more seeds

I stopped at the new Lowe's on Pitney Road today and told the manager, Jamie Wendorf, what we were up to over here with the alley garden and he gave us the over $50 in seeds and such that I had tallied up for $15! Nice. Thanks Jamie and Lowes! And I talked with another friend this week who had a ton of ideas about other places to find support for the garden.

Even though we're just getting started, it has been a really cool experience so far. In particular, I now feel like I know three boys from a few doors up - every time I leave the house out the front or the back they are around and wondering if I'm going to work in the garden and if they can help. Chad and I have both had surprisingly good/candid/vulnerable interactions with neighborhood adults as well. It's like this fledgling garden has opened a door to a different level of relationships.

And if we get some food out of it that will be an added bonus!

The First Raised Beds!

As of yesterday, we have our first two raised beds and one flower bed! The raised beds are absolutely beautiful 4' x 8' frames made from sustainably and locally harvested osage orange lumber. Thanks to Chad for lending us a hand with the power tools. The flower bed is about 4' x 9,' but I'm hoping to expand soon. On the agenda for this week: build another raised bed, begin planting vegetables in the raised beds, and begin planting flowers in the flower beds.

Progress

Things are finally moving along, and fast! Last Monday we borrowed a neighbor's rototiller and raked the plot to even it out. We also cleared some of the rubble. Thanks to Jessica for lending her truck and to Doug and Rob for picking up our first load of compost. Stay tuned for another post with pictures of the first two raised beds!