gourdseason

Today I worked with kids from Baltimore Montessori Public Charter School to build 4 new raised bed planters. We used prefabricated wood composite board “I” beams recycled at The Loading Dock, my favorite source for used building materials. We blended dirt from the kids’ seed start beds with a hefty helping of chicken manure supplied by the Montessori School’s chickens (thanks ladies!).

Tomorrow we plant a nice range of gourd and loofah seeds and build a trellis for each bed from bamboo felled during the big winter storms.

Last year we had trouble getting pollinated by insects in the city, but thanks to a Parks and People Neighborhood Greening Grant, we now have two very active hives established on the campus by Denzel Mitchell. Our worm composting program has also provided us with some terrific castings, so I’m optimistic about a good harvest in the Fall.