Student Organized Agricultural Project, Year 5!

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The Student Organized Agricultural Project (S.O.A.P.) is a GO! for 2015!

The amazing Hannah S. and Jackie V. are this year's student facilitators, along with Community Garden Coordinators Gabrielle and Colin.

If you want to be part of a gardening team 
to take something like this...

the garden in the rough, early spring

and transform it into something like this...

the garden in mid-June as crops start coming in

...then you should consider joining the S.O.A.P. team plot!

A Part of the Evergreen Community Garden Club, 

a Registered Student Organization

tesccommunitygardens@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/ecogardens

 We have a HUGE plot in Evergreen Community Gardens dedicated to people who do not want an individual plot, but still want to get their hands dirty at Evergreen’s garden. It works great for anyone who thinks they might be gone for part of the summer, isn’t sure they want their own plot, can commit some time, but aren’t sure how much, and people who just like the idea of working on a team in a larger plot, with more crop options. Originally proposed by graduate student and gardener,
Matthew, the project is loosely modeled after
the Wendell Berry Community Garden
in east Olympia

Pollinators have a happy home here

Every year is a lot of fun. Last year we started with around 20 gardeners. A few moved out of the area and we ended up with way more of some food than we could use. Some things do really well, and some things kind of flop, so we learn as we go. Every season is different and there are no “experts”.

From harvest to juicing and smoothies. We usually have more than enough food for the team gardeners!








 

Team gardener and former Masters of Environmental Studies student, Kim J. in our bean trellis

  



Crop planning happens as a group. It is already underway for the 2015 season.








  
The basic plan behind the project:

• 10 to 20 gardeners 
• Regularly scheduled meetings especially during the planning and work party stages, but come and go as you please.
• Everyone who participates shares in the harvest

Most beloved of all farm managers, Rose, holding one of many harvest baskets

Here is a general list of gardeny things we can do:

• Get together and create our crop plan
• Go through seed catalogs
• Decide what we want to plant (so we can get seeds) and where we want to plant them (crop rotation from last year)
• Draw a plan on garden map
• Make a “To Do” check list to help guide gardeners who come at different times
• Tool familiarization

S.O.A.P. team starting seeds in the beautifully expanded greenhouse, 2013 season

• Start seeds in the greenhouse (can start now, on-going through the season)
• Some good things to start now are hearty greens (kale, collards etc), onions, etc. 
• Working the soil – creating seed beds
•  Clear out old beds
• Dig and/or double dig
• Add soil amendments (compost, etc.)
• Let rest for a week or so, then
• Plant our starts
• Garden Feng Shui

2012 team clowning at first work party of the season

• Creative use of space
• Thinning
• Vertical gardening
• Shape of the beds
• Ornamental/Insectary borders (flowers and herbs)
• Culinary herb patch 
•   What herbs do we want to grow
• Tending and maintenance
• Watering
• Weeding
• Pruning   
• Snacking
• Harvesting 
• Garden 
• Potlucks
• Helping with Community Garden upkeep
• Doing our part for the larger garden
• Pitching ideas/helping out with Harvest Festival

Harvest Basket we put together for Student Activities, 2014

The S.O.A.P. garden group is forming now. There is still time to sign up. The first step is to

put together an Interest List.

All interested people should contact garden coordinators at tesccommunitygardens@gmail.com and they will compile a list of people interested in the Community Plot, or contact Hannah. We will be having on-going planning meetings and hope to have a work party in mid-April in preparation for April and May plantings.

Meditation nook, 2012

Divvying up a cucumber harvest

5 yards of compost, 2014.

(For the record, over 100 wheel barrow loads. It is work but it is fun!)

Vegetarian Stew. Haven't tried this yet, but plan to this season...

This chunky, satisfying stew is full of beans, greens, corn, mushrooms, bell pepper, and plenty of herbs and spices to please your taste buds and fill your belly. This recipe makes 12 cups of stew, perfect for leftovers throughout the week!

