Way to go, guy. I'm sure a lot of communities could use people like you whether they know it or not.

that's awesome Jon!

did you really get 2400 out of only 8 medium sized beds? How many crops?

We sow, water and weed, but God gives the increase...Praise to Him!

Well, you got more sun up in Oregon than I did down by SF! Our July average was only about 75* and I had my worst garden in 9 years!

Hooo-Yaaa! Jon.

Curt

Hi Thanks everybody ;-)
God is soooo good ;-)

Hi Glib,
No, What you see on the first photo is 17 raised beds,18 sunken bucket beds,and a few land beds/planters also...
to the left of that picture is a few more beds and 35 more sunken buckets. Check out the video, I do a walk through the garden...

As you can see by the pics though, my beds look vastly different during harvest...

with the 300 butternut still to be harvested as well as the rest of the seasonal veggies still on the vine ,I hope to have close to 4000 lbs by October 1st. God Willing ;-)

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Here is a link that might be useful: Jon's Wonderful Garden 2010

seems like a pretty big garden for one guy to maintain? Do you have help or whats your secret?

Jon, I always love looking at pictures of your garden. The video was great! I'm curious about your sunken pots. What is the benefit of sinking them into the ground as opposed to simply planting in the ground, or planting in pots above ground?

Also, I noticed you've got hoops on lots of your beds. When do you put up the covers and over what?

(Honestly, those are only two of about a hundred questions I could ask, LOL. I could easily spend all afternoon wandering your garden and asking questions. Yours is definitely a source of inspiration!)

Hi macbettz,

I wish... I don't mind the growing so much,,, but the harvesting is killing me ;-)
Can you imagine how long it takes to pick 43 lbs of
Snap Peas... Oy Vey ;-)

I am average 150 lbs every 3 days.. I pick on Mondays and Thursdays (Food bank is closed Fri,sat,sun)

Hi Loribee,
The sunken pots (some full size trash cans ,some 3 gallon pots) have the bottom cut off and then I dig a 3' deep hole with my auger x 2' wide and mix in my garden concoction ,to amend my heavy clay soil,
I use Decomposed Granite,Pumice,Steer Manure,Compost.with my natural clay and it make a superb soil.

The biggest benefit I get from having the buckets is to contain water and amendments, I use all automatic drips and by having them "in the ground ,I get the natural wicking effect from the earth and all the free worms a gardener could want. ;-)

Those hoops are for display (for now) The local newspaper did a story on my Garden and I put those in for the pics (to show that ...if needed.... I could have row covers or trellises or ....??

Here is a link that might be useful: Daily Courier Video

that is awesome, GOD BLESS YOU

For those interested on How, What and When crops were harvested, I copied the printout from the FoodBank..

12 LBS of Early Onions (from Fall Garden) 3-23-2010
25 lbs of Radishes 4-28-2010
125 lbs of Red and Green Lettuce 4-28-2010
29 lbs of Swiss Chard 4-28-2010
8 lbs of Spinach 5-5-2010
14 lbs of White Icicle Radishes 5-12-2010
4 lbs of Spinach 5-12-2010
6 lbs of Red and Green Lettuce 5-12-2010
2 lbs of Mesclun Lettuce 5-12-2010
12 lbs of Rainbow Chard 5-18-2010
42 lbs of Swiss Chard 5-18-2010 Poundage to Date 279.00 lbs
5 lbs of Snap Peas 6-5-2010
11 lbs of Swiss Chard 6-5-2010
3 lbs of Red and Green Lettuce 6-5-2010
14 lbs of Broccoli 6-5-2010
15 lbs of Cabbage 6-5 2010 Poundage to Date 327.00 lbs 16.35 % of 2000 lbs
24 lbs of Broccoli 6-14-2010
13 lbs of Green Cabbage 6-14-2010
6 lbs of Carrots 6-14-2010
5 lbs of Radish and Beet Greens 6-14-2010
25 lb Red Cabbage 6-14-2010 Poundage to Date 400.00 lbs 20 % of 2000 lbs
3 lbs of Radish and Beet Greens 6-15-2010
5 lbs of Carrots 6-15-2010
20 lbs of Broccoli 6-15-2010
12 lbs of Broccoli 6-21-2010
18 lbs of Cabbage 6-21-2010
8 lbs of Carrots 6-21-2010
6 lbs of Sugar Snap Peas 6-21-2010
24 lbs of Radishes,Turnips,Various greens Poundage to Date 496 lbs 24.8 % of 2000 lbs
4 lbs of Broccoli 6-22-2010
15 lbs of Sugar Snap Peas 6-22-2010
12 lbs of Carrots 6-24-2010
9 lbs of Swiss Chard 6-24-2010
29 lbs of Cabbage 6-24-2010
18 lbs of Broccoli 6-24-2010
4 lbs of Sugar Snap Peas 6-24-2010 Poundage to date 587 lbs 29.35 % of 2000 lbs
16 lbs of Broccoli 6-28-2010 Total Poundage to 6-28-2010 603 lbs 30.15 % of 2000 lbs
43 lbs of Sugar Snap Peas 6-29 -30 2010
4 lbs of Broccoli 6-29-2010
3 lbs of Swiss Chard 6-30-2010
8 lbs of Radishes 6-30-2010
9 lbs of Carrots 6-30-2010
6 lbs of Sugar Snap Peas 6-30-2010 Poundage to date 676.00 lbs 33.8 % of 2000 lbs

