[Community_garden] Shade Structures in Community Gardens

[Mike McGrath]

Damn hippies!

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "dandelion" <dannybowers at gmail.com>
To: "DAN-TAMMY BOWDEN" <bowden0317 at msn.com>
Cc: <community_garden at list.communitygarden.org>
Sent: Tuesday, July 22, 2008 8:28 PM
Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Shade Structures in Community Gardens


> here in santa cruz the uc farm has an arbor built like an igloo with
> two entrances, then there is a viney flower (maybe clematis) gowing to
> cover the whole structure. they also have a small dome built from bike
> rims, one could expand on this and build a recycled shade structure
> with rims and bike frames shade provided from  squash, morning glory,
> ivy, etc.
>
> enjoy!
>
> On Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 3:10 PM, DAN-TAMMY BOWDEN <bowden0317 at msn.com> 
> wrote:
>>
>> I highly encourage the use of shade structures to create a more varied 
>> garden experience.
>>
>> I'm brand new to the CG experience, but my own personal experience with 
>> gardening involves a site on my land with varied sun exposure due to the 
>> surrounding oak and pine forest.  One corner of my garden is almost 
>> always shaded, so I just plan on the shade being there and incorporate it 
>> into my garden.  It's a great way to extend cold weather crops like 
>> lettuce and radishes into the warmer months by keeping them shady and 
>> cool.  The peas in the sunny areas of the garden have almost all dried 
>> up, but the ones under the trees are still strong and producing more 
>> flowers - despite our 95F weather (sometimes over 100F).
>>
>> I like to use biomimicry to decide what to plant where.  Cold weather 
>> crops do better in summer shade.  Drought resistant plants (rosemary, 
>> sage, lavender, etc.) will flourish in areas that get less water. 
>> Blueberries are forest natives, so they can do well in a shady spot, etc. 
>> etc.  If you look at your garden as a collection of miniature biozones 
>> you'll start seeing how you can use each unique area to your advantage. 
>> If your garden is homogenous, then you can create biozones with plantings 
>> and buildings.
>>
>> On the regulatory side, you might want to have an area of the garden 
>> designated for shade structures to be installed by individual gardeners 
>> if they so choose, with the understanding that other areas of the garden 
>> may not have shade structures installed.  Or don't allow individuals to 
>> erect shade structures at all, and leave it to the garden committee to 
>> determine what to erect and where.
>>
>> Just my $0.02.  Best of luck!
>>
>> DanCREATION SPEAKS
>> Inviting man to the heart of God through the biblical mandate to care for 
>> creation
>> www.creationspeaks.org
>> ___________________________________________
>>
>> On Jul 21, 2008, at 11:58 PM, KBR wrote:
>> Does anyone have any experience with community gardens installing shade 
>> structures in their gardens? I'd like to hear the pros and cons.
>> Kate, Wisconsin"If at first the idea is not absurd, there is no hope for 
>> it." ~Albert Einstein~
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>
>
>
> -- 
> feed two birds with one seed
>
> --the sun and moon shine brightly on us all, let them be our guides for 
> unity
>
> under the road
> utr.worldbreak.com
> - myspace.com/dannybowers
>
> _______________________________________________
> The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of 
> ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and 
> to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org
>
> To post an e-mail to the list:  community_garden at list.communitygarden.org
>
> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: 
> http://list.communitygarden.org/mailman/listinfo/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org
>
>