http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpMhw4kOlts

This is the garden update on winter solstice 2011. This is my first video publication sorry it's a little shaky, next time I will do better.   I plan on getting some video mentoring soon.  Our total poundage for the year is 1694 pounds! Thats nearly 4x the poundage of last year and we were late to plant! 2012 should be even better!

Before and afters...

12/22/2011 Winter Solstace 2011 Garden Update. Growing our winter garden we have - Red Russian kale, Dino or Lacinto Kale, Swiss Chard, Beets, Lettuce, Turnips, Radish, Collard Greens, Cabbage, Egyptian Walking Onions, Garlic, Raddicio, Diakon Radish, Leeks. Night temperatures have been below freezing for over a week now, and frost is still on the ground, all the winter vegetables are holding up. This year we heavily mulched the beds in late fall before the freezes and that has helped the plants endure the cold weather better. Our total poundage for the year is 1694 pounds! Thats nearly 4x the poundage of last year and we were late to plant!

Later in summer.
Early Summer
After: We transplanted Collard Greens, Raddicio, Lettuce and Leeks.

Before: lowlands, we added a few inches of soil and mulch and made a no till garden using cardboard and tree trimming chips for the paths, and mounded soil and compost.

Veggies....

Fall veggies, Dino kale, early cabbage, spinach, chard, garlic, leeks, shallots, kale.
Doing a little pile smoothing and chip trail maintenance. .

More of the dalia's in front.
The dalia's a gift from a master gardener were magnificent and the bees love them!

The last of the tomatoes for the year. Fried green tomatoes and green tomato salsa are good options.

Harvesting in the rain.

Cabbage
Beautiful ripe veggies!
Dalias make a lovely addition to the garden
Our early tomatoes. Due to previous years tomato issues, this year we focused on planting early short season tomatoes and it paid off with a great harvest!

Spaghetti Squash, kale, chard, tomatoes, squash, peppers, cucumberes,eggplant, tomatillos and

cauliflower, quite a garden harvest!
Our straw bale compost pile.
Our straw bale planter.
Planting in straw
Purple cabbage and Red Russian Kale bed

Donations that made the Giving Garden happen

Aaron Eagle Scout Project made us raised beds. Then we needed amendements to fill the beds.

Pumpkin Ridge Gardens ~ Thanks for the plants

Our lovely pile of soil mix!

Amendments from Oregon Food Bank

Thank you for the soil!

Rock dust Donated by Baker Rock.

Picking up plants at ACS

Great Idea for for mini greenhouse.

Thanks PJ for picking starts for the garden.

A Special thanks to the Aaron Eagle Project ~ Raised beds at the Giving Gardens

The prepared boards - predrilled with 4x4's screwed on, they are ready for assembly.

A look at what it looks like partially planted.

We stretched the soil to fill all our beds by layering straw first, then amendments, native soil and then soil mix.

A record day for volunteers at the giving gardens there are more volunteers at the food tent and constructing the 30 wooden raised beds.

The building Crew

Filling the beds

Meet The Gardeners

A Happy Day.... This OSU Master Gardener Certificate arrived in the mail today...
And the orange badge.

This bumble bee was a welcome visitor/garden vip.

PJ the garden founder at the grand opening of the Beaverton Giving Gardens with the Mayor. PJ is our Garden Laison, an OSU Master Gardener Intern and respected garden advisor.
Meet Bruce ~ he is an effeciency wizard, knowledgable gardener and has saved several days worth of work with this trusty rotoiller. OSU Master Gardener Intern.
Jessica is the secretary of Tualatin Valley Gleaners and you will find her checking you into gleaners and behind the scenes on special projects. This was taken at our canning class taught by OSU extension service. It was delicous, hands on and highly recommended class especially for food preservation.

Heather and Crew brought us a much needed compost and soil amendment donation.
Heather Taulatin Valley Gleaner President is in Rainbow and Lisa Garden Coodinator, OSU Master Gardener in Black



















If you come to the gardens on a saturday most likely you will be greeted by this smiling face belonging to Patty our Saturday Garden Shift Lead.




















Meet Paul - He is the Hands on Portland contact, harvest delivery, and Farmer's market delivery.





Vincent is an OSU Master Garden Intern, Volunteer and Respected advisor.