Late April Garden Up-date & Mission Statement Up-Date

In March I am told we endured the least amount of rainfall since area records have been kept. The up-side of low rainfall is it allows us to work in the gardens. This meant we were able to work the soil and plant our seeds and get our irrigation system up and running. Thanks to the hard work of our growers and with the additional support of volunteers we were able “set the table” for a successful season. Over the past two days, we have received plenty of slow steady rain.
As of this writing just about everything we have planted has germinated. Even some of the potatoes (Peruvian blues and Red Norlands) have sent leaves sprouting. Additionally, peas, fava beans, red ace and Chioggia beets, purple top and hakurei turnips, two plantings of spinach, Red Russian and Toscano kale, collards, bright lights, and mammoth green chard, carrots, salad mix, braising greens, and kohlrabi. Additionally, the snapdragons from last year overwintered and we can expect early blooms on those flowers. We also had good luck overwintering Winterbor and red Russian kale, arugula, and collards- all of which are now flowering and will go to seed. That seed will be saved and planted in August and next spring.
We also want to thank the Montgomery County Division of Solid Waste for donating over 75 yards of Leaf-Gro soil conditioner last week. Over the upcoming summer, our growers and volunteers will apply liberal amounts of leaf-gro to our fields as we attempt to give back to the land as fast as it gives to us.
And for those of you interested in our Solar House and Straw Bale admin and training buildings- we are within a month or two of obtaining the septic permit and construction permits. We look forward to a Community Farm that will be able to give to the community in an ever creative and abundant way. Conversely, we are all looking forward to toilets that flush! As costs for these projects increase with the cost of fuel etc. we will soon be sending out a request for donations. Your support will help us grow Red Wiggler into an organization that lives up to our vision, mission and core values. And in case you were wondering….here is a recently updated statement on Mission from our board meeting in February.

Thank you for your interest in Red Wiggler. ww