Free organic seed giveaway!

These seeds were past date and trash-bound at Food Fantasies. I've found that old seeds still grow well, with a little less germination if anything. Thanks to Mary for holding them back for me!

First come, first serve. 

Message me a list of what you want and your address, or arrange a swap. The number indicates the number of seed packs available.

happy growing~

HERBS

chives – 5

parsley, flat – 5

catnip – 3

sage – 8

purslane – 4

thyme, english – 4

stevia – 3

fenugreek – 6 “roma II

rosemary – 8

oregano – 6

cress – 5

chamomile – 4

basil, italian genovese – 5

parsley, curly – 3

watercress- 4

basil, dolce vita blend – 12

basil, siam queen – 3

basil “lemon mrs. burns” - 2

basil “napoletano” - 2

oats “cat grass” - 7

VEGETABLES

corn, ornamental – 4

brussel sprouts, long island – 6

eggplant, long purple – 4

leek, kind richard – 3

broccoli, romanesco – 4

broccoli, raab “rapini” - 7

celery – 5

corn, sweet “delectable” - 4

pea, shelling – 3

artichoke – 8

corn, sweet “argent” - 2

corn, sweet “bodacious – 5

broccoli – 2

kohlrabi – 2

leek – 5

eggplant – 6

gourd “chinese okra” - 1

BEANS

pole runner “scarlet emperor” - 3

bush “roma II” - 4

bush “pencil pod” - 3

bush “royal burgandy” - 3

snow pea – 4

bush “tiger's eye” - 4

bush, green “french filet” - 5

pole, purple – 5

edamame – 5

pole, green – 2

pea, snap “cascadia” - 2

bush, green – 5

pea, sugar snaps – 6

PEPPER

sweet, “purple beauty” - 4

chile, “hungarian yellow wax” - 4

chile, “early jalapeno” - 6

chile, “serrano tampiqueno” - 4

TOMATO

cherry, red & yellow pear – 3

grape, jelly bean red & yellow – 3

roma, speckled – 10

cherry, gardener's delight – 19

brandywine, red & yellow – 18

roma, italian – 14

green zebra – 6

“red siberian” - 8

“better bush” - 7

cherry “sun gold” - 7

beefsteak - 10

tomatillo – 2

PERIENNIALS

black eyed susan “rudbeckia” - 6

hollyhock “the watchman” - 5

poppy – 5

chinese lantern – 6

penstemon – 1

agastache, sunset hyssop – 1

poppy, orental – 3

verbascum mullein – 4

butterfly flower – 4

flax, blue – 7

foxglove – 6

castor bean – 5

dianthus – 6

holly hock,”chater's double” - 5

viola “johnny jump up” - 6

delphinium – 4

alyssum “basket of gold” - 5

canterbury bells – 6

forget-me-not – 7

columbine – 8

black eyed susan – 2

GREENS

lettuce, oak leaf blend – 20

lettuce, butterhead, “speckles” - 3

lettuce, butterhead, “buttercrunch” - 4

escarole – 2

lettuce, romaine – 4

lettuce, romaine “garnet rose” - 6

lettuce, “red sails” - 2

mustard, “spicy green” - 2

lettuce, “black seeded simpson” - 6

ANNUALS

hyssop – 3

calendula – 3

black eyed susan vine – 7

bachelor 's button – 7

bells of ireland – 7

marigold, french – 6

borage – 3

sunflower, “teddybear” - 5

snapdragon – 5

poppy – 2

poppy “american leigon” - 4

lobelia – 6

zinnia – 8

larkspur – 5

4' o clock – 5

love lies bleeding – 4

impatens – 7

linaria – 6

sunflower “autumn beauty” - 3

grass “bunny tails” - 7

sunflower “ flash blend” - 9

cosmos – 4

sunflower “evening sun” - 6

sunflower “vanilla ice” - 4

sweet pea – 5

Real when shared

I

Into October, we ate garden-grown Cauliflower, beets, turnips, tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, collards, and eggplant. Many of these foods were picked and eaten for the first time, for students and staff alike. The garden has achieved a state of triumph, not only for producing nourishing food, but for becoming a source of curiosity, wonder, stimulation, and therapy for those who partake in it. I personally feel revitalized every time I can be there to work, observe, taste, and share. Horizons open even more for us as we make plans for 2014. Grant opportunities may provide funds to build infrastructure, including a paved outdoor classroom. An increasing number of perennial plants promise greater and more varied harvests throughout the season, while stabilizing the landscape for better soil structure and biological activity. The support has been overwhelming, the food rewarding, and the momentum unstoppable. Paradise, here we come.