Totals to 6-30-2010
112 lbs of Broccoli
79 lbs of Sugar Snap Peas
136 lbs of Lettuce
12 lbs of Onions
79 lbs of Radishes
106 lbs of Swiss Chard
12 lbs of Spinach
40 lbs of Carrots
100 lbs of Cabbage

9 lbs of Broccoli 7-1-2010
4 lbs of Garlic 7-1-2010
5 lbs of Lettuce 7-2-2010
4 lbs of Artichokes 7-2-2010
2 lbs of Carrots 7-2-2010
9 lbs of Carrots 7-8-2010
3 lbs of Summer squash 7-8-2010
4 lbs of Broccoli 7-8-2010
43 lbs of Potatoes 7-14-2010
14 lbs of Carrots 7-14-2010
43 lbs of Potatoes 7-14-2010 (2nd load today ;-)
30 lbs of Carrots 7-15-2010
10 lbs of Potatoes 7-15-2010 Poundage to date 856 lbs 42.8 % of 2000 lbs

Totals to 7-15-2010
125 lbs of Broccoli
79 lbs of Sugar Snap Peas
141lbs of Lettuce
12 lbs of Onions
79 lbs of Radishes
106 lbs of Swiss Chard
12 lbs of Spinach
95 lbs of Carrots
100 lbs of Cabbage
96 lbs of Potatoes
3 lbs of Summer Squash
4 lbs of Artichokes
4 lbs of Garlic
9 lbs of Summer Squash 7-19-2010
41 lbs of Red Cabbage 7-19-2010
4 lbs of Onions 7-22-2010
10 lbs of Squash 7-22-2010
8 lbs of Swiss Chard 7-22-2010
12 lbs of Beans 7-22-2010
7 lbs of Tomatoes 7-26-2010
19 lbs of Summer Squash 7-26-2010 Poundage to date 966 lbs 48.3 % of 2000 lbs
1 lb of Tomatoes 7-29-2010
5 lbs on Onions 7-29-2010
6 lbs of Cucumbers 7-29-2010
26 lbs of Summer Squash 7-29-2010
6 lbs of Tomatoes 8-2-2010
31 lbs of Summer Squash 8-2-2010
26 lbs of Cucumbers 8-2-2010
30 lbs of Red Cabbage 8-2-2010
2 lbs of Swiss Chard 8-5-2010
11 lbs of Tomatoes 8-5-2010
36 lbs of Cucumbers 8-5-2010
28 lbs of Summer Squash 8-5-2010 Poundage to date 1174 lbs 58.7% of 2000 lbs
16 lbs of Tomatoes 8-9-2010
24 lbs of Cucumbers 8-9-2010
41 lbs of Summer Squash 8-9-2010
28 lbs of Peppers 8-12-2010
35 lbs of Cucumbers 8-12-2010
12 lbs of Tomatoes 8-12-2010
50 lbs of Squash 8-12-2010
27 lbs of Bartlett Pears 8-12-2010 Poundage to date 1407 lbs 70.35 % of 2000 lbs
23 lbs of Tomatoes 8-16-2010
14 lbs of Peppers 8-16-2010
7 lbs of Pears 8-16-2010
31 lbs of Cucumbers 8-16-2010
54 lbs of squash 8-16-2010 Poundage to date 1536 lbs 76.8% of 2000 lbs
7 lbs of Peppers 8-19-2010
58 lbs of Pumpkins 8-19-2010
37 lbs of Tomatoes 8-19-2010
18 lbs of Cucumbers 8-19-2010
32 lbs of Acorn Squash 8-19-2010
35 lbs of Squash 8-19-2010 Poundage to date 1723 lbs 86.15 % of 2000 lbs
53 lbs ot Tomatoes 8-23-2010
26 lbs of Cucumbers 8-23-2010
23 lbs of Squash 8-23-2010
10 lbs of Acorn Squash 8-23-2010
25 lbs of Pears 8-23-2010 Poundage to date 1859 lbs 92.95% of 2000 lbs
9 lbs of Pears 8-26-2010
46 lbs of Corn 8-26-2010
61 lbs of Squash 8-26-2010
42 lbs of Tomatoes 8-26-2010
24 lbs of Cucumbers 8-26-2010 Poundage to date 2041 lbs WOO HOO ;-)
4 lbs of Swiss Chard 9-1-2010
16 lbs of Acorn Squash 9-1-2010
51 lbs of Tomatoes 9-1-2010
35 lbs of Cucumbers 9-1-2010
83 lbs of Squash 9-1-2010 Poundage to date 2230 lbs

