to get the foreclosed property that I've been waiting on so I expect that next spring I probably could use a little help myself. From the picture it looks like you will have to bust some sod to set up the garden lots. That's never a fun time. I will be interested in reading about all the problems and joys of setting up a community garden next spring. In the mean time I've been working on my own projects trying to get as much done as possible before I have to move inside for the winter.
ReplyDeleteHave a great community garden planning day.
Ginny, I bet that I did!
ReplyDeleteErin, I'm not real sure what type of 4-H clubs that they have here. I'm going to look in to it. Thanks for the suggestion.
David, The county has decided to use the land where we are presently located for a new 911 center, coroner's office and two more soccer fields which are not needed. I think that the county just wants to spend all of the excess monies we have and people don't want to look at the gardens.
The land is going to be tilled with a tractor and spade which is supposed to break up the sod. It really should have been done this fall. But, we have no control over that! If the plots were already staked out, I would be over there now working on it myself. That is not an option either.
That is going to be a lot of work. Good luck. I hope you get some good volunteers.
ReplyDeleteDaphne, It's going to be a ton of work for sure! I'll manage though. I'm most concerned about some of the older gardeners.....that is if they decide to still take a plot and continue to garden.
ReplyDeleteRobin, I'll keep my fingers crossed that all goes well, but when we deal with the powers that be it can be a long and arduous journey. Power and politics I will never understand.
ReplyDeleteGreat deal on the humus! never to be found in our neck of the woods.
Robin, we wish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with many blessings.
I would much rather be looking at gardens than soccer fields.
ReplyDeleteDiana, It's going to take some patience dealing with the county on this move! The delay in preparing the soil is really going to shrten the gardening season. Oh well, what can you do??
ReplyDeleteSame to you and your family Diana.
VP, We really don't need any more soccer fields. But I guess most people think they are nicer to look at then veggie gardens.
I stopped by to get your recipe for homemade mustard and discovered that you are in the throes of a new community garden. Ours was brand new last year and we're still dealing with "issues." I'm sure yours will go more smoothly than ours has. The space that you will have is beyond my imagination. My plot is only 14 ft by 20 ft, and was a hard-compacted gravel parking lot. The kid I hired to rototill it and remove rocks did a lousy job, and it's still a hard-compacted gravel mess with some compost and manure on top. Next year will be better.
ReplyDeleteLou, Oh my, it sounds like you really have a tough situation with your soil! It takes a few years to get the soil in shape unless one has tons of compost handy. Our plots are 20' x 30'. I have one and the other is in my father in-laws name. So, that makes two. I guess that I will think of you every time I get frustrated with the new soil situation!
ReplyDeleteWhich garden center is your favorite? Do they usually have sales this time of year? I hope all is well.
ReplyDelete