Welcome to the 2011 Season

It is already June and the gardening season in Bolton is under way. All plots in the Bolton Community Green have seen a lot of activity and plants are established and growing. It took a lot of planning and effort on everyone’s part to get to this point. A reprise of the activity would show the following accomplishments:

Garden Planning Workshop

On Saturday, February 19, we held a Garden Planning Workshop in the community meeting room at the Bolton Public Library. On hand were members of the garden committee and experienced gardeners to answer questions and help members plan their gardens for the 2011 season.

Group Seed Order

We sponsored a group seed order with Fedco Seeds. This allowed every participant to receive a group discount on their order while also raising money for the garden. Teresa Sauer organized the group order, which was very successful. We are grateful to Teresa for the opportunity to  both save and contribute so painlessly.

Organic Seedling Order

We coordinated a group seedling order with Carla Montauge from Great Oak Farm in Berlin, Massachusetts. Carla and her partner, Steen Bentzen, grow organic produce at the farm and offered their seedlings to garden members. The seedlings are grown organically and in soil blocks to minimize environmental impact.

Community Garden Opening Day

Our first work day of the season, Opening Day, was held Saturday, April 2. The weather, the unusually heavy snow accumulation last winter, and a late snow storm made April 2 doubtful. But the weather held and we had a productive community work day. Among the tasks accomplished, we:

1. mended the fence, adding heavier deer fencing material to places where it was missing or weak;
2. measured and marked plots with pegs and string;
3. macked and filled holes;
4. removed piles of rocks left from last year;
5. staked lilies;
6. set up rain barrels near the parts of the garden without easy access to the well;
7. surned the compost piles;
8. spread wood chips on the garden paths.

After a very wet and cold spring, somewhat like 2009, we now have had a couple of weeks of reasonable weather. Our gardeners have taken advantage of the weather and drying soil to get their plants and seeds in the ground. Our plight is no different than farmers from New England to the Midwest who have seen their planting delayed by heavy rains and soggy fields.  Here’s hoping for a good harvest for everyone.