The 2003 Left Field Garden Project ... a series about a fruitful endeavor

The Big Dig - May 7th

Mother Nature blessed the St. Joan's Garden by providing a perfect spring evening for the 17 people who gathered for the 3rd annual Big Dig. The main task of the evening was to spread the composted organic sheep manure provided by Farmer Rick and to prepare the garden beds for next week's planting. With shovels and rakes in tow, the labor was soon complete.

"Look at all the happy worms" someone exclaimed as they turned over the dirt. "Why are they happy?" I asked. "Because we didn't use a tiller and they are still in one piece" (Farmer Rick). In keeping with the eco-spirituality mission, all the work is done by hand and every plant is grown without the use of chemicals. There were even a few "archeological finds"(below) amidst the fertilizer, linking it back to its source.

The motto of the garden is "to teach and inspire". Its intent is to create a green space for the parishioners and the neighborhood to enjoy. Some of the events from past years included coffee by the garden after Mass and a farmer's market, complete with fresh salsa, in the fall. The gardeners are always looking for more ways to invite people to come and enjoy the flowers and vegetables over the summer season. Last year the neighborhood children were amazed to see purple beans growing among the more ordinary vegetables. Another neighbor gave the gardeners a lesson on when to harvest okra and collard greens. They found that strawberries(right) didn't do well here so they were dug up and adopted by Farmer Rick. Morning Glories were also pretty the first year, but have dispersed their seeds everywhere and now have become a nuisance.

Wednesday, May 14th at 6:30 will be planting night. The garden will be divided up into four sections: flowers, herbs, greens and other vegetables. Many perennials didn't survive the tough winter, so if you have perennials you are dividing, you can probably find a home for them here.

If you would like to be put on the garden e-mail list, please send a note to Chris Oppegard at cmo52@yahoo.com.

FOR THE GARDEN OF YOUR DAILY LIVING, PLANT THREE ROWS OF PEAS: Peace of mind Peace of heart Peace of soul PLANT FOUR ROWS OF SQUASH: Squash gossip Squash indifference Squash grumbling Squash selfishness PLANT FOUR ROWS OF LETTUCE: Lettuce be faithful Lettuce be kind Lettuce be patient Lettuce really love one another NO GARDEN IS WITHOUT TURNIPS: Turnip for meetings Turnip for service Turnip to help one another TO CONCLUDE OUR GARDEN WE MUST HAVE THYME: Thyme for each other Thyme for family Thyme for friends WATER FREELY WITH PATIENCE AND CULTIVATE WITH LOVE. THERE IS MUCH FRUIT IN YOUR GARDEN BECAUSE YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW. -- Author Unknown --