Allotment plot ideas

LOL.  

So a few decades ago,  I had one of my first  gardens at a little local park just starting an allotment type program.

I stopped there  yesterday to walk around and reminisce.   It's been expanded and so cute, lots of folks doing different (mostly traditional) things.

Wondering how much they were charging these days,  I popped on the website.  And saw it's now open to non-residents of the town!   So of course I impulsively rented a plot, waiting for my email confirmation and plot number LOL.

Now,  it's not year round, and they till is, so that boat has sailed and things can only be in the ground April to November (here in W. MA,  USA).    I don't really NEED another garden plot, I have a 4k sqft yard with lots of plantings.  HOWEVER the chance to play in it and let other people see it, and something to do with my extra seeds and seedlings besides giving them away was too much to resist.

SO..   on to my questions, and they are sort of related.

1.  What can I put in,  demonstrate,  get people asking about,  to spread the "permaculture" thought process,  even if only touching the surface?   Keyhole gardens maybe?  

2.  For a tilled,  all sun rectangular plot, how would you set up to need the least maintenance/ trips there during the week?    I'm thinking sunken beds,  sunken water buckets..  what else?  

What would you do?   this is as much for people to see and ask question as anything productive for myself.   Although it does give me room to grow more pumpkins.  

Forget to mention:   16ft x 20ft.  

While waiting for my confirmation email with my plot number, sketching out design ideas while on lunch at work.    Keyhole type gardens with lots of edge and sunken water pots?  

My walk around showed nothing like this on any other plots yesterday.    This might spark interest and get people thinking?

Hmmm.  I think I also want to carve out a little spot by the entrance to make a "FREE" table for seeds, produce, extra plants...    

Well,  3 days/ 6 hours of work.    This is nothing like swales or on contour or anything of that sort.    I may lose a lot of the shape with rain but we shall see (tonight actually,  several hours of rain forcast),  but I'm hoping it just means smoother more stable mounds.    Mulching will continue as soon as I can get back there,  not sure if I'll be able to get there before this rain storm.  

Neighbors are a mix of confused, perplexed, and curious lol.   It seems a lot of work up front to them,  and for now they are just watching from the corner of their eye a bit.   As it fills out and gets planted I think they'll start to be able to see what's going on.   We shall see!    

It's not exactly a permaculture demo site, but it does introduce curves, edges, mulches,  polyculture,  and sub-ground watering.    I'm not a working in the heat kinda girl, so I want this to show really low Maintenace food production.  All the "work" is up front.  Hopefully.   If it doesn't all collapse and wash away tonight ;)

Well,  here we are on DAY TEN!     Definitely looks NOTHING like what anyone else is doing at the site.  

My lower paths fill with water when it rains, and repeated events are moving some of the silt from the higher S end to the slightly lower N end.   I suspect I'll end up with fairly even water coverage across the plot before too long.    The sides of the mounds are holding up well so far, while I work at getting them mulched with some wilted chop and drop..   well,  chop-carry-drop lol.   Mulching the top surfaces with grass clippings,  as well as chopped nepeta and marigold blossoms for pest confusing/repelling.  

Despite the plot "rules" to garden organically, they aren't enforced and there are a LOT of chemical uses around;  from mold inhibitors to pesticide dusts.  Even moth balls in one plot;  thankfully none of those border my own.  

I'm excited for this to grow in.   I know folks MUST have questions or be curious, but I haven't run into many people YET.   My plot is shady until about 10am so I work mostly before that and take off when it gets to full sun exposure.   My immediate plot neighbor is friendly..  no questions yet lol.

Heather, that looks awesome! With them tilling yearly, you are definitely limited to annuals, but if you can show how planting a mix of support crops and a variety of edible crops as a polyculture, and make it look pretty as well, that might just get more people adding pretty plants to their front porch that can produce food as well as flowers.

Here's a picture of the purple pod peas that are growing on my front porch railing. They may not be the yummiest pea pod version, but I ate the first one for dinner last night!

What is planted in there so far:     daikon,  zinnias, tomato, turnips, alyssum, nasturtium, mini pumpkin, bell pepper, lemon basil,  sesame seed,  marigolds, zucchini, pole beans, runner beans, melon, sunflowers, root parsley, cosmos.    