Southwest Stew
Makes 12 cups
Ingredients:

• 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
• 1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
• 6 medium white or cremini mushrooms, sliced
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons granulated garlic
• 4½ cups water
• ½ to 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste (see Variations below)
• 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed (or 1½ cups)
• 1 can (15 ounces) pinto beans, drained and rinsed (or 1½ cups)
• 1 can (15 ounces) diced tomatoes (including juice)
• 1 can (15 ounces) corn, drained and rinsed (or 1½ cups)
• 5 cups chopped (into bite-size pieces) collard greens
• 2 cups loosely packed cilantro leaves (or parsley), coarsely chopped

Instructions:
Heat a large soup pot on high heat with 2 tablespoons water in the bottom. When the water begins to sputter, add the onion, bell pepper and mushrooms and cook stirring for 3 minutes, adding water as needed. Add the chili powder, oregano, cumin, and garlic, and cook for an additional 2 minutes, still adding a little water as needed.
Add the 4½ cups of water to the pot along with the tomato paste, and stir or whisk to blend in. Add the black beans, pinto beans, diced tomatoes, corn, and collard greens. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook covered for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring once or twice. Stir in the cilantro and serve as is or with ground pumpkin seeds and chopped cilantro.
Substitutions:
Fresh garlic may also be used; substitute with 1½ tablespoons freshly minced, or about 6 medium cloves.
If you can’t find collard greens, you may also use kale. If you use chard, add it in closer to the end of cooking since it cooks quickly.
Variations:

I try to avoid using partial cans of ingredients, but for this recipe I like to use a half a can of tomato paste since it delivers a milder tomato flavor. But feel free to use the whole can if you like a richer, zingier tomato base.

Student Organized Agricultural Project, Year 4!!

A Community Garden within a Community Garden: 

S.O.A.P. a GO! for 2014!

In addition to the 65+ pea-patch style garden plots, the Evergreen Community Gardens also features a large team plot, gardened by a dedicated group of people A community garden within a community garden.

 

A Part of the Evergreen Community Garden Club, 

a Registered Student Organization

tesccommunitygardens@gmailcom

https://www.facebook.com/ecogardens

Team gardener and Masters student Ashley on a hot summer day in 2012

 We have a HUGE plot in Evergreen Community Gardens dedicated to people who do not want an individual plot, but still want to get their hands dirty at Evergreen’s garden. It works great for anyone who thinks they might be gone for part of the summer, isn’t sure they want their own plot, can commit some time, but aren’t sure how much, and people who just like the idea of working on a team in a larger plot, with more crop options.

Originally proposed by graduate student and gardener, Matthew, the project is loosely modeled after the Wendell Berry Community Garden in east Olympia

Our beautiful sunflowers

Every year is a lot of fun. Last year we started with around 20 gardeners. A few moved out of the area and we ended up with way more of some food than we could use. Some things do really well, and some things kind of flop, so we learn as we go. Every season is different and there are no “experts”.

Team gardener and Masters of Environmental Studies student, Kim J. in our bean trellis

The basic plan behind the project:

• 10 to 20 gardeners 
• Regularly scheduled meetings especially during the planning and work party stages, but come and go as you please.
• Everyone who participates shares in the harvest

Most beloved of all farm managers, Rose, holding one of many harvest baskets

As of today the soil is still too wet to work but there are several things we can start on.

Here is a general list of gardeny things we can do:

• Get together and create our crop plan
• Go through seed catalogs
• Decide what we want to plant (so we can get seeds) and where we want to plant them (crop rotation from last year)
• Draw a plan on garden map
• Make a “To Do” check list to help guide gardeners who come at different times
• Tool familiarization

S.O.A.P. team starting seeds in the beautifully expanded greenhouse, 2013 season

• Start seeds in the greenhouse (can start now, on-going through the season)
• Some good things to start now are hearty greens (kale, collards etc), onions, etc. 
• Working the soil – creating seed beds
•  Clear out old beds
• Dig and/or double dig
• Add soil amendments (compost, etc.)
• Let rest for a week or so, then
• Plant our starts
• Garden Feng Shui

2012 team clowning at first work party of the season

• Creative use of space
• Thinning
• Vertical gardening
• Shape of the beds
• Ornamental/Insectary borders (flowers and herbs)
• Culinary herb patch 
•   What herbs do we want to grow
• Tending and maintenance
• Watering
• Weeding
• Pruning   
• Snacking
• Harvesting 
• Garden 
• Potlucks
• Helping with Community Garden upkeep
• Doing our part for the larger garden
• Pitching ideas/helping out with Harvest Festival

 

The S.O.A.P. garden group is forming now. There is still time to sign up. The first step is to
put together an Interest List.

