Aug 26, 2009

The Curtis Urban Garden







From top to Bottom
1)Fence
2)April 11 - Earth Moving Day
3)Plot is prepped and ready for sowing
4)June - Week 10
5)July - Week 16


This summer I decided to turn the abandoned ally behind my house into a garden roughly 20x60 feet. I felt I was in need of a larger plot that could produce enough vegetables to sustain us through the summer and freeze or pickle the rest for the winter. My father and I cleared the alley and tilled the dirt on good Friday weekend. A good crop was produced considering some flooding setbacks due to the low ground along with the massive amount of rain fall in July. We planted corn, cow peas, green beans, okra, snap peas, heirloom tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, Roma tomatoes, cucumbers, and squash. The fertilizer I used was blood meal mixed with coffee and compost vegetables. Manure/topsoil mix was laid as a top layer. As a pesticide I used 'Organocide' which is a fish oil and sesame oil mix and applied as needed though the season. Weeds were controlled the old fashioned way of pulling except at the edges to control crawling grass and vines from entering the garden. Lisence plates were tied and strung across the plot allowing them to move in the wind, while being a reflective color one side did a descent job of keeping the birds and squirells away...at least 50% of the time. SO, I guess I could classify this garden as my first successful 'organic' garden by USDA standards at least.