Started to add when germinated:   bunching onions, chard, sweet basil,  "blueberry" cherry tomatoes.   More nasturtium.  

Plus I made this little sign and bee watering hole..  

Hello, I’d like to find out more information about your sunken bucket idea I’ve never heard of that! I’m putting in an herb garden/ Hugelculture garden in Our community plot. I can send pictures soon. Thank you Leslie

Sure Leslie!    I just sunk a variety of containers;   large coffee cans,  a few plastic tubs,   some mid size flower pots with smaller holes in the bottom.     I put the holes around the bottom sides so water will go laterally and not just down.    When I water I just fill them with a watering can.   Water goes into the soil down at the roots level,  well under the mulch layer,   so the leaves stay dry,  mulch isnt disturbed,  weed seeds aren't encouraged.  Roots grow stronger and deeper towards water, and water is conserved without evaporation loss :)

They make some fancy terra cotta buried waterers that seep water even more slowly,  but for the life of me I can't remember what they are called.  

If you think about it,  swales work similarly on a larger scale.   Water collects and then spreads laterally into/under the berms,  where the root layers are.  

Most of my allotment neighbors water DAILY with a hose.   Once my mulch is in place,  I expect to water weekly.   More only if it's extremely hot or extremely dry for an extended period.

Ollas! I'm trying those out for the first time with my tomatoes and peppers this year. Truly, that looks fantastic. Do you have to worry about the sunken buckets (assuming uncovered) becoming mosquito factories?

Heather Staas wrote:

They make some fancy terra cotta buried waterers that seep water even more slowly,  but for the life of me I can't remember what they are called.  

I think you mean olla or ola? Here is one post that discusses them : https://permies.com/t/127998/Desert-market-garden#1009245 . I think the advantage of the terra cotta is that it slows the water flow into the soil so a fill will last longer.

I have 3 three plots at two different sites in south London UK. They have all sorts of rules about maintenance, which I skirt - just about. They know I'm a bit of a mad scientist, trying growing/eco experiments each year.

ECO-BEDS
Anyway - where I am the main challenge is slugs, which is an unfortunate combination with biodiversity.  Healthy undergrowth = slugs by the kilo and zero surviving veggies nearby. So, next year I'll be setting up all my plots as Eco-Beds (my random name for them): the clear-earth veggie-growing area will be surrounded by planks (laid flat), which will be surrounded by the kind of habitat beloved of centipedes, beetles, leopard-slugs, toads, frogs, and planted up with wildflowers and edible perennials. Concentric rectangles. There will be several of these Eco-Beds per plot, creating a habitat network across the plot.

The idea is this: any slugs that want to live near my veggies so that they can visit overnight and munch will have to co-exist with all their predators. If they come as far as the planks, I will find them in the morning, chop them up and spread amongst my plants (a highly effective distraction for slugs). In the meantime, all the wildflowers will provide predators for the miscellaneous other pests.

This year I've been doing eco-beds Lite - mainly the planks and the chopped slugs on beds up against overgrown areas. So far, extremely effective, so I want to take it to the next level. I do talk permaculture with neighbours there, but few are interested. I'm hoping that a demonstration will be more effective, especially with all kinds of changes coming re fertiliser and bans on slug pellets!

No mosquitoes,  the water disperses into the soil very quickly,   less then 10 minutes!  

I was thinking last night,  wouldn't it be FUN if in a few years when they till,  my plot is a distinctly different color than the other plots?   I don't know how much organic matter I'd have to incorporate for that to happen, but you DO get assigned the same plot every year if you do it consecutively!    I'm seriously thinking about renting the plot adjacent to mine  and not growing this year,  just layering cardboard and organic matter repeatedly for the season.    

Wow.  I'm really excited about what you are doing. Please keep us informed with plenty of photos!  Thanks so much.

I’ve got a sneaky idea that might get you kicked out, but might also work... what if you rocked your paths, and put rocks everywhere in your plot that you could possibly justify them, including a border of the larger rocks all around the plot, and then put signs all around the plot that say “no-till garden plot DO NOT till!” and perhaps contacted the administration to ask/request/demand that your plot be left alone?

