The Non-Gardener's Guide to Turning Un(der)-used Space into a Productive Garden: Pt. 2

This is the first "people's garden" we built: Mr. Cheeks (see explanation for the name in 1st post). Classic raised-bed, built out of rocks found along roadsides and construction sites. We were using Lowe's bagged soil and store-bought plants at this time, this garden required about 25+ dollars worth. We are now getting our soil from a bulk compost company for 20 dollars a truckload and have started using heirloom seeds sprouted in a greenhouse out at Keene (a collective of two houses in Jessamine county--shared by 6 people--a big bonus is the fantastic 18 hole frisbee golf course laid out across the property--I'll get some pictures later.) We are very excited to see what the 20+ types of heirloom tomatoes Danny got will produce.



Marchman, Danny and Benton posing with the sign for the first garden. This shot was taken at one of our weekly pasta dinners at Danny's/Julie"s house where, in the tradition of a long line of radical citizens, we plot our subversive activities over drinks. We are fortunate to know Erin, a local artist, who made this sign.



Another shot of "People's Garden: Mr. Cheeks" with the new sign up. We put a laminated sheet that details what is in the garden and lets people know that this garden is for the people. We invite them to share in the bounty and to help water it if they are so inclined. The Summer of 2007 was a brutally hot/dry summer for us to learn how to build and tend these gardens. The cardboard was placed by the garden by someone who was sleeping next to it until the whole set-up was wrecked by a wild Kentucky summer storm. We never met the person who was sleeping there, but we liked the idea of their finding shelter next to our garden.