Work Day in the Garden

We had a great turnout of volunteers for today's work day.  The kids certainly had fun in the dirt (and I have laundry to prove it. :)

 Several new boxes were built.

And several people did some "spring cleaning." (Steve Faubel on left, Jim Ault on right)  Mulch was spread between the boxes.

Others have plants in their boxes.  This reporter was a bit distracted by a certain 3 month old so I only took 3 pictures.

The garden is transforming.  Be sure to stop by and admire all the sweat equity.

Some of you asked about the red beans and rice recipe I served at lunch.  It is super easy to make and you can make enough for a crowd.  If you have leftovers, it freezes well.

Garden Expansion

We're starting to plan for more garden boxes.  Below is the site plan (green boxes are existing, purple ones are future).  I have begun to assign new boxes.  Contact me if you're interested in gardening this year.  luvmyhub AT gmail.com

A few of us met to talk about the gardens yesterday.  Cary Cox (POA President) is on left and Randy Ripley (architect and garden designer) on right.

Jim and Margaret Ault were working on their plots yesterday.  They gave me a nice mess of spinach and lettuce.  It made a yummy addition to my dinner.
The Aults also shared spinach with the Ripleys.  Below Claudette is helping herself.

I planted seeds (spinach, onions and lettuce) last week but they've yet to germinate.  I hope they didn't wash away in last week's downpours.

New Signs

This weekend three more signs were added to our garden (with more to come!)

For those who don't speak French, poireau sounds the same as the family name, Poirot, but means leeks.  The sign reads something to the effect of Poirot's Leeks or Leeks from the Poirots.  If you don't know the Poirot family, Mr. Poirot is a chef at one of the downtown hotels.

Filling the New Boxes

At 6:30pm, the work team was rather small.

Some were cuter than others.

But more came; the hands multiplied.

The children enjoyed themselves.

I think the men will be sore tomorrow.  Though my husband said it was a great work out.

The women had a grand time talking.  :)

I left at dark and the pile was greatly reduced.  My children had very dirty bath water.  It was a super fun evening.

Garden Updates

Charlotte is not the only one with a cute plot.  Kim and Cori Scott have theirs decorated with style, too.

Looks like Randy was hard at work this weekend building more boxes.  Now we need volunteers that can shovel some dirt into them.

Work Day - Building Boxes

Saturday was a successful day.  Much was accomplished by the work crew, pictured below just after lunch - from left to right: John Majors, Cary Cox, Randy Ripley leaning on Paul Bing, Jim Ault (in white), Charlotte Perdue, Ian Bing, Margaret Ault, and Jason Bone. They worked HARD!!

Below Margaret and Paul smooth dirt in newly constructed boxes (that are 4x12 feet) while Jason and John move move a new box in place.

Below Cary, Charlotte and Jim smooth dirt.

Randy delivered the dirt.

There was even a sighting of a princess in pink.

More dirt from Randy.

Eight boxes were completed on the south/west side of the gardens (nearest the entrance).

Below: side view of eight new garden boxes.  Apartments are on the other side of the creek.

Four boxes were constructed beyond the two existing "C" shaped boxes.  These boxes back up to Coachlight.

Not pictured is the trench dug and pipe laid to bring water to the gardens (thanks Ian and Jim!).

It won't be long until we see veggies growing down here.

Sneaky Carpenters

Somebody (bodies?) snuck down to the garden and built another box!

I think it must be someone who likes the letter "C".

Claudette Ripley?!  Is it you?

Work Day - Building Boxes

Three guys from Tarrytown built the first garden box today.  It is not a normal-sized, run of the mill garden box.  My husband, John, says he feels tricked because he thought it would be a 4'x8' box, or maybe 4'x12'.  Randy Ripley decided to get creative on them and they built a box in the shape of the letter C, the longest side is 28 feet!

Above - Jason Bone and John Majors work together.  Below, Randy Ripley working the power saw.

 These guys are going to be sore tomorrow.  :)

My question is, what does the "C" stand for?  Compost?  Community?  Carpentry?  Cramps?  Carrots!

And here's the stack of wood for Saturday, March 17.

Go here to see the site plan proposal and get a better feel for what the gardens will look like when completed.

Reminder: we'll be building these again on Saturday, March 17.  Let me know if you can join us: luvmyhub AT gmail DOT com Looking forward to seeing you out there!