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.