By Jessica Hearne, CBF field personnel
For Dave, working on the Grace and Main Urban Farm hardly seems like work at all. Ever since he retired last year, Dave has been in the garden several days a week. He lives on the street next to the farm, and he is one of the leaders who keeps keys to the gate and the toolshed. (Not that keys are needed to get into the farm – those who come regularly know that the lock is mostly to keep out the deer, and there is a way to get in without a key.)
Dave grew up near Danville on a small family farm, so being in the garden is his refuge. He is teaching me and others about farming, telling us how to toss dirt on cabbages to tighten them up, and how to dig out the onions so they can grow in the sun. He was even out there working over the winter this year, when the garden was at rest.
He raked out our 9-year-old “Hugelkultur” mound and used the rich compost to build a new garden bed, which he has been using to grow potatoes, squash, green beans, cabbage and tomatoes. Dave’s bed has produced more than half of the vegetables we have harvested so far this year!