Just rec'd a call informing me that we are all clear to dig on the land. All we have to do is stay south of that tree near MLK Jr street, which he said is approx. 30 ft from the curb.
Our Mission is to... Improve the quality of life for the elderly & disabled in our community by producing home-grown nutritious food, reduce food budget, and eradicate hunger one person... one family at time.
Beth LaFata, Garden Coordinator cell 281 508 3040
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Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Thanx Lyn for this research and ideas
Below is an email I rec'd from Lyn Butcher....
It is best to leave more space between your rows of raised beds. Alot of the veggies will be growing into the space and you will be happier with more room. You'll be walking thru there to water, weed and harvest your crops. I have a two foot space between mine because of the space limitations at clark gardens and it's gonna be tight. (no big butt jokes here!) You also will want to be able to easily mow between the beds until we get to the point of mulching.
If we get pickups to make the trip to Clear Fork, how much do we need and how do we pay for it? I recommend the native compost, it is the cheapest at $15 per cubic yard.
If my math serves me correct, a 6 foot by 3 foot garden raised 6 inch needs 9 cubic feet. so a cubic yard will be enough for 3 such gardens. for thirty gardens you will need 10 cubic yards. plus several bags of vermiculite, maybe 1/3 bag per garden, again that makes 10 bags we need. I believe I paid $24 for a bag at Dillards feed store in Weatherford. If you want expanded shale for the gardens, a valuable additive but expensive, it is $55 per cu yard. We could probably spread out three cu yards into the 30 beds.
30 gardens 3x6 by 6 inches needs 10 Cubic Yards of Compost @ $15 = $150
10 bags of vermiculite 25 each = $250
3 Cubic Yards of Ex Shale $55 each= $165
Total = $565
It is best to leave more space between your rows of raised beds. Alot of the veggies will be growing into the space and you will be happier with more room. You'll be walking thru there to water, weed and harvest your crops. I have a two foot space between mine because of the space limitations at clark gardens and it's gonna be tight. (no big butt jokes here!) You also will want to be able to easily mow between the beds until we get to the point of mulching.
If we get pickups to make the trip to Clear Fork, how much do we need and how do we pay for it? I recommend the native compost, it is the cheapest at $15 per cubic yard.
If my math serves me correct, a 6 foot by 3 foot garden raised 6 inch needs 9 cubic feet. so a cubic yard will be enough for 3 such gardens. for thirty gardens you will need 10 cubic yards. plus several bags of vermiculite, maybe 1/3 bag per garden, again that makes 10 bags we need. I believe I paid $24 for a bag at Dillards feed store in Weatherford. If you want expanded shale for the gardens, a valuable additive but expensive, it is $55 per cu yard. We could probably spread out three cu yards into the 30 beds.
30 gardens 3x6 by 6 inches needs 10 Cubic Yards of Compost @ $15 = $150
10 bags of vermiculite 25 each = $250
3 Cubic Yards of Ex Shale $55 each= $165
Total = $565
Starter Needs List
This is just for starters, hoping to get some of this Saturday at the Ground Breaking. I will update and repost occasionally...
Needs List: Updated 3/31/2010
$$ (of course) all donations will go to MOW, please specify The Garden on your check. There will be a Garden Donation Box at the site.
Clean Garden Soil
Garden Tools
Wagon
Water Hose
Buckets – large and small
Borders – garden logs, 2x4’s, bricks, anything that can make a border of the Garden Squares
Fruit Trees – Apple, Peach, Pear… anything that produces something edible
Veggie Seeds – can be the small packets or big bags… whatever you can get ahold of
Volunteers Needed:
We will have a sign up sheets for each need and each day for the week at the ground breaking Saturday.
People to come by each morning to water (once Garden has been planted)
People to come regularly to weed garden squares (once Garden has been planted)
Someone to sell memberships, sponsorships, benches, ads, etc.
Needs List: Updated 3/31/2010
$$ (of course) all donations will go to MOW, please specify The Garden on your check. There will be a Garden Donation Box at the site.
Clean Garden Soil
Garden Tools
Wagon
Water Hose
Buckets – large and small
Borders – garden logs, 2x4’s, bricks, anything that can make a border of the Garden Squares
Fruit Trees – Apple, Peach, Pear… anything that produces something edible
Veggie Seeds – can be the small packets or big bags… whatever you can get ahold of
Volunteers Needed:
We will have a sign up sheets for each need and each day for the week at the ground breaking Saturday.
