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Center Avenue Community Garden
Continues to Unfold
Thank you to everyone in the community who has stopped in to say hello, lend a hand, harvest some edibles, or donated materials and/or money.
We are absolutely delighted with the support and encouragement offered us by our neighbors all around. We hope to inspire more local residents to feel a sense of ownership in this community building venture as the garden unfolds. Even if it is only to pick up a piece of litter blowing on Center Avenue or to sit for awhile in the garden, have your lunch there, or tell your children what we are growing so that they might know what grows seasonally here in Martinez, California.
There have been a few people who have stopped by with an apology of some sort for not being able to actively participate as much as, in their ideal world, they would like to. We want to assure everyone that there is no expectation, no tally sheet, and no register of active participants. Your energetic support and good wishes toward the development of the community garden is enough in itself.
What Is Happening Now
We are still harvesting Swiss Chard, various kinds of Kale, Collards, Broccoli and Lettuce from plantings made last August. The Snap Peas planted in late October are just beginning to yield edible peas and there are lots of them so please help yourself if you are in the area.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Until further notice, we have halted the deliveries of tree rounds and chips, as well as horse manure. Thank you to everyone who has contributed tree rounds and chips and manure . . . you have helped to bring Center Avenue Community Garden′s soil back to life!
We were also very happy to receive several loads of tree rounds which will help us to build a second row of raised keyhole beds. Now all we need are a few more cash donations to purchase the half-inch wire mesh for the gopher barrier in the bottom of the beds and we can begin building. The gopher population on this lot makes it necessary for us to install this protection on the bottom of the beds so our crops will grow and flourish without the nibbling of gophers at the roots. Please scroll down close to the bottom of this page to make your tax-deductible contribution through PayPal.
Many thanks to those who have already contributed financially and we hope that new sponsors will soon be able to help us continue the development of Center Avenue Community Garden right into spring. Every little bit helps to support the creation of a place where we can all come together, share our special gifts and learn about new and diverse ways to live more sustainably and with resilience.
Our windrow compost pile is steadily breaking down. The manure, being nitrogen rich, is helping to break down the leaves which are carbon rich. The microbes are doing their work. We hope to be able to use some of this compost to grow an in-ground strip of Corn, Beans and Squash just above the second row of raised beds. These are a companion planting classic often referred to as The Three Sisters.
What Is Next?
We are inviting the neighborhood to try their hand at wattle making. There is a partly completed panel with branches close by. All are welcome to add a few branches to the weave. This panel will likely be used as screening at the perimeter or by the compost bins, which are still under construction.
Before the rains a couple of weeks ago there were a large number of Lady Bugs on the Fava Beans, eating the large crop of aphids no doubt! We′ve seldom seen so many of these beautiful insects in one place . . . all volunteers! It just goes to show you that if you wait for Mother Nature′s own timing, she will provide a solution to whatever is out of balance.
We have not grown any food crops in the native soil so far, only in the raised beds. Our plan is to grow the Three Sisters crop directly in the existing soil, so we decided it was prudent to take a soil test. The sample to be analyzed was taken from 12 locations selected to be representative of the whole area. About a trowel full was taken from each of the 12 locations and mixed in a bucket. About one gallon of soil was taken from the bucket and dried at home. Then a sandwich bag full of soil from this bucket was sent to the Soils Lab at the University of Massachusetts for analysis.
Why UMass? Recommendations from permaculture friends and the very reasonable price of $10 made the decision for us. We hope to be posting the detailed results of the test on a new Soils Page on our website very soon. Briefly we can tell you it was all good news. The soil has a PH of 6.5. There are no major nutrient deficiencies. All the micronutrients are present in adequate quantities and there are no problems with Lead or Cadmium.
According to the California Soil Resource Lab, we have also determined that the CACG soil is Positas Loam. So all in all, the soil we have been given is not as poor as we might have at first assumed. You might like to check the soil at your own location on the SSURGO website where you¡¯ll find maps and detailed soil survey data.
We are still inviting local businesses and community members to help with the list of materials needed to complete the construction and planting of the 2nd row of raised keyhole beds, and ongoing development of the garden. Quality topsoil is always a welcome gift. We also need donations for irrigation parts, fencing and to pay for the water.
We are still in need of some cash dollars to purchase more half-inch wire mesh for completing the 2nd row of raised keyhole beds. The gopher population on this lot makes it necessary for us to install this protection on the bottom of the beds so our crops will grow and flourish without the nibbling gophers at the roots. If you feel so moved to donate funds to continue the development of your community garden, please scroll down near the bottom of this page to make your tax-deductible contribution through PayPal. Every little bit helps to support the creation of a place where we can all come together, share our special gifts and learn about new and diverse ways to live more sustainably and with resilience.
Many thanks to those who have already contributed financially and we hope that new sponsors will soon be able to help us continue the development of Center Avenue Community Garden right into spring and summer.
All volunteers are welcome!
