Have you ever wondered why rainwater makes the garden grow greener? It’s like almost overnight, after a long rain, the grass and plants shoot up and are lusher in green. Rainwater contains nitrates, a biologically available form of nitrogen. So, when it rains, it’s like applying fertilizer to your lawn and garden.
Gardening in the Methow Valley is not for the meek and due to the challenges of growing here, it breeds a certain culture of garden grit. Gardening here requires defensive strategies and staying power — it’s in the long game where we see rewards. I have given up on growing many of the common crops to focus on the few I know I can grow with moderate success.
Still, every year, I get the buzz and try something new in hopes that luck and a little tending will reap big returns. Thankfully, I don’t depend on my garden to feed my family, but learning to garden can bring added nutrition and sustenance to the table.
A group of skilled and excited gardeners are teaming up with Room One to initiate a new community-based garden, offering a space and place to learn to grow and gain access to locally produced food. The community garden project is being coordinated by Susan Ernsdorff, a long-time gardener and board member of Classroom in Bloom. The garden is part of a larger program objective of Room One to increase food access for people experiencing food insecurity in our community.
This year’s community garden is a pilot project and has broken ground at a home in Twisp, while the group looks for a more permanent space and to develop the program.
As a pilot project this year, the gardens have already been planted for communal crops such as squash, tomatoes and herbs. Come fall, anyone interested in harvesting will be invited to join in the bounty including a salsa making and canning day. This is but one way to be involved in what Ernsdorff is calling the “Spectrum of Engagement” for the program. The garden will offer many ways to participate. Like a traditional pea patch, anyone can have their own space to grow whatever they like or can participate in the communal crops. The space can be used for more therapeutic needs as a calm place for Room One clients. If someone needs mentoring on how and what to grow, a garden mentor will provided to help coach new gardeners.
Placing more healthy food into the hands of people who need it is the primary objective of the program. While The Cove food bank plays a critical role in meeting food insecurity needs, there’s a lot of room to integrate more fresh food into diets of people who experience food insecurity. For more information or if you’d like participate contact Room One or Susan at susanernsdorff@gmail.com.