People to come by each morning to water (once Garden has been planted)
People to come regularly to weed garden squares (once Garden has been planted)
Someone to sell memberships, sponsorships, benches, ads, etc.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Benefits of Community Gardens:
Improves the quality of life for people in the garden
Provides a catalyst for neighborhood and community development
Stimulates Social Interaction
Encourages Self-Reliance
Beautifies Neighborhoods
Produces Nutritious Food
Reduces Family Food Budgets
Conserves Resources
Creates opportunity for recreation, exercise, therapy, and education
Reduces Crime
Preserves Green Space
Creates income opportunities and economic development
Reduces city heat from streets and parking lots
Provides opportunities for intergenerational and cross-cultural connections
Provides a catalyst for neighborhood and community development
Stimulates Social Interaction
Encourages Self-Reliance
Beautifies Neighborhoods
Produces Nutritious Food
Reduces Family Food Budgets
Conserves Resources
Creates opportunity for recreation, exercise, therapy, and education
Reduces Crime
Preserves Green Space
Creates income opportunities and economic development
Reduces city heat from streets and parking lots
Provides opportunities for intergenerational and cross-cultural connections
Tuesday's Progress
Well, I didn't get as far as I wanted but did get a few things done... Measured for fencing, we're looking at approx 220 ft along MLK Jr Street, and the same at the south end... this should keep people from attempting to drive thru the property. Along the west side is partially fenced with alot of brush that we will need to clean up at some point. It's 440 ft along west fenceline, but again it is partially fenced already. The south end of the east side we'll eventually need approx 225 ft of fencing and should be able to keep it open by the MOW building. There is no hurry on the east or west side fencing, we may never need it.
In preparing for the Ground Breaking Saturday... I've bought an Apple tree to be planted... and Roy & Celia Dunn are arranging plowing. I do however need someone to call the utilities and get the underground stuff marked prior to plowing, please let me know if any of you can handle this today or tomorrow. Give me a call, text or shoot me an email. 281 508 3040 or bethlafata@hotmail.com to let me know its done.
To get things planted ASAP, we will start off with a row of fruit trees at the north end (running east to west), along MLK Jr Street. This is approx 200 ft. I will work to get people or local businesses to donate trees and we can dedicate each as they wish. The goal being a tree every Saturday morning (more if we're lucky) till the row is full. Which should take about 17-20 trees, planting them 10-15 ft apart. I just thought, I better make sure thats not under power lines. Then a row of 3x6 garden squares (approx 30 squares with 1-1.5 ft between each one), which the local Garden Club can set up and hopefully help maintain. I'm meeting with Lyn Friday will discuss that further to see how involved they'd like to be.
To do more we'll have to raise funds, and get donations. I plan to get that going next week, will appreciate any help or suggestions.
Another thought I've had for a while, is putting in small flower gardens in Seniors yards, or even pots on a porch if thats all the space they have. As long as they can water it, I can stop by once a week and check on it, pull weeds or whatever might need done. I know my Grandmother, before she passed and was home bound, loved to sit on her porch and see the blooms, the butterflies, & birds.
OK I'm off now, you all have a great day and I look forward to seeing you all Saturday morning.
11am-1pm be there or be square... or finance a square!!
Thanx for listening, Beth
281 508 3040 cell
Monday, March 29, 2010
Mark Your Calender... The Garden Ground Breaking
We're having a informal Ground Breaking / meet n greet of sorts Saturday (4/3/2010), 11am-1pm at The Garden, to meet those who want to be involved, see who can do what and so on.
I encourage you all to stop by and see whats happening.
Progress: This week I will call utilities to get the underground stuff marked, and someone has already volunteered to work on plowing/tilling the lot. Given that people already enjoy driving across the lot, I believe we will need to fence it as soon as we can.
My thoughts so far... I'd like to do the garden squares in the north half of the property with the help of the local Garden Club, and rows of this n that on the south half of the property. I'd also like to have a flower cutting garden along the fence at the north half of the east fence line near the building to provide fresh cut flowers to anyone that needs alittle cheer. Maybe a bench or two in that area and bird feeders. Can have ads of the back of the benches should a local business wish to supply a bench. For each garden square, we will sell sponserships and post a marker in that square. We will also rent fence space along the east side of the west fence for a steady income for The Garden. (Will have to check the legalities on that idea.) Will work on those rates next and put together a flyer. I'm calling around for fencing & irrigation bids, to get an idea of reg price then start finding supply/labor deals & donations. Please do drop me a line if any of this is your area of expertise.
Of course everything is subject to change once I start talkin to people, these are just things goin thru my head so far...
I look forward to meeting those I have not and working together to make The Garden happen and benefit our community.
Thanx for listening, Beth LaFata
Garden Manager
281 508 3040 cell
Welcome to the creation of The Garden @ MOW
Today we begin the first Community Garden to help end hunger in Palo Pinto County.
We will be growing an assortment of veggies for our community.
This is only the beginning so check back often to see our progress.
Garden located on 3 acres, next to the MOW building at
1410 Martin Luther King Jr Street, Mineral Wells Texas.
Volunteers always appreciated
Donations of equipment, supplies and labor needed.
Immediate needs are fencing and plow.
For more info contact
Garden Manager Beth LaFata at cell 281 508 3040 or MOW at 940 325 7919
Executive Director of MOW Patty Clark 940 325 7919
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