It has been a roller-coaster of a season in the garden, much like the temperatures these past days!  We were all disappointed upon hearing that we were not the recipients of the do.town grant.  However, the garden has been producing amazing veggies already and we have donated everything to the VEAP “Garden to Table” program.  Our produce is getting directly into the hands of clients that would otherwise not have access to these fresh foods.   To date  we have already donated over 10 lbs. of radishes alone.  Our peas and lettuces will be harvested in the next couple of weeks.   We also have spinach, pole beans, cucumbers, beets, kale, cabbage, tomatoes, summer squash, and various herbs that will be shared with our neighbors who rely on VEAP to help make ends meet.

We are still participating in the do.town documentary that is being produced over the course of the year.  Don’t be shy if you see Kim Houle walking around with a video camera and microphone! 

COMMUNITY GARDEN DAY is Saturday, August 11^th.  Please come and visit the garden between 9 a.m. and noon for some refreshments and fellowship.  We will have sidewalk chalk for the kids and plenty of shade and conversation for the adults.  Our garden is one of several on a metro-wide tour map of community gardens that will be hosting visitors.  We will be encouraging folks to ride bike and utilize the new Richfield Cross-Town bike path that is at our front door.   We hope to see you there! 

Thanks to the helping hands of DeeDee Edlund, Cal and Sandy Jenson, Mike Murphy, and everyone else who stops by the garden and pulls a few weeds.  Together we are DOING GOD’S WORK WITH OUR HANDS. 

 Please enjoy these pictures from our Earth Day Celebration in April! 

Where has the time gone?  The month of May seems to have flown by and the garden is starting to really take shape.  With the help of Mike Murphy, Cal Jenson, and Sandy Jenson, we completed the lattice wall to conceal the compost bin & rain barrels.  We have planted the following:

Raddishes
Beets
Peas
Lettuce
Spinach
Carrots
Eggplant
Summer Squash
Cucumbers
Pole beans
Cabbage
Collards
Kale
Onions
Garlic
Chives
Oregano


We hoped that we were going to get by for a while without the bunny fence, but suddenly they discovered the tender pea shoots and ate them practically down to the ground.  Today Sandy and I spent some time putting up the bunny fence and setting up the automatic watering system.  We will monitor it closely to make sure the beds are receiving plenty of water.

It seems that no news is NOT good news in the case of the do.town grant.  I am aware that MIRA received an award of a smaller amount than they requested due to lots of applications coming in.  This does not hinder our mission, however.  We will still be able to plant some container tomatoes and peppers to complete our variety of plants.  I am somewhat disappointed, but I know there are plenty of great agencies working for the greater good and I'm sure it is being put to good use. 

Hope to see you in the garden soon!  Thanks for your support. 

Thanks to the input from many and some extra time in meetings, the do.town application is completed and will be submitted on Tuesday, May 1st.  Many thanks to Jill Johnson who spent plenty of hours researching and estimating.  We have laughed and dreamed about where this opportunity might take us and I am very confident that we can accomplish our goals!!

Do you like fresh salsa??  Do you know how to can produce?  We are going to be growing plenty of tomatoes and peppers, along with cilantro and other herbs to create some amazing salsa batches.  We will also plan to preserve some tomatoes for use in winter hotdishes at the Simpson Shelter. 

We are going to use our partnership with MIRA to reach into Richfield and identify a few apartment home residents that can exchange ideas and offer suggestions for the types of plants we need to make the best tasting salsas. 

Have you visited the garden yet?   There is plenty to take in with green sprouts bursting through the soil in perfect rows.  I will hope to get pictures soon and will post them. 

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Earth Day celebrations.  We received around $60 in donations and it was very much appreciated. 

Growing in grace,
Kim

Today was an absolutely beautiful day and we took full advantage of it!  Mike Murphy provided us with a crop-bed design and templates for seed planting.  With the help of DeeDee Edlund and Sandy Jenson, we planted raddishes, lettuce, carrots, peas, and beets.  Weather forecast for the next couple of days should provide for good germination moisture and heat. 

