WGHS GOLD Main Garden Update: April 20, 2014

The garden has roared back to life over the last 6 weeks, full of color and buzzing with activity.

Gardens gone wild!

Some new artwork on the shed.

Our new multi-stage composting system.

The pluot tree full of green fruit and lots of healthy new foliage.

The apricot tree looking quite splendid!

The orange tree, full of blossoms and new growth.

Another shot of the apricot tree with the shed and compost system in the background.

Our Cripps Pink apple tree with lovely blushing blossoms.

The pomegranate bush looking full of life and ready to grow.

A mob of sunflowers has taken over the concrete block bed!

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WGHS Main Garden Update: July 11, 2013

The photos below show how the garden looked as of July 11, 2013.

The Story of the Seed Project Makes Full Use of WGHS GOLD Main Garden

This weekend my Biology 1-2 students and I planted over a hundred young Brassica oleracea plants into the main garden. Cultivars planted include "Pixie" cabbage, "Di Ciccio" broccoli, and "Purple Vienna" kohlrabi. Many thanks to the student volunteers--Leah, David, Savannah, Cole, and James--who came out last weekend to help prepare the boxes by pulling weeds and cutting up plant residues from the previous crop (used now as a mulch for the present crop). Here's how things looked as of around noon today.

The Brassica oleracea crop is the heart of The Story of the Seed  project.

The Black-Eyed susan is still carrying cheerful yellow blooms.

A border has been added to the back of the bed along the chain link fence to prevent soil loss.

The buckwheat persists--it is now in its fourth generation.

Here is a shot of the buckwheat growing up against the aforementioned  border.

Above are shots of the healthiest tomato plant and a box full of  the tomatoes that were harvested from this plant today.

If you would like some of these luscious fruits, stop by the garden tomorrow between 10 and 10:45 a.m.--I'll be out there keeping our Brassica babies cool and hydrated.

Garden Update (in Pictures)

State of the Garden

Yes, I know, it isn't a pretty sight right now, but remember, the cover crops we left in there were going to die one way or another (by tilling under or by frost). Leaf mulch has been applied to all beds to help keep in moisture from the scant winter rains.

The water source issue remains with no obvious solution on the horizon--whenever we need to water the garden we still have to connect 125 feet of hose to the science building and drag it across the staff parking lot to the garden area.

We (student volunteers and I) will start a late winter cover crop and some cilantro (coriander) within the next couple of weeks.

We will definitely be needing another big volunteer effort this spring when we make our next big expansion of the main garden (five additional beds). Keep your eyes peeled for updates.

Grow, Baby! GROW!

What's Small, Green, and Makes Soil Better?

A green manure crop, of course!

This cover crop of cowpeas, buckwheat, and lentils will add nutrients and organic matter to the soil.

The seedlings are flourishing and should be ready to incorporate into the soil in about five weeks. Take a look.

Oh Sow Good!

Thanks to our awesome volunteers: AJ, JB, Vern, Catherine, Jim, Jane, Linda, and John