Late Summer Around One Valley’s Community Gardens

On July 30th, the Carver Garden hosted a group of 43 campers from the Eureka Parks Summer Program to tour the Carver Garden and orchard, to learn about healthy eating, and to taste some of the seasonal produce.

One Valley, Inc. participated in National Night Out as part of NNEO’s celebration at Loudon Park on Tuesday, August 4th. We shared produce from our community gardens, including slices of watermelon and cantaloupe.

In the middle of August, we had a swarm of honey bees take up residence in our in-ground irrigation control box at the 8th & Gilmer garden.

After searching for a local beekeeper, we finally located Shannon Wyatt, a neighbor of one of our volunteers, who came over, lured the bees and their queen into a small portable hive and took them away to a new home. He got some new bees, and we got access back to our irrigation controls!

Then on the past two weekends, August 15^th and 22^nd, we planted seedlings that Dana Acimovic, our local VCE Extension Agent, had incubated from seed for us in her office. These included a variety of cabbages, collards, kale, arugula, and mustard greens. We also did a fall planting of a variety of root crops from seed, including carrots, beets and turnips.

We continue harvesting and delivering weekly fresh garden produce to six local food pantries/distribution points. Pictured here are several recipients of our weekly delivery at the McCray Court Senior Living Center.