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KINGSTON FARM
AND GARDEN CO-OP

GIVING GARDEN

TOTAL PRODUCE DELIVERED IN 2011: 699 lbs
And that was on less than half of the available planting area.
Full details shown on this production spreadsheet.

Of that total, about 40 lbs of greens, etc. came out of our two grow-tunnels!
And the tunnels are still producing lettuce, spinach and kale, with additional plantings ready for an early start this spring!

Until the new growth kicks in, Aline is monitoring the situation, and harvesting when the quantity of produce supports it.

WE WILL BE MORE THAN DOUBLING OUR PLANTING AREA IN 2012 - MORE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!




GIVING GARDEN WORK SCHEDULE:
(May be modified to avoid bad weather)
    • Saturday 25 February - Party at Aline's!
      Giving Garden and Farm-to-School planning, plus housewarming for Aline's new house!
      Aline has a nice sunny spot picked out for her personal vegetable garden, and she's looking for suggestions and advice.
      Contact Aline (growkingstonforkids@gmail.com) for details.

    • Saturday 3 March 2012 - MANURING PARTY
      Free Aged Manure is available at Kitsap Fairgrounds on 3 March from 10 am to 3 pm.
      We are planning on getting our truck(s) in line early, for the best opportunity for a good load.
      (Access will be at the north entrance to the fairgrounds off Nels Nelson Road SW.)
      If we miss out, we'll try contacting Watermark Farm to pick up loads there.

      We'll then meet at the Giving Garden to unload, and decide whether to compost or spread the "take".

      More info on the fairground manure is available at 360-337-7171.

    • Saturday 17 March - Co-op Annual Potluck
      Giving Garden volunteers are invited to attend, and can also listen in on the annual meeting,
      and contribute advice and suggestions.

    • Late April or early May - start regular work parties.
      Harvesters & Farrago Farm residents will keep an eye open for anything that needs work,
      before we start regular garden parties again sometime in April - May.
      WE WILL BE MORE THAN DOUBLING OUR AREA - MORE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
      For those interested in learning how to manage a vegetable garden, this is a super opportunity -
      Laura is a great instructor!

    • Saturday 23 June - Midsummers Eve bonfire and BBQ in the vineyard!
      The Giving Garden and Farm-to-School plantings border two sides of the vineyard at Farrago Farm and Vineyard (a mile behind Wolfle School). We plan on setting up tents between the Siegrebe & the Muller-Thurgau, providing a hot grill with bratwurst and burgers (and maybe a salmon or two), and asking everyone else to bring side dishes and beverages. Weather & the fire district permitting, there will be a bonfire at dusk, and brazier fires for S'more purposes.

      This will be a celebration of the second year of the Giving Garden, the start of our Farm-to-School program, and a chance to showcase what we have accomplished to date. GUESTS AND POTENTIAL NEW VOLUNTEERS ARE WELCOME.


    HOOP HOUSES IN THE SNOW
    The hoop houses survived the snow load and winds of January, with no loss of crop.
    This photo was taken on 15 January 2012, with maybe 2 inches of snow on the hoop houses.
    The load was up to 6 inches before the snow stopped, and Kathy went down and knocked it all off.


    PUTTING UP HOOP HOUSES
    Method and strategy discussion
    Last-minute open weeding
    Coaching the youngest workers-
    5-yr-old twins Gabriel & Mathias learn about ties.
    Watching the first try with care
    Stand back and let the youngster work!
    On goes the plastic


    HOOP HOUSES READY!!!


    "GIVING GARDEN" GOES INTO FALL.
    See more photos in the Co-op's Photo Album.

    As shown in our harvest log above, the crops are still coming in.
    But with Fall now here, work party times will vary!
    Contact Laura (modernvictorygarden@gmail.com)
    to find out how you can help!

    All Summer, we had Giving Garden parties on Saturdays, from 10 - 12 am.
    All our volunteers were hard workers, there was plenty of time for garden discussions and mini-tutorials, and many ideas were shared. (As well as snacks and general conversation!)

    THIS PROJECT CONTINUES TO BE OPEN TO NON-MEMBERS!

    The Kingston Sharenet Food Bank has been absorbing all produce to date,
    although Mark Ince tells us that the purple bush beans gave folks pause!

    We will be expanding our planting area in Spring 2012, after plowing in
    the rye/crimson clover cover crop and working in a variety of amendments.
    (Thanks to Shan of Watermark Farm and Melodee of Llama Lips Farm for their donations!)

    We also have another large field available, and Aline (growkingstonforkids@gmail.com) is the organizer and volunteer co-ordinator for a Farm-to-School demonstration crop!


    We continue to be interested in acquiring materials for use at the Giving Garden - hand tools and chick wire (for a fence to slow the rabbits down) are our most immediate needs.

    OUR SMALL HOOP HOUSES ARE DONE!
    To extend our growing season later into the Fall, and earlier into the Spring.

    Here are some web sites with hoop house plans:

    WSU Greenhouse Resources for Small Scale Producers
    WSU Crop Tunnels and Plastic Mulch
    westsidegardener.com/howto/hoophouse.html
    www.albertahomegardening.com/how-to-build-an-inexpensive-hoop-style-greenhouse
    www.albertahomegardening.com/an-inexpensive-hail-proof-pvc-pipe-greenhouse
    doorgarden.com/10/50-dollar-hoop-house-green-house
    cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/em015/em015.pdf
    THANK YOU!
    • Laura of modernvictorygarden.com - continues to provide guidance, materials and expertise.
    • Bob Cooper - Donated his time and equipment to plow, disk and rotovate the area to be planted this fall and next year. Bob's business is listed on our Products and Services (aka "Deals") page.
    • Paula Listle of Kingston Worm Farm - for supervising and advising on the Worm Box set-up, plus donating worms.
    • Paul Lundy of Washington State Beekeepers Association - for his presentation on pollinators, and advice on where to set Mason Bee boxes.
    • Marty Simpson and Tara Prendergast of Broken Ground Farm and Nikki Johanson of Pheasant Field Farm, for their initial advice and contribution of planting materials.
    • Sonja Selboe for providing refreshments for the Garden workers
    • Kathy & Paul of Farrago Farm and Vineyard, for providing the garden space, and watering during the week.
    • Pete, who takes time from his own impressive garden, to help with this one - who has donated unusually sturdy bamboo poles from his own grove - and who brings along the cool garden tools purchased during overseas travels!
    • Kinley, Patti, and their two girls, of Thimbleberry Farm, hard workers and great company, and a major pillar of the Co-op.
    • Alene & LaJoie, who turn their hands to anything and everything. And now Aline is taking on the Farm-to-School project!
    • Shan & Steve of Watermark Farm and Melodee of Llama Lips Farm, for ongoing provision of really great organic manure.
    • And all the other folks who come when they can to give us a hand!


    Here is the WA State Farm to School web site: http://www.agr.wa.gov/marketing/farmtoschool/
    Here is the WSDA Farm to School web site and tool kit: http://www.wafarmtoschool.org/


    Here are food banks in North Kitsap:

    DIRECTIONS TO THE KINGSTON FARM & GARDEN CO-OP GIVING GARDEN