Moving Planet.
Moving Produce, Lowell to Everett
On September 24, teams of volunteers will gather in the morning at the Red Barn Community Farm. They will gather potatoes and whatever else is ripe in the Food Bank Farm. They will move the produce from Lowell to the Snohomish County Campus in downtown Everett -- WITHOUT USING FOSSIL FUEL!!! Wheelbarrows, garden carts, bicycles, any way produce can be moved. 4 miles! There will be contests for the most produce moved, the fastest, the funniest, most creative, etc. Get your team together now.
In Everett, the movers will be greeted by a festival of music, food, art and community. All is sponsored by Transition Port Gardner as part of the 350.org Move Earth Day.
The Red Barn Community Farm is in the Lowell Neighborhood, Everett, WA. It lies in the 100-year flood plain of the Snohomish River. The soil is rich bottom soil, Puget Sound Silty Loam. It has been well drained with ditches and a drainage canal. The farm is part of a 400 acre area owned by the City of Everett. 2011 is our first year as a Community Farm.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Water
We don't have a water source at the Red Barn Community Farm. We expect to have a 1 inch potable water line in next year, but that won't be enough water for serious irrigation.
There is water down about 5 feet, but the soil doesn't seem to wick the water up to the root zone. Some plants (corn, tomatoes) will send their roots down to that water. Here are two solutions for water:
Rain Barrel: You could install a rain barrel on a stand about 2 ft high -- to get a bit of pressure -- and run drip irrigation to your plants. You'd have to haul water in to fill the rain barrel. I did that for the last two years on Ebey island and it worked OK. I invested in a small 12v pump connected to my truck battery to transfer the water.
Shallow Well: For about $100 you could put in a shallow driven well. You can get the parts (a 1 1/4 inch stainless steel wellpoint, driver cap, one or more pipe couplings and a pitcher pump) at Amazon.com. Several of these simple wells have been installed at the Lowell Community garden and they work very well. They are easy to install and can be removed at the end of the season or left in place for use next year.
This summer, I hope to install examples of each of these at the farm.
There is water down about 5 feet, but the soil doesn't seem to wick the water up to the root zone. Some plants (corn, tomatoes) will send their roots down to that water. Here are two solutions for water:
Rain Barrel: You could install a rain barrel on a stand about 2 ft high -- to get a bit of pressure -- and run drip irrigation to your plants. You'd have to haul water in to fill the rain barrel. I did that for the last two years on Ebey island and it worked OK. I invested in a small 12v pump connected to my truck battery to transfer the water.
Shallow Well: For about $100 you could put in a shallow driven well. You can get the parts (a 1 1/4 inch stainless steel wellpoint, driver cap, one or more pipe couplings and a pitcher pump) at Amazon.com. Several of these simple wells have been installed at the Lowell Community garden and they work very well. They are easy to install and can be removed at the end of the season or left in place for use next year.
This summer, I hope to install examples of each of these at the farm.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Green Beans, green beans, green beans
My nickname used to be Green Bean Dean. I do love green beans. They're easy to grow, prolific and freeze well for winter servings, soups or mixing with other vegetables. Most bush beans mature in 60 days or less so they are ideal for the kind of late springs that we've been having in the Puget Sound Basin the past few years.
I like to freeze green beans. We have a large freezer but if you don't have anything more than a typical rental apartment refrigerator/freezer you can do it. I wash them and stem them (break or cut off the tips) and then blanch them in rapidly boiling water for about 3 minutes. Then cool them quickly (ice water is best). Drain and put them in 1 1/2 pint zip-lock bags. One bag will hold 2 servings. Squeeze out all the air and seal the bag. In 1 cu ft of freezer space you can store 200 servings.
I like to freeze green beans. We have a large freezer but if you don't have anything more than a typical rental apartment refrigerator/freezer you can do it. I wash them and stem them (break or cut off the tips) and then blanch them in rapidly boiling water for about 3 minutes. Then cool them quickly (ice water is best). Drain and put them in 1 1/2 pint zip-lock bags. One bag will hold 2 servings. Squeeze out all the air and seal the bag. In 1 cu ft of freezer space you can store 200 servings.
First Work Party June 25, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
It's almost July 1. What can I plant now?
We're getting a late start this summer. Everyone in the Northwest is. But that doesn't mean the season is totally lost. There are lots of vegetables that you can still plant.
Bush beans (NOT pole beans). Most bush bean varieties mature in around 60 days. If you plant them now, you'll enjoy beans by Labor Day. Plant the seeds 1 inch deep, 3-4 inches apart in rows 2 ft apart for easy weeding. Be sure the soil is well-worked. Soil chunks should be 1 inch or less. Pack the soil firmly around the seeds when you plant.
Corn -- sorry, probably too late unless we have a long, warm fall. But you could gamble.
Lettuce -- matures in 50 days. I like to plant small quantities every two weeks up until early September.
Tomatoes -- will probably make it, but hurry and plant nursery-started plants. Too late to sow seed.
Summer squash -- 60 days. Go for it!
Good fall and winter crops:
Now is a good time to sow broccoli seeds in a finely prepared seed bed for later transplanting into your garden for late fall (November-December) harvest or even for next spring.
One of the best crops in this area is kale. There are many varieties. Most are quite winter hearty and will produce right up to and past frost. Most will survive nicely through the winter and burst into profuse production in the spring. Kale is very nutritious.
Carrots -- There is a new variety (Merida) that you can plant now for harvest in the spring.
What other crops do you know that can be planted late June?
Bush beans (NOT pole beans). Most bush bean varieties mature in around 60 days. If you plant them now, you'll enjoy beans by Labor Day. Plant the seeds 1 inch deep, 3-4 inches apart in rows 2 ft apart for easy weeding. Be sure the soil is well-worked. Soil chunks should be 1 inch or less. Pack the soil firmly around the seeds when you plant.
Corn -- sorry, probably too late unless we have a long, warm fall. But you could gamble.
Lettuce -- matures in 50 days. I like to plant small quantities every two weeks up until early September.
Tomatoes -- will probably make it, but hurry and plant nursery-started plants. Too late to sow seed.
Summer squash -- 60 days. Go for it!
Good fall and winter crops:
Now is a good time to sow broccoli seeds in a finely prepared seed bed for later transplanting into your garden for late fall (November-December) harvest or even for next spring.
One of the best crops in this area is kale. There are many varieties. Most are quite winter hearty and will produce right up to and past frost. Most will survive nicely through the winter and burst into profuse production in the spring. Kale is very nutritious.
Carrots -- There is a new variety (Merida) that you can plant now for harvest in the spring.
What other crops do you know that can be planted late June?
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Foodbank Farm
Part of this project is a Foodbank Farm to benefit the Everett Food Bank and the 28 other foodbanks in Snohomish County that are affiliated. "Food to help our hungry neighbors." When the whole 10 acres are developed, 4 of those will be used to grow fresh 'nutrition-intensive' food for the more economically challenged among us.
I spent 4 hours today rototilling areas for carrots, bush beans and potatoes. We also have a few starts (peppers, tomatoes, etc) that have been given to the Foodbank. We will also make as large a planting as we can of kale so that we will have good food throughout the winter and into next spring.
Any seeds you might wish to donate would be much appreciated.
I spent 4 hours today rototilling areas for carrots, bush beans and potatoes. We also have a few starts (peppers, tomatoes, etc) that have been given to the Foodbank. We will also make as large a planting as we can of kale so that we will have good food throughout the winter and into next spring.
Any seeds you might wish to donate would be much appreciated.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Rototilling Complete -- for this year
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