Victory Gardens

This group has decided to save considerable money, expense, and effort by growing as much personal food as possible in local gardens. If an oversupply develops, they will trade among themselves and then start a local farmer’s market. This may develop into out-of-area sales, but the intent is to feed McCloud First.

Commitee Members: John, Lin and Shane McClellan; Claudia and Jim Ellis, John and Lynn Butler, Father Joseph Bravo, Francis Mangels

Mission:

• Grow superior economic and eco-friendly food in McCloud by practical gardening.
• Promote community spirit by sharing locally grown food with trade and barter.
• Promote well-being of the elderly by setting up garden types that they can maintain.
• Promote community health by exercise and clean fresh properly-grown food.
• When production becomes too great for local gardeners, form a local Farmer’s Market.

2009 Goals and actions:

• Conduct free soil tests and preliminary consultations for all members (DONE).
• Share starts of heritage seeds and begin seed banks of locally adapted seeds (DONE).
• Promote more membership and intercommunications with gardeners (ONGOING).
• Coordinate with MC high school garden group and MS Shastice Garden group.
• Harvest and save seed for next year, eat and party hearty for thanksgiving.

2010 Goals and Actions:

• Find or acquire a cider press to harvest now-wasted apples and other fruit.
• Arrange for harvest and use of fruit from local trees, preserve by dehydration, etc.
• Have Francis speak to local schools and groups about gardening as an eco-necessity.
• Arrange to employ garden waste with a chicken or worm farm, to trade products.
• Encourage more orchards and vineyards, berry farms, small livestock.
• Set up production.

Tracking Progress: The progress rate of this group depends on the economy and price of food, as well as the perception of the value of clean living food for disease prevention. While we can not replace a standard commercial market, we can largely be self-sufficient and sustain ourselves. Gardens produce about $1-2 per square foot annually and produce substantial local income or save it for other necessities of life. Measure and see what its worth.

Contact: General inquiry, McCloud coordinator: Lin McClellan 859-2332
Francis Mangels, Master Gardener for free soil and garden biology consultations: 926-0311