Healing Gardens

Body:

Cheryl Kirk

Healing Gardens

Garden Plan

February 2007

 Garden Site Description: I.  Ownership, Location & Directions to Site:

            The selected site consists of a total parcel of 2.6 acres located at 12837 Thistledown CT SE, Rainer, WA, 98576.  It is owned by my family.  It is easy to get to, and if anyone would like to visit, I’d be glad to provide directions.

 II.  Describing the Garden Site:

1.      Size:  Total size is 2.6 acres.  Of this, I am currently working on a garden expansion space that is approximately 20 feet wide and 40 feet long.

2.      Shape:  The total site is roughly in a square.  The current garden project is a rectangle.

3.      Topography.  The total site has a gradual increase in elevation starting at the back side of the property, rising in gradual degrees a total of apx. 50 feet in height. (Undulating)

4.      Slope:  The back of the property is flat, with a slight hill leading up to the house, on the north west corner of the property is another slightly steeper hill.  The north side of the property also includes a slight depression.

5.      Exposure:  The South side of the property is bordered by a greenstrip of very tall trees.  During the summer, the exposure is 6-8 hours per day.  During the winter, exposure is 2-4 hours per day.  The north and east sides of the property receive full sunlight for most of the day.

6.      Soil characteristics:  Rocky, but rich, with some slightly sandy areas.  Loose soil on the north side of the property, compacted on the south side.  Drainage is good.

7.      No water features above ground.  Tree growth on the north side of the property is characteristic of an underground stream or water source of some kind.

8.      Principal Plant Species:  Most of the property had been clear cut prior to our purchasing it 2 years ago.  We have not mowed or cut down vegetation since we bought the property except in the vegetable garden area, and for a small area immediately around the house.  The current plant growth in those areas is characteristic of pioneer species.  There are a large number of cotton wood saplings on the north side of the property; about a quarter acre of Himalayan blackberries; Some sort of tall grass on the east side of the property; and an abundance of native species growth bordering the green strip on the south side of the property.

9.      Animal activity:  There are numerous deer trails throughout the property, a large number of various birds living in the shrubs, and an occasionally spotted raccoon.

10.   The site was selected for purchase because it fit all of the basic requirements for what we were looking for in a piece of property.

11.  This land was selected because it “spoke” to me.  When I looked at it for purchase, it had been neglected and abused, but I could feel the potential for life and growth waiting just under the surface.  All it needed was a little bit of nurturing to explode into lush and vibrant growth.

  

Satellite picture of site: 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 This year I have several projects I am working on for our gardens.  They are:

 

            *Vegetable garden expansion

            *Continued work on planting mound for sacred circle

            *Planted berms surrounding hot tub area (creation of “grotto” effect?)

            *Outline of Labyrinth

            *Start outline of paths through north side of property

            *Finish meditation hut/start meditation garden

           

The project which I will be highlighting in conjunction with the healing gardens class is the expansion of the vegetable garden space.

 

Plants I am going to be putting into the vegetable garden this year:

 

            Broccoli

            Derby day cabage

            Thumbelina carrot

            Nelson carrot

            Precocious corn

            Painted Mountain corn

            Boothby’s blonde cucumber

            Western rose garlic

            Bavarian purple garlic

            Tom thumb lettuce

            London springs lettuce mix

            Mesclun blend lettuce mix

            Sugar star snap peas

            Healthy red pepper

            Easter egg radishes

            Sunburst squash

            Oriental giant spinach

            Starship zucchini

            Beaverlodge series tomato

            Oregon Star tomato

            Russian Black tomato

            Cherokee purple tomato

            Mortgage Lifter tomato

            Micro Tom tomato

            Tiny Tim tomato

            Kong sunflower

            Infrared sunflower

            Prado Red sunflower

 

I will also be adding to the herb garden, but I haven’t decided yet exactly which plants I want to add.

 

The outline for the new garden beds, as well as photographs of progress are in my journal.

 

Sequence of events:  February:  Start seeds; End of March:  Start putting plants in garden (as well as direct seed plants); Spring-Summer:  Maintenance

 

Materials needed.  I have everything I need.

 

Compost system:  I maintain a simple compost pile, I will be turning it, sifting and starting to add a layer of compost to the gardens in March.  I might need to get some delivered this year, since my composting system is not big enough to support all the expansion I am doing.

 

Watering system:  I have access to water points all over the property, and have been gradually putting in a drip irrigation system.

 

My main focus is on organic gardening and permaculture.  I am working on creating an edible landscape which will be comparatively low maintenance in a few years.