I’ve been itching to plant my spring greens and veggies. But first, I had to get my actical; the plastic wrist bracelet that tracks my metabolism, physical activity and qualifies me (and twenty-nine others) for the 4’x12’ raised garden beds at FPCG. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, the actical shrinks as the week wears on and gets incredibly itchy, usually during the middle of the night. That’s right; we wear the actical 24/7, for one week. Tia Meer, the FPCG manager, has been instrumental in keeping the garden at FPCG running smoothly. Last night she arranged for us to meet and fulfill our obligations. Thanks Ethos Vegan Kitchen for giving us the time and space.

Every three months for the past nine months, FPCG gardeners fill out the required forms and endure a week of the scratchy bracelet that is now seen more as a badge of honor, than a nuisance. After one more actical week (May 2011) the garden officially becomes community property complete with monthly dues, by-laws and various committees to keep things running smoothly.

Since we broke ground in May 2010, we’ve seen three planting seasons and are now preparing for spring and summer vegetables. Tomatoes, radish, carrots, fresh herbs, lettuce, potatoes and beans thrive alongside chard, broccoli, kale, snapdragons, marigolds, and citrus trees.

My garden is planted. Now it’s just six days, one hour and ten minutes before I can stop scratching.

Call for Urban Gardeners at Festival Park Community Garden in Orlando

• Do you live in downtown Orlando?
• Do you want to be part of an urban garden community?
• Can you commit to a research study and maintain a 4' by 12' plot all year long?

If you answered yes to these questions, Festival Park Community Garden is now seeking participants for its ongoing research study and to fill a few plots (already tilled and built).

For more information and a chance to grow your own veggies, contact Tia Meer tiameer@gmail.com.

Related articles

• What is the difference between a regular garden and an urban garden? (greenanswers.com)
• How do urban gardens help the environment? (greenanswers.com)

Lettuce; bolting, flowering and a few things I learned this week.

I harvested my lettuce today. Well, some of it. I couldn't bring myself to pull all those beautiful red and green leaf lettuces out of the rich, dark soil. So I left a few for Saturday.

If you're anything like me (which is a loaded statement, I know) then you're probably new to gardening, planting, watering, maintaining and nurturing your new fall crops. I thought I would have lettuce all winter long, or at least through the end of the year. Not so. I've been watching my lettuce grow with fascination, awe and surprise. My lettuce grew as if I gave it a triple dose of hair tonic.

Last week, I learned that my lettuce were growing so fast they were bolting! What the heck does that mean, anyway? If you're growing green leaf lettuce, it means they will be shooting towards the sun and baby flowers will appear in the top center of the plant. Go ahead and pull the whole plant out of the ground. Harvest the leaves and replant something else (broccoli, cabbage, etc).

If the lettuce is left in the ground too long, the leaves get bitter. Well who knew? So, harvest your lettuce and share your wealth. They're be salad on my table for a few more days.

Enjoy.
MCB