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"What is a
weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered." –
Ralph W. Emerson
A
plentiful harvest
The market gardens at the Macoskey Center have been
producing local, organic produce for many students, faculty, staff,
and community members over the last several years. These gardens
supply local produce needs with some donations going towards the
Empty Bowls event each October and meeting needs of ingredients for
the various lunch events developed recently.
The 2002
Market Garden Season
A bed of pink cosmos, buckwheat, and feverfew
greets the eye as you approach the Macoskey Center's market garden
from the direction of Harmony House. The arbor, draped in clematis,
scarlet runner bean, and loofah, frames the sweet corn and sweet
dumpling squash growing jsut beyond it. Enter the garden, brush
past the asparagus fronds and pop a few grape tomatoes in your
mouth.
It has been a productive and busy season here, the
second year in the market garden west of the orchard. We were able
to double dig the wet upper section after installing the hand dug
four-foot deep drainage well. we now have beds of dry beans and
watermelon as well as a handy source of water. The peas, beans,
grape tomatoes, swiss chard, and marigolds have flourished this
year. We have been picking the Blue Lake green beans for six weeks
now and continue to gather the tender, tasty beans...
In July, we harvested garlic and wheat, which was
quite a spectacle. We cut the wheat with scissors, it felt too
precious to lose by using any other method, and tossed it on a
large blue tarp. We let the wheat dry for a week and then began to
thresh it. We rubbed the wheat against screens, put it in burlap
sacks, and hit it with sticks, then stomped and danced on
it.Finally, we declared the job done. Winnowing is being done by
pouring the wheat from a bucket into a baby swimming pool on windy
days. The experience has left us recognizing that loaves of bread
would be few and far between if had had to grow all the grains we
needed ourselves. Now planting time us upon us again and we look
forward to polishing our techniques for next year...
Several ALTER members spent many Fridays
volunteering at the Macoskey Center this summer. They weeded and
mulched the orchard, harvested for market, and planted and cared
for the flowerbeds. Visitors and passers-by are greeted by colorful
flowers, well-kept beds and the freshly painted Macoskey Center
sign because of their work.
We have been providing our produce at the new
Slippery Rock Farmers' Market, in addition to our order and
delivery service. This has allowed us to gather with friends,
admire good food, share the Macoskey Center with a wider community,
and introduce people to unusual vegetables. Mizuna, arugula, green
soybeans, nasturtiums anyone?
Source: Connie Lemley, Alternator
Article, Winter 2002
Market
Gardens, Summer 2003
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