Here's the guy that uses a lot of PVC pipe and roof gutters (although it's hard to see either in this picture). He also plants stuff in some kind of plastic bags and has netting all over the place. His garden looks pretty good.
This garden has the best (and most plentiful) cantaloupes around. I bet he has 50 in all.
A lot of marigold growers at the farm. These are some of the better ones (for Chicky).
This is a nice size pumpkin for mid-July. I'm curious to see how much bigger it gets.
There is one corner of the farm that has gardens that are not plowed under at the end of the year. So they have a lot of nice perennials - like these - whatever they are.
People bring all sorts of stuff to the farm. Keep in mind, with the exception of about 12 plots that are un-touched, everyone starts with a 25' X 25' plowed dirt plot and a marker stake with your name and plot number. Everything else is brought from home. I doubt this scarecrow works. There was a bird on it earlier in the week. Maybe it scares the deer.
This is the edge of another perennial garden. I don't know what they are, but there's a lot of them.
Scarecrows and bamboo. Some people don't seem to know when to stop.
A lot of sunflowers this year. They seem to be extra big too. One guy was carting off a sunflower head that was bigger than a football. He said it collapsed under its own weight and he was taking it home so his wife could get the seeds. Wish I had a camera for that because it was the biggest one I'd ever seen.
This guy is 2 plots down from me. He has the biggest and most tomato-ladened plants on the farm. And not a ripe one to be had. Our tomatoes seem to be the only ones ripening.
My crumby camera skills really don't do justice to this farm. I see something new every time I walk it. I would love to be one of the retired guys that always seem to be here so I can work on my plot a lot more than once or twice a week. I actually think they're all hiding from their wives.
6 comments:
What a huge community garden. The ones we have in city are small by comparison. I have no idea what those flowers are either, but I bet Chickory will have a good idea. Does anyone ever take things? I know the rabbits and deer have a good time, but I'm wondering about humans. It's a huge problem around here. Mostly the homeless people go in at night and clean out gardens.
I hope you continue to do these garden walks. For some reason I see you aging like the end of Godfather with Marlon Brando putting orange slices in his mouth and chasing his grandchildren.
Have a good weekend!
I love community gardens that have both vegetables and flowers. The flowers nourish a different part of us. No watermelon? With pumpkins and cantaloupe doing so well I would think somebody would be doing watermelons.
Thanks for the walkabout.
Good afternoon Buzz Kill,
This really is an neat concept. There's a farmer in town, He has a plot of land likely an acre and 1/2. I've been thinking of asking if he would be interested in doing something like this. Can you have more than one plot at your place?
I'd like to know the secret of the cantaloupes. We only grew 2 small ones using 4 square feet of garden and growing the vines up. I've told Mrs. K not to bother next year. I'd rather have chard and spinach anyway.
Thanks for the look around, it's appreciated.
@ Boxer: Better to have the homeless steal them to eat than to have members of generation Yo steal them to throw at each other. It happened this week, we caught them on video throwing the tomatoes at each other in the street. I'm still figuring out what I'm going to do with them when I get them in hand. Waterboarding is not off the table.
@ Shamy: Hi, nice to see you.
Buzz, glad you posted more about "the farm" aka community garden. I'm with Boxer: the size of the place and variety of vegetation are quite inspiring! Hope to hear how your lone eggplant fared later this weekend.
Karl, you never know until you ask. A couple of years ago neighbors asked if they could use my sunny backyard as a community garden, and I happily agreed. I must confess that they (mostly one woman) did all the work, while I contributed the space and paid the water bill. The critters got the best of a lot of it, especially the corn. Sadly, it proved to be so much work for so little yield that no one was interested the following year . . .
that hedge of flowers is Bright Light Cosmos. They have practically taken over my garden I feel jealous over that pumpkin! I think mine have a fungus. they all shrivel up and die. boo. I have some crimson sweet watermelons that are coming along. The scarecrows are really decorations. This is a great idea - i love the farm and really enjoyed the flowers. Thanks a million for thinking of me with those marigolds! what have you been preparing of your fresh produce?
Boxer
As far as I know, pilphering doesn't happen here. This is a suburban area about 6 - 8 miles from Camden (where the nearest homeless are).
That's a nice thought for how I should die, instead of the slow, tortured death the Mrs has planned for me. And I don't even know Marlon Brando's grandchildren.
Shamu
I have only seen 1 watermelon vine ant the watermelon was the size of a softball. There may be more in the center gardens (I walk the perimeter) but I suspect the animals tear them up. Same deal with corn and stringbeans. I think a lot of your vetran gardenrs don't grow them because of the animals.
Karl
Some people do have multiple plots, but lately there has been a big waiting list to get in, so the few multiple plots there are (and you can tell by the fences) are probably people that have been there for years.
I've never tried to grow cantaloupe, so I have no secrets. The guy who is pictured above is the only one I know of on the farm.
Vandalism also isn't a problem here and I do see a lot of teenagers hanging out at hte nearby playground. They either respect peoples property or it hasn't occurred to them.
IE
I have a post for the eggplant smackdown. You really need fencing and repellent or you're just making a big deer/rabbit smorgasbord. This is our 3rd season and I like to think I've learned a thing or two.
Chicky
I only have small pumpkin vines with no fruit yet. Squash and zucchini seem to do good. Some of the gardeners here know the secret to big pumpkins, but I haven't found them to talk to yet.
I've been mostly making salads or giving it away to neighbors and co-workers. I just don't have the time to jar anything.
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