West Portland Community Garden

West Portland United Methodist Church (WPUMC) Community Garden Mission Statement: Our mission is to help fight hunger through the "Produce for People Program" and support for WPUMC members and the local community.

The West Portland Community Garden Program consists of "Community" and "Produce for People" Plots.  This program will be unique, because it allows you to have your own plot of land already with the necessary tilling, watering, and fencing needed to reap your first harvest. From working alongside your neighbors to donating home-grown produce to "Neighborhood House," become part of our gardening community.

West Portland Community Garden as an Organic Garden: Organic gardening requires a commitment to sticking to its philosophy and practice without giving in to the ease of using non-organic pesticides and fertilizers. We encourage everyone to utilize organic gardening techniques, which are methods that are people, plant, animal, and environmentally friendly for the health and well being of all. You can produce your own fresh produce using organic fertilizers and growing methods and the result will be vegetables and fruit that are produced without potentially harmful chemicals.

"Produce for People"/Direct Donation to Neighborhood House: The mission of Neighborhood House is to bring neighbors together to reduce hunger and homelessness, and educate both young and old. They strengthen community by providing resources to support self-reliance, economic independence and dignity in people of all ages and backgrounds. Many people are beginning to see the benefits of adding fresh organic foods to their diet. Clients of the Neighborhood House Emergency Food Pantry enjoy fresh produce but are usually limited due to the costs of fresh items. Providing fresh fruits and vegetables to families in need is something Neighborhood House began to focus on in the form of seeking out new partners willing to provide these items. West Portland United Methodist Church, in their generosity, offered the plots as a way to meet the growing need.

 

Even if you do not volunteer for a "Produce for People" plot, we encourage all participants to donate and transport any extra produce to Neighborhood House. 

Friends of West Portland Community Garden: Funds to cover the operational costs of the Community Garden are maintained in a separate "fund" and are only partially covered by the plot fee. There is no plot fee for WPUMC members. 

Annual donations allow us to provide community plots at a reduced rate and "Produce for People" plots at no cost. If you are interested in becoming a "West Portland Community Garden Friend" please make your donation to West Portland United Methodist Church and designate that it is for the "Community Garden Fund." You may also make a donation in the name of a "loved one" as a memorial.

 

Plot Request: With the cold weather seeping into our homes and the Holiday rush upon everyone it may not seem like a good time to be thinking of spring flowers and nurturing a garden. What better gift than a West Portland Community Garden Gift Certificate for a community member. Just send $40 and the name of the individual to the Church Secretary and you will be provided a gift Certificate and Garden Agreement to give. Also, Church member sign up for Garden plots starts in December. Community Members may sighnup starting in January 2012. Plot request forms are available in the narthex or "Click here to download the request form" attached it to an e-mail and send it to westportlandumc@qwestoffice.net.

    

Community Garden Update:

 

So far we have 5 Church and 12 community members requesting plots. The total individual and "Produce for People" plot requests stands at 31. THre are still 29 plots available.  If you or your neighbors are interested, please submit a plot request while there is still time.

 

The holidays are over and we all are looking forward to spring.   You will be off to a good start when you plan your vegetable garden layout before you plant your garden. Your reward will be a bounty of delicious and fresh produce.

When you think of the layout of a garden, do you think of parallel straight rows of crops? While that is certainly the most familiar vegetable garden layout, it is not the only way to arrange your plot. Mounded beds, circular gardens, containers, vertical gardens, and symmetrical or asymmetrical blocks; these are just some of the ways you can lay out your garden. You can even take an idea from French cottage gardens and grow vegetables along with flowers, herbs, and fruit trees in the 'potager' style.

Vertical gardening is another space saver for small gardens. It's a common practice to grow peas and pole beans on teepees, poles, or trellises, but you can also grow summer squash, cucumbers, and melons vertically. Besides maximizing space, crops that climb up off the ground stay cleaner and are easier to harvest.