Gardeners
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Graeler Park Garden Club invites all interested gardeners to participate at 10 a.m. on the second Saturday of each gardening month.  Our Garden Club is headed by Maryann Hale to oversee FLOWER GARDENS at the pool. 

A second potential gardening opportunity is the Graeler Park VEGETABLE GARDEN Co-op. 
Please review this proposed project below and give your feedback on the blog page.  Interest determines if this project occurs this year, next, or ever.


Graeler Park residents and members have an opportunity to grow vegetables in a huge community garden segmented into large personal gardens.  The lower field at the pool has waited many years for this productive purpose.  Each personal vegetable garden will be 600 square feet and all gardeners share a separate perennial berry patch.  This horticultural opportunity is consistent with expanding community involvement while intended as a fun and practical strategic option in a recessionary economy as analysts speak the d-word.

        

Reduce that grocery bill and enjoy an abundance of produce without digging up your yard.  Gardening is more fun with friends and neighbors working nearby plots as participants will be amazed at the amount of vegetables your garden will yield.  Please look at the chart at the bottom of the page that will give you an idea of the expected yield from a 600 square foot individual garden.

        

Our financial goal is to breakeven as any surplus will go toward wireless security cameras or a locking tool bin with onsite tools.  Fee includes fall disc-plowing, spring tilling, land lease, seeds, water bill, use of water hose, and a harvest picnic.   

 

Over the years, Graeler Park has steadily expanded community activity.  Volunteers run the pool and the programs as our many members enjoy healthy activities and festive occasions in a friendly setting.  Members enjoy the free water aerobics, the swim team, free swim lessons, and our current garden club that beautifies the grounds with flower gardens.  Our vegetable garden co-op is another great neighborhood opportunity.

Please choose your option of investing time or money. (1 of 3 options)

Personal Garden Option = Owner investing time and money in a private garden.
I will invest $100 for my garden, plant and care for it myself, and others can keep out. Seeds are included and my garden will be plowed, tilled, and encircled with a string for me. 

Dirt Cheap Option = Sharecropper committing time to the co-op garden.
I love gardening and I will be happy to toil in the soil for five hours a week. The owner and I will equally share the bounty from the garden(s) that I oversee. Seeds are included and the garden will already be plowed and tilled for me. 

Easy Option = Owner supporting the cost of a co-op garden.
I will pay $100 for my garden, select the crops, visit occasionally, and help pick at harvest time.  Sharecroppers will do most of the gardening and I will share equally in the bounty. It will be well worth it. 

Benevolent Supporter = Non-gardener 
I will donate $20 for my family to attend the harvest picnic.

 

ADDITIONAL CHOICE

I will pay $75 to have my personal garden encircled in knee-high chicken wire for me. 


Please send an email to graelerpark@charter.net
with your choice of OPTIONS
easy, dirt cheap, or personal garden.
or give feedback on the GPblog page.

Seed Planting Chart

Type

Spacing

Plants per 4 Persons

Seeds Needed*

Percent of  600 sq ft Garden 

Seeds

/gram

Asparagus9" to 12"32 plants32546
Bush Beans4" to 6"80 to 120 foot row360123
Beets4"60 foot row180337-99
Broccoli24' to 30"12 to 15 plants1515174-330
Cabbage24' to 36"12 to 15 plants151899-370
Carrots2" to 4"40 foot row2404385-850
Cauliflower18" to 24"12 to 15 plants1510174-330
Corn8" to 12"140 foot row210265-6
Cucumbers8" to 36"6 to 8 plants8635
Kohlrabi6" to 8"12 to 15 foot row303257-330
Leaf Lettuce12"20 to 30 foot row305935
Mustard6"3 to 4 plants41462
Green Onions1" to 2"10 foot row1202440
Peas2"120 to 160 foot row96043
Peppers18" to 24"6 to 10 plants106154
Pumpkins36" to 48"3 plants386
Radishes2"20 foot row120170-160
Spinach12"10 to 20 foot row20350-150
Squash36" to 48"3 plants3810
Tomatoes24" to 36"10 to 15 plants1518350
Turnips4" to 6"10 to 15 foot row452275-530

 

 

The tall crops such as peas, beans and corn, should be planted on the north side of the vegetable garden. In this way they will not shade the rest of the vegetable crops.

In the center of the vegetable garden area, plant the medium sized crops such as cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, tomatoes, squash, pumpkins and other mediums sized crops.

Then at the very southern end of the garden is where the low growing crops like radishes, carrots, beets, lettuce, onions and other low growing ones are planted.

By taking a little time in planning the layout of your vegetable garden now, before planting, your chances of harvesting a more bountiful yield this summer and fall are greatly increased.

 

There are a few procedural rules that will be forwarded to participants.  Maintaining a proper ratio of sharecroppers to co-op owners may require restricting participation.

 

Gardens can grow more than you will consume.
 America's Second Harvest / Feeding America

Web Site: http://www.stlfoodbank.org/