Morrison Community Garden Time of Harvest & 2013 Spring Plans

The pumpkins have been picked and many tomato plants have already been pulled and discarded as this summer’s very productive Community Garden is gradually being picked of all produce and cleared for next season’s garden. It is that time of year to enjoy the labors of the summer, clean-off the garden, and make plans for the 2013 Community Garden.

In late August, a meeting was held with gardeners, the volunteer garden committee, and a member of the Morrison Hospital’s Foundation to discuss the Community Garden and what has made this such a very successful community project as well as what areas still need improvement. Many ideas were shared and discussed which have resulted in changes and an improved and positive future for the garden. Also, the meeting provided an opportunity to acknowledge Jordan McGarvey who this summer has provided many work projects to enhance the garden as a part of his program to become an Eagle Scout. Jordan and members of Troop #96 supplied and mulched pathways throughout the garden and a storage shed provided by the Rotary Club of Morrison.

An important objective of the meeting was the need to start sharing the care and maintenance of the garden throughout the season. As a communtiy garden,it is important that there is volunteer time and effort contributed to help maintain and care for the overall garden by those individuals benefiting from the garden. All those in attendance voluntered to help for times of most convenience in the spring with gardening preparations; maintianing weeds during the summer; and/ or, helping with the clean-off in the fall. This was the first meeting that involved all of those indiviudals that had help to establish the garden and the gardeners that work the garden and have made it so successful. It was a meeting of shared ideas and goals for something that all value and want to see succeed for many years.

Official “Clean-off” of the garden will be Saturday, November 3rd. A Moring dumpstger and three plots have been designated as sites to place weeds and removal of unwanted produce. The waste plots will be plowed under this fall and again next spring to provide nutrients for the soil and produce more workable soil. All tomato plants, leaves and fruit ,must be removed to help eliminate tomato volunteer plants and disease. Any “corky” plants, vines, or stalks should also be removed. The remaining plants can be left in each plot and will provide for nutrients and residuals needed in the soil. It is planned that a composting system will be developed this next growing season.

Registration for next year’s garden and plots will be done this fall, in November. All current gardeners will be contacted to allow first choice in retaining your current plot site. Also, perennial gardening next season will only be allowed in designated areas of the garden to help with more efficient plowing of the garden. Spring 2013 the garden will return to the original 40+ plots. Next April starts early planting and the new season.... and welcomes all gardeners of Morrison.