The Slowcook at Spydog Farm The Slowcook at Spydog Farm

We’re Moving, But You Can Still Tour our Garden

July 11th, 2011 · 6 Comments · Posted in garden

Beans. greens and flowers this morning

It can finally be told: we are moving. Not far. Just to a building I renovated 24 years ago and have kept as a rental. We’ve sold our house on the big corner lot here in Columbia Heights to a developer who will turn it into six condos. Yes, we’ve really rattled around in this place and making it a multi-family dwelling is a much better use for such a prime location. And while we are creating more places to live for others, we hope this is the first step for us toward an even bigger garden (farm?) in a more northerly latitude.

My wife won’t miss all the work such a big house requires. But we both will miss the huge kitchen garden we made out of our corner lot on a busy residential intersection two miles from the White House. We’ve managed to grow much of our own food, and turn an unimpressive lawn into a showplace for neighbors and food gardening enthusiasts.

In fact, our garden will play prominently in an edible D.C. urban garden tour that’s taking place this Friday, July 15, from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The tour will also be visiting some of the city’s vibrant new school gardens, private enclaves and Common Good City Farm, the same urban food production facility that saw a visit from Prince Charles earlier this year. Go here for more details and to purchase tickets.

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  • Pattie

    WOW–huge news, Ed. I am so happy for you, but can you maybe see if the new owner will keep the garden as an amenity for tenants? Very eco.

    Also, I have those books to send to you still. Now I feel an urgency to get them in the mail today!

  • Magic Cochin

    Does your new home have space for a kitchen garden?

    I hope so.
    Celia

  • Ed Bruske

    Celia, our new (old) home is a north-facing row house. No room for a real kitchen garden. In addition, we will be upstairs, meaning the tiny back yard isn’t available to us either, only a roof-top deck. I am now contemplating whether I want to haul soil upstairs through the house for planters. My wife says I owe it to my readers. In truth, I’d rather have that farm I mentioned.

  • jonquil

    congrats on the sale/move. rooftop/container garden would certainly be a new sort of challenge.

  • Magic Cochin

    Maybe you can find some neighbours with areas they would like help with transforming into productive city veg patches and become their mentor.

    Celia

  • Lavinia

    Being part of the Garden tour sounds great, how did it go? Also, it’s exciting about the move, I hope all your plans pan out wonderfully!