The non Violent Hostile land Takeover of 2011


I can't stand ugly, disorganized, inefficient spaces.  You would never know this is you look at my house.  BUT here is an example of something getting MORE pretty, efficient, useful and great! Last (2011) Spring, I asked my friend, who's dad owns the property next to mine, if he would mind me taking over the great expanse of crabgrass that he owned and making it a community garden.  He didn't mind- YAY!  So my sweet brother in law Philip took a pick ax to it for days, and some neighborhood kids and I set out to separate the evil crabgrass from the innocent dirt- no small feat.  TJ and Ben did most of the work...

Success!  We then planted lettuce, Swiss chard, tomatoes, peppers, basil and kale, and had enough to share with neighbors for the summer!  The kids were such a great help, very curious and willing to jump in.  We saw lots of insects and creepy crawlies.  We talked about what it means to care about where you live, and why we should want to keep the neighborhood nice.  Don't they think they deserve to live somewhere nice?  I sure do.  God sure does. And as always, i gave a lecture on littering, par for the course.  

Glo helping last spring

 The Summer came and went, and there was lots of extra produce that the kids helped to distribute around the neighborhood- Success!

Kale 

Swiss Chard

This spring (2012) the kale was still looking great.  I showed the kids how to pick, wash, oil and salt the kale leaves to make KALE CHIPS!  They devoured wave after wave of kale chips.  Apparently they taste like kettle corn.  I dont really agree, but I was so happy they were stuffing so much kale in their sweet little mouths- they can say it tastes like Leprechauns for all I care.  YAY KALE!  Do you know how healthy that stuff is???  VERY! 

(holding up kale chips, in triumph) 

This spring we planted red and green lettuce, multicolored carrots, and a hefty perennial herb garden (mint, lavender, lemon balm, rosemary).  Pics to come once things grown in a bit and look pretty.  The markers were a steal from http://www.studiogblog.com/plants-natives/kitchen/rustic-french-diy-garden-tags/   They were easy to make and came out great!  I recommend.

We are hoping for a bumper crop and a lot of sharing and growing together.  I am so proud of the Coatesville Garden Club Mini Farmers-  YAY!