Ellsworth
Ellsworth is an annual garden siter with 10 plots. The site is located on the grounds Washtenaw Community Mental Health, 2140 E. Ellsworth Rd., just east of Stone School Rd.
MAP OF GARDEN: Ellsworth map
SITE COORDINATOR: Eric Meves (ericmeves@gmail.com)
SOIL: Sand/clay loam.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS: Conveniently located right next to the parking lot.
PERENNIAL PLOTS: Four perennial plots are available at Ellsworth. If you are interested in one of these, please put a note in your application. Perennial plots are not recommended to people who are new to gardening.
INDIVIDUAL PLOT MAINTENANCE: All gardeners are responsible for keeping weeds down in their plots and along the adjacent pathways. Various mulches may be used in your garden to inhibit weed growth, conserve water, and promote a hospitable micro-climate for plants and worms. Marsh hay is usually available in the spring, delivered to the garden from a local grower for a reasonable fee. If interested in learning more about marsh hay deliveries or for more information about mulching, contact your site coordinator.
GARDEN MAINTENANCE: We will mow the perimeters of the garden so please keep the area free from organic refuse and other debris and stones. Project Grow does not provide trash service. Please take home all paper, plastic, and other non bio-degradable material. Help make the gardens beautiful this summer by maintaining your own plot and keeping the gardens free from debris, etc.
WATER: The spigot is located near the southeast corner of the building. The water is turned on at the end of May and turned off in the fall. Please try to conserve water by mulching well and watering only when necessary. If you spot a leak in the hose lines, either make the repairs yourself or notify the site coordinator. Please do not just ignore it, so that water is wasted. (We plan to install a timer on the spigot in 2015 to prevent water losses from line failures.)
Watering of gardens should never be unattended; hose timers are prohibited.
COMPOSTING: Any organic waste generated during the growing season may be tilled into the soil, placed in a designated compost area on-site, or taken home for composting by the city. However, diseased plants should always be removed from the site, to minimize the presence of pathogens in the gardens. (In winter 2014-15, a large leaf pile is being composted onsite. Most or all of this compost will be tilled into some the plots to improve the clay soil.)
TOOLS: Shovels, hoes, fork, and wheelbarrow are under the tree by the bench..
COMMUNICATIONS: We will notify gardeners through email.
ABANDONED PLOTS: Plots that have not been seriously gardened by June 1st or are overgrown with weeds taller than 18" at any point in the season will be considered abandoned and will be reassigned or solarized. Contact your site coordinator or the office if you are having problems getting started or if you have to abandon your plot.
FALL CLEAN UP: Your plot must be cleared in the fall. You will be notified of the date of official closing day. Pull out dead annuals and weeds or cut them to the ground. Cut non-infected plant materials into 12 inch pieces, compost in your plot or spread on your garden. Remove all tomatoes and diseased or once infected materials from your plot and discard at home. Remove stakes, trellises, tomato cages, etc. that are not in use and take them with you or store them under the tree by the bench. Take home all inorganic material (i.e. watering jugs, plastic bags, fences, etc. ) Clean up and weed pathways within and around your plot.
Please clean up your plot according to the guidelines set forth in the Member Handbook or contact the site coordinator to make other arrangements.
