How to build a community garden...

... according to us Franklinton folk that is...

Step # 1... find an empty lot you won't get kicked out of. Consider guerrilla gardening if you don't have access to land you won't get kicked out of.

Step # 2... find a group of dedicated friends.

Step # 2 1/2... chain saw down dead trees in the yard.

Step # 3... get dirt and lots of compost.

Step # 4... get lots of wood. Be sure it is not pressure treated wood. You don't want treated lumber leeching toxins into your soil and your food.

Step # 5... get a drill and a bucket of 2 inch wood screws and build raised beds. Our beds were 4 feet by 8 feet but you can make them whatever size you choose. Consider being able to reach in the middle of the bed to plant/ weed/ harvest.

Step # 6... Lay beds. Space them out so you can work in between each one. We spaced ours about 2 feet apart.Step # 7... Lay a liner in the bottom if you haven't turned over the sod so weeds can't get through. It is probably optimal to turn over the sod and cover with straw/ cardboard for a week before. But as you can see, we layed a garden liner. Don't forget to poke holes so your water will drain!

Step 7 1/2... level beds

Step # 8... find some awesome neighborhoods kids who are eager to hang out and climb heaps of soil to help you fill wheel barrels.

Step # 9... Fill beds with said soil/ compost. And borrow your equipment from Keep Columbus Beautiful for free!

This picture below shows a good shot of empty beds... lined beds... and filled beds... and hard workers.

Step # 10... spread out soil evenly in beds... fill to at least one inch below top of bed. The soil will settle and soil level will drop quite a bit.

Step # 11... Top off beds with soil and you are ready to plant!

Our chicken journey...

In mid April we got 10 chicks to raise up to egg laying hens!

It has been fun watching them grow and fun/ frustrating trying to build them a suitable and safe home in Franklinton.

This was them the week we got them. They lived inside for about 6 weeks under a heat lamp until they were old enough and it was warm enough for them to go outside. We spent that time building a coup outside and a protected run for them to run around in.

Here they are a little older and a little smarter and they are trying to see the world on the other side of their box.

More pictures to come of the coup and their new home outside...