Another Urban Garden

While visiting the county's extension office last week, I was offered a tour of the city's urban garden. Nestled in between a number of non-descript municipal buildings is a plot of land loaded with growing vegetables and herbs. The extension office maintains the garden as a test bed and education location and is grown and maintained using guidelines set by the University of Florida. It was there that I learned strawberries are grown as annuals, not perennials like most of the country. That was useful information since I have one plant growing (and producing fruit) and intend to add several more to my garden. I also liked that they set an example by using recycled materials in the garden such as the bike wheel for trellis construction. Once my garden is ready for harvest, I plan on utilizing the Canning Center. I have much to learn about "putting up" food.

Adjacent to the urban garden are 15 plots of land for citizen use. All plots are currently in use and there is a waiting list for additional gardeners to work the land when an opening becomes available. I was very impressed with the growth and diversity of plants. One of the plots is maintained by a couple of PhD students who are studying plant tissue. I was very impressed with their onions. They were the size of softballs. HUGE, I tell ya, huge.

**click on photos to enlarge**