Just trying to figure out how you might be able to keep from losing that 30% of your organic matter every year.

Not allowed.  Every item, fence, etc. must be removed by Nov. 18th,  or you will be denied a plot the next year.  :(    

Love the idea though,  wish I could get away with it!

Hmm.   I wonder if they'd be wiling to START a "no till"  section for plots that are not tilled??   You have inspired me to consider how to initiate changes!!

Here is a copy of the user agreement that I need to work withing (although it seems general accepted that many of these rules are NOT followed by others)  

GARDEN PLOT USER AGREEMENT ~ 2022

1. Only one plot is allowed per person or family unit. No group registrations will be accepted.
2. Each individual or family must supply their own needs such as plants, fertilizer, tools, etc. Only organic gardening methods
are allowed. (No synthetic fertilizers, insecticides or pesticides allowed)
3. Each individual or family is responsible for planting (beginning Monday, April 18, 2022 with consideration of weather
and soil conditions), caring for, harvesting, and cleaning up their plot.
4. Registered persons must work their assigned plot.
5. Any plots not planted by Friday, June 3, 2022, will be reassigned by the West Springfield Park & Recreation Department
on a first come, first served basis.
6. Plots must be free of weeds, pests, and diseases. Should a garden become unkept, the registered gardener will be
instructed by the Park & Recreation Department to work out a maintenance plan. If the garden plot cannot be maintained,
it will be mowed or tilled.
7. Children of the gardening families are welcome in the garden area, but must respect the rights of other gardeners.
8. No dogs or other pets are allowed in the garden area.
9. Areas must be kept clean at all times. Organic debris (leaves, weeds, etc.) must be placed in the compost pile located on the
east end of the garden plots. Other debris may be placed in trash cans located on the west side of the garden plots. Keep
trash and litter out of the plot and away from adjacent pathways.
10. Garden plots cannot expand beyond assigned dimensions, into paths or into other plots. All plants must stay within set
garden plot limits.
11. No perennials, trees or shrubs are allowed to be planted.
12. Plastic or other non-porous material for ground cover is not allowed.
13. Rebar, metal fence posts, orange mesh fencing material and fencing over 3’ is not allowed. Wooden stakes are permitted
should a gardener choose to use them.
14. No vehicle, lawn furniture or rain barrels are allowed in the garden area.
15. Do not enter or take food/plants from other plots. Do not take anything from a garden that is not rightfully yours.
16. End of season clean-up deadline is Tuesday, November 1, 2022. All debris, stakes, and weed block must be removed
prior to the clean-up date. If materials are not removed, you WILL NOT be able to reserve a plot for the following year.
17. A minimum of 12 inches must be maintained on the sidelines or each garden.
18. The Town of West Springfield or its Agent, the West Springfield Park & Recreation Department, assumes no responsibility
for injuries, vandalism or theft in the garden area.
19. Community gardens are to be used for recreational gardening, such as growing vegetables and flowers for personal/family
use. Growing vegetables and flowers for commercial purposes is prohibited.


IMPORTANT DATES:
Monday, March 21, 2022: Registration for returning gardeners begins.
Monday, April 4, 2022: Open registration begins on a first come, first served basis.
Monday, April 18, 2022: Garden season OPENS (with consideration of weather and soil conditions.) Planting can
BEGIN.
Friday, June 3, 2022: Garden plots not planted will be reassigned by the Park & Recreation Department on a first come,
first served basis.
Tuesday, November 1, 2022: Garden season CLOSED; clear plots for tilling

Now I'm looking at #9 and hoping some grumpy person afraid of new things doesn't complain that my "organic mulch"  is really "organic debris"  LOL.  

Hey, I brought that debris in from home,  it's special!  

Heather Staas wrote:
Now I'm looking at #9 and hoping some grumpy person afraid of new things doesn't complain that my "organic mulch"  is really "organic debris"  LOL.  

Hey, I brought that debris in from home,  it's special!  

I admit I *was* wondering about that! If I knew they were going to till it in the fall anyway, I'd actually want to dump a bunch of leaves on top just before they did so all that extra carbon would get stirred into the soil. Alternatively, I'd want to ask permission to add a layer of leaves *after* tilling to protect the soil all winter.

