Open Door Wellness Garden
The Open Door Wellness Garden on F and 11th Streets in Arcata has completely transformed within the last 5-6 weeks. In that time we have:
-prepared the soil by hand tilling and working in amendments (Soft Rock Phosphate, Kelp meal, Oyster Shell flour, compost)
-planned out the garden beds
- planted all of the starts from the seed starting workshop
- installed drip line and overhead spray irrigation
- planted a fig tree! (desert king fig, grows well on coast)
- Harvested strawberries, radishes, spinach (already!)
- Planted approximately 50 sunflowers along the F St fence
Some things we have in the ground are: purple/green cabbage, broccoli, kale, lettuce, carrots, zucchini, winter squash, scarlet runner beans, bush beans, chinese cabbage, spinach, strawberries, winter squash (poti marron), beets, onions, blueberries, sunflowers, dahlias, black eyed susans.
Laughing Mother is the group putting together the design for the shed. They have since started laying down the foundation and retaining wall using old tires that they are filling with dirt. We received a donation from Almquist Lumber for a metal roof. These folks are skilled builders that will be building for the community garden a beautiful shed to be enjoyed and utilized for many years to come. We’re pretty lucky to have them on our team.
We are still out there every Friday from 12-1 (usually until 2:30 or 3). Come by and check out the progress and take home some of the harvest!
At this point we are in need of:
- River rocks/bricks (to make a clearer outline of the keyhole beds)
- Someone to build us a 3 container compost bin (ex: http://seattletilth.org/learn/resources-1/compost/woodwire3bin.pdf) We can buy materials if someone is interested in building this. Let me know!
- Wood Chips: send me an email if you see a pile in the Arcata area or if you have some at your home.
- A trellis to be built for lemon cucumbers. I am gone the next 2 Fridays (the 31st and 7th) but whoever is there can tell you where they are planted. (Ex:http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/super-simple-diy-cucumber-trel-153202)
Thank you everyone for your support!
Submitted by: Kaitlyn Shipe, Coordinator.
McKinleyville Community Garden at Pierson Park
There are currently several plots available for rental at this garden, located in Pierson Park behind the preschool on Gwin Road. The plots are 3 by 10 feet and available for $20, which also includes access to soil, knowledgeable gardeners, and an area that's tended communally. For more information or to get your plot, please contact the McKinleyville Parks and Recreation office at (707) 839-9003 or stop by 1656 Sutter Road.
Garden of Eatin'
If you are looking for garden space in Eureka, there is one plot left for rental at Garden of Eatin', located at Calvary Lutheran Church a few blocks south of the Eureka Mall. The plots are 4 by 12 feet and are rented for $20 a year. For more information about the garden please contact Suzanne at suzodea@mac.com or (707) 839-1560.
Bayside Park Farm Shares Available!
A “Farm Share” is a simple idea (very much like buying a magazine subscription) in which a “Member” buys a “Share” of a farmer’s harvest at the beginning of the growing season, and then comes to the farm each week to pick up their “Share” of the farm’s vegetable harvest.
Bayside Park Farm members enjoy 21 weeks of fresh, organically grown vegetables all summer and into the fall! Our Farm Share is the culmination of months of planning, prepping, planting and harvesting. The variety is wide and ranges through the season.
Bed preparation and maintenance at the Open Door Wellness Garden. Visit the garden on F and 11th Streets in Arcata.
Upcoming Events
- Best of Humboldt Fair: Thursday June 20 - Sunday June 23 at Redwood Acres Fairgrounds, Eureka. The fair features local products, entertainment, agriculture, and a carnival. Adults cost $11; seniors and kids are $5. For more information including admission, events, and hours please visit www.redwoodacres.com or call (707) 445-3037.
- Open House and Farm Party at Deep Seeded Farm: Sunday June 23 from 3 to 6pm at Deep Seeded Farm in Arcata. Farm tours at 3:30 and 4:30, music by Gunsafe, and a finger-food potluck. Fun for the whole family! Visit www.arcatacsa.com for more information and directions.
- Garden Collaborative Steering Committee meeting: Wednesday July 10 from 3:30 to 5pm at Garden of Eatin', 716 South Avenue. Meetings are usually the first Wednesday of the month from 3:30 - 5p. Anyone is welcome to attend! For more information visit www.northcoastgardens.org or contact DebbieP@nrsrcaa.org.
- Food Policy Council Meeting: date TBD. Meetings are usually in the evenings in Eureka. The structure of the Council will be discussed so please come share your ideas. For more information please contact DebbieP@nrsrcaa.org or (707) 269-2071.
Free Produce Available Food for People is hosting free produce markets throughout the growing season. In Eureka, the free produce markets will take place at Food for People, 314 W. 14th Street on the 3rd Thursday of the month from 12pm to 2pm. In Fortuna, they will happen the 3rd Wednesday of the month from 11:30a to 1:30p at Fortuna Community Services, 2331 Rohnerville Road. In Garberville, they will occur the 2nd Tuesday of the month from 10:30am to 12pm at the Garberville Presbyterian Church (437 Maple Lane). In Redway they are the 2nd Tuesday of the month from 12:30pm to 1:30pm at the Redway Baptist Church (553 Redway Drive). For more information please call (707) 445-3166.
Every Saturday from 10am to 1pm there is a free produce stand at Jefferson Community Center, 1000 B Street in Eureka. The quantity and variety of fresh foods will vary. For more information please contact (707) 444 -2988.
Farmer's Markets
On the coast of Humboldt we are blessed to have numerous Farmer’s Markets available. Farmer’s Markets offer fresh locally produced foods, and many sell seeds and starts, crafts, and other homemade products. Many local Farmer’s Markets accept CalFresh (also known as the food stamp program or SNAP) and some even offer the Market Match program which provides bonus dollars for using CalFresh. For more information on CalFresh please visit www.c4yourself.com or contact (877) 410-8809.
Shopping at Farmer’s Markets is a great way to access fresh healthy foods while supporting local producers. In Eureka there is a market on Tuesdays in Old Town from 10am to 1pm and at Henderson Center on Thursdays from 10am to 1pm. In Arcata Farmer’s Markets convene on Tuesdays at Wildberries from 3:30 to 6:30pm and on Saturdays on Arcata’s Plaza from 9am to 2pm. In McKinleyville there is a market from 3:30 to 6:30pm at the McKinleyville Shopping Center. For more information about any of these markets please visit www.humfarm.org or call (707) 441-9999. In Fortuna there is a market on Tuesdays from 3:00 to 6:00pm at 10th and Main Streets – direct questions to (707) 722-4330. There are also Farmer’s Markets in many cities throughout the north coast. Check them out – your purchases at Farmer’s Markets directly benefit not only your health, but the health of the entire community.
