Happy New Year from our Ridgecrest Community Garden team. We are excited to see what this new year will hold for us and the Community. We have put in for several grants to take the garden to the next level, looking to use low-tunnels, cover crops and expanding our compost station. We will keep you apprised of how it turns out.
Looking forward into the new year, we have had lots of people start gardening and stop gardening. Some were gardening as a trend, resulting from COVID. Others started out following a trend and found a previously unknown passion. In conversation with these people over the last 3+ years, we’ve spent some time looking at the challenges of gardening in the desert and are going to attempt to address the questions that have risen during those conversations.
Question 1 - How can I justify the cost of starting a garden? Even on the worst day, I don’t pay that much in the grocery store.
“You can never put a price tag on peace of mind. The cost to get started with a garden may seem excessive, especially if buying soil instead of creating your own soil from composting, however, knowing that you have control over nutrition, organic conditions and food to table takes away any scarcity mindset that could result from the insecurities of day-to-day living.”
Question 2 - I have had people criticizing me for using water for a garden when there is a drought in California. How should I respond?
“Usually, after the first year, soil conditions, mulch and established garden beds will conserve water and help garden beds retain water much better. There may be a heavier water consumption initially, but it will not be long term if using mulch and protective vegetation, such as sunflowers for shade and ground covers such as alyssum in the summer and woodchips in the winter.”
Question 3 - Is it possible to garden in Ridgecrest year-round?
“It is possible to garden in Ridgecrest year-round. However, you will not be growing the same crops year-round. Corn, peppers, squashes, tomatoes, and fruits are spring/summer, while fall/winter is reserved for beans, potatoes, salad greens, brassicas (such as broccoli and cauliflower), artichokes and cabbage. Rotating crops between seasons is also good for the soil.”
Question 4 - I’ve planted seeds that never came up. Why is that?
“You may have planted during the wrong season, had an old packet of seeds that were not viable, or fed an extremely hungry lizard or bunny population. Try covering the area planted with netting or upside-down wire baskets to keep critters out and make sure you are planting viable seeds in the right time for proper germination in zone 9. To test viability of seeds, stick a few seeds inside a wet paper towel and seal within a Ziploc bag, keeping it moist for the entire germination period at room temperature. If the seeds sprout within the bag, then the seeds within the packet should also be viable and ready for planting.”
Scan the QR code if you are interested in donating to the community garden, or if you are interested in woodchips for your own garden. Woodchips are available for pickup with a donation of any amount.
Zen out, Ridgecrest…