Week 2: The Fine Art of Repotting

2/8/08

Today Sakina told us the story of how Noyo Food Forest began. About two years ago, Susan Lightfoot and some other local women decided they wanted to create an organic community garden where people could stake out their own beds, plant and cultivate their own organic vegetables. They were contacted by Steven Lund, the Fort Bragg Unified School District superintendent, who proposed that the group use the school's garden in exchange for fresh vegetables for the school cafeteria. The project then became more of a community service garden where people would help to grow things organically for the school. Sakina joined the group on the first day they met at the new location by Fort Bragg High School. One year ago, the Noyo Food Forest became incorporated as a nonprofit corporation and chose its board of directors. New elections are slated for next month. The idea of the community garden is still a main goal of the Food Forest and work has started on this project in the Noyo Basin by Thanksgiving Coffee.

After hearing about the background of the SL organization, I was given the task of sanitizing six-inch pots in preparation for repotting herb starts. I gathered about 100 dirty pots which were scattered here and there and washed them down with the garden hose. I transferred them to a sink in the potting shed where I washed them with organic soap called Kiss My Face. This is some fantastic stuff and I'm going to get it for my home. It is made from certified organic aloe vera and herbs and is 100% biodegradable and not tested on animals. Then I rinsed each pot in a large bucket of water with a quarter teaspoon of bleach. Finally, the pots were again rinsed and allowed to drip dry. This is quite a process for pot cleaning, but it is important to get all the previous occupants of the pots out before putting in new ones.

Sakina partnered me with Maria, one of the special needs students who works at the Noyo Food Forest on Friday afternoons. She was a great potter (and I got to practice my Spanish) and we had a good time together in Greenhouse #2. Our goal was to transfer oregano, rosemary and thyme to bigger pots. Here's the process we followed: Take one empty (and very clean) six-inch pot and place fresh soil in the bottom. Pull one herb start from the flat and turn it upside down, gently removing the plant from its small square plastic lining. Remove the wadded up roots from the bottom of the start and place the plant into the six-inch pot. Carefully add more soil all around and press down to remove the air. The plant should not be placed too low or too high in the pot. Done!

Too soon, it was time to go. It was such a lovely and soothing process. I love working in the greenhouse. I found the entire process from washing pots to transferring the herbs a very contemplative and pleasing experience. Here are the photos from this week's visit to the Noyo Food Forest:

http://good-times.webshots.com/slideshow/562409719wfWxwU

As to the question of an eco-hero or an eye-opening someone, I think Rachel Carson, author of Silent Spring would have to be mine. She spoke up about an important subject at a time when it was not at all popular to do so.