renting a garden plot in research triangle area
Carter moore
8 years ago
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ferroplasm Zone 7b
8 years agoRelated Discussions
New garden plot
Comments (6)I have done both sod cutter and newspaper/cardboard. The sod cutter removes the top 4-6 inches of soil. If you pile it up, it makes for awesome compost in a year or two, but meanwhile you do not have the soil. Unless your grass is much wimpier than mine, the sod cutter will not completely get rid of it. I found it a waste of effort. With cardboard or newspaper, the idea is that you plant /above/ the paper. (Again, unless you have really wimpy grass.) Put down 2 layer of cardboard or 4-5 layers of newspaper, overlapping the seams. Put soil/compost/planting mix on top of that, about 4 inches, covering the edges well. Plant your vegies in the top layer this year. By the time the plants grow large, they can poke roots through the cardboard and into the soil below. Next year, the cardboard and the grass will both be pretty well gone and you will have a lovely deep garden bed....See MoreSurvey: plot size, # of plots, rules & regs., etc.
Comments (5)Our by-laws have been revised since the version linked below, but it will give you an idea of what we do. Now, to answer your questions: City/location of your community garden: Philadelphia, PA - in a pretty urban neighborhood. How many plots/gardeners: About 60 plots. Some are individually cared for, others are cared for by couples, families, or a shared by a couple friends. Average plot size: Mine is about 6'x19'. It is one of the smaller plots, some are almost twice as large. Rental term and amount: $10/yr. $5 for senior citizens. The bylaws explain more, don't hesitate to contact me off-list for specific questions. Maintenance rules (weeding etc.): Again, check by-laws. I'll be happy to provide you with anything the by-laws don't address. Volunteer work required? Yes. (some of this is in the bylaws). You need to attend a certain # of meetings and monthly clean-up per year (5 of each?). Plus, people are encouraged to do additional volunteer work, and are required to participate in certain annual events. Amenities (tools, greenhouse, etc.): We have a couple of sheds used mostly for community tools and other shared items. The garden has larger tools such as garden forks and shovels. Individual gardeners have their own pruners, small spades, etc. We also have a gazebo, picnic benches, and barbeque pits. We have several community tended flower beds, fig trees, fruit tree orchard, grape arbour, and rasperry brambles. To find out more about my specific garden, go to http://www.ngalandtrust.org/, click on "The Gardens/The 22 preserved", then click on "Southwark/Queen Village Community Garden". Good luck! Here is a link that might be useful: By-Laws...See MoreHerb choices for small garden plot
Comments (20)Sounds like you are overwhelmed and confused. Don't be. All gardening is a matter of 'playing it by ear', so have fun and don't get bogged down with science! You'll learn as you go. That's half the fun. (1) Corn salad is a 'green', often called Lamb's Lettuce. See the link below. (2) These are fairly small pots, each of which will nicely fit a mature-sized parsley plant, or 3-4 smallish lettuce. Garden centres like to suck people in by planting out multiple-herb mini gardens, but you should regard them as something for gift-giving and for the short-term only. Nothing to stop you trying, however! For many people, plants in pots is the only way to go. Just don't expect miracles. (3) Design? Does it really matter? You can try to go all formal, with tall plants and the back and groundcovers in the front if you want; or you can do the cottage-garden thing and just jumble everything together willy-nilly; in a small garden bed like the one you're planning, it honestly won't matter a jot. It'll end up beautiful, no matter how you arrange it. But you're not going to end up with everything mathematically arranged like the French formal gardens, nicely manicured. Most herbs aren't like that - let's be brutally honest - most herbs are weeds! The important thing is to be able to reach whatever you want. That shouldn't be a problem for you in such a small area. I suggest you just put plants wherever you like them to be. If the plants aren't happy, you can always move them (well, most of them, anyway!). Herbs aren't quite as fussy as people where they go, in general. I agree wholeheartedly with FataMorgana: veges are herbs. Most of them have medicinal properties. But that's another topic. Here is a link that might be useful: corn salad...See MoreSquare foot gardening in community garden plot
Comments (8)Well said justaguy2. I suggest not screwing and unscrewing if you don't have to. You'll increase longevity if you just leave as is. The frame won't be that heavy at all. As for holes, not sure, maybe someone will have a suggestion. Off the top of my head I'd say an ice pick or something that wouldn't turn into a "rip" if that would even happen, maybe Xs would be fine with a knife. If you do line with no bottom, consider corner drainage instead of directly in the bottom center area. Maybe you could even build the box, line the box, fill with soil, and then drill some holes in the sides along the bottom. Just an idea... Sounds like all you need to do is get started!...See Moretrianglejohn
8 years agoSabji garden (7b), Raleigh NC
8 years agoCarter moore
8 years agohsmithjim
8 years agoferroplasm Zone 7b
8 years ago
Chris Ketchel
3 years ago
Juliana Ransdell
2 years ago
Catherine Mccarthy
5 months agoHU-285233946
5 months ago
PROanuj
3 months ago
Vidya Kurra
last month
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Carter mooreOriginal Author