Preparing for Rest at Grace Garden

We are getting ready to prepare our neighborhood fruit and vegetable garden, Grace Garden, for its “season of rest”. 

We are looking for teenage volunteers on July 5, 7, 10, 12, and 14 from 9 am to 1 pm to help with the project.

Grace Garden uses companion planting and summer solarization instead of pesticides for pest control. Volunteers will come together to solarize the garden by removing the plants from the raised garden boxes, adding compost, turning off the water, and covering the boxes with clear plastic. This process allows the sun to bake the soil for 6-8 weeks and get rid of harmful bugs. While the garden beds are resting, BEAM volunteers will start planting early fall and winter seedlings in the greenhouse.

Mary Ellen Waugh, Garden Manager, emphasizes the significance of Grace Garden; “The Grace Garden is a beautiful, peaceful space that attracts bees, birds, and butterflies to the neighborhood. It is a wonderful event space, peaceful lunch break, and a quiet respite for those in crisis.”

Last month, Grace Garden provided 1,510 pounds of tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, green beans, okra, and eggplant to the community through the BEAM food pantry at no cost.

If you are interested in becoming a garden volunteer, please sign up at BEAM: BEAM Student Volunteer Opportunities (signupgenius.com).