Monday, July 20, 2009

A Few Garden Photos!

So I have *finally* have some photos of the Near North Locavores' community garden!

It is a mish-mash of photos from different times, and I will get more taken once there is more to see. ;)

First, the overall layout of the garden:

We started this from scratch...lifting the sod, and then digging about 1.5 feet down and adding compost. No easy task, even with such a small garden! It is a grid of 20 deep beds, that vary in size, but none more than 4 feet across (for easy access).


This is a view facing West, showing the whole garden, including the containers (there are newly planted peas in the recycle bins, and other veggies and herbs in the containers).


Facing South, there are tomatoes in the first bed, then nasturtiums, dill, carrots, and cilantro in the beds behind.


Again facing South, there are nasturtiums, pole beans, bush beans, carrots, onions, chard, and chives in this row of beds.


Again bush beans, pole beans, nasturtiums, chard, lettuce, carrots, and beets.


This is the last row of beds. Pole beans, beets, nasturtiums, lettuce, and spinach.


And now here are some random shots of the garden:

Mint in the shade garden

Double chamomile

Daisy fleabane

Pansies

Chives

Lemon balm

More mint

Thyme

Tomatoes

Tomatoes

Sweet woodruff in the shade garden

Lady's mantle in the partial shade garden

More sweet woodruff

Oregano


Sláinte!

Laurel

10 comments:

Pyke said...

Your garden looks wonderful...I look forward to seeing more! Your yard seems big with a lot of trees too...I bet it is a nice little place to hang out.

nefaeria said...

Thanks Pyke! The Locavores have worked pretty hard on it. And yes, my friend's yard is quite large and has lots of wonderful trees. :)

Medusae said...

The Lucavores garden is looking SO GREAT! What a lot of work that must have been.

I don't know much about vegetable gardening, but I'm learning!

Why did you make independent squares and leave strips of sod, instead of the more commonly-seen whole-kit-and-caboodle huge rectangle arrangement? Is this for organization's sake? Or weed control, or what? :D

Thanks for the photos! I love them, as always. I have to upload the tons of photos I have from around here, too. ^.^

nefaeria said...

Thanks so much Medusae! :) It's great to hear that you have taken up learning veggie gardening!

Research of course is a good way to get the basic, but I find the best way to learn is by getting our hands dirty and sharing knowledge with others.

Our region has its own particular challenges, so even if one has a bit of experience growing food, starting in a different region is almost like starting from scratch. ;)

We did the grid layout because we decided to go with the deep bed method (mentioned in John Seymour's self-sufficient books, which I beleive you mentioned you had), so they are small enough to reach around without stomping on the bed itself.

I actually had to re-start a few of the beds with new bagged soil (delicious black tri mix) because what we were growing wasn't liking what was naturally there. We did add compost and other organic ammendments, but still not good enough aparently. lol.

This fall we will be doing the 'lasagna' method over the beds, so we should have luverly soil there next year.

I can't wait to see your photos too!!! :)

Hertha said...

Oh this is pretty! You are working towards a great cause nefaeria and your garden looks like it is loved. I can't wait to see more photos!

Anonymous said...

sooooo beautiful! my garden is not doing too great but yours looks like it is healthy.

nefaeria said...

Thank you both! :)

Cammie said...

~*~gorgeous!~*~

bek said...

Aww, you must be so chuffed! What a great place you've got there.
We're just starting our learning curve too, with an allotment - we've only been able to have containers and raised beds before, but like you want to keep our growing areas small so we don't compact the soil.
I'll have to try and track down a copy of one of the John Seymour books you've mentioned!

nefaeria said...

Thanks Cammie & bek! :)

Oh, and bek, I have just taken a boo of your garden on Flickr and it is gorgeous! That is a wonderful urban garden. :)

John Seymour's books are great books for those of us who want to do things for ourselves, and I have found them quite helpful.