There's not just a bunch of teaching by example you can do with your fellow gardeners. Maybe you will be able to change the organizer's approach with a bit of patience and explanation!

Oh my gosh - we are starting a community garden with allotments and an eco/organic approach - but being in Australia and growing year round, we never till -in small gardens, anyway. Good grief, that's a hill I would die on if they ever decided to start! Our gardening shows are big on the permaculture, no dig, environmontal things, so it's more mainstream here.
I have to use ollas for 9 months of the year in my own garden, swales and berms notwithstanding. However I like your 'set in' fast watering idea as well... I'm starting to think that I want  'fast' and 'slow' duos side by side in my section. Fill the 'fast' first so the soil is moist enough to efficiently wick from the 'slow' as required.
Oooh you got me thinking!
Don't worry, the allotment neighbours will start asking questions when you're pulling out boxfuls of sterling produce for not much effort! Ask the committee if they'll till in the bags of horse, cattle or chicken poop you'll bring and spread, along with the green manure you'll bring - hopefully they say yes, and it will be so stinky and messy they'll be happy to leave you alone after that, lol. Wishful thinking, probably. Good luck with all that! I faithfully promise that if I ever hear any of our lot say 'till', I shall make them into the very next chop and drop manure on my section, lol. Should get some good corn out of that!
Thanks for the ideas, and I hope you can be the change they so obviously need.

Hey, I brought that debris in from home,  it's special!...Heather, that cracked me up...No Dollar Tree or Goodwill debris allowed. Must be home grown...Loved it!...I will have to share your sentiments with my daughters who have their fair share of home grown debris...Keep doin what you're doin

16x20? I am green with envy.  Show us your bountiful plot plotting to infect brains with permaculture!  I have used a cute "oh that bush worked so hard to make those leaves lets let it keep them" approach.  It plants a seed for when my unraked soil bush is healthier than their pristine bare dirt bush.  They have a chance to mull it over as my area gets lusher.

Heather, depending on the kind of person you are, or what connections you have, there are obviously some different strategies that could be used in keeping your plot safe from the rototiller. You might sweet talk them, or strong arm them, or gradually get someone used to the idea, or collect signatures for an organizational change (the option to opt out of tillage) or maybe bribe someone with delicious asparagus and strawberries (because they're perennial and well known) I obviously don't know the ethos of the organization you are dealing with, so I can't tell what the best tack to take is. I should stop bugging you now. It's just that it strikes me as a shame that those beautiful very perennially-suited garden beds you made will be destroyed at the end of the season.

Heather Staas wrote:Here is a copy of the user agreement that I need to work withing (although it seems general accepted that many of these rules are NOT followed by others)  

GARDEN PLOT USER AGREEMENT ~ 2022

1. Only one plot is allowed per person or family unit. No group registrations will be accepted.
2. Each individual or family must supply their own needs such as plants, fertilizer, tools, etc. Only organic gardening methods
are allowed. (No synthetic fertilizers, insecticides or pesticides allowed)
3. Each individual or family is responsible for planting (beginning Monday, April 18, 2022 with consideration of weather
and soil conditions), caring for, harvesting, and cleaning up their plot.
4. Registered persons must work their assigned plot.
5. Any plots not planted by Friday, June 3, 2022, will be reassigned by the West Springfield Park & Recreation Department
on a first come, first served basis.
6. Plots must be free of weeds, pests, and diseases. Should a garden become unkept, the registered gardener will be
instructed by the Park & Recreation Department to work out a maintenance plan. If the garden plot cannot be maintained,
it will be mowed or tilled.
7. Children of the gardening families are welcome in the garden area, but must respect the rights of other gardeners.
8. No dogs or other pets are allowed in the garden area.
9. Areas must be kept clean at all times. Organic debris (leaves, weeds, etc.) must be placed in the compost pile located on the
east end of the garden plots. Other debris may be placed in trash cans located on the west side of the garden plots. Keep
trash and litter out of the plot and away from adjacent pathways.
10. Garden plots cannot expand beyond assigned dimensions, into paths or into other plots. All plants must stay within set
garden plot limits.
11. No perennials, trees or shrubs are allowed to be planted.
12. Plastic or other non-porous material for ground cover is not allowed.
13. Rebar, metal fence posts, orange mesh fencing material and fencing over 3’ is not allowed. Wooden stakes are permitted
should a gardener choose to use them.
14. No vehicle, lawn furniture or rain barrels are allowed in the garden area.
15. Do not enter or take food/plants from other plots. Do not take anything from a garden that is not rightfully yours.
16. End of season clean-up deadline is Tuesday, November 1, 2022. All debris, stakes, and weed block must be removed
prior to the clean-up date. If materials are not removed, you WILL NOT be able to reserve a plot for the following year.
17. A minimum of 12 inches must be maintained on the sidelines or each garden.
18. The Town of West Springfield or its Agent, the West Springfield Park & Recreation Department, assumes no responsibility
for injuries, vandalism or theft in the garden area.
19. Community gardens are to be used for recreational gardening, such as growing vegetables and flowers for personal/family
use. Growing vegetables and flowers for commercial purposes is prohibited.


