The Garden at 485 Elm
People growing together:
A collaborative community garden in Montpelier, Vermont

Welcome to The Garden!

The Winter Squash Bed Becomes the Garlic Bed

The Winter Squash Bed Becomes the Garlic Bed

Winter squash harvest day comes before the first frost or after the squash have stopped maturing in each day's reduced sunlight and warmth. Gardeners harvested the squashes for sorting and distribution then pulled up the vines, which went onto the garden waste...

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What else is growing at the garden?

A Garden with Good Friends

A Garden with Good Friends

A gardener here for several years is now a Friend of the Garden. Friends of the Garden join us for work parties or show up to do some weeding and watering without committing to the season. With friends like this . . . we are very fortunate indeed.

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Planting Potatoes

Planting Potatoes

Gardeners dug eight trenches and turned compost into the soil. Planting potatoes while prepping new trenches. Gardeners planted seed potatoes in six of the eight trenches—two furrows each of Chieftain, Kennebec, and Superior varieties. If we score more seed, the last...

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It begins: First big work party of spring

It begins: First big work party of spring

A beautiful day beckoned gardeners for the first big garden work party of the season. We dug potato trenches (and found some garlic & carrot treasures), planted flowers, prepped beds for onions and squash, turned the compost between bins, and said hi to the worms...

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Spring Planting Begins

Spring Planting Begins

Even with some frosty nights left, we start planting the moment we can work the soil. What are we planting? Salad greens, kale, Asian greens, mustard greens, collard greens, broccoli raab, carrots, parsnips, and more. This long box is divided into sections with a...

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First Work Party of the Season

First Work Party of the Season

A gardener arrives for the first work party of this garden season on an irresistibly beautiful day. Flower power as lovingly wielded by the flower team. They cleaned up the flower rows, planted some seed, and laid down burlap. These rows will produce flowers that...

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Signs of Spring

Signs of Spring

We are here for it! Spring rhubarb peeks out of winter's protective mulch. Good day, sunshine.

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Early March Catnip Interlude

Early March Catnip Interlude

In 2021, we planted catnip. We learned it had insect-repelling properties and held a catnip distilling workshop. A few months and feet of snow later, we all need a charge. That's also part of catnip's potential. Have a look. What a catnip harvest! Back on September 7,...

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2021 Boutique Crop: Seed Pumpkins

2021 Boutique Crop: Seed Pumpkins

Here at the Garden at 485 Elm, we grow crops that are shared and distributed among gardeners and the community in one of three ways: First, we grow crops that produce continually, such as lettuces, kale, summer squashes, beans, and peas. Gardeners harvest as much as...

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A Grateful Look Back: Garden Catnip Distilling Workshop

A Grateful Look Back: Garden Catnip Distilling Workshop

The garden gives us so much to be grateful for all year long. Today we express deep garden gratitude to Lauren Andrews, a Central Vermont nurse turned aromatherapist and Aromed Essentials proprietor. On a beautiful early September day, Lauren expanded our...

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