Garden ready for planting, despite weather

Spring has sprung, albeit briefly, and Traci Keagle has the community garden in full swing.
Green is exploding from all corners of the garden, as many people have staked their claim on plots across the field. Only a few open spots remain. Keagle said she has been taking advantage of the current spring weather (rain and temperatures in the mid-40s are forecast for the end of the week) to get ahead in the garden.
She said despite some late spring storms and colder temperatures, things are on-schedule for the planting season.
“The main thing that hit us hard was the 3 inches of rain in an hour-and-a-half,” Keagle said.
She said while many have planted some of their produce, the results will not be evident until warm weather is here to stay.

KEAGLE HAS some new programs for the garden this year. Coming May 11, the community garden will be hosting its first perennial plant exchange.
“We just want to get people to mix it up a little bit,” she said.
For those who have excess perennials (flowers that live through the four seasons), they are invited to the garden from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. to exchange plants with other gardeners. There will also be an opportunity to exchange different tools as well — such as hoes, shovels and other gardening supplies.
Also, for those whose produce comes in excess during the growing season, Keagle said there will be a shelter set up for people to place any food they are willing to donate.
“So, if people need some produce, they can come get some,” she said.
The programs are an overall effort to increase communication between the gardeners, and to help each other out.
“People know the other people in the garden next to them, but they may have no idea who the people across the garden are,” Keagle said.
Keagle, along with Jerry Sigg and Steve Traw, are working to refurbish the picnic tables, complete with tick-tack-toe boards for the kids, and are adding a new swing as well.
“That way we won’t have kids running through the gardens when they show up,” Keagle said.
Any remaining plots at the garden may be rented for $25 per plot, up to three plots per gardener.

KEAGLE SAID she has been cultivating leaf mold in piles for the past several years, and is selling it as a soil enhancement for $25 per truckload.
“It’s gold,” she said. “It’s probably better than compost.”
Any funds gathered from the leaf mold will be raised to purchase a new leaf grinder.
Whether people garden or not, Keagle said the community garden is a good place to simply come and relax.
“People can come down and just hang out,” she said.