FAMILY PLOT 

 

Since 2002 we have had a Family Plot at the Woodstock Community Garden. This is a plot where we grow produce, like the tomatoes in this photo, for Family of Woodstock.

 

In 2005 the children in Third Grade at the Woodstock Elementary School planted tomato seeds in pots in their classroom and carefully tended those tomatoes until about 6 weeks later the seedlings were ready for transplanting to the Family Plot at the Garden.

 

 

In 2007, the third graders at Woodstock Elementary again grew tomatoes from seed for Family Plot.  On April 18th this year, the children planted Chadwick Cherry tomato seeds and some red nasturtiums in little pots which were kept on the window sill in the classroom.

 

 

 

 

Here is part of the plot waiting for the tomato seedlings to be planted out, with angelica growing in the left corner and chives on the right.

 

 

Field Trip May 30th  10:00 a.m. - noon

The children came into the garden in three groups of three and four in the last group.  First, each child found the pots of tomato and nasturtium seedlings they had raised in the classroom.

 

 

 

 

 

Then they learned how to tap the base of the pot gently to remove the seedling without damage.  A small hole was dug with a hand trowel and the seedling was carefully planted. 

 

 

 

 

The tomatoes were planted along the row of branch stakes which will support the tomatoes later when they have grown large and need to be contained.

 

 

 

The nasturtiums, which didn't do so well in the classroom, were planted in a small bed but they didn't look too strong and may not survive.

Time will tell.

 

 

 

 Many thanks to the children, to their teacher and to the participating gardeners.

 

 

 

Family Plot on June 2nd; the seedlings have been planted.                                  August: fruit at last!

 

 

 

2008

 

One Sunday morning a young man approached the gardeners present and asked if anyone needed help.   It was a serendipitous moment.  one gardener pointed to the Family Plot and said that it needed weeding and turning over.  The young man [Evan] turned willingly to the task and worked hard for several hours until the job was done.  He will be travelling in the Far East later this year and we have promised to keep him up to date on the development of the Family Plot via email.  Thank you Evan, for all your hard work and the best of luck for the future.

 

 

 

Ground was broken in May.                                                          

 

 

 

 

Patricia took on the job of Family Plot co-ordinator at the start of the season and with the help of Robin,  Bob, Aileen and Keith the plot was trenched, planted and mulched with straw.  And now look: these photos were taken in early July. Did you ever see such zuchinni?

 

 

 

 

Cucumbers, tomatoes and melons too!