Backyard Garden build for long-time BYGer

On August 14th, we built and filled two new planter beds for Njelela, one of our longest running backyard gardeners. She was part of the first cohort over 15 years ago. She still comes to the Farm Park to pick up starts and soil, bringing her friends and neighbors who love gardening to tour the Farm Park and talk about all things plants. When she grows more produce in her garden than she can eat, she gives it away to people in her neighborhood.

It was close to 100 degrees in West Oakland, but we pulled off the socially distant, staff-only garden build in about four hours! (Unfortunately, we didn’t get a photo of the celebratory popsicles later that afternoon!) It was the first build for our rehabilitated truck AND for our new ED. “It was a LOT of hard work but it was really fun and I learned a lot from Eric and Julie. I even learned a new word: hydrophobic!” Kelly said

Hydrophobic is what you call soil that has gotten so dry that it actually repels water instead of absorbing it. How do you fix it? Slowly watering the soil and mix it with a rake or trowel or your hands. After several waterings and some movement, it will start absorbing moisture again!

Thank you Njelela for your hospitality and ice cold water!

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