Welcome to the Second Page
This page is the current information page and it will be updated regularly
with the things the gardeners and community would benefit from knowing about.
Come see us Opening Day of Millwood Farmers Market
We will be at the Opening Day, May 31, Of Millwood Farmers’ Market. Stop by and see us. Even though all of the garden plots are reserved for the 2023 season, there are still many ways to be involved. We need help now getting the spring weeds under control, and we still have starts to plant in the ground. As these starts grow, then they will need to be maintained.
“What is in it for me?’
I (Doug) received an appreciative comment from someone looking at this website. She pointed out that we are doing a good job sharing our sincere appreciation for all that has be given to the garden. Yet the site does not answer directly the question someone might ask, “What is in it for me?” I’ve pondered this for several months now, and then the other day students from Millwood Impact were asking what it meant to be a community garden.
Our mission statement guides me in answering these questions: “Growing Food and Community”.
By the way, a quick internet search turned up articles about the benefits of gardening
https://healthtalk.unchealthcare.org/health-benefits-of-gardening/
https://www.healthline.com/health/healthful-benefits-of-gardening
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6334070/
https://www.petalrepublic.com/benefits-of-gardening/
So what is in it for you?
Growing Food: The personal satisfaction of growing some of your own food. You find joy putting your hands in the dirt to plant the seed, tend the plants, harvest the produce, and finally eat what you have nurtured. The same experience of growing the food, yet with the satisfaction of giving someone else the satisfaction of enjoying it.
Growing Community: Community being multiple participants contributing their part of the final outcome with benefits for themselves and others. The garden’s presence has given many opportunities for individuals, organizations, and businesses to contribute to its operation. Because of these contributions the Later Day Saints students planted potatoes, the Millwood Impact students (and others) harvested the potatoes, and people enjoyed eating the potatoes.
What is in it for me? I was privileged to see first hand both the joy in working hard to plant and to harvest.
Growing @ the Pumpkin Patch Community Garden
What will we say about 2023? Each season is its own adventure, and by the end of it we are always able to see many good things that happened. We walked to the garden today (2/19/23) and were pleased to see how good it looked. The fenced in area, thanks to Kathryn and the LDS youth last season, looks fantastic.
This season we want to plant the food bank rows in the bottom fenced in area. So mid-March you are invited to help us put in T-Polls and fencing, run hoses and weeping hoses on the rows, and plant an early crop of snap peas. Contact us using the link at the bottom of the page and we can arrange something to fit your schedule.
We would also like to plant a cover crop on the back plateau. If you have a tractor with forks on the back, then we would like to give you a place to play. We would like to have a lite tilling of the leaves to mix with last years decay.
Local businesses and organization are invited to be a part of the garden. All season long there are plenty of maintenance projects you can own as a group and share in the common experience.
Volunteering at the garden is relatively safe and we encourage everyone to really be careful and think safety first. We want you to be aware up front that any time or thing you do at the garden will be at your own risk. So choose wisely what you are physically capable of doing.
We do not have restrooms at the garden, so plan your length of stay accordingly. There are rest rooms down the street at the trail head, and at the Argonne library.
We will have wheel barrows, shovels, racks and forks when we are there. If you bring your own tools, then be sure to have them identified with your name.
So if this is something you would like to be a part of, then use the link at the bottom footer section to contact us and decide want would be a meaningful contribution for you.
Friends of the Garden
In 2021 Kathryn, Jim, (and Pops), Star and Jackson did not have garden plots of their own, but offered to help out with the care of the garden. They made a huge difference in the care and harvest during the 2021 & 2022 seasons. Thank you so much!
See below about how you can be a Friend of the Garden in 2023.
Start making plans for 2023 – Season 14.
Whether you garden with us or garden on your own we encourage you to visit Holly and Diane’s website. Then contact them to see what and when they plan to have for spring. Even if you have all that you need for 2023, get to know them now so you know right where to get your 2024 starts.
Plots assignments for 2023
2023 Garden rules and agreement form (pdf)
The Pumpkin Patch Community Garden is full for 2023.
Plots are available on a first come first serve bases. It is very important that you first read and understand the garden agreement form because it contains the expectations and guidelines you will need to follow to be a part of the garden. I like to call it your framework for success at the PPCG. Click here on our getting starting link.
Local Plant Starts
Holly’s garden has veggies in the spring, and much more during the balance of the season. Holly has donated and helped plant veggie starts to the garden the past couple of seasons. Her plants are healthy and productive, so we strongly recommend that you look to her as a source for starts. Click on the image above to go to her website.
