page 3 kitsapweek Friday, March 21, 2014
Above, a backyard in the Bremerton neighborhood of Manette, converted into a small farm. Right, when she’s not teaching or consulting on the topic, Gayle Larson grows her own food at her suburban home in Poulsbo. Courtesy photos
Beginner tips Start small. Do your homework before you dig. Do a soil test and watch out for any contaminants. Gayle Larson points out, for example, that older homes may have lead in the soil from old paint. n Choose a place with adequate sun. Pay attention to how many hours of sunlight that different parts of your property receive. Knowing where the sunlight goes helps determine what plants can thrive in your yard. n Sit down with a pencil and paper and list what you want to grow, and do research on what it takes to grow those plants, such as proper growing seasons, how much sunlight is needed, air temperature, etc. n Take a gardening class. Larson recommends classes offered through WSU Extension. n n
Farming
Continued from page 2 “Last year, the neighbor behind me put up a hoop house, and now our next door neighbor, who is between me and the other guy, will be on the garden tour this year,” Smith said. “We have a neighbor, she’s converting her entire front yard into a farm.” The movement may not be limited to Manette. Larson teaches on the topic at Edmonds Community College where there is a waiting list of interested gardeners, eager to learn about home farming. “Most of the folks in my classes are not looking to be farmers, they want to be home gardeners,” Larson said. “It’s something that practically anyone can do at home.”
Getting started
“Ideally the home vegetable garden is to supplement and provide the things that are just better when they are home grown,” Larson said. “You will never ever buy a strawberry that is as good as what you can grow at home.” Larson has a few words of wisdom for the beginning urban farmer, starting with “start small.” “It’s very common to
see small green houses that people are not using, or garden beds with hoops over them that they are not using, and that is evidence of people who jumped in without doing their homework,” she said. “Start small; do one bed instead of four. Grow a couple of things instead of one of everything. Get a feel for your garden and for what you’re comfortable doing.” Smith notes that not every property is apt for edible gardening. Some are too shady or the soil could be lacking. “A lot of people don’t vegetable garden because they live in areas that are shady, but there are pea patches,” she said. “Blue-
berry Park (Bremerton) has pea patches that can be rented for nearly nothing.” “There’s a pea patch in Poulsbo (Raab Park) for people that live out on that side,” she said. “Not having the right land at home doesn’t need to limit you.” And then there’s growing out of pots or herb gardens, Smith said. Smith also recommends getting in touch with other home gardening enthusiasts, for support and trading tips. Larson also consults privately on home gardening topics. Her business can be found at www.dancingravendesign.com. Online: Manette Edible Garden Tour, www.manetteediblegardens.com.
More growing tips Check out an article with more tips on home farming and advice on how to keep veggies warm, on page 11 by Kitsap Week’s Melinda Weer
A cold frame helps keep plants warmer in winter. Melinda Weer / Kitsap Week
What to grow There is a wide array of food that a yard can produce, depending on light, soil quality and other factors. But some plants are easier to grow than others. Certified professional horticulturist Gayle Larson suggests the following as good plants to start with: n Salad greens n Spinach n Peas n Green beans n Zucchini n Strawberries Larson notes that some popular foods such as carrots, tomatoes and peppers can be difficult to grow for beginners as they need extra protection from the weather, sometimes have special watering requirements, and other needs.
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