Sun + Rain = Food
A tree farmer described how trees grow as "Sleep, creep, leap." The garden does the same, with much faster cycles than trees. After a sleepy start, days of sun and rain have kicked things into high gear. All our seedlings are planted. Only a few direct-seed crops...
What else is growing at the garden?
Growing to Give
Every season, we donate fresh, organic food grown right here in The Garden at 485 Elm to local organizations that feed community members. This year, more than forty pounds of fresh, organic garden food went to the Montpelier Food Pantry. Caitlin Roseen, who is...
Discoveries Along the River
On a beautiful September evening, naturalist Ned Swanberg led gardeners and visitors through the diverse life along the North Branch, where the Garden at 485 Elm grows.
Beautifying the Garden’s Public Face
Since our first season (2014), the Garden at 485 Elm has had a perennial bed between the garden fence and the sidewalk. The garden serves several roles. The primary role is producing food together, for each other and for donation to other community members. Another...
Join Us for a River Discovery Walk
Naturalist and 485 Elm gardener Ned Swanberg will lead us in looking for late summer changes along the river. What: River Discovery Walk Along the North Branch When: Thursday, September Sep 13, 5:30-7 p.m. Where: Meet at the Garden at 485 Elm in Montpelier The...
The Garden Turns September
In early September, the garden's generations within the season are in full swing. It's full of food ready to eat and blooming flowers with more coming along. We're putting beds to bed, too.
![[Updated] We Rose for Climate on the State House Lawn](https://thegardenat485elm.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/2018-09-08-Rise-Up-for-Climate-Change-Vermont-State-House.jpg)
[Updated] We Rose for Climate on the State House Lawn
Planting, Tending, Harvesting, Putting to Bed
In mid to late August, there's lots to eat. We plant seed for late greens, hoping to enjoy young spinach, mesclun mixes, tat soy, and mustard-spinach greens in the fall. Other beds are finished for now. Former onion rows are getting compost and cover crop seed.
A Visit from Budding Gardeners
At a children's center garden, woodchucks ate the vegetables they'd planted. Only the watermelon was spared. So Irina Markova, who has been gardening here for three years, brought children to the Garden at 485 Elm for a midsummer visit. Irina said they would cook and...
Crouching Gardener, Hidden Veggies
It's disappointing when a favorite crop doesn't produce well. This season, for example, our lushly leafy eggplants are not laying many eggs. Other times the food is plentiful but in hiding. Recently, gardeners here have mentioned difficulty finding enough cucumbers,...
How Garden Tasks Become Food
It's obvious that harvesting ripe squashes, cucumbers, and tomatoes will result in meals. Some plants require harvesting to stay healthy and continue producing. Peas and beans left to rot on the vine signal the plant that it's time to die. Continually picking these...
