How Does Our Garden Grow?

Over the course of the fall, Aisha L, Michelle A, Katie L and I, all from Environmental Advocacy, have been working on a rehab plan for Brentwood’s raised garden beds on Partridge Road. 

Our first idea was to plant bulbs for tulips and daffodils in the fall so we could harvest them in the spring and then plant summer vegetables for harvesting in the fall. Alumna Robin McDaniel from Wilder Market Farms, whose organic farm EA has visited and learned at in the past, offered to help with planning the project. 

When she visited the garden, we found out that the garden had White Rot - a disease fatal to alliums - that had killed the garlic from last year, and no alliums should be planted there for the next ten years. She helped us choose tulips and daffodils as well as draw up a garden map for the spring. 

We managed to get bulbs from Dinters to plant during the BWell Break for Space day when I led a gardening session planting a box of tulips and weeding other beds for preparation. The participants learned how to weed, prep the soil, plant bulbs and fertilize with both store-bought and natural fertilizers. 

We first weeded the soil, then dug rows to put the bulbs in. We covered the bulbs with soil and fertilizer, layering them with maple leaves - which decompose quickly and provide extra nutrients and protection from weeds and the weather. Thankfully there were lots of maple leaves in the garden which Mr. Smith helped rake up! Arnie N, Rogers ‘25 also found some stray potatoes in the area after some raking. 

We had one plot down, but we still had two to go - which we planted with tulips in November. If all goes well, they should be ready for a Mother’s Day fundraiser!

And sow, our garden grows!

Hana R, Mack, ‘24