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County Farm
County Farm Garden is located behind the Washtenaw Recreation Building, within the County Farm Park. Entrance is through the parking lot off of Platt Road. It is Project Grow's oldest and largest garden site. Gardening tools and wheelbarrows are provided for your use.
SITE COORDINATORS: Karl Longstreth, Jeanette Fontanive, Damaris Sufalko
SOIL: Section A - clay loam; pH 7.5. Section B - sandy loam; pH 6.8
MAP OF GARDEN: County Farm Map
PARKING is available in the parking lot off of Platt Road. Do not drive on grassy areas or up the gravel road when unloading gardening items. Wheelbarrows are available to transport materials from the paved parking area. Please return them to the tool shed after use.
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 microclimate for plants and worms. Marsh hay is usually available in the spring, delivered to the garden by a local grower for a reasonable fee. A mass delivery is made during the Spring Garden Kickoff Day (see calendar below), marking the first day of the season at County Farm. Thereafter, individual deliveries can be requested, for a slightly higher per bale fee, if you miss the opening day delivery date. For more information about marsh hay deliveries or about mulching, contact your site coordinator or the office.
GARDEN MAINTENANCE: The major perimeters of the garden are mowed by the County Parks Department only if we keep the area free from organic refuse and other debris and stones. Please pile rocks in designated areas only and away from aisles and plot edges...rocks break mower blades! Place organic waste in your own plot (they make great mulches) or take them home for composting by the city. Please do not make unofficial compost or weed piles outside of your garden.
Workparties, to maintain the interior pathways and perimeters immediately surrounding the gardens, to repair hoses and tools, and to keep the site in good condition, are held once a month. Check the calendar below for workparty dates. All gardeners are expected to attend these as part of your responsibility to the community. Workparties generally last 2 hours, followed by a group meeting to discuss problems and enjoy refreshments. It is a great way to meet your fellow gardeners and share gardening information. Please do your part and participate!
TOOLS: A limited supply of tools is kept in the tool shed located in the woods near Section B. Always return tools to the shed after use. Damage to equipment is inevitable; if replacements become necessary, call your site coordinator. If you have tools that you wish to donate to the garden, feel free to put them into the shed and then notify the office.
ANIMALS: Woodchucks, deer and other animals will visit this garden. If you fence, we recommend black/green plastic or wire fencing. Please do not use any orange plastic fencing. For the best results, bury the fence 8" below ground and bend it away from the garden to stop animals digging underneath.
WATER: Water is provided by the County from a well. While perfectly fine for watering your vegetables, it is not recommended for drinking. Potable water is available from a drinking fountain under the pavillion (as are lavatories). If you spot a leak in the hoses, either make the repairs yourself or notify your site coordinator. The water will be turned on after all danger of frost has passed and turned off prior to fall frost. To conserve water, we highly recommend mulching.
COMMUNICATION: Watch the bulletin boards and feel free to use them to make announcements regarding garden business. Expect a few phone calls asking you to help out with volunteer tasks. In recent years, we have also used the garden group email list to make important announcements. If you have not already notified us of your email address, let us know right away! Finally, newsletters will also contain important information about upcoming projects and events.
ABANDONED PLOTS: Plots that have not been seriously worked by May 31st or are overgrown with weeds taller than 1 1/2' at any point in the season will be considered abandoned and may be reassigned. 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 no later than the end of the day on Saturday, October 16th. If you have an annual plot, organic material should be chopped up and spread evenly across the area, to be plowed under later. Diseased and all tomato plants, along with any trash, should be removed and placed in the dumpster provided by the county. Take home all non-organic material, i.e., fences, stakes, plastic, paper, etc. Failure to clean up your plot according to the guidelines set forth in the Gardening Agreement may result in expulsion from the garden.
Perennial plots must still be put to rest for the winter. In the fall, non-organic trash, along with diseased plants, should be disposed of in the dumpster; dead organic material should be removed or chopped up to compost in your plot. Perennial plants or annual plants that have not been killed by frost may remain. Failure to clean your plot according to the guidelines set forth in the Gardening Agreement may result in expulsion from the garden. If you know you will not be returning, take away your personal belongings and clear out your entire plot. It would help to notify the director also, as perennial plots are always in great demand.
Moving? Tell us! We mail out notices during the year and they are not forwarded (third class mail).
County Farm Park
2010
Community Garden Schedule
*SUNDAY, April 25, 1pm - 3pm: Spring Garden Kickoff
SATURDAY, May 15th, 10am - 1pm: May Work Party
SATURDAY, June 19th, 10am - 1pm: June Work Party
SATURDAY, July 17th, 10am - 1pm: July Work Party
SATURDAY, August 14th, 10am - 1pm: Aug. Work Party
SATURDAY, Sept.18th, 10am - 1pm: Sept. Work Party
SATURDAY, Oct. 16th: Individual Gardens Close for the 2010 Season
SUNDAY, Oct. 17th, 10am -Done: Community Garden Closing and Final Clean Up
* Kickoff date has been scheduled earlier than usual because of the extra warm spring this year. New gardeners should attend this event. Marsh hay will also be available for purchase at $4.50 per bale on this day.
