BUMCCG

Bearden UMC Community Garden - Winter Crop Transition 10/15/26. Today, we took down our pepper and cucumber plants and trellis in bed #8. We planted our winter crop of kale and lettuce. We planted loose leaf lettuce. We planted winterbor kale. My volunteers had a lot of fun. We also harvested okra, tomatoes, tromboncino squash, cucumbers, peppers, and green beans. We stored the cattle panels used for trellis behind the compost bins. We also distributed 2 bags of cow manure.  We weeded. This Saturday we should have a low of 39 degrees, so we will see which of the remaining summer veggies survive. Blessings, Leigh 

 Bearden UMC Community Garden - Giveaway Harvest 10/10/26. On Saturday, we had a wonderful harvest and giveaway of 113 pounds. I am very thankful for my volunteers, who were willing to work in the rain. We got over an inch of rain.  We trimmed back the tomato plants because the rain and wind last weekend leaned over our trellises.  On Thursday, we harvested our sweet potatoes and let them set in the little greenhouse to cure to make them sweeter and their skins tougher.   I used the sweet potato leaves in the compost.  We did our first harvest of kale and collard greens in the new raised beds.  I am thankful for member donations that let me buy cement blocks to prevent flooding in the side bed.  The winter radish seedlings are coming up. Soon, we will be taking down the cucumbers and peppers plants and trellis to plant winter vegetables.  Blessing, Leigh

Bearden UMC Community Garden - Funny Shaped squash 10/6/26. My volunteer harvester found a funny shaped squash that looked like a serpent.   On Tuesday, volunteers harvested 7.5 pounds for produce with a lot of tomatoes. Our tomatoes are gettting heavy and the rain pushed the fencing over. Me and a volunteer were able to get it back up with cement blocks.    I was able to plant some parsnip and radishes seed (winter veggies) in the side yard of the garden.   I also planted some cover crop seeds - Crimson Clover.  We are harvesting for the giveaway on Saturday 10/10 at 10 am.  Blessings, Leigh SMy nteer ha5 s of produce, lots of toma tBoes fro Bl ssongs, LeighthV rain

 Bearden UMC Community Garden - God waters 10/5/26.  Yesterday, Sunday 10/4, I want able to visit the garden and see that God gave us over 4 inches of rain on Saturday.  I am very thankful to Carol and Dan, who harvested last week while I have out due to eye surgery. I hope to be back in the garden later this week.  Blessing, Leigh Cheek 

 Bearden UMC Community Garden - Alliance Meeting 9/22/26. On Tuesday, BUMC hosted the Knox County Community Garden and Grower's Alliance monthly meeting with other coordinators for local community gardens. We were able tell them about establishing our garden and give them a tour of the garden. They were impressed.  Below is our summary of establishment and production that we shared at the meeting.  Bearden United Methodist Community Garden  Summary of Establishment and Production In January 2025, the BUMC Board of Trustees approved the use of an unused playground for creating a Community Garden. The playground is approximately 70’ x 40’s and the side yard was 27’ x 8’.   Because BUMC used the playground for toddler’s Easter Egg Hunt, we could not start converting the playground into garden until after Easter. In April, I met with Rylan Thompson, our Knox County Extension agent over KCMG program. He suggested joining Alliance to be able to use my master ...

 Bearden UMC Community Garden - Harvest 9/20/26.  We are still harvesting vegetables that we place in the Gleaning Baskets on the garden fence to feed our neighbors. The garden is still growing. With the heat and very little rain, I regularly water the garden.  My volunteer, Carol, is very good at harvesting to place produce in our gleaning basket several times a week. Today Pastor Stephanie had the Children's Sunday School class tour the garden and talk about us been the branches to Christ's vine. I gave her a Sweet Potatoe vine to show the kid's during the childern's sermon.  This week the Knox County Community Garden and Grower's Alliance (https://knoxgardenalliance.org/) will be meeting to tour our garden that they helped us to start.  Blessing, Leigh