IMPORTANT DATES:
Monday, March 21, 2022: Registration for returning gardeners begins.
Monday, April 4, 2022: Open registration begins on a first come, first served basis.
Monday, April 18, 2022: Garden season OPENS (with consideration of weather and soil conditions.) Planting can
BEGIN.
Friday, June 3, 2022: Garden plots not planted will be reassigned by the Park & Recreation Department on a first come,
first served basis.
Tuesday, November 1, 2022: Garden season CLOSED; clear plots for tilling

#2. Permaculture (no tilling) is an organic method of gardening. Maybe you could educate the people making that rule, because it disturbs the natural life of biodiversity in that plot of soil. 🤷🏻‍♀️
#9. Is there a way to incorporate excess leaves & weeds (good ones), IF there’s a way for you to take them home & ready them ( chopped up fine) to take back to your plot? 🤷🏻‍♀️
Tossing a couple of ideas to you….💐

They made it very difficult, but you did a nice job! I would not have known how to do permaculture in a plot that's tilled every year. I'm glad they don't do that here.

My first puzzled question as a got ready to leave after a check in the other day..    "aren't you going to water?"  

Nope.   It's supposed to rain in two days.  Soil is still moist under my mulch, and everything looks great!   No watering today!   Most others show up 2x a day to water with a hose,  then worry about "too much rain like last year" causing disease.   I try not to grind my teeth.   Last year was a little colder than usual but I didn't have any water related issues in any of my home gardens.  Everyone that conventionally gardens blames it on a "wet year" and I've just stopped arguing it.  

I have a block of LOVELY red mustard greens that I liberated from a weed covered unassigned plot where they had reseeded themselves.   That's not really stealing, right?  

For the rest of the year I don't see needing anything more than this small collection of hand tools to tend my plot.      

Fresh grass clipping mulch hides a lot of the "debris" I brought in and makes it look clean.    It's so much cleaner than almost all the plots, but people are so afraid that "disease" comes in if you have leaves around.  

First thing, congratulations for your work. It might not be perfect, but it looks nice!

I've seen that the norms don't allow you to use your debris, but maybe they could allow you to use a worm tower? It's a buried pipe full of worms where you feed your worms with organic waste and they are free to poop around. It's just too easy and convenient to use.

If they don't allow worm towers, can you take a look of the composition of the big compost pile? According to Ms Ingham, the composition should be different for every kind of crop you want to grow, but a good mix has black(10%), green(40%) and brown (50%) materials. The pile must be hot, but not so much that it burns the hands. It should smell like a forest when complete, if it smells like a septic tank then it is dangerous. And she likes to apply it as compost extracts (a spoonful of solid compost diluted in a watering can, for example), instead of using pure compost. This method requires that all the soil is always covered with plants.

Another permie feature you could use is to mix your plants like a food forest. They don't allow trees, but maybe a small bush here and there, a vine, different shapes and sizes... A food forest is good for foraging. Foraging only what you are going to eat (or use) instead of having a big harvest is another feature. However, this makes it harder for you to harvest.

