The great leaf compost experiment

We had a great first day out in the garden!  Sunshine+wind+blue skies+friends is a recipe for happiness, for sure (and it sure helps with getting that daily dose of Vitamin D).  Every season brings new adventures and challenges and the most recent one was the discovery that a majority of the community garden is now covered in a pretty thick layer of partially composted leaves (several feet deep in places).  We spent a couple of hours yesterday moving them to the edge of our garden plots while we took turns guessing the purpose of the leafy distribution.  In the final count, we decided that it might have been a case of good intentions tempered by the logistics of composting (ie composted leaves need a lot more time to become healthy, plantable soil)!  The county schedules a pre-season tilling of the ground for gardeners any day now, so we'll see how it goes.  We're hoping it doesn't make it any harder for any of our fellow gardeners to plant but we've left a few of our plots as-is to see how it goes.

an especially large leaf pile on the edge of the garden

In other news, everyone's been starting seeds and here is a little sample of what we've got going: Greek tomatoes, Jalapeno peppers, Red Russian Kale, Lemon apple cucumbers, Kohlrabi, Mache, Leeks and Celery.  We are also planning a great medicinal herb garden and the Feverfew, Chamomile, Echinacea, Calendula, Lemon Balm and Organo are already on their way.  There are so many ways we can be connected to the earth for healthy eating and healing and we hope to highlight that in this year's garden!

chamomile in full bloom (ETA: this summer)

And it seems we keep hearing about more and more research on the benefits of gardening, so here's today's installment.  A recent study indicates that gardeners are more likely to eat fresh vegetables than non-gardeners, regardless of how much time and energy they actually spent out there in a garden.  This particular study focused on older adults, so if you are lucky enough to have one in your life, bring 'em on down to the garden to acquaint them with some yummy veggies!  It just goes to show you that nobody can resist a fresh-picked tomato or carrot straight out of the garden.

Hope you have a great week and get out there for a little sunshine or time with a friend.  We can all vouch for the fact that it definitely makes life so much more beautiful! :)

~Marykaye

We've got a great season planned!

Hello!  We've been enjoying the taste of warmer, sunnier days and hope you are too.  It's easy to feel spring right around the corner and we are getting excited about planting this year's garden!  Part of our planning includes creating a schedule of great events that we'll offer throughout the season at the garden on Elmerton Avenue in Harrisburg.

Our first event will be an introduction to the garden in April and it will highlight healthy fresh flavors you can find in the garden in the Spring.  Other events will include great classes for kids and adults along with some fun festivals in the garden.  We hope you'll visit our blog and Facebook page throughout the season so you can join us and spread the word!  You can always find a list of upcoming events along the right sidebar of this page under "Calendar" along with more details under the "Events" tab at the top of the page.  It's just another way we can all stay connected on this adventure in healthy, sustainable living and building community!

See you soon!
~Marykaye