July tours: Two very different gardens

For the month of July, we club members and visitors alike toured two gardens in our neighborhood.

The first garden, located north of Diamond Lake, was an "industrial garden" on the southeast side of a tractor repair/machine shop.  

Garden owner/operator Rich told us that the huge steel tubs he "repurposed" into monster raised beds were formerly used as waste bins under the saw chain of a now-closed lumber mill. Rich said he mixed his own soil from the local dirt, with additional sawdust, and "whatever else I can find." 

Rich's huge raised beds featured plastic wind- and frost-protection panels, as well as 
aluminum trellises. The beds can be moved with a forklift.

Rich fields questions from the group.

Rich seems stunned by his Garden Club gnome, presented to each tour host.

We tourists sampled LOTS of cherry tomatoes, and envied his green, lush cucumber, onion, and pepper plants.  

The second garden, located south of Diamond Lake, was at the home of Steve, Trish, gofer/daughter Heaven, and three younger children. 

Salvaged windows make up the greenhouse.

Steve built not only the family home, but also their really cool greenhouse, and provided grunt labor for Trish on the garden and orchard. The shade cloth-covered greenhouse was full of plants twining their way up to the ceiling, while the garden utilized low-cost raised beds and drip irrigation systems –Trish, Steve, Heaven, and the younger kidlings will be eating delicious, home-grown veggies and fruit all summer long.

This raised bed, made from two huge logs, holds a mid-season planting of beets.The strawberry bed, at far right, was packed with beautiful big berries. Note that we say "was."

About 25 guests and club members attended the tours. Golden raspberries are at left.

The gardening family with newest member.

If you have not already done so, be sure to pencil in our next garden club tour on the 9th of August - see you there!