We Break Ground

No utility lines were located near our garden plot, so today we broke ground.  Tilling through sod is tough, TOUGH work.  My parents did the bulk of the work.  I did some tilling, and spent a good chunk of the day chasing my kids.  It feels great to get started!

My littlest helpers are sleeping!

Pastor took the riding mower out for a spin to cut the grass as short as possible before tilling.

These guys stopped running just long enough to supervise tilling for about 30 seconds.

Miles thinks work days are fun!  He also enjoys finding his big brother's pudding cups.

Elim, enjoying the work day and pudding as much as his twin.

It took about eight passes of the rototiller to get this deep.  Sod is no fun.

The little helpers definitely had more fun during the work day than the adults did.

Wheel barrow ride!

After seven or so hours of very hard work, this chunk of yard is starting to look like a real garden.

We Begin! Setting Up the Straw Bale Garden

My garden project gained official approval yesterday.  Today I had straw bales delivered from the local feed store and called 811 (call before you dig) for the main garden plot.  I can begin tilling up the main plot on Friday.  My project for today was setting the straw bales up.

I ordered seven straw bales and with Chris Jefferies' help, set them up along the south side of the TUMC garage.  Our children enjoyed helping, too.  Once the bales were in place, we soaked them down, added some organic fertilizer, and soaked them again.  Anita Johanson and Peggy Jefferies helped today, too.  I have never tried a straw bale garden before, and I am excited to give it a try.  The bales will need to "cook" over the next ten days before we can plant.  In the meantime I need to figure out how to set up a hot house type structure over the garden so we can grow heat-loving crops like tomatoes.

The bales were of great interest to all our little helpers.

The soaking process was of even more interest to our little helpers.

To learn more about straw bale gardens, look here.

The Plan

I recently moved back to Tillamook, Oregon from Rochester, Minnesota.  My church in Rochester, Hosanna Lutheran, had a garden in which they grew produce for the local food bank.  I helped tend that garden, and thought it would be a great outreach project to start in Tillamook.

My church in Tillamook, Saint Peter Lutheran, does not have adequate property for a garden, but the United Methodist Church (TUMC) does.  This is the project proposal I submitted to the TUMC Council.

Community Garden Project Proposal

Overview:  The goal of this project is to install a community garden on the grounds of Tillamook United Methodist Church with the purpose to grow produce for the food pantry.

Location:  One garden plot measuring 20 feet east-west by 50 feet north-south will be located at the east end of TUMC property, just northeast of the church building.  A deer fence will be installed approximately five feet outside the perimeter of the plot.  Before the ground is tilled, it will be determined with certainty that neither the plot nor the fence will interfere with the mowing of the lawn, nor will any utility lines be disturbed.

In addition to the main garden plot, a straw bale garden will be placed along the south side of the garage.  A temporary “hot house” structure will be constructed over this garden for growing heat loving crops like tomatoes and peppers.

Workforce:  The garden will be tended by volunteer workers, headed up and organized by Adrian Johanson. 

Finances:  The cost of the garden will be covered by private donations of money or materials, special offerings, and potentially by a fundraising campaign on GoFundMe or similar.

Produce:  Any produce grown will be donated directly to the food pantry located at TUMC.  If it is determined that the garden is so successful that there is more produce than the pantry can handle, the produce will be distributed to other food pantries in the Tillamook area.

Cleanup:  When the growing season is over, the garden crew will pull up plants and store any plant supports.  If the TUMC Council decides to discontinue the garden project for any reason, the garden crew, headed by Adrian Johanson, will remove all plants, supports, and fencing, tamp down the soil, and reseed with grass.

The project was approved.