FairWinds Garden Starts to Grow

April-May 2024

It was a long time coming, and then... in under a month a garden emerged thanks to a dream team of volunteers with skills, time, and pride of ownership. Milly Lierman and Gayle Petrick are co-managing the FBG garden's 60x100 foot space. Next to it, Gayle is  also growing his own 100x100 foot garden to sell produce to the public.

Greenhouse

Gayle set up a greenhouse on his area of the property along with a tool crib of material needed to get going. Later the space will add a tool shed and a small hoop house for starting seedlings.

Fence Poles First

Gayle, Ryan, and Mary pounded in 54, 10 foot rebar poles taking advantage of the wet/soft spring ground. It seemed like an overwhelming job, but an orchard ladder, stake pounder and soft ground all helped to finish the job in under 4 hours. The enclosure surrounds both FBG Garden, and Gayle's garden.

Fence

Polly Thurston joined the group to attach over over 500 feet of 7 foot deer fence. We were worried it would become an eyesore, but the fine net disappears -- all drive-byers will see is garden!

Covering the turf with cardboard and 4-way soil

Finding enough cardboard, stripping all the tape off of it, and then putting mulch and soil on top is a tedious process. It takes about 1.5 yards of soil to cover one, 100 foot row. Thankfully Keith Lierman has a trailer to take over the hauling duty when Mary's truck had a tailgate malfunction.

Planting has begun

This year is about getting perennial berries and vegetation established. While the plants are growing out, this summer will also have annual veggies interplanted to bring to the Food Bank. Mado Most, Polly, and Gayle took advantage of leftover plant sale plants and gave them a home.

The FairWinds Food Bank Garden will be on the Farm Tour this year as a complement to the FairWinds Farm which is also on the tour. By September 15, everything will be in place for the public to see and learn about our mission.

Until then, take the photo tour below...