Anyone who follows the Container Gardening board here knows that much of the discussion about pine bark fines is regarding where to find the damn stuff. Obviously it is not easy to find for most people, and it is not available in most big box stores. The pine bark mulch sold in most big box stores is not fines. Most the discussion on the Container gardening forum stems from the fact that most people don't even know what they are looking for, even know what bark fines are despite all the info available about them on the web. And yes I know that the bags of pine mulch sold in the big box stores is not the same thing. Pine bark fines are not sold outside in the mulches section. They are sold inside the section devoted to starting seeds and growing plants. In the Lowe's here, just there yesterday, they are inside on the shelves next to the exotic plants section where the big containers, container plants, cactus mix, the violet mix, the perlite, vermiculite, decorative container gravel etc. is located. At Home Depot, in both of them here, they are just outside the door into the gardening section (not with the bags of mulches), the section on the shelves next to the super sized containers and the similar exotic soils and mixes. Dave Here is a link that might be useful: Pine bark fines pics compared to pine bark mulch

I also recommend using mulch in your walkways. Place down 10 layers of newspaper under the mulch and you have a pretty effective weed barrier in place and that will significantly reduce your time spent weeding. Now as to the herbs, you can't start French Tarragon from seed; so if you bought/were given Tarragon seed its the Russian type and not worth growing (worse than a weed). French Tarragon is the culinary tarragon and does not produce any viable seeds; you start it from a cutting. I have heard of folks actually rooting cuttings that they bought in the grocery store! I'd recommend that you plant the oregano in a very large plastic pot, and then sink the pot into the ground so that ~2" of the pot's rim is above ground. That way the oregano will not invade the rest of your garden. I didn't see mint on your list; if you plan to grow mint please keep in mind that it is ferociously invasive. The thyme spreads but is easy to relocate. Chives can self-seed everywhere if you don't snip off the flowers (use flowers in herbed vinegar or in salads as an edible garnish). If you are turning the garden by hand its ok to sprinkle the herbs throughout the garden for beauty. However, if you are tilling or if the community garden is disked using a tractor you will want to keep the herbs in one corner of the garden so that you can preserve them. Basil and coriander (cilantro) are annuals; your other herb choices are perennial.

I grow my corn in a similar sized lot, at home, not a community garden. I space my rows 3' apart, so I can walk between any two rows, and the corn does use lots of space, with a large root system. I generally seed all varieties I use 10" apart in the rows. I feel I need access to both sides of each row, for "hilling" and weeding. My preferred method for your space would be to have seven rows, three feet apart, 30 feet long. You could plant three different varieties, with differing maturities, and have little cross pollination, among your own plants. A neighbor could, however mess up this plan if he also grew corn. I do this. The three varieties I have been planting the last few years are: Early Sunglow, Peaches and Cream, and Silver Queen. Their maturities are about 60, 70, and 90 days, respectively. I usually plant the Early Sunglow at one end in all rows, wait a week or ten days, plant the Peaches and Cream at the other end, wait another week or ten days, and then plant the Silver Queen in the middle. Harvest is spread out over a long time, with almost no cross pollination, and what there is only causes a coloration problem, as the corn is all SU or SE type, as n2xjk mentioned, above. I eat Early Sunglow until Peaches and Cream starts ripening, then freeze the rest of the Sunglow and start eating Peaches and Cream. When Silver Queen starts ripening, I freeze the rest of the Peaches and Cream, and start eating Silver Queen. After the last of that ripens, I freeze it. Then it is fall, and I have to start eating that frozen corn. Not too bad!

Well, I've decided NOT to burn the debris. I don't want to burn up any of my good guys in my soil. So I'll do it the old fashioned way and put it into the bags for the garbage. There's a large composting company not far from me, and I assume they may purchase a lot of this yard waste. I was thinking of going and visiting that place this spring just to check it out. Our leave burning rules are very strict, and I confess I LOVE the smell of burning leaves. Takes me back to my childhood. But never having known anyone with asthma I simply did not know until your post Kimmsr, that it caused problems like that. I've got neighbors that would be like the ones you described, only in my case, it's just the fire hazard that upsets me. They pile their leaves in their yard, but in an area that is right next to my driveway. And they continually add charcoal starter to keep it roaring. I always keep an eye on it, and am ready to dial 911. They burn at times when it's not allowed, but they are the type that don't believe in city rules. They get cited for stuff all the time, and just complain and moan about neighbors who snitch on them. Fortunately, I get along with them, but their belief that rules don't apply to them does drive me crazy. Now I just have to wait for the rain to stop so this debris can dry out and I can rake it up. During winter months, they only collect it one day a month, so my timing has to be right. I once raked two bags of sticks, put them out by the curb and it wasn't the right day. It rained, and made a huge mess when the bags fell apart.