Benson Community GardenBenson, Nebraska

We asked the Douglas County Community Garden Network how they deal with late season frosts. Here are the responses we received (more coming as we get them):

I have always found that row covers help (any old sheet will do).  You can also cut off the bottoms of plastic milk or pop bottles and put those over the seedlings- kind of a terrarium effect.  Hope that helps
Beth Drickey, BS, PHR
OneWorld Community Health Centers

 

The important thing to remember is that certain vegetables can handle frosts and snow just fine.  These would be cool season crops like brussel sprouts, kale, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, and radishes.  For these vegetables, the cold weather actually enhances their flavor.

Lettuce and spinach can handle some cold temperatures—to about 28 degrees F.

Warm season vegetables like tomatoes and peppers will need to be covered.

Kathleen Cue

Located at 1302 North 60th Street on the south side of Omaha’s historic Benson neighborhood, Benson Community Garden, Inc. is a nonprofit corporation registered with the State of Nebraska. We are looking for individuals who would be interested in becoming members of the garden; volunteers who will help us operate the garden; and sponsors to support our mission.

We are looking for dedicated community gardeners this year who can, in addition to working their own plot, help maintain the outside-of-the-fence neighbor garden and common areas. In a nutshell …we need YOU!

Last year we had a few gardeners who planted their plots and abandoned it. That was a challenge for everyone, especially the folks who had to adopt the gardens. Before applying, please seriously consider the commitment of time it takes to maintain a thriving garden …especially during those critical hot weather weeks in August. It’s sweaty, but it’s FUN!

BCG MISSION:
To strengthen our community by providing an urban agricultural space where individuals and families can come together to grow farm-fresh foods, share tools and resources, and learn about gardening and nutrition.

The garden also serves as an open air venue for entertainment as well as educational opportunities where people can learn about and discuss local foods, nutrition and sustainability.

To become involved in the garden, please click HERE and fill out the form. Or you can email BensonGardens@gmail.com and let us know what you’re interested in.

Thank you!

Lifelong gardener (and all-around nice guy) Doug Pagel put together our “shopping list” of tools we’ll need to have on hand for the community gardeners. Because the Garden is completely dependent on the generosity of individuals and organizations, please consider helping us by donating one of the following:

TOOLS

Gravel shovels (curves to a point, not a flat shovel blade; for digging up beds, turning compost, etc.)

Long-handled, flat-bladed spades (these are for digging up beds in the Spring and removing sod)

Long-handled 5 or 6 pronged forks (for turning compost piles, Fall cleanup of beds, etc.)

D-handled spading forks (some folks call these potato forks; great for digging up plants, working beds, mixing in compost, dividing plant roots, etc.)

Garden rakes (for smoothing dirt and leveling beds after working them up)

Leaf rakes (for Spring and Fall clean up and maybe having a team go to some community neighbors places in the fall to harvest leaves for the compost bins!)

String & stakes (for marking rows in beds, string/twine can be used to tie up & support plants, etc.)

Hoes

SMALL HAND TOOLS:

Hand trowels (hand shovels for planting transplants, etc.)

Hand 3-pronged cultivators (not long handled kind; for weeding in between plants in beds and loosening soil)

Water cans (these can be used to mix up compost teas and use on various plantings; can be used when someone is using the hose or to reach inaccessible places that we may not have hose to reach)

Garden hose lengths (can’t remember, do you have 2 tanks? If 2, then two lengths of hose to reach any part of the garden. These are also needed to water dry spots in the compost bins when turning them.)

Kneeling pads (for those who like to “get down” in the garden beside their beds and work without getting their knees all dirty or to keep them from getting sore. Get them big enough to fit both knees on them.)

Wheelbarrows (for the size of the garden, I would get 2 at about at least the 5 cubic feet size; they’re deep enough to haul large bulky loads like leaves, & yet haul lots of compost to fill beds or add amendments)

Hose accessories -

Nozzle for end (once you have the hose extended out to beds, you don’t have run back up the hill and shut it off quicklyc. Good for spraying off tools and wheelbarrows too.)

