Wendy Johnson is a star and our garden begins

What an unbelievable week it has been. First we had our dig on the weekend and it was tremendous. Many of the children were present and digging side by side with their parents and teachers. Luckily everyone was willing to dig using their backs instead of machines so it was a beautiful community effort. Though I think the crabgrass is not through with us yet. Speaking of community we had several people from the neighborhood stop by to see what the fuss was about and were excited to hear about the project. We have 18 plots ready for cover crop and some lettuce plants if we can get them. Next up we will meet and review the best composting method and name the garden.

Now, to Wendy Johnson. We had a delicious luncheon outside of CCS near the garden with Wendy to discuss her involvement with Alice Waters' Edible Schoolyard, The Green Gulch Garden, Prince Charles and her new must have book Gardening At the Dragon's Gate.
It was a gorgeous potluck provided by the director, parents and board members of the school including some people just enthusiastic to hear Wendy.

As much as I enjoyed meeting Helen Thayer when I hosted her at Joseph-Beth, I have a new love with Wendy Johnson. These powerful women are reminders that the earth is a strong teacher and we are certainly a part of it. Wendy loved the site and was very clear on how we need to get moving on this. She gave us a much needed boost with reassurance and blasted through any ideas of anything needing to be just so. She is a fierce teacher and has taken her sitting meditation beyond the walls of a center and placed it firmly into the soil of the earth. This is what sustains us. So with all this flourish, let me remind you that we are feeding people. It is simple and we are moving forward. Say your prayers or mantras or polished manifestos over the earth because there are no walls in the garden.

Jamie

The dig is on!

So we are back in business! The dig is on for this weekend and we are going to knock this thing out thanks to a very generous donation of compost from the Picarsic family! They will also build us a compost bin so we will have our very own steady supply of gardening gold. We'll lay out the habitat garden near the plots and consult for the best native plantings suited for the soil there. This garden is going to be gorgeous and full of life.
We're beginning our Phase 2 design for the Potager style garden entry where we will proudly hang the garden name once the children and parents have voted. And people, I am still contemplating a big idea. I'm a bit of a sculpture enthusiast and I love sparking the imagination. Wait and see. Give me a little space and some supplies and you might wake up next to something big.

Jamie

Hurricane Hannah and our modest CCS Garden Project

Yes, we have youthful football players on cue, eager parents and teachers, even master bookseller Nathan Spoon from Joseph-Beth Booksellers (my tremendous husband) ready to help dig dirt at CCS. Removing sod and fire ants may seem like a thankless task, but it is the first step to garden bliss for our modest garden project. I patted myself on the back when we had cleverly put our work day out there for all to see after the floods and Hurricane Hugo. How in tune we were. But then who should be waiting in the wings but Hurricane Hannah.
When I asked for compost I did not take into consideration the spotty history Charlotte may have with hurricanes. I was feeling a bit invincible with my move from Nashville where tornadoes randomly touch down to put things back into perspective. It's ok. It may work out. If the ground breaking does not happen this weekend we will have more time to draw and plan and dream.

Cheers!
Jamie

Garden Plan Details

So, at the CCS I have been considering the space and what we want to create. It is not as simple as laying out rows and throwing seed on top while mumbling to the powers that be. The school is really a beautiful structure, so I took into consideration that we needed some formality. This also helps provide boundaries for the students. Yet, we also want the space to be loose and playful. So I took the square foot gardening method since that is the one I have fallen in love with. But I must say Bartholomew lacks a certain panache for my taste. So I've flipped the squares on their sides and created something I think will invite meandering and a slower pace while still taking advantage of a great system.
The diamond pattern will be punctuated by bentwood trellises for deciduous native vines. We'll soften the edges with an informal native planting to encourage butterflies, bees and birds near the garden providing pest control, pollination and shelter. We'll use bentwood trellises to further create a sense of informality with a touch of nostalgia. Children can easily make these structures themselves which is why we chose them. Having the children involved in as much as the planning and creation of the garden is important, which is why I have eschewed the more traditional options.
The majority of the vegetables we want to plant are heirloom. The variety provided by these seeds will keep the children excited over their crops. Imagine the blue potatoes in their little hands! All will be organic as this makes sense on so many levels.
Next up I'll lay the plan on the ground and then we will commence moving out the crabgrass and the fire ants.

Jamie

Community Charter School Garden

The Giving Ground has partnered with the Community Charter School for our first garden project. The school has a nice bit of property that we believe we can turn into a beautiful addition to the school's existing curriculum. Judging by the enthusiasm of everyone we met at the open house, this is going to be a fruitful relationship.
I have been out on the property over the last few days checking the sun and soil and watching what comes and goes. I see the school already draws quite a bit of wildlife so I am excited to see how we can build a stronger sense of place on the property.
At the CCS our goal is to provide a beautiful, functional garden that can provide nourishment to its students. We believe the garden can provide much more than a full belly. Students will learn math and problem solving, history, science and biology, competence, integrity, and proper etiquette around a bumble bee. The garden can be a bridge to reunite a child with the wonder of the nature and encourage an appreciation of beauty while expanding awareness of thier surroundings. It can provide a classroom of delight whether through an orb weaver or a hummingbird.
It seems like a lot to put on such a small space but it really is something we can get behind. We believe in this.

Jamie

Upcoming Meetings

We will be having a lunch symposium with Wendy Johnson at the Community Charter School on September 23rd (check back for the time). This event will be catered by Earth Fare.

Goals

To create a series of edible schoolyard gardens utilizing organic techniques with heirloom and native plantings. Our hope is to bring children back in touch with the earth, introducing them to healthy food choices and building a "green community" around food. Successful projects around the US incorporating gardens into their curriculum have seen the benefits on many levels and we aim to foster that here in Charlotte.

To operate a CSA that would incorporate a farm-to-school project. There is tremendous need in Charlotte for shares which might sell for around $45 per week. The CSA also might provide produce to local schools as part of a "salad bar" initiative to engage children in healthy eating.

To operate a retreat center for contemplation, spiritual growth and learning in the context of a farming community.

We are here to plant seeds.

Values

Generosity: Heirloom seeds promote the spirit of generosity through sharing stories around the seeds' origin and what that means to the ones who grow them, and through sharing the seasons crop with friends and family.
Sustainability: Using organic methods and native habitat shows people they do not need fancy equipment to provide themselves with wholesome foods. This in turn lightens the foot print of previous practices that we are seeing the harmful results of and the legacy it is leaving future generations.
Flexibility: The long term idea of growing this project reminds us that we need flexibility to understand that each area may have its own set of needs and to know that there is no large stamp that we can simply stamp into the earth and move on to the next project. It reminds us to be sensitive to our surroundings and the awareness that entails.
Mutuality: Every person plays a role in the success of a garden. Each person may provide feed back, stand side by side with one another in planning and caring and share as a community the harvest of coming together beyond both economic and social boundaries.

Mission

To share the fruits of growing, inspire people to wonder, dream and discover new ways of personal and social enrichment.

History of the Group

The idea for The Giving Ground has emerged out of a meeting between groups: one a spiritual discussion group and the other a spiritual book club. There is a strong collective desire to step outside of the realm of reading and discussing and to develop a concrete giving venture.