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

Garden Cleanup

We knew this day was coming. This weekend’s forecast is for hard frost. Amid the raindrops this afternoon, a few wet snowflakes fell. By day’s end, humans and the weather had transformed the garden again.

Sophi wheels zucchini plants to the compost. When we were pulling up those plants, I found one last zucchini hiding underneath.

Sophi wheels zucchini plants to the compost. When we were pulling up those plants, I gleaned one last zucchini hiding underneath.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John digs potatoes. Lots of them.

John digs potatoes. Lots of them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bernice harvests leeks ahead of tonight's hard frost.

Bernice and Cindy pick borage and herbs. Sophi, in the background, pulls out bush bean plants.

Bernice and Cindy pick borage and herbs. Sophi, in the background, pulls out bush bean plants.

Bernice harvests leeks ahead of tonight’s hard frost.

 

 

 

 

 

Jason and John pull out the remaining tomato trellises.

Jason and John pull out the remaining tomato trellises.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A rare moment of sunshine highlights the layered "lasagna" compost. Last year's compost is nearly finished for spreading.

A rare moment of sunshine highlights the layered “lasagna” compost. Last year’s compost is nearly finished for spreading.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bernice is doing one of our least favorite jobs, because it's one we're still working on avoiding the need to do: Painstakingly separating pole bean plants from the string trellis they grew on.

Bernice is doing one of our least favorite jobs, because it’s one we’re still working on avoiding the need to do: Painstakingly separating pole bean plants from the string trellis they grew on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jason and John measure and cut heavy plastic to cover rows of food for frost protection.

Jason and John measure and cut heavy plastic to cover rows of food against the coming frost.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Chinese dragon processional of row cover headed for leafy greens. We'll harvest greens, Brussels sprouts, and more right into December.

A Chinese dragon processional brings row cover to the brassica and leafy greens. We’ll harvest greens, Brussels sprouts, and more right into December.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Hard frost is coming tonight. Chris has turned off the well pump. He separated the hoses from the pump and played a game of telephone with himself, listening for the water to finish draining so he could roll them up and and put them away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It looks like a different garden. In the foreground are tomato trellises. At back left are Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cabbages. On the right are kale, chard, peas, and lots of other delicious greens.

It looks like a different garden. In the foreground are tomato trellises. At back left are Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cabbages. On the right are kale, chard, peas, and lots of other delicious greens.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frost protection: The white fabric is covering peas and new beet plantings. The black plastic is covering tomatillo plants and ground cherry plants. We've been picking fruit off those plants since august, and lots more has yet to ripen.

Frost protection: The white fabric is covering peas and new beet plantings. The black plastic is covering tomatillo plants and ground cherry plants. We’ve been picking fruit off those plants since august, and lots more has yet to ripen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today's harvest. See all those leeks under the table? Whatever the gardeners don't take will go to the Unitarian Church of Montpelier's community lunch, where Cindy's been bringing food for 50 every Monday, all season long.

The day’s harvest. See all those leeks under the table? Whatever the gardeners don’t take will go to the Unitarian Church of Montpelier’s community lunch, where Cindy’s been bringing food for 50 every Monday, all season long.