by Barbara Munkres
On this cloudy, cool day volunteers from Hancock and Pilgrim joined to cultivate and weed at the garden. In addition, more beans were planted in rows where there were gaps in the young seedlings.
Lettuce
Strawberries are looking great!
Two types of squash, watermelon and pumpkin seeds were planted in hills near the entrance of the garden. More bok choy was planted, too.
Buckwheat hulls were sprinkled around some of the seedlings already up, and Fishimulchin was used to fertilize bok choy, beets and cabbage. It’s a combination of fish and seaweed……and an interesting brand name, but Carla says it doesn’t smell so great!
Putting buckwheat hulls down
Volunteers at the garden
Mulching along the south fence was the last chore: wet newspapers were spread out between the fence and the planting area, then covered with a layer of straw. This keeps the weeds down and creates a nice path to walk on throughout the summer.
Most exciting were the vegetables ready to go to the Food Pantry: seven of the largest lettuce heads, a half pound of radishes, one and a half pounds of asparagus, one quarter pound of green onions, a pound of rhubarb, and some spinach! To add to the vegetables, Carla had several boxes of eggs……the hens are laying faster than her family can consume the eggs.
Radishes, Lettuce & Rhubarb
Fresh Eggs from the garden
There were many workers at the pantry when we arrived with the wheelbarrow of fresh food. Today is the day of food collection by the US Mail Carriers, so the pantry was ready for an influx of prepared food in cans and boxes. Everyone seemed delighted to see the fresh food from the Interfaith Garden as well. Eggs from Carla’s hens were well received, too.