Blessings of Gratitude
Martinez Permaculture Center′s mission for this community garden is to provide a local model for sustainable life practices, from organic edible gardening to creating community, with an emphasis on reconnecting to the Earth for healing, learning, growing, and taking our rightful place back in the cycle of the natural eco-system.
Our vision is to create a park-like setting that serves multiple functions. We will embrace permaculture principles of sustainability as the local community comes together to grow food, share knowledge, create wildlife habitat, have fun and provide art and beauty for all.
This venture is about building a healthy, resilient and more self-reliant community . . . you might say “Building a Village, One Sustainable Step at a Time.” It′s about learning and sharing skills from and for all ages. It′s about connecting with the local environment, our soil and water. It′s about enjoying food that we grew ourselves and sharing the surplus. It′s gathering with our neighbors and even finding out who they are. Certainly expect to be amazed at skills and talents we hold between us in the neighborhood.
Stay tuned here for more details as CACG develops.
Donations
“Every action in our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity.” Edwin Hubbel Chapin
Please use our PayPal site:
or our mailing address for your kind offerings.
Martinez Permaculture Center:
c⁄o David Mudge or Teresa Brumfield
2421 Center Avenue
Martinez, CA 94553
We have a plan. To be upfront and honest with all the wonderful neighbors that have shown interest and offered support, the next phase of our plan requires funds to purchase start up materials.
We are actively seeking out local businesses or sponsors that could discount or donate materials for the development of the garden. In Phase I and II, we have five more raised beds to build and will need approximately $350 for the wire mesh to keep the gophers out. There is also irrigation, soil, cost of watering and a fence etc.
NOTE: Tree chips, tree rounds, horse manure and cardboard are being offered free of charge because we are recycling waste materials that are no longer needed in another line of work . . . closing the loop and using this waste to help build our soil and grow food to feed us.
Our passion and willingness to receive the means to continue developing this garden sets the stage for funds to materialize very quickly. If you or anyone your know is able to help with materials costs, please use our PayPal site below to donate whatever you are able to share.
Many of us are disillusioned with the isolation and helplessness of modern suburban living and keen to reconnect with our neighbors, nature, the soil and elements that have real meaning and value in our lives. We might have a yearning to relearn the skills of our resilient ancestors. Growing our own food might be a part of this.
Center Avenue Community Garden is just one small, but important, aspect of creating local resilience, building community, meeting like minded neighbors that can help and support and learn from one another. And eating locally!
We invite donations from individuals, families and businesses.
We plan to put a contributor′s page on the website soon, honoring those who donate in any way, including a link to their websites if requested.
Whether you want to garden or would just enjoy seeing the garden as you drive down Center Ave. on your commute, your contribution is of great help to us in making this happen soon. No matter the size of the donation, you will always know that you were a part of this creation of resources and beauty. You will be playing a part in the history of your community′s development.
Blessings of Much Gratitude, Divine Light and Love,
♥ David and Teresa ♥
Center Avenue Community Garden
Working Most Saturdays
Garden Work Days on Saturdays
Feel Free to Stop In If You See Us There
Weather permitting, most Saturdays we will be at the garden from approximately 10 a.m. to about 3 or 4 p.m. No working on Sundays to respect the First Baptist Church′s congregation and scheduled services. During the week, we will only be working in the garden when it fits in with our regular work schedule (very spontaneous).
There is a definite design we are working on in the garden with Permaculture principles as our foundation. For now, it is important that someone from the Martinez Permaculture Center guides the development, at least at this moment in time. Once the garden is more established, it will be easier to create a task list for whomever can show up to help, on their schedule. But for now, Saturdays are the best time for us to be there. If you have any questions, please go to our Contact Us page and send us a note.
Garden Location: The Center Avenue Community Garden is actually located on the property of the Pacheco First Baptist Church, 333 Center Ave., Martinez, CA 94553, which is less than a block from the Martinez Permaculture Center. The church is loaning this parcel of land to the Martinez Permaculture Center for the development of a permaculture community garden. There is no requirement to be a member of the church to participate in the development of the garden or just to enjoy it. Center Avenue Community Garden is available to the entire surrounding community.
We welcome your support in anyway that feels good to you. Please stop by anytime to take a look at what we are doing and read our Community Garden mission statement on the Notice Board. Feel free to drop-in on Saturdays after 10 a.m., just to say hello or lend a hand.
Martinez Permaculture Center
E-Newsletter
Martinez Permaculture Center publishes a monthly E-Newsletter, sent out on the days of the Full Moon. This publication will include a Monthly Inspiration, a bit of information on the current Full Moon, the MPC Update, Upcoming Events, seasonal In the Garden Tips, recommended Book of the Month, and possible Bulletin Board items such as wanted/offerings. Please subscribe below and know that at any time you change your mind, simply unsubscribe at the bottom of the newsletter.
Click here to access the MPC Newsletter Back Issues page to see a sample of our E-Newsletter.
Thank you for your interest and welcome to the Martinez Permaculture Center Family.
Welcoming In the Hint of Spring!
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