The GOH is up and running! We are off to a great start after several challenging years. This is the start of the 5th year in the Willow Park location, which Janet notes is often a bumper year. We are hopeful that the building of the soil, the improvements to the fencing and the hard work of all involved will allow this to be the most productive year to date. That would be incredible, as it would line up with what appears to be a tremendous increase in need.
2024 was plagued with animal damage to crops, so after much work last year, the entire growing area is double fenced, an outer deer fence and an inside rabbit fence, which after some minor repairs seems to have held over the winter.
The town has placed large piles of compost and wood chips within the outer fence. We have spent the last two Saturdays moving compost to rows to start planting and wood chips to the muddy walkways. There is much more that can be done there. Janet has also started clearing around some of the overwintered plants and has been repairing support structures and prepping the beds.
Sean Bugara has committed to helping this year and we have teamed up to start with a focused time on Saturday from 9-11. Fellowship and community are the goals for this work time and we are trying to focus on working in the outdoors while also feeling connected. Janet is there from 9 or 10 until 1 on Saturdays, so if that timing is better, we also encourage volunteers. This last week there were about 10 volunteers. Thursday hours start this week from 3:30-6. This week on Thursday Janet will be planting peas. Thank you to Jeff, Kurt and Pam for helping on different tasks.
Another way to be involved is with plant donations – now is the time to start seeds indoors to transfer in 6 weeks to the garden. They do need to be organic and non-GMO. The John C. Hart library has organic seeds from the Hudson Valley Seed Co that you can “check out” for free, so I have been advertising that as a way to help, if people can start the plants at home, follow instructions on how to grow and harden them off to make a successful transfer to the GOH in April or May. Lack of seedling donations from our regular sources was another issue last year that limited production.
Reach out with questions! Seedlings may need some help or coordination to be successful, so also encouraging communication with that.
Dawna
206-947-7173