Spring in the Garden

It has been a little while since we have had a chance to update the garden's blog, so I thought I would write a post to catch everyone up on events that have taken place in the garden this spring.

In March, I started working with the Parkridge Community Garden as the Knoxville Permaculture Guild AmeriCorps VISTA to help organize some workshops and be a resource for gardeners in the neighborhood. I have really enjoyed getting to know Parkridge neighbors and gardeners and I look forward to meeting more people!

So far this year we have had a few events in the garden and are looking forward to even more!  In March, we had a workday and free seed and plant distribution thanks to our Parkridge neighbor and  CAC Green Thumb coordinator Adam Caraco. Thank you Adam and CAC! It was a rainy Saturday, but we had a great turnout.

On April 11th, we had the community garden opening day. Hope Central came out to celebrate with us as we signed neighbors up for garden plots, did some garden crafts, played some games, had some barbeque, and got some much needed maintenance work done. Thank you to Hope Central and Hope Central volunteers for bringing the delicious barbeque and helping hands!

Last Saturday, we had a workday and created swales in the community plot area. Thank you to community gardener and neighbor Tracie Hellwinckel for teaching us how to do this and thanks to Knoxville Permaculture Guild members and community gardeners for coming out to do the work. With the new swales, we will be able to prevent erosion in the garden and help more rainwater to soak into the ground to water our plants. It was an extremely hot day, but we got a lot accomplished and when it rains we will plant some sunflowers for the labor day sunflower project and a cover crop. 

Starting next week, I will be in the garden every Sunday morning from 9am-11am. You can bring your tools and do some work, or even just bring a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy the garden. I will try to bring books to look at as resources and maybe some hand-outs as well.

If you are interested in learning a certain skill or leading a workshop, just send me an e-mail at e_echyatt@pstcc.edu anytime. I will try to set something up or meet you in the garden. 

Here is a list of upcoming workshops and workdays in the garden. I hope to see you all there!

Wednesday June 3 from 6p to7p - Jessica Dean from Clay Halo Farm and Kitchen and Knoxville Permaculture Guild will come to the Parkridge Community Garden to teach about creating organic fertilizers for your garden. We will make compost tea and enjoy Jessica's lavender lemonade.

Saturday June 13 from 2p-3p- Amy Haun will come to the Parkridge Community Garden to teach us about how to identify and attract beneficial insects in the garden. Afterwards, we will be planting some bee balm.

Saturday July 18 from 4p-5:30p- Rachel Milford, Knoxville-based herbalist and wellness educator and owner of Reclaiming Your Roots will be teaching us how to ID and use medicinal and culinary herbs. Afterward the instruction, we will have a potluck so be sure to bring something to share. We will also have some of Rachel's wonderful herbal teas and salves on hand to try and purchase.

August- time and date TBD- We will have a canning class.

Happy gardening!

Caley