I've got some layering plantings going on, when things grow in.   Tomatoes underplanted with basil and nasturiums and moss rose flowers.     A melon trellis interplanted with runner beans, underplanted with parsley, nasturtiums and zinnia.   It will be a glorious full mess when it grows up, lol.    A corner with tall sunflowers,  cosmos, mini pumpkins,  nasturtium,  marigold, more moss ross.    My block of bush beans will have turnips or something similar seeded between them when I decide what I want and go through my seed stash.   I've got some "weeds" of purslane and lambs quarter showing up,  those will be left where they appear as well.   :)

Worm towers would be fine;  I don't think anyone is looking closely enough to even notice something like that if I put it in, good idea.


Here's pictures of the plot during a "rain event".   The tail end of a long overnight downpour thunderstorm.  

I've also seen a few plot holders bring in potted things like berry bushes and roses, so that's another option/idea for getting a perennial or woody layer in!

I suspect the reason that tilling goes on across all the plots is so everyone cleans end of season annuals and associated gear like trellises and cages. Plus tilling is ingrained in some people's minds that's what you're supposed to do.

I recently got a community garden plot which is in addition to two fairly large gardens. When I took the plot over in January first thing I did was cover the entire thing deeply with mulch which was mostly fall leaves, chipped leaves and grass clippings then made a large mound in the middle. The soil, well really it's dirt, with a high load of weed seeds is not in good condition. I figure the most permie thing I can do is a heavy mulch and create soil. This year I'm planting kind of sparse but I suspect it will look fairly full by the end of the season. Then maybe a third to a half of the plot in the cold season some cover crops and another layer of mulch on the rest. Most of the other gardeners fall into the newbie category but there are maybe 25 percent that have a clue. I'm really surprised that out of 40 plots I'm the only one with mulch though there is one plot with a very thin mulch of grass clippings.

I'd like to think I can influence some people to garden better.

When I showed up this week, this little guy was throwing himself at the fencing trying to get INTO my plot.  So I helped him out.   The following day had dug himself a nice little den.   I hope he doesn't mind the additions I brought to "improve" his little bungalow.   Also seeing a few little mushrooms popping up here and there, and some hoverflies.  Makes me smile.  It's filling in quick and looking greener every day.

Gregory, that sounds a lot like the "soil" in this place.   It's really sandy,  fairly pale colored, and weed seeds..  don't get me started.   If any spot of water + sunlight hits dirt it's instant weed coverage very fast.    On the edges of my mounds I"m taking advantage of that a bit,   Using scissors to trim the weeds to keep all the little roots in place, instead of pulling or scratching them up.    Folks are spending a LOT of time and energy weeding and hoeing constantly there.  A few plots aren't tended during the week and you can't see the veggies through the rest of the weed cover.  

I'm interesting in observing this year and seeing how things actually go vs. the written guidelines.   One person said they "didn't really till mine"  so maybe they skipped her as a "punishment" of some sort but didn't actually prevent her from signing up again?    Some folks have 3 or 4 plots all fenced together;  against the rules but apparently not enforced.  

I don't know if they till fall and spring?  I see no evidence of cover cropping.  Lots of questions at this point.

you can see my 'erosion control' weeds growing on the sides of my mounds here.  

And another view of the overall plot gardens, with some more "typical" examples

Five week update!

It's hard to believe it's the same garden I posted 2 weeks ago;  things are really taking off now.    This was the FIRST day that I've watered,  aside from watering in new seeds/seedlings.   I'm pretty pleased with this.   Hot weather is just about here,  today is our first almost 100 day.   Harvested turnip and mustard greens, and chamomile.   Yellow squash will be starting by next week!

Gregory Campbell wrote:I I'm really surprised that out of 40 plots I'm the only one with mulch though there is one plot with a very thin mulch of grass clippings.

I'd like to think I can influence some people to garden better.

I'm not really sure how this quote thing works, but trying it.  There are a couple of people (out of 70) that have mulched with straw.   One that has cardboard down with rocks holding it.  And one or two that have paths covered with weed barrier fabric.   Most have bare soil/weeds though.   Mine is the only one that looks REALLY mulched, aside from a straw covered plot.   I wonder if they make people remove organic mulch too?   I  am so curious about what the end of the year/season will be.   And more determined than ever to try to get a "no till" option.  Surely it's less work for the park crew if a good number of plots want to be skipped?   It doesn't seem it's done with heavy equipment,  the paths aren't touched and they are all sorts of shapes/sizes not uniform.  

