New garden site: Map to new garden
location: <click
here> - arrow points to location
Victory gardens on Sequim agenda
The June
Robinson Memorial Park garden at
Spruce Street and Sunnyside
Avenue, will have eight raised
beds and 16 ground-level plots.
Spaces are still available for
Sequim-area residents who want
to plant. City planners say the
garden will be ready for seeds
and seedlings in March. --
Photo by Diane Urbani de la
Paz/Peninsula Daily News -
Story by Diane Urbani de la Paz -
Peninsula Daily News
Organic
gardening grows Published on Wed, Jan 13, 2010
by Dana Casey in The Sequim Gazette
Everyone
is aware of the benefits of eating
organically grown food. Artificial
pesticides and herbicides are
formulated to kill and they don't
target only pests and weeds.
Artificial fertilizers also add
chemicals to the soil that leach
into groundwater to pollute it as
well as rivers and oceans. Eating
locally grown organic foods also
benefits the community financially
and cuts down on the pollution of
long-distance transportation of
produce. Sequim Organic Gardeners
takes all this one step further:
Members grow as much of their own
food as possible. They are taking
control of their food on a personal
level. Some of them say they find
the work they do in their gardens to
be a form of aerobic exercise. Three
years in making In order to be an
organic garden, its grower can use
no artificial chemicals. Gardeners
instead use organic fertilizers,
compost, wood chips and organic
pesticides. It takes up to three
years for nonorganic products to
leach from the soil. Then a garden
can be considered organic. Many
times it helps to use raised beds
and amended soil to grow food in the
plot. Pam Larson, who started Sequim
Organic Gardeners five years ago,
also is involved in the Community
Organic Gardens in Sequim. She and
others offer help and encouragement
to those who would like to grow
their own food. They offer classes
for the first year someone grows
foods in the community gardens.
Sequim Organic Gardeners meets once
a month to discuss new techniques
and swap stories about what works in
their gardens and what doesn't. At
the next meeting, they will hear
from Tessa Gowans of Seed Dreams in
Port Townsend, who has heirloom
seeds that are specific for this
area. Anyone interested in joining
the group can contact Karen Westwood
at kwestwood@seanet.com or 683-1882.
Sequim says OK to a second community
garden. Story from PDN, here:
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20090801/news/308019995 COGS
phase 2, she (Liz Harper) added, "is
part of a larger vision I've always
had, of having a string of organic
gardens all over Sequim."
(8/4)Sequim Gazette:
New Spruce Street
Park greeted warmly
http://tinyurl.com/nshbak
Map to new garden location: <click
here> - arrow points to location
The Garden
in Color and Texture; Close-UP.
(Flash Movie)
SEQUIM -- One small, new project stood
out among the big, old ones talked about
during the Sequim City Council's special
meeting this week.
The Spruce Street Pocket Park, a strip of
green between Sunnyside and Sequim avenues,
could turn into a blooming, food-producing
spot, to at least one council member's mind.
Mayor Laura Dubois, a proponent of local
produce and other environmentally friendly
ideas, envisions Sequim's second community
garden in the city-owned Spruce Street
space, she said at Monday's meeting.
From the Peninsula Daily News (posted here on
4-19) PORT ANGELES -- What do you with a big mowing headache?
If you're the members of the Vineyard Church, you donate half of it
-- about 12,750 square feet -- to serve as a community garden.
An organizational meeting for the Vineyard Community Garden is set
at the Vineyard Church, 3415 S. Peabody St., in Port Angeles at 3
p.m. Sunday.
At least 45 plots, 10-by-10-feet each, are available for gardening.
See October 15 Gazette for the story.
NEWS FROM THE FRIENDS OF THE FIELDS
SITE: Posted:August 13, 2007
http://www.friendsofthefields.org/news_COGS.htm Radishes, Snap Peas and Beets, Oh My!Sequim’s
Community Garden Grows… Many beds of potatoes are in flower, snap beans are coming along,
and even corn and tomatoes look like they will make a crop on the
24 plots that were rented this first year of the Community Organic Garden of Sequim (COGS),
a special project of Friends of the Fields.Under the committed leadership of Liz
Harper, most of the gardeners are happily enjoying home-grown
organic produce. Radishes were, of course, first off the blocks,
and hearty broccoli, lettuces, kohlrabi, beets, cauliflower, snap
peas and carrots have been harvested. The grasses that previously
inhabited the site are not giving up without a struggle, but that is
expected to ease with each new planting season.
The garden is looking very permanent and
settled since the Sequim Sunrise Rotary Club's recent completion of
a fine cedar board fence. And some folks who had never grown a
vegetable before are looking like good gardeners after receiving
training in organic crop production techniques and methods by Pam
Larsen.Unrented plots have been planted with
the intention to donate extra produce to the Sequim Food Bank.
