Starting the Church Garden

My friends Pamela, Ashanti and I have taken over the edible organic garden at church. When the group started a bunch of people were really gung ho on the idea. The problem was that there was no definite plan and the person in charge...well let's just say we are going to run this a bit more organized.

We have a plan this time. Most of the original garden that makes no sense is gone or going anyhow, just do to the natural coarse of plant life. We are going to start with trees this time. Citrus trees to be specific. We are going to plant an orange to eat and one to juice, tangerine, lime, lemon, and we have a grapefruit. Just a few trees to start. They are pretty hardy and with under 10 it should not take that much work to maintain them.

Now the ground that we have been given to plant these trees is already occupied. It is filled with bottlebrush. Yes it is a beautiful plant but these are chopped half way down already. I think that may be part of the reason we were granted that spot on the property. That way we will remove the rest of the plants. :)

That is exactly what we are going to do. Tomorrow we start. just me and Pamela though. We are going to start the trimming of the left over branches and have a work party/potluck in November so that other parishioners can help us dig them out and be a part of the Garden Committee. They will be there to help us plant the new additions as well.

If these do well then we have been given another section at the church where we will plant more fruit trees like apples, apricots, peaches and plums. These trees are a bit more fussy but produce wonderful fruits for jams, pies, breads and just to bite into. Hopefully the citrus will get us into the groove to do will with the other fruit trees.

Yes this is a long term plan. We want veggies there and vine plants too. We are just trying to be smart and start with something substantial first. Let's hope our plan works!