Maybe an simple colored stake in your plot to be skipped?   Even if it's a nominal fee I'd do it.   If they don't seem receptive, maybe a petition organization or presentation/meeting is in order if they have a committee meeting of any sort.   Maybe at a town meeting.   So many things to find out!  

Well, things are humming along!    It makes me smile how many other gardeners on the site said  "too bad about the shade,  next time try to get a sunny plot up front"  as they sadly shook their head at my bad luck.   I posted about this plot in the "shade contradiction" thread too.   I love that I have several morning hours to visit, work, tend, and harvest in the nice shade every day without sun exposure for myself!   Great harvests of basil,  squash, mustard,  cut flowers, chamomile, turnip greens and "free" purslane and lambs quarter regularly as well.   I got to make some pickled purslane another permie posted about in a different thread,  YUM.  

What a beautiful  garden!   And did you say your squash was growing in the shade?

It's looking wonderful Heather! I hear that half of the world is having heatwaves and drought - you'll be glad to have some shade, then. I hope it's all ok?

Well, here we are at the end of season one.    Just got the notice that lots have to cleaned up by Nov. 1st (somehow I thought it was the 18th) .

Rather than start asking about no till options yet,  I thought I'd sneak pull my organic veg. matter in the paths and hoe over them.  We can leave small plants so I'm letting my flowers stand for as long as they last,  breaking down all the structure elements a bit at a time and packing them off home.

It was a very productive plot for me,  well worth the $40 for the season.   I made a "report card" of everything I grew, or tried to grow, and gave it a score so I can review it next year.  Seedlings don't do well at all,  lots of damping off, mildew, other fungal issues, probably some insect damage.  But transplants do well.   I think I will plan to rent again next year and see how it compares to this first year.

I was SUPER happy to see earthworms and other insects in almost every hoe-ful  of soil I pulled over the paths!   There was almost no soil life at all while I was setting up this plot and making beds/paths.   A skunk found it's way in and has been feasting on grubs and digging around for a couple weeks now.   At least, probably a skunk.  

Ellen,  I grew my summer squash in about 6-8 hours of sun,  it's just shaded for the first part of the morning and doesn't get sun until late morning.   Then it's a bit dappled sun for another couple hours.   Did just fine!

Jan,  yes we were in a drought this year,  with many water restrictions in most towns.   I didn't really notice in my home or allotment gardens.  Healthy soil,  heavy mulch, and dense planting keeping the soil shaded,  gardens all did fine.   My home "lawns" struggled a bit in August, but bounced back now!   I handwatered a bit here and there less than a half dozen times.  

Hi Heather,
Well, you can say it's a resounding success! If you fostered all that microbial and animal life back into that little patch, it's a win, even if you never had a bite to eat from it, but you had! So that's marvellous.

If the other people don't take wisdom from your example, then its their loss - "Shine On You Crazy Diamond", as it were...



Our community garden is starting up, and I've just had my raised bed filled in the 'private' area. Our cost is $20 AUD membership per year, and $80 AUD for the raised bed, however that includes water, soil, compost and mulch, use of the sheds and other amenities. We've had so much unseasonal rain (completely opposite to your part of the world), that I've just put in my soil amendments, kelp, alfalfa, manures and the like, to just let it all wash in and mellow down. We're just in the middle of spring and I'll miss a bit of the season, but not to worry, as we can grow all year round. A neighbour on my street has the raised bed next to me, and we're planning a tall lattice tunnel between our beds to grow melons and whatnot.

The communal market garden areas are taking shape with hugel mounds and lots of fruit trees going in. We seem to have some oddly opposite groups! Your lot are stuck in mid last century to a degree, it seems - a lot of our people are coming from a permaculture point of view and are horrified if anyone suggested 'tilling'.

I do so hope that you continue - if nothing else than to be a bastion of common sense on the battlfield of earth, with waste and complacency as the enemy.
I really do appreciate the effort that it is, to go against the cemented in 'norms' in some places. Go you!