Last week I was asked if the scouts and guides could come to the Ladner Community Garden and do a garden project. There is always something to do at the garden from weeding to planting. The group ranged in age from eight to about sixteen with several leaders and parents present.
It was decided that we would plant a three sisters garden and build a herb wheel. The herb wheel is a project that the garden committee had wanted to get done for several years.
I had seen a design in a magazine one day of a herb wheel that looked like the one above. Could the group build this? We could try. We had a huge pile of recycled cement that had been donated. Using someone’s driveway debris is a good way to recycle the cement. We could use the rocks to fashion the edges of the herb wheel.
The group started by figuring out the center focal point first. I had decided to use a flat paver and place one of our cement planters on top. Inside the planter we could plant Sage to give it height.
In placing the herb wheel the group measured carefully so that clearance around the allotment beds would be at least four feet. We didn’t want anyone tripping over the rocks. A string line of five feet was used to create the circle so the outer edge was 5′ from the edge of the center. That would make the wheel approximately 11′ across.
The kids drew a circle in the bark mulch to outline the circle. They wheelbarrowed rocks carefully to the area to start building the edges. It was decided that there would be four paths instead of five to access the garden so more garden space could be created.
Its outline is done now and we will fill it with soil and plant it up with herbs. I think a few more stones will be needed where gaps may allow the soil to escape. In all, it was a wonderful day. The group took turns helping with the herb wheel. At the other end of the garden they planted a raised bed for the food bank using the three sisters garden method. I told them why it was called the three sisters garden. They planted corn, beans and squash and watered the bed well. They even had time to plant marigold seeds around the food bank beds so it will look pretty all season long.
In early June the group is returning to plant the herb wheel. I have quite a few herbs left over from my plant sale so that will give us lots to plant.
I want to thank my friend Darlene and her group for helping at the Ladner Community Garden. It shows you what a community can do when they come together.
