Community Garden Workday for July

The heat of summer does not deter us from our appointed rounds.
The Community Garden in Denver required a few helping hands,
so about a half dozen volunteers showed up to harvest and tidy up.

The Community Garden is a project that allows nearby folks

to lease a raised bed in which to grow what they wish.

Most gardeners grow veggies,

but a few people have flowers and herbs mixed in their beds.

There are also "community" beds in which veg is grown

and the produce is donated to the local food banks.

This bed is boasting a plethora of carrots

and some nice-sized tomatoes.

The sweet potatoes planted last month are doing well.

In this box, the new irrigation system can easily be seen.

The loofah vines took me by surprise.

They are filling out one corner of the garden.

We posted about our loofah project here.

One large gourd was even spied already dangling from the fence top.
What a treat to see the transformation of this crop!
Although I had trouble germinating seeds,
next year I will give this crop another go.

Brilliant Swiss Chard was ready for picking.

Tomatoes of all shapes and sizes can be found in many beds.

Some needed a bit more time on the vines.

Sunflowers invite pollinators to do their vital work.

Bell peppers in various stages,

will no doubt be enjoyed by many.

Some of the okra may be too far gone.

It is best picked at 3-4 inches long,

beyond that it tends to get woody.

Just look at this colossal tower of beans!

I stole this simple trellis idea

and used it in my garden.

The caretaker of this bed (who is also a volunteer),
told me that he blanches and freezes the beans

so that he can eat them all winter long.

It's been wonderful to take note of all the different

trellising ideas folks have come up with.

Most are simple and inexpensive to put together.

This one uses t-posts and a hog panel.

A few more goodies that need just a bit more time on the vines.

Over 17 pounds of food was collected on this workday

and brought to the food pantry.

I am so grateful to be part of this project.

Do you have a community garden where you live?
If you're interested in starting one,
here are some guidelines.