All interested people should contact garden coordinators at tesccommunitygardens@gmail.com and they will compile a list of people interested in the Community Plot, or contact Matthew at nascentgrasshopper@gmail.com . We will be having on-going planning meetings and hope to have a work party in mid-February in preparation for April and May plantings.

Student Organized Agricultural Project (SOAP): A little sunshine blessed the last of four orientation meetings!

Awesome gardener Tim B. designing and building the pea trellis.

This really looks great. Well done, Tim!












Some of the garden team posing in front of the pea trellis for the "Before" shot. 
Jimmy, Ashley, Thomas, Annie, and Txai.

Working in the newly (and awesomely!) expanded greenhouse, Ashley, Thomas and Annie are starting onions, Dino kale and Shirofumi

Student Organized Agricultural Project Beginning 2013 Season

Matthew's Credo: Eden was a Garden, NOT a farm.

© Matthew

(See Also: Previous post - Student Operated Agricultural Project is a GO for Year Two )

Potatoes anyone?? Ashley is putting the finishing touches on our potato rows in the team garden. Learning from the mistakes we (I) made last year, this year we made some awesome potato beds. Should be rolling in potatoes this year. Purples, Golds, and Reds! 

Student Organized Agricultural Project at Evergreen Community Garden

(Part of the Evergreen Community Garden Club, a Registered Student Organization)

https://www.facebook.com/ecogardens

tesccommunitygardens@gmail.com

Student Operated Agricultural Project is a GO for Year Two*.
*Garden Tip #1: Until the soil dries out more, the best way to take care of the soil is to leave it alone. 
Working on wet soil will compact it, killing the soil food web and making later work even harder.

Some of the 2012 S.OA.P. members, breaking ground

We have a HUGE plot in Evergreen Community Gardens dedicated to people who do not want an individual plot, but still want to get their hands dirty at Evergreen’s garden. It works great for anyone who thinks they might be gone for part of the summer, isn’t sure they want their own plot, can commit some time, but aren’t sure how much, and people who just like the idea of working on a team in a larger plot, with more crop options.

Last year it was a lot of fun. We started with around 10 gardeners. A few moved out of the area and we ended up with way more of some food than we could use. Some things do really well, and some things kind of flop, so we learn as we go. Every season is different and there are no “experts”.

Gardener Ashley with Baby Sunflower

•  10 to 20 gardeners

• Regularly scheduled meetings especially during the planning and work party stages, but come and go as you please.

• Everyone who participates shares in the harvest

• As of today the soil is still too wet to work but there are several things we can start on.

• Here is a general list of gardeny things we can do:

• Get together and create our crop plan
• Go through seed catalogs
• Decide what we want to plant (so we can get seeds) and where we want to plant them (crop rotation from last year)
• Draw a plan on garden map
• Make a “To Do” check list to help guide gardeners who come at different times



Starting seed in homemade paper pots

• Tool familiarization

• Start seeds in the greenhouse (can start now, on-going through the season)
• Some good things to start now are hearty greens (kale, collards etc), onions, etc. 
  •     Working the soil – creating seed beds



Bean Trellis - Before



Bean Trellis - During

• Clear out old beds
• Dig and/or double dig
• Add soil amendments (compost, etc.)
• Let rest for a week or so, then
• Plant our starts

• Garden Feng Shui
• Creative use of space
• Vertical gardening
• Shape of the beds
• Ornamental/Insectary borders (flowers and herbs)

Rose, holding one of the many harvest baskets

• Culinary herb patch
• What herbs do we want to grow

• Tending and maintenance
• Watering
• Weeding
• Thinning
• Pruning
• Snacking
• Harvesting
• Garden Potlucks

• Helping with Community Garden upkeep
• Doing our part for the larger garden
• Pitching ideas/helping out with Harvest Festival

 The S.O.A.P. garden group is forming now. There is still time to sign up. The first step is to
put together an Interest List.

All interested people should contact garden coordinator, Ali M. at tesccommunitygardens@gmail.com and she will compile a list of people interested in the Community Plot, or contact Matthew at nascentgrasshopper@gmail.com . Our first preliminary planning meeting will be some time in late March - we are waiting to see what the status of the greenhouse expansion project is.