What’s next for COGS?One
upcoming activity will be the construction of a pergola to serve as
an architectural and social focal point in the garden, and to
provide a place to grow roses and other climbing flowers. Another
project is to spend time this winter exploring the possibility of
tapping into a nearby irrigation canal in an effort to obtain
un-chlorinated water at a lower cost than the current provision by
the City of
Sequim.To volunteer at
the garden or to obtain a plot, please contact Liz Harper at
683-7698. Posted:August 13, 2007
— Social studies can be delicious. So can socializing. A small flock
of sixth-graders and older retirees have tasted those facts at the
long-awaited Community Organic Garden of Sequim, behind St. Luke's
Episcopal Church on Fifth Avenue.
"Holy Moses, snack on that,"
instructed Linda Dolan, the paraeducator and garden co-founder who
walked over to the small plot with her Sequim Middle School students
last Friday morning. The sixth-graders, under the tutelage of Dolan
and social studies teacher Carolynn MacDonald, reaped what they'd
sown just last month: lettuce, chard and radishes that, plucked from
the earth by young fingers, looked like cherries. Brittany Zuck,
Lavee Hess and Brandon Payne, all 12, held the blush globes* aloft
like birthday gifts. There was a little too much soil on them for
immediate eating, but Hess, Zuck and Hector Baylom, 12, obeyed
Dolan's orders and munched on some young, fluffy lettuce. Dolan then
reminded the students to stay focused. "Pull the weeds out," she
said. "They're going to compete with your food."
Two-year effort The
community garden — first imagined more than two years ago by Dolan
and a group of Sequim High School students — is a place where the
preteens put their hands in dirt alongside people such as Elena Karr
and Liz Harper, retirees renting 10-by-10-foot plots for vegetables,
herbs and flowers.
This productive patch of ground isn't merely a
reaction to rising food prices. Rather, it's a place to learn about
a lot of things: how plants prosper without pesticides, how food
grows and how people can get along. In their social studies and
language arts block class, Dolan and MacDonald taught the
sixth-graders about ancient cultures and how people built
communities around small farms. "We're tying this in with
sustainability for our community," Dolan added, "and how we can
provide for ourselves."
A few steps from the middle-schoolers'
patch, Karr is making the most of her plot, and growing broccolini —
a cross between broccoli and Chinese kai-lan broccoli — Swiss chard,
Delicata squash, tomatoes, oregano, peppers and strawberries. Karr
could have done some of this at her home in SunLand North but
preferred the community-spirited spot. Karr, a retired mental health
care provider and mediator, admitted that she and the other
gardeners have had to be patient with this spring's cold weather.
But the tomatoes are finally flowering, and the unofficial slogan
here is "keep hope alive," she said with a laugh.
Potluck inauguration
On Saturday, Karr joined the garden's inaugural potluck
celebration at St. Luke's, which donated the land for the
garden. Since her vegetables aren't quite ready yet, Karr
brought her special orange-infused chocolate cake with cream
cheese frosting. The event included a blessing by retired St.
Luke's rector Bill Sallee, who gave thanks for the soil, the
water and the gardeners. He added that since soil is the source
of life, "getting your hands dirty is touching life at its
core." One of the best prayers of all, Sallee said, is "thank
you, Mother Nature."
Sequim Mayor Laura Dubois stepped up next to say that the
community garden suits the city's vision statement, which touts
"keeping a small-town, community atmosphere." Gardening
together, Dubois added, gets people away from their television
sets and "spending time with neighbors and making friends."
Dubois, for her part, admitted that she can't grow anything. "My
husband has the green thumb . . . but I can pull weeds," she
said.
'Unofficial president' Harper, a retired school counselor and
divorce mediator known as the "unofficial president" of the
garden, said the garden's 20 plots are rented to community
members for $25. They're all spoken for now, but Harper looks
forward to welcoming another season of gardeners next spring.
The garden sprang, Harper added, from multiple sources in
Sequim. Friends of the Fields founder Bob Caldwell worked with
St. Luke's to bring water to the plots and served as an adviser
to the garden planners. It all fits, Caldwell said, since
Friends of the Fields is a Clallam County coalition striving to
protect farmland. "This is not quite a farm," Caldwell said,
"but it's going to get people interested in local foods. "It has
all come together, and it's really exciting."
Sound Community Bank and Sequim First, an environmental advocacy
group, were among those who made contributions even before the
church provided the space, Harper added. "We just had this
dream. "We didn't have any land, but they just believed this was
going to happen."
Local nurseries such as McComb Gardens gave compost, while The
Home Depot gave the garden a shed "at a deeply, deeply reduced
price." A mix of people is growing in the garden, Harper added
with a smile. "I've met people I never would have met
otherwise," she said. "This is about as far away from divorce
mediation as I could get." For more information, phone Harper at
360-683-7698. ________ Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz can be
reached at 360-681-2391 or
diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com . Last modified: June
17. 2008 9:00PM ###
It began with the desire of two Sequim High School students to
save farmland.
