It is bittersweet when we gather to clean out the beds and get the garden ready for winter. Conversations range from what grew well, what never seems to do well, what parents or grandparents grew, to sharing each of our grand growing plans for next year. We cleared the summer plants out of the beds, and many of us planted garlic to be enjoyed next summer. Garlic and leeks do very well for our gardeners. (See 2nd picture for leeks ready for soup season!) This year was also kind to peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, turnips, radishes, greens, lettuce varieties and eggplant.
We enjoyed having community beds designated for one or two vegetables for the first time this year. That allowed our gardeners to enjoy greater varieties of peppers and tomatoes. Maybe we'll start an asparagus bed next year understanding that it is a multi-year commitment.
Our workday ended as it always does with a fun pot-luck. While it's sad to say good-bye to the garden work days until next spring, we'll come back together then with great ideas and start it all again. Thank you to everyone who made the Old Ferguson West Community Garden so successful this year. See you next spring!