Catching up, winding down

The conclusion of the summer season is upon us, and it has brought us many conclusions of our own. As the gardens grow and develop, so have our minds, our connection with the earth, and the scope of our project. It became clear that there was a definite need for a designated coordinator for each garden, so that they can receive the focused attention of one person, plus the help that volunteers are willing to contribute. Since then, I have taken on the coordination of the Douglas School garden. The following photos all come from the progress and activity that has followed...

First harvest of the school year: giant turnips, beets, and cherry tomato

Melon harvest: cantaloupe and watermelon (and more cherry toms)

luscious cabbage, cauliflower, and brussel sprout growth

Jalapenos

volunteer sorghum plant

Eggplants

eggplant flowers

summer harvest: turnips, some russets from an over grown patch, beets, collards, melon, and purslane

Thanks to Emily and Sidney for help with mulching!

butterfly visitor

Plans are in motion for expansion, including the adoption of a variety of fruit trees and shrubs, implementation of more permacultural techniques, and a possibility of taking over the full extent of the hill below the current garden. Staff and community support has been overflowing, and the kids get more and more open to not only understanding the garden, but eating its bounty; at my last meeting, we ate fresh cauliflower with sunseed dip, read about the nutritional benefits of the vegetable, and reviewed what we learned. When posed with the question of what we learned today, one kid raised his hand and said (to my amusement) that he learned that cauliflower "isn't nasty". Which, of course, is the most important thing.

Find more photos and updates on the school website: Douglas School/Prep

The Big Day

Free breakfast of omelets and fruit salad

First honey harvest from the garden at Skanks!

First sunflower to open!

Okra

Peas

White clover ground cover

Red clover

Speaches & such

Our first event in the garden was monumental for us. Everyone who donated resources, followed our project, volunteered, or just heard about it around the neighborhood came out and saw what we started. Real Cuisine was there serving up free breakfast, someone brought a guitar, and the weather couldn't have been more gorgeous. A soil scientist and urban gardener from Chicago and named Donald Johnson and his lovely fiance' came as guest speakers. Everyone got a much-deserved pat on the back.

After that, we took some chard and kale from the garden over to a Destination Dinner Table event at Brandon Court school, where we prepared and served them up free for kids and parents. Mr Johnson gave a presentation on local food. It was an all-around triumphant day on the DIY food front. Looking forward, we have a lot of new gardens that all need a lot of TLC (mulch, mulch, and more mulch). Anyone interested in getting involved, signing up for a garden plot (free garden mentoring included), or volunteering for other gen H kids programs like Destination Dinner Table can email me (Roxanne) at swampwaterstomp@gmail.com, George at george@genhkids.org, or anyone else on the team at gen H (genhkids.org). Thanks so much to everyone who has helped or supported us, and it's been a pleasure to work with such bright, motivated, and passionate people! Cheers!

Press confrence prep

Sign painting - big thank you to Sid & Emily <3

Friends of Sangamon Valley river clean-up flier, awesome work by Wendell

tidying up

Emerging fruits

robust greens galore

An untold number of hours have gone into situating the community garden of E. Cook St. to get it ready for the press conference there on June 27th. It's totally satisfying to see all the plants not only surviving, but thriving at this point. While much work remains to properly sheet mulch the currently unplanted plots, get them planted, and continue to fine-tune the work flow of the space, we're ready for anyone who wants to get involved. We've finally graduated from words and plans to living gardens dotted all across town. The ball is rolling, now who wants to help push?

Ball Charter pea harvest

yum!

George and I visited the Ball Charter garden for the first time since the planting, and things seem to be coming along smoothly. Ball Charter was built with gardens in mind, and totes the best outdoor infrastructure we've had the pleasure of working in so far! Not only that, but the kids are quite good company and show a wonderful amount of enthusiasm and familiarity with gardening. Besides the vegetable plots, there are also some young apple trees and grape vines. Parents have already organized the care-taking of the garden over the summer. Easy-peasy.