Even if you missed the summer planting season, there’s still plenty of time to enjoy home-grown vegetables this season. In fact, August is a great time to plant some of your favorite “cool season” veggies, including lettuce, broccoli, kale, cabbage, collards, spinach, and cauliflower. These vegetables thrive in the cooler fall temperatures.
Growing a fall garden is easy, and can be a lot more pleasant than gardening during the dog days of summer (especially when the summer is as hot as this one has been!).
Swannanaoa Pride Community Coalition’s new Community Garden is the perfect place to put your seeds and plants in the ground. The garden is located on very fertile land, which has generously been made available for a community garden by a local landowner in the Grovemont neighborhood. Garden plots of various sizes are available to the public for a nominal fee to help cover expenses (if cost is a factor, please inquire about possible scholarships).
Local residents and church groups have been gardening all summer, and the rich soil has already produced bumper crops of tomatoes, cucumbers, summer squash, peppers, and much more. Water is provided on site — all you need to bring are some seeds and plants and a tool for digging.
Buncombe County Extension Master Gardeners are assisting with the Community Garden and are available to offer advice to novice and experienced gardeners alike. Participating in a Community Garden is a great way to meet neighbors, learn more about gardening (or share your expertise!), and put delicious, fresh food on your table. For more information, contact Donna Kelly at donnarobertkelly@aol.com or 299-4888.
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