“Stone Soup Garden Party” puts Garden to Bed

Our highly successful garden was finally tucked in for the winter by a cheerful crew on November 3rd. We gleaned the abundant remaining produce, uprooted the plants, irrigation hoses, and stakes, plus spread cardboard and leaf mulch for future expansion.

The outdoor work was followed by a delicious lunch featuring two “stone soups”, and a reading of the old French folktale bearing that name. Bonnie & John, who were responsible for the instigation of our large community garden utilizing permaculture techniques, were gratified by the amazing bounty produced this season, and a bit relieved to say “goodbye” to the almost daily harvest of wheelbarrows full of organic produce. Veggies were shared throughout the season with friends, construction sub-contractors, landscapers. the local food bank, Green Grove yoga class participants, jammers at Waltz Brewing, John’s Pacific University graduate students, and Green Grove visitors alike. Westwind Garden provided dozens of well-established organic starts. Potatoes, arugula, basil, cucumbers and a wide variety of peppers , squash and tomatoes, all thrived. For next year, an even greater variety of crops is already in the planning stage.