The Co-op Community Food Farm has gone through another year of growth. The summer of 2022 marks the first full growing season at the garden. The changes that have occurred over just a short year are truly amazing.
This year also marks the first year of harvest. The guilds have produced a multitude of different fruits and vegetables. We have have collected loads strawberries and raspberries. Unfortunately, a late frost damaged all the blooms on the fruit trees and as result there is one lone pear to eat and enjoy. Surprisingly, the grapes produced a ton of fruit. 1.5 kg of fruit to be more exact.
In two of the guilds we had rogue mullein and lovage. The MJRWS didn't have the heart to pull them and they ended growing taller than the fruit trees. The bees absolutely adored the mullein.
In the spring and early summer the students at Prince Arthur School planted carrots, beets, beans, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, and squash into the the garden boxes. With regular watering these garden boxes flourished. There is plenty for the students to enjoy for their return to school.
The pollinator spiral has exploded in growth. It is amazing what a little regular watering can do for our native plants. The first to bloom in spiral was the bog violet and the culvers root. Afterwards, the gaillardia, black-eyed susan, coneflowers, and bergamot flowered. The last to come were the showy goldenrod, various asters, and the purple-prairie clover. Planting various native species allowed for flowers from May all the way to September.
In September, Prince Arthur School held their annual Back to School BBQ and had a Co-op Community Food Farm Grand Opening. Over 200 people from the community attended. Lots of people left the event with free squash, carrots, tomatoes, peppers, and beets from the garden. You can read the full story here!