When told how difficult, costly and long-term the
process was, they changed their focus to developing a community
garden. Linda Dolan, a para-educator and faculty advisor to the
Sequim High School Ecology Club, jumped in with a both feet. Linda had
participated in community gardens in other communities and thought
Sequim might be a good place to have one. Besides, Linda didn't have
a place to garden on her own. It wasn't hard to get others to join
in. Linda and the students took a trip to Seattle to look at
community gardens there - - Seattle is a national leader in the
number of community gardens available for local residents to grow
their own fresh, local, wholesome produce.
Linda Dolan and Bob Bob Caldwell,
Friends of the Fields treasurer.
Read the full article of 10/31/2007 on line at:
http://tinyurl.com/6eapuf or
download it as a .pdf document, here.
The concept of a community garden is that a group of potential
gardeners come together to operate a parcel of land as a garden,
with each person having a small plot (say 10 foot by 10 foot for
starters). Tools, knowledge and work are shared and community
gardens typically build citizenship as well as community spirit.
Friends of the Fields
(FOF) was brought along first, because of
its initial contact with the students, but then also because of the
fact that people who get accustomed to eating good tasting,
wholesome local foods from their own garden were likely to want to
buy that same kind of food from local farmers, thereby increasing
the opportunity and income of our farmers. FOF agreed to serve as an
umbrella non-profit organization, enabling donations to the
community garden to be tax deductible. In addition, FOF will be able
to handle the liability concerns of the garden under its own
insurance program.
The group wanted to locate the garden in the heart of Sequim
because of the desire to be able to serve apartment dwellers and
students, special needs children and the elderly, all of whom might
have some difficulty using a garden at some more remote site. St.
Luke's Episcopal Church on N. 5th Street in Sequim was able to
handle the location question. They owned a parcel of land bordering
on West Fir St. just west of 5th Avenue that they had coincidentally
thought that one day, it might be a garden site. The lot is within a
few blocks of the Boys and Girls Club, Helen Haller Middle school,
and Sequim High School.
It has been named the Community Organic Garden of Sequim or COGS for
short. Having a location is not the same as having a garden. The
advisory committee governing the effort is already starting to work.
How can you help? The advisory group needs a number of things - -
primary is more volunteer advisory persons. Second, and of utmost
importance, is having persons interested in gardening a plot. The
group will also need donated material such as fencing, piping,
faucets, trenching, garden hoses, lumber for raised beds and garden
tools.
If you are willing to help, and/or can donate any needed items,
Please contact Liz Harper at 683-7698 if you would like to help or
to obtain more information. Come grow with us!
LINKS TO OUR FRIENDS, SPONSORS,
ETC. :
Businesses and Organizations
that Support the Community Organic Garden of
Sequim
This is not just a garden
for the community; its existence is a
function of the generosity of the community.
These businesses and organizations have been
joined by countless individuals who have
donated money and items that helped start
the garden.
Sequim First also provided
us with a grant. This funding went to
getting accessible paths around our elevated
growing beds and the initial cedar paths.
http://sequimfirst.net/
First Federal provided us
with our grant to get accessible paths
throughout the garden , an additional
elevated bed, and filters to eliminate
chlorine from the Garden’s water.
https://www.ourfirstfed.com
McComb Gardens has been an
ongoing provider of organic compost since
the Garden opened.
http://mccombgardens.com
Dave’s Small Tractor
Service has donated the tilling for the
garden and subsequent tractor work on the
accessible path. 683-1179
Thomas
Pitre Associates, Sequim, has provided web
hosting, digital photography and web site
maintenance since this site went on line
last year.
http://sequim-web.net -
http://tpitre.nikola.com
Search GREEN RESOURCES
custom search engine:
Contributing to COGS
The Community Organic Garden of Sequim is a project of Friends of the Fields, a
Non-Profit 501(c)(3). As such, contributions to COGS are tax deductible to the full extent authorized by law. We would greatly appreciate any help you wish to provide as we get this garden up and running and look to other sites for new, potential gardens.
Please make donations by check payable to Friends of the Fields. In the memo line of your check, cite “COGS”. If you wish to make donations of gardening tools or garden supplies, drop them by the garden, or call our Chairperson, Liz Harper at 683-7698
Julia
Scott writes to mention: ForFarmers.com at:
http://www.forfarmers.com/
ForFarmers.com is a marketplace for buying
and selling various breeds of garden, food,
forestry, wood, trees, nursery, landscape,
fruits, horticulture, flowers, plants,
seeds, crops, vegetables as well as
agricultural jobs and a wide range of
services. Sequim GazetteArticle
about COGS: GazetteArticlebyOden.pdf
Grows on You -
Grows on You is a friendly gardening
community where you can... * ask your gardening questions * store ALL your gardening photos * start a gardening BLOG * get ideas from others' gardens * and much much more...
http://growsonyou.com
Need a photo appearing on this site for
a related publication? Email me, below. Most of the
time, your circumstance or the application will warrant royalty-FREE use. -tp.
All opinions herein are the
responsibility of the web wrangler (Pitre) and are those of his, alone.
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