Diane has been a friend of the garden donating starts for many many years. Diane’s main business is dry land and other native area plants. Yet Diane says there is something the compels her each year to make veggie plant starts available in the spring. Her starts are also healthy and productive. Click on the picture above to go to her website.
Our source for our potting supplies. We recommend Greenhouse Megastore for their people and the outstanding service.
Our local source for grow lights & bulbs. Also a great local source for potting trays and other supplies.
One of our favorite places to visit. We really enjoy talking with Jeff and family. We also really like all the worm and soil products they carry.
Spokane Tree Pro is an outstanding company. We have been receiving some of their wood chip and they have been great to work with. Give them a call when you need tree work, or if you want to get on their list of places to put chips.
Garden Up Date
Millwood Community Presbyterian Church generously continued to be our non-profit sponsor for the last 9 years, even though no one from the church activity participated in the garden after the first season or two. Their sponsorship provided us with the non-profit status allowing people to give the garden charitable donations, and the garden was a rider on their insurance policy.
We are Thankful for our new non-profit sponsor – Millwood Community Association (MCA), MCA’s mission is the Promotion of cultural, educational activities for the enhancement of quality of life for the City of Millwood residents and surrounding communities. Financial donations in support of the PPCG may be made through MCA and are greatly appreciated.
Calendar
Spring frost are over and warmer days and nights are here.
May 31, 2023 Opening Day for Millwood Farmers’ Market
August 26, 2023: Millwood Daze
Wood Chips
Yes, the piles of wood chips are available for people to take, Contact us through the link at the bottom of the page and we can arrange a time to meet you and open the gate.
If you need large size piles and have a place for a large truck to get in and out easily, then we can provide you with the contact information for three local companies.
Plant Starts
If you prefer to start your garden plot with Plant Starts, then we recommend you check with Desert Jewels when they open in the early spring. The website does not list vegetable plants, but Diane always has plenty in her greenhouses.
Also, I just heard from Holly’s Custom Creations and Holly said, “Yes I am, all veggies, herbs and perennial plants”. Holly anticipates having her plants for sell as soon as May 3rd.
Seeds!
When you are ready to get plant starts going ahead of time or when it is time to plant seeds in the ground, we have seeds donated to us and available to PPCG participants. Also North40 is a great local source for seeds and other supplies. ‘Our Community‘ page lists many of the seed companies we have purchased from or received donations from if you want to order on-line.
Cables Across the Entrances
We have decided that we need to be pro-active in trying to limit the amount of illegal dumping on the property, and to limit the safety risk from people driving to fast as they use our front lot to turn around. To prevent the above activities while you are at the garden we request that gardeners reconnect the cable after pulling in. You do not need to lock it while you are there, but please lock it when you are the last to leave.
Friends of the Garden
Perhaps you do not want your own plot to garden, yet you would like to be involved in caring for a part of the garden. We can always use help planting and maintaining the food bank rows and caring for the general garden areas. Early in the season you can be involved in cleaning up and planting the rows; all season long plants will need tied up as they grow and weeds will need pulled; and as each variety is ready for harvest veggies will need to be picked and delivered.
Several times a season the parameter of the garden needs the grasses and weeds dealt with, garden plot beds and the water system need repair from time to time, and beautification projects make the garden more pleasant.
Individuals and groups are welcome to contact us and discuss the way they would like to be involved.
Operating costs of the garden exceed the amount received from plot fees. The charitable donations from friends of the garden, both personal and businesses, enable us to continue and our mission of “Growing Food and Community”. Thank You for your generosity.
Winter Sowing on our Planting & Tending Page
Here is a way to get your plants started now! You do not need a greenhouse or grow lights.
Support the Pumpkin Patch Community Garden by purchasing your IFG lumber from SAVEMORE Building Supply
IFG donated the wood for the original garden boxes in 2010 years ago, and in 2019 season they have done so again. Our Quiet Supporter advocated on our behalf for wood to replace the the old boxes . We thank them both for their extreme and gracious generosity.
Our Quiet Supporter also contacted SAVEMORE Building Supply about picking up the lumber at the Mill and delivering it to the garden. SAVEMORE was completely on board with this and gave us this extremely generous gift.
Give them a call at (509) 922-2934
One of our new gardeners when told it was SAVEMORE that had gotten and delivered the wood; said, ” that sounds like SAVEMORE, I work with them all the time and they are wonderful.”