We also have begun to clean up the beds along the pedestrian path and have planted six "foamy bells", a hosta-like perennial that is a new hybrid and hopefully will tolerate the shade in that area.  Anyone with time and energy can continue to clean up the debris and leaves in the bed.  Feel free to add them to the compost bin near the rain barrels.  I would also like to contact Metro Transit or the city to see if they would provide a trash receptacle in that area to help minimize our cleanup work. 

The do.town documentary filming has begun so don't be surprised if you are working in the garden and suddenly there is a camera peeking in.  Allie Kopp, the videographer, will be routinely dropping by to see the progress and by this time next year, she and Blue Cross Blue Shield will have a new documentary about how communities are striving to provide healthy options to residents. 

EarthDay will be celebrated at House of Prayer on Sunday 4/29, with activities for all ages.  You are invited to attend 9:30 worship, followed by fellowship, food & sharing of gardening techniques.  Happy EarthDay will be sung with the kids and we'll enjoy some EarthDay cake & punch.  Kids will be planting take-home annuals and helping decorate the garden steps.  Perennial swap and door prizes of garden store gift cards & container gardens as well!  We will also be asking congregants that are close to try and ride bike to church on that day.  House of Prayer is conveniently located on the brand new Richfield bike lane that runs nearly the entire length of the city along 76th Street.  Hope you can join us. 

Already blooming with blessings!

Peace,
Kim

I know everyone is anxious to know the direction that the community garden is taking this season.  Having met with a few team leaders yesterday, I am happy to share the following information:

                 The garden will be made into a Reaching Richfield MISSION GARDEN with the proceeds directed to VEAP’s Garden to Table, MIRA, Loaves and Fishes, Simpson Shelter, and other neighbors in need.

                 The garden will be managed by a governing board – to which I hope you each will consider becoming a member of.  These are tasks you would probably already be doing with the garden,  but gives better structure and provides for sustainability.  At first the meetings & work will be pretty intensive, but everyone working together will make the load light.  The next meeting of the Garden Board is Sunday, April 15^th (following worship service).

                 Steve Pierson, Gordy Holmes, and Mike Murphy have already started a variety of plants.  We will also need some ethnic varieties such as poblano peppers, tomatillos, and other peppers. 

                 We are awaiting approval from the property team in regards to the south plot and terracing the area.  Jesse Gardner will be following up.  We have been awarded an additional $500 from the SHIP and intend to use every bit and more for upgrades, etc. 

                 We will also be applying for a 5 or 10k grant with the do.town campaign and hope to be able to integrate educational components involving youth (HoP Preschool, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts) and a canning/freezing/drying workshop for neighbors in the Buena Vista & Towers complexes, as well as set up canned tomatoes & peppers for the church’s feeding programs.  Jill Johnson and Jesse Gardener will be gathering information to prepare the grant application.  Deadline is May 1^st.

                 MIKE MURPHY & STEVE PIERSON:  There were some TERRACED GARDEN DRAWINGS submitted but I haven’t found them in my files and wonder if you’d be able to “resurrect” them (like the timely pun?) and send them to us with the elevations included.  Please & thanks!

                 On April 29^th we will be celebrating EARTH DAY with the congregation following worship services.  Jeanne Lindstrom and Karen Steenson are helping organize this day to honor and care for our world.   This may be a day to involve congregation in planting our MISSION GARDEN.    Information has been posted around the narthex area. 

I may have left something or someone out, so my apologies.  Feel free to forward this to anyone you think should be involved.  Thank you for your support and energy as we join together doing God’s work with our hands!

How can you help the garden?  We are currently collecting plastic milk containers in the narthex area at House of Prayer to be used as starter beds for tomatoes, etc.  Please bring your rinsed-out containers on Sunday and leave them in the area designated for collection.  Thank you in advance! 

We have our first 2012 garden meeting scheduled for Sunday, March 4th at 10:40 a.m. in Parish Hall at House of Prayer Church.  Please join us and bring a friend!