Trotter's Growers Market and Tuesday "Cultivation"

With much faith in the unknown, Esther has graciously passed the blogging onto me (Stasia) for at least a few weeks. I'm already trying to keep up with all that's happening! A large portion of my first day at work this Monday for the St. Joseph Worker program with Celeste's Dream was spent in the garden. We rolled up our sleeves and Jennifer, Jill, Lylee and I harvested for the one-time Trotter's Café Community Growers Market, put on to celebrate their 20-year anniversary (http://www.trotterscafe.com/ at Cleveland and Marshall in St. Paul)!

We cut broccoli and broccolets and picked the ready tomatoes, both orange and cherry. Next came cold-soaking and bundling of sage, basil, two kinds of cale, and the beautiful multi-colored chard. Cut sunflowers, calendula, and other bright and petaled flora seemed to be necessary beauty to have on hand as well. All in all, the few dollars made will be able to go back into the garden fund, and being able to meet growers and vendors was a valuable part of the experience. Castle Rock Organic Dairy provided free ice cream and cheese tasting, and others such as Blackberry Hills Farm and a honey and soap producer from Wisconsin also were present--and very sociable!

Tuesday evening brought yet more to do in the gardens, especially since many of the regular gardeners went to listen to a speaker, (which I have yet to hear about but am assuming was a positive event). Quickly did I realize that "cultivating" is simply a term for weeding and beyond (aerating the soil and making it ready for what has been quite the timely and continual rain from last night through today). Jill, Valerie and I happened to have a intellectually stimulating conversation to match the highly physical exertion we were putting out. We discussed possibilities for another part of Celeste's Dream which is to be a speaker and salon series called "Wonderment". (Please let us know of any ideas or interests you may have, for while the season's speakers are set, it yet has flexibility).

We made sure the beans and beets were happy with a few cans of water and then headed down to the other garden to thoroughly soak the newly-transplanted and slightly sad-looking asparagus. By the time we headed back toward the Carondelet Center, admiring the bur oaks above our heads as we walked, the asparagus was already perking up. (And now I know what asparagus looks like before coming out of the ground!! Isn't that what this community garden is about--connection and knowledge through experience, among other things...)
Hope to see you next Tuesday!
Stasia Verdoljak
St. Joseph Worker 09-10