Sierra House Garden Plan
**Objective:** To create a sustainable, productive, and beautiful garden space that provides fresh produce and flowers to the Sierra House community and serves as an educational and therapeutic resource.
Garden Layout & Planting Plan
1. Fence Border (Outside)
– **Plants:** Tomatoes, Cherry Tomatoes, Peas, String Beans, Sunflowers
– **Planting:** Start tomatoes and sunflowers from seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date. Peas and beans can be sown directly into the soil as soon as the ground can be worked in spring. Sunflowers should be planted after the last frost date.
– **Maintenance:** Regular watering, staking tomatoes and sunflowers for support, and installing trellises for peas and beans.
2. Fence Gutters (Hanging Gardens)
– **Plants:** Nasturtiums, Marigolds, and other companion flowers
– **Planting:** Plant seedlings or directly sow seeds after the last frost date. Ensure gutters have adequate drainage holes.
– **Maintenance:** Regular watering and deadheading to encourage continuous blooming.
3. Asparagus Patch (By the House)
– **Plants:** Asparagus crowns
– **Planting:** Plant asparagus crowns in early spring in a well-drained bed with plenty of organic matter.
– **Maintenance:** Mulch heavily and keep the area weed-free. Asparagus is a perennial and will not be entirely produced until its third year.
4. Around Fruit Trees
– **Plants:** Strawberry plants
– **Planting:** Plant bare-root strawberry plants in early spring, in well-drained soil, and a sunny location.
– **Maintenance:** Mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds. If necessary, protect from birds with netting.
5. Back Planter Beds
– **Plants:** Cucumbers, Squash, Zucchini, and Chile Peppers
– **Planting:** Start indoors 3-4 weeks before the last frost date or sow directly into the ground after the danger of frost has passed.
– **Maintenance:** Regular watering, mulching, and installing supports for cucumbers. Monitor for pests.
6. Sunroom
– **Plants:** Spinach, Lettuce, and other leafy greens
Planting:** Planting can be started in early spring and fall for a continuous harvest. Use pots or trays with good drainage.
– **Maintenance:** Ensure adequate light and ventilation. Water regularly, but avoid overwatering.
7. Indoor Microgreen Project
– **Plants:** Various microgreen seeds (e.g., radish, broccoli, kale)
– **Planting:** Use shallow trays with a potting mix. Sow seeds densely and cover lightly with soil. It can be grown year-round.
– **Maintenance:** Keep soil moist but not waterlogged. Harvest when first true leaves appear.
8. Rose and Ground Cover Area
– **Plants:** Roses (existing), Ground Cover (e.g., creeping thyme or sedum)
– **Planting:** Plant ground cover plants in spring or fall, ensuring that the rose roots are not disturbed.
– **Maintenance:** Regular pruning of roses and watering. Keep the area weed-free and mulch annually.
Watering System
– Install a drip irrigation system with timers for efficient water use. Set timers based on the specific needs of each garden section, adjusting for seasonal changes.
– Consider using rain barrels to collect rainwater for supplemental watering.
Volunteer Needs
– **Gardeners:** For planting, maintenance, and harvesting.
– **Handypersons:** These are for setting up the drip irrigation system and building trellises or supports.
– **Educators:** To lead workshops on gardening techniques, composting, and sustainable practices.
Timeline & Activities
– **Pre-Season (Winter):** Order seeds and supplies, start some seeds indoors.
– **Spring:** Prepare soil, plant cold-hardy crops and perennials, and set up drip irrigation.
– **Summer:** Plant warm-season crops, maintain the garden, and start harvesting early crops.
– **Fall:** Plant for fall harvest, maintain garden, begin to winterize.
– **Winter:** Continue indoor gardening projects and plan for next season.
Supplies List
– Seeds or plant starts for all specified plants.
– Drip irrigation components (tubing, emitters, timers, connectors).
– Gardening tools (shovels, trowels, pruners).
– Organic fertilizers and mulch.
– Trellises and supports for climbing plants.
– Rain barrels for water collection.
This comprehensive plan outlines a roadmap for the Sierra House Garden, emphasizing sustainability, community involvement, and gardening's therapeutic benefits. The plan can be adjusted based on local climate conditions, available resources, and community feedback.
