Saturday, November 3, 2012

It is the time of year to close up our gardens for the winter.  This year has been especially bountiful because of an extra long growing season.  We all were able to get an early start on planting and the season continued well into fall.  However, now is the time to put our bed to bed for the winter.  If you haven’t already done so you have one last chance to get your hands in that soil, weed out the old plants that have rewarded you so well, turn the soil over and prepare it for the winter.  It is even suggested that you leave as much as possible of the old vegetables right in the bed for that extra composting and nutrition. Turn your bed over with the plants still in it and just think, the plants that gave so much during the summer months will still be giving all winter long.  Just as we do with our home, the time has come to winterize and close up the garden.  
Writings by Robin, community gardener

Monday, July 16, 2012

Magic is happening at the Community Garden


Have you noticed the magic that is going on at the Community Garden this summer?  The warm spring weather that allowed us early planting has proven to be worthwhile. What a surprise to walk into the garden this year and see the amazing development of the plants.   Already this season gardeners have been enjoying the fruits of their labor with many grown vegetables and this year’s crops seem to be the best since the Community Garden began.  Of course the weather has helped in that regard but let us not forget the diligent work by those of us who have tended our plots since the opening of the Community Garden in 2010 by adding compost, leaf humus and working the soil with loving hands to produce this year’s outstanding crops.

Have you paused just inside the west gate to watch the butterflies flutter around their colorful plants? The newly added Butterfly Garden has really bloomed and is a welcoming stop for the traveling butterflies.  Just follow the colorful dainty creatures and they will lead you to their own private oasis.

We humans also use the Community Garden for our own personal oasis.  Some of us like the idea of homegrown vegetables for our kitchen table.  Some of us are a part of the Bethesda on the Bay Church group or the Village Food Project growing organic vegetables, herbs and flowers for local needs.  And still yet some of us simply like the quiet, meditative surroundings that the garden offers. Whatever your reason, it’s nice to remember that we all come together inside those gates with a common interest and this summer we have all benefited from the Community Garden in one way or another. 

Enjoy the magic that is happening at the Community Garden this summer.


Writings by Robin

Thursday, April 26, 2012

See You at the Garden!


The Bay Village Community Garden officially opens May 1st.  The time is here to finally get excited about getting outdoors and playing in the dirt.  We all have that little child inside us who is eager to run outside when the weather is good and have some silly fun.  Every one of us is anxious to take a walk through the garden, check out our plots, get our hands dirty, turn the soil and mentally map out the placement of this year’s crops.  This is the 3rd year of the Community Garden and with each new season the garden becomes more efficient, more enticing and visually more beautiful.  This year is no different.  Thoughtful new ideas have helped make the garden more organized and more enjoyable.  As you walk through the garden to your little patch of soil take the time to notice the quiet new addition of lavender tucked between the rows of daffodils.  Pause a moment to take in the fragrance of this new plant and appreciate the tranquility of the surroundings. A simple walk through the garden can excite your senses and engage your mind to imagine the changes that will occur in just a few short weeks.  The time is here so bring your garden tools, your gloves and your inner child’s imagination and get busy playing in the dirt.

 See you at the garden!


Thursday, February 9, 2012

Pleasant Surprises

This mild winter weather has been a pleasant surprise. No one expected a December, January and so far February quite like this. Everyone still seems to be holding their breath wondering when the real northeast weather will arrive. It is hard to believe that in less than 2 months on April 5th the local baseball team will begin their official season. Still harder to believe is that the calendar says spring begins in approximately 4 weeks. Although the calendar says we still have 4 more weeks of winter we have to admit it has been a mild one. Maybe it’s time to stop holding our breath and start looking forward to the next season. Maybe we should just enjoy and appreciate the mild climate and begin to plan for warmer weather. Soon beauty will be born in that now wet ground. A new cycle of plants will fill our garden. In fact blooming daffodils are right around the corner. Very soon the warm sun will beckon us to that patch of soil that once was and will be again a perfect square of vibrant plants and flowers. This unexpected surprise of mild weather is a good thing. Why not enjoy it? Why not embrace the calm of it? It’s time to appreciate the weather that is here now. Let us not second guess the whys of it but instead be grateful. It’s only weeks before spring officially arrives so it’s time to turn our thoughts to warmer weather and the anticipation of what spring will bring. Because springtime is always a pleasant surprise.

2012 writings by Robin