Third Time's the Charm

This time will be successful.  The third time's the charm, right?  I'm referring to my efforts in our Community Garden to plant and harvest beyond the traditional gardening timeline.  Here in Erie, weather dependent, most summer harvest plants have finished.  We are just now finishing up harvesting grapes, some corn, and, of course, plenty of apples.  In 2013, we have had a very pleasant fall.  Lots of sunshine and relatively dry weather (the opposite of our summer) has led to tomatoes lasting a little longer, along with a few other garden plants. 

My goal is to plant and harvest SOMETHING until sometime in December.  Then start to plant again in March.  Cold weather crops such as lettuce, radishes, onions, arugula, swiss chard and other leafy greens fit the bill.  

I have tried the past two autumns with minimal success.  

I have created a low hoop tunnel in our community garden.  In 2011, I simply laid the plastic over the hoops and wait to see what would happen.  Very little, it turned out.  Most of the growth came in the spring when the weather turned.  

In 2012, I added a floating row cover.  This thin cotton cover helps create a blanket for the plants to keep some heat in, but also let rain and light in.  Even with the added layer there was little growth.  

As with any experiment, a scientist should only change one variable at a time, otherwise you have no idea which part of your experiment was successful or unsuccessful.  The only variable I've been changing is the amount of cover on the soil, thinking that the raised bed cooled off faster and perhaps the soil is actually freezing. 

The one variable I cannot control is the weather.

Along with the purple peppers, I've also left the everbearing strawberries.  Which are still bearing fruit - YAY!  There is nothing like a fresh strawberry in October, of all things.  

This year, 2013, I've layered some straw from our straw bale bed.  I hope it not only hold some heat and moisture in, but also will be useful to the soil by adding carbon when I mix in the decomposing bits in the spring.  I will also add the floating row cover.  And the plastic over the hoops.  With these three layers, I hope to see lettuce and onions poking up in a few weeks!

One aspect of the low hoop tunnel is the caterpillar tie-down system.  I reuse the ropes each year and they are very effective against our winter wind. 

In the fall and spring, I also have the capability of rolling up the sides to let in fresh air, light, and moisture on warmer days.

Cross your fingers that the third time is the charm and baby lettuce will be available by Thanksgiving!

Pumpkin Walk 2013

I missed the inaugural Pumpkin Walk in 2012 in Headwaters Park - I was out of town.  I thought the idea was neat, though.  The Erie County Master Gardeners wanted to host a night hike in our Park, but with the addition of lighted jack-o-lanterns along the trails.  Cute, I thought.  Over 1,600 people came last year.

We were floored, and honored by the response.

I was determined to be there for 2013's Walk.  I'm glad I didn't miss it.

Planning truly began last fall, immediately after the first walk.  We ended up with pages of things we'd like to do differently.  How many pumpkins?  How do we keep them looking fresh?  Sponsors?  Lights?  VOLUNTEERS - HOW DO WE GET MORE VOLUNTEERS??????  The Master Gardeners have worked tirelessly all year to make this year a smoother event, even more welcoming, educational, and enjoyable.  Their efforts paid off in numbers:

• Over 720 jack-o-lanterns lined the trails
• A giant pumpkin,weighing over 600 pounds, was donated and carved 
• The Belle Valley Fire Department raised several hundred dollars in refreshment sales
• Over 2,500 people visited the Pumpkin Walk in 2013

600+ pound pumpkin donation - watching the professionals carve it was amazing!

The week prior to the event was full of organized chaos; everyone had an assigned task and they fulfilled it.  Pumpkins were dropped off at volunteer carvers, from kindergartners to scout groups to college artists.  The carving job was so coveted in one school that they held a student contest, the winners being allowed to carve their proposal into one of the pumpkins.  More volunteers picked up the pumpkins.  Other volunteers worked to organize the pumpkins into groups, or get tables ready, or the educational materials.  All Master Gardening events have educational aspects to them, as that is their mission as a group.  This mission fits perfectly into the partnership with the Erie County Conservation District and Headwaters Park, as our goal is to promote the wise use of land and water resources.  

We work very well together.

While the Master Gardeners were organizing the Walk, staff here spent weeks sprucing up the trail to the best of our ability.  We received funding from the Erie County Greenways Program to improve our trail system, including a new boardwalk.  The main trail is now sturdier, ADA accessible, and passable for strollers and visitors of all abilities.  

However, the culmination of all of this work was the walk itself.  The entire sunny Saturday was spent setting up the actual walk.  The entire Saturday.  By 4pm we were placing LED candles in the pumpkins and lighting them (good thing they were LED, as it began to rain promptly at 5pm).  By the first few visitors, the trail was set and ready.  

I almost recommend two walk-throughs.  The first in daylight to see the details and colors. 

The second under the cover of darkness.  As I finally had a moment to walk through at 9pm, I kept hearing words like "enchanted", "fairyland", and "magical". 

The entire park twinkled with winking lights, peeking from tree boughs or from the tops of fallen logs.  You truly had to witness the effect to appreciate it.  

The Erie County Master Gardeners did a fantastic job organizing Pumpkin D'Light Night 2013, and Headwaters Park was pleased to be its host.  We are already preparing for 2014! 

 For more information, contact the Master Gardeners at 825-0900 or Headwaters Park at 825-6403.