Splitter for hose (they have attachments for your hosebib that screws on enabling you to have 2 hoses off of one bib. You can water with 2 hoses at once.)

Watering wands with shut off valves (I love my wand with a shut-off valve! I can be working on planting, then right afterward water everything, shut off the water right there and don’t have to run back and shut off the faucet. Will also save water from tanks.)

OR… become a FOUNDING SPONSOR by clicking HERE!

Starting any new adventure inspires so many questions. The other community gardeners have been so very helpful. This morning we emailed our list to the Community Garden Network here in Omaha to see what they say. If you have been involved in a garden, please join the conversation. To “pay it forward,” the responses will be compiled and shared with any other person or organization looking to start a garden. Thank you!

PUBLIC vs. PRIVATE

• Which gardens in the metro are hosted on private land?
• Which gardens in the metro are on public land?
• Which gardens are associated with another organization?
• Can gardens be created on city property (Parks, OHA, etc.)?

PERMITS

• Do community gardens require any special permits?
• If gardeners want to sell their extra produce at an area farmers market, do they need a permit?
• If a garden wishes to donate their extra produce to a charity, which ones accept?

ORGANIZATION

• What organizational structure (boards, committees, etc.) works best for a community garden?
• Is obtaining 501(c)(3) status difficult and/or necessary?
• Are gardens required to incorporate with the State of Nebraska?

SEASONS & HOURS

• What are reasonable hours of operation?
• When should a garden be ready (spring) and when should it close (autumn)?

PLOTS

• What size garden plots are common?
• How much space between garden plots?
• Raised bed gardens?
• Should the sod be removed or tilled under?
• Any special things the garden should offer? (tomato cages, trellis, etc.)

MARKETING

• What are successful ways for gardens to find gardeners?

FUNDING

• What do Omaha gardens charge for their plots? (month/year)
• What types of funds are available to supports gardens?
• Which grants will support a community garden?
• What type of fund raisers are successful?

PLANTS

• For the first time gardener, which plants are good to recommend?
• Any plants that should be forbidden or discouraged?
• Which fruit trees do well in this climate?
• How long until a fruit tree typically bears fruit?

WATER

• If we collect run-off water into large tanks (and keep replenished via homeowner’s hose) an acceptable means of providing water?
• How do gardeners transport the water from tanks to their plots?
• Any other options?

TOOLS

• Should the garden have gardening tools available for the gardeners?
• If so, which tools (and how many of each)?

COMPOSTING/MAINTENENCE

• What is an effective method of composting?
• Does the compost pile/structure have any special considerations? (Placement, etc.)
• Who takes care of the common area/aisles in the garden? (mowing, etc.) Landowner? Garden Organization?

BEES

• Should a community garden host bee hives?
• If so, any special concerns/considerations?

SECURITY

• How do you keep thieves from stealing gardeners’ vegetables?
• How do you keep vandals off the property?
• How do you keep dogs out of the garden?

INSURANCE & LIABILITY

• Where should a garden go to purchase insurance?
• How much coverage is enough?
• Any recommendations on reducing liability for the landowner and/or garden organization?

ANYTHING ELSE?

• If you have any other advice you are willing to share, we completely appreciate it!

If you are interested in gardening, volunteering, advising, or sponsoring our community garden, please fill out THIS FORM. Thank you!

NO CHARGE

The bill arrived from Thompson, Dreessen & Dorner – and they were as good as their word!

“We like the idea that you are contributing to the Benson Community. (I will bill you at or below cost should the lot corners be missing and we have to spend an inordinate amount of time on site)…”

Thanks again to TD2 and their crew for supporting the community garden!

Land survey was conducted on Thursday, March 3, 2011. Because we’re investing in the community, the fine folks at Thompson, Dreesen & Dorner donated their services!

Thompson, Dreessen & Dorner, Inc.
10836 Old Mill Road
Omaha, NE 68154
Phone (402) 330-8860
Fax (402) 330-5866