The Urban Gardener Gives Up

Well, not really gives up.  More like changes tactics.

In case you don’t remember (and I would be surprised if you do as it didn't last long!) I was doing a series of blog posts titled “The Urban Garden” in which chronicled my efforts to grow a few vegetables in a container garden last summer.  I started out strong, had great intentions, but then was derailed by intractable slugs, lack of an easy water supply, and some just plain frustrating setbacks.  So I gave up.  Hey, I didn’t call it “The Tenacious Garden,” did I?

My notes for my last post (which I never got around to publishing) contain such gems as “Feeling like this experiment was an utter failure.  Tomatoes have become top heavy and brittle so they crash over with any breeze, even with stakes” and “Three little pathetic misshapen cucumbers.  Huge bulbous end with a long skinny section where the vine connects to the cucumber.  The kids won’t even eat them even though they taste fine.”  I won’t bore you with the rest.  I always felt like I should post a final update but it was, frankly, just too depressing.

While it was not without some minor successes, I decided I needed to make a major change.  I had heard about the Gig Harbor Community Garden but I also knew that there was a waiting list to get a plot there.  With my expectations low, I contacted them to get myself on the list and proceeded to make plans for another summer as a patio container farmer.

So imagine my surprise when I received a call that the Community Garden was expanding into a new space and I could get a spot there!

I attended the meeting for the Community Garden at the Gig Harbor Civic Center last Tuesday.  There was a great turn out and it was exciting to meet other people with similar interests in gardening.  Some have been with the Community Garden for years and others were newcomers like me.  The experienced gardeners seemed eager to share their wealth of knowledge.  I am so excited to have these amazing people as a resource.

I also learned about all the great things the Community Garden has planned and how much they do to support our local FISH Food Bank.  Fresh food from a designated garden as well as excess from every garden is donated.  I think that is a wonderful idea!

So I’ll be documenting my journey as I make the transition to the Community Garden and I plan to share the stories of others who are a part of this as well as the changes coming up for the Community Garden.  I’ll also be giving more information later about how you can help (and there are many ways besides growing a garden), but if you are interested in getting your own spot in the Community Garden, please e-mail Barb Carr at ghcommunitygardens@gmail.com.  There is a suggested donation of $35 per plot to help defray expenses.  Hope you join me!

Here is a list of my past blog posts for "The Urban Garden."