in the garden this week

We had a very productive workday in the garden this morning. I really feel like we got a lot accomplished. The garden definitely benefitted:

We worked on some blueberry bushes.

We did some weeding.

And we raked some leaves.

Yep. Definitely productive. Come join us in the garden next Saturday from 9-12.

squie!!

Well, the garden is quite full of scrumptious squie (slang for multiple squash. ok...I made it up) this week. We picked our first basket full last Saturday. We also had lots of helpers this week, including Thomas and Foster as pictured below. :)

HELP!

Well, we just finished up another Saturday workday (every Sat. from 9-12). The weather was beautiful, and the company was amazing. We laughed all morning as we fought with difficult gardening equipment and tried to reclaim the beds from the weeds. Stephanie and Tim planted plum trees, which Stephanie named Benny and Joon. We also began to create a space for an herb garden. I am happy to report that in just ONE WEEK seedlings are popping out from the ground and they look beautiful. It really is amazing to plant a seed and watch as it takes on life in the garden. We need quite a few extra hands. In fact, we can barely keep up the garden with the number of active volunteers we have now. We still have sections of the plot that we haven't been able to clear due to lack of volunteers. Although, we are really excited because the kids got to visit the garden for the the first time. Hopefully the children of the Red Mountain School will really enjoy this space. Now that the seeds are in the ground, we need folks to come out throughout the week to help keep up with the beds. Whenever you can, please join in, please help. I promise, its worth it, we have lots of fun. remember, its eskinner@uab.edu if you have any interest at all.

zucchini and squash!

The Nomad Cooperative Garden has come a long way since the clearing process began in late July. The once Jumanji-like piece of land now bears zucchini and squash seeds in preparation for a Fall garden! Saturday was a beautiful sight to see, the garden was brimming with voluntary gardeners of all ages and backgrounds. Digging in dirt and sweating under the hot sun together can be a beautiful communal experience. If you would like to join in email eskinner@uab.edu!

Rachel and Chris after a long day of shoveling horse manure into the garden.

What a dedicated gardener. :)

        The Nomad Cooperative Garden process has begun! For the newcomers, the Nomad Cooperative Garden is a community effort involving the Nomad Supply shop, Jones Valley Urban Farm, a community group called Emuna and the people of Southtown. Nestled in Birmingham on Magnolia Ave. and 24th St., this lot has been neglected and mangled by kudzu vines for sometime now. However, after four Saturday mornings in the hot sun, some tilling, some chopping, and some intense wrestling with the Japanese vines, the space now resembles the beginning stages of a beautiful garden. Though definite plans haven't been established yet, the garden will begin with the planting of sunflowers followed by a fall crop of scrumptious vegetables. The garden will be a place for all ages to connect with each other by learning about the earth and gardening. Children from the Red Mountain School will be given the opportunity to learn about planting by doing some hands-on work in the garden. Anyone is welcome to be a part of the garden, so if you would like to contribute in anyway, please contact Rachel Skinner at eskinner@uab.edu. 

More pictures coming soon!