Garden Weather

St. Andrew Community Garden

The St. Andrew Community Garden has grown steadily since it was established eight years ago. Over 30 gardeners tilled 70 individual plots during the 2009 season. The number of plots will be increased in 2010 to meet the demand from families in the community who want to grow their own fresh vegetables.

The plots are 8x8 feet and are laid out in squares of four with paths separating the squares. This provides access to all plots from paths on two sides. All gardening is to be organic with no pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers. A composting area has been established to help provide fertilizer for the garden.

A fee of $10 per plot helps cover the common expenses such as sprinkler irrigation. Families or individuals can have a maximum of four plots. The number of plots assigned depends on availability. Applications are being accepted now.

A Common Ground Garden was added in 2007 to provide produce for the Food Bank and the Montana Rescue Mission. It provides larger volumes of produce, including varieties such as squash and corn that required more room. The Common Ground Garden has been expanded, and in 2009 produced 200 boxes/bags/buckets/crates of produce for the Food Bank and the Montana Rescue Mission homeless shelter kitchen. This was approximately one ton of produce! The individual plot gardeners and other volunteers assist with the Common Ground Garden.

The St. Andrew Community Garden Committee sponsors gardening seminars each spring. A special seminar on food preparation and preseration is planned for the summer. Specific information on dates and times will be posted on this website.

Update February 1, 2011

Yes, gardeners, in spite of the frozen ground and snow – it is time to start thinking ahead to the start of a new gardening season. Seed catalogs have been arriving for the last month, and my green thumb has been having an occasional throb.

The 2011 application form for Community Garden plots is now available at the link below. Susan Dickson, our church secretary, also has copies in the church office you can pick up.

Returning gardeners should turn in their applications to the church office in by March 1st. We will then assign plots to new gardeners by March 15 - and we already have several applications and others making inquiries. We will add more plots this year to meet the anticipated demand. However, we want to first be sure returning gardeners from last year have their first choice of plots.

Click here for garden tips from the Yellowstone County Extension Service.

Click on a picture for an enlarged view.