What S Growing in Those Fields? April 2016

What’s Growing in those Fields? April 2016

Spring has started showing her lovely face around the Property….a few highlights:

We are working on expanding our native plants - especially those that can be used as wool dyes to complement our upcoming Museum exhibit. And we will be planting a wildflower path around our future a picnic grove south of the Alameda.

We are excited about our new lamb! The baby was born on March 11 and could not be more adorable. Take the Perimeter Trail to find her pen…and note all thee sheep droppings are helping out our organic compost pile! The mounds of clippings and cuttings that were on the south side of the Heritage Orchard have been chopped and shredded and spread on the gardens. Do you compost? We will have a class in the fall, but for now, just spreading your coffee grounds in your garden will give them a quick nitrogen boost as it decomposes and it’s acidic - a boon to our alkaline soil!

The farmers from the Center for Southwest Culture (CSC) have plowed their fields and are planning warm season crops again. The Hoop House moved slightly to make more efficient operations and both CSC and HHA are planting seeds there. These starts will go into the Demo Garden and the grow beds between the trees in the Orchard.

Have you started your seedlings yet? Now is the time for tomato, herbs, lettuces, etc. to get tucked in potting soil in a nice sunny spot inside. You’ll want to transplant when the soil warms ups.

We are boosted by our budding partnerships – Isleta Behavior Health, Laguna and Jemez Pueblos, Cuatros Puertos for wildflower seeds, Women’s Recovery Academy for their helping hands, and especially Eastern Central Ministries for donation of a chicken tractor!

Would you like to help with these projects? Please contact Diane at 507-6416 or Mick 610-9905. Or if you see Mick our Caretaker in the fields, please have a chat - there might be a little something or a technique you can take home and work into your garden!