Tomatoes are hard to grow on the Oregon Coast, but we have found a solution. We call it a TomatoBarrel. If you live near Newport Oregon, join us at one of our FREE TomatoBarrel Workshops and learn to make one.
NOAA is predicting that temperatures will exceed the norm this spring and summer, and we may be hotter and drier than ever before. California is already dying of thirst, experiencing the worst-ever drought in the state’s history.
California provides America with over half the nation’s produce. It’s a $45+ billion dollar business. With signs of the super-drought coming, many farmers delayed planting crops this year, and some have given up altogether. With fuel costs skyrocketing and the odds of seeds not surviving the brutal dry heat, many California farmers have decided it is not worth the hassle to even try.
Over half a million acres won’t even be planted this year. Even with promised help and aid from the government, nothing can make
water fall from the sky. California not only supplies America with tons of produce, but they also are responsible for a large portion of the nation’s grain and meat supply.
The story is in the Oregonian.
Click Here
And here’s a related article.
Click Here
Less food coming out of California means higher – much higher – food prices for us all. And that will be felt across the board. If you want to lessen the pain in your wallet, you will need to grow some of your own food this year.
You cannot just throw some seeds in the ground and hope to grow everything you’ll need to
feed your family.
Gardening can be hard work, but with the TomatoBarrel it is lot easier.
TomatoBarrels are for anybody who:
Needs to Reduce their Food Bill
Likes Organically Grown Produce
Loves Home Grown Tomatoes
Desires Earlier & Later Gardens
Wants an Easy to keep Garden
Needs Back Door Convenience
Has Disability Challenges
Has Water Limits
Wants Food for Emergencies
Is interested in Food Security
Workshops – Free hands on TomatoBarrel workshops are offered. Take home a barrel for only the cost of material.
May 10, 2014 Saturday - 5:30 – Toledo 4-H Garden
May 13, 2014 Tuesday - 5:30 – Toledo 4-H Garden
May 19, 2014 Monday - 6:00 – Taft - Lincoln
City
A TomatoBarrel is portable barrel that uses the heat storing capacity of its 22 gallon water reservoir in the bottom of the barrel to warm the 32 gallon growing material in the top of the barrel. This enables an earlier and longer growing season with minimal watering.
Tomato production on the Oregon Coast is hard because of the large amount of cold Oregon rain; the ground is cold usually to June or early July. With a TomatoBarrel you can start planting as soon as you have your TomatoBarrel.
The containers are mobile and can sit anywhere – on a deck, in a
yard, on a sidewalk – they can be located in the sunniest area throughout the season. Since they are not in contact with the ground they stay warmer. Tomatoes require warm
roots. They also only need to have water replenished about once a week.
TomatoBarrel Secret Wicking Material
The secret of the TomatoBarrel is the Wicking Material. TomatoBarrel growing varies significantly from traditional in-ground in several areas. Unlike conventional soil where worms and other insects provide “channels” for natural aeration, the growing material in the TomatoBarrel requires a loose, porous mix to replicate the aeration process with the right nutrients.
Wicking Material
A TomatoBarrel requires a lot of material (32 gallons).
You will be given instructions of materials you can purchase at
local garden shops.
OR
You may purchase our Wicking Material., take home 32 gallons of material for only the cost of material, (approx $30).
Free TomatoBarrel Building
Workshop
Youth, their parents and all interested adult community members are invited to participate in the free 2-hour workshops. If you want to participant in building a TomatoBarrel bring a electric drill. . All other materials and tools are provided.
Six (6) TomatoBarrels will be built at each workshop. Any 4-H youth or any youth wanting to join 4-H that attends the workshop and participates, can take home the barrel at no charge. Any leftover TomatoBarrels may be purchased for only the cost of material, (approx $35). If there is a demand for more that TomatoBarrels than six (6), then only people who bring electric drills will be eligible for a drawing for the remainder barrels.
Location of Toledo 4-H Garden Workshop
From Newport take RT 20 towards Corvallis. At 7 miles take the Toledo exit. At the first traffic light turn left. Go one block to the Toledo Library. Park in the library parking lot which is on the right and walk across the street to the Skateboard Park. The 4-H Garden is south of the Skateboard Park.
The 4-H Garden is made possible through the 4-H
Sustainable Living Club’s YA-4H grant. The Oregon State University Youth Advocates for Heath (YA4-H!) program launched the Producing for the Future
Project to support local organizations in creating youth-developed community gardens in partnership with supportive adults in limited resource communities. Not only are organic
gardening practices a focus but also developing and implementing a micro-enterprise venture to market the produce grown.
Location of Taft Workshop
The workshop will be at 6349 S Highway 101 Lincoln City, OR 97367. It is just south and next to ProBuilders on the same side of Hwy 101. Since parking is VERY limited at the workshop, park in the ProBuilders parking lot and walk next door.
The Taft Workshop is sponsored by the Lincoln County Self - Sufficiency Network. The Network is devoted to provide information on how to be self-sufficiency during a long term disaster, such as a Tsunami.
RSVP required for Workshops either at
info@TomatoBarrels.com or 541-921-7007.
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