109 lbs of Squash 9-7-2010
13 lbs of Pears 9-7-2010
49 lbs of Tomatoes 9-7-2010
64 lbs of Peppers 9-7-2010
35 lbs of Cucumbers 9-7-2010 Poundage to date 2500 lbs

Thanks for the info, Jon. It's interesting how late you've got the cold crops producing. I'd made the mistake of assuming spring would end in April, but I think next year I'm going to experiment with growing times a little more. I'm about 6 hours south of you, but I don't think our climates are all that different. And I am for sure sitting on that same bed of clay you're dealing with! Thanks for sharing your amendments, it's very helpful!

Have you considered trying to get some help from the food bank that you donate to? It seems people wouldn't mind coming over and helping you harvest.

If we had fewer politicians and more people like you in this country, we'd all be better off. How wonderful!

Coolness, Jon. I've given away a couple of hundred pounds this year, and now you've given me something to aspire to!

I got to stop reading this guy's posts because every time my jaw hits the keyboard.

Hi Loribee

you said "Have you considered trying to get some help from the food bank that you donate to? It seems people wouldn't mind coming over and helping you harvest."

As I said...I wish,........ its not too bad, about 4 hours on harvest days (mon and thurs) ,I'll live ;-)

BTW.. its not that they are not helpful,but the FoodBank also has its own garden and they are as busy or busier than me, our PAR (Plant A Row) committee is trying to double what we did last year 120,000 lbs and we are hopeful we will make our goal of 240,000 lbs ,so you can see,everyone who has a garden is really working it to produce succulent veggies for the needy.

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Jon that's ridiculous! you can't get help? not from your Church? I don't even believe in god! but I believe in people and faith your Church should send help, which is why I sent my seed's to you, people with faith, tend to to have faith in others I still know you will do what is right. I am moralistic person not faith based I have very many friend who believe in God but can't understand that a Non religious person has a faith in other Human's and a morality, this is from a girl who's was christened by the Bishop of Singapore and had a god father who was a adviser to the Archbishop of Canterbury, You can't save my soul but after that influence, but you can save people by doing what Jon is doing :)

Hi Heather38,
Thank You again for those seeds,they will provide much needed food for those less fortunate among us. Your generosity is very much appreciated ;-)

PS.. As I told Loribee, it is only approximately four hours twice a week,.... I'll make it ;-)

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Well, if I lived in your town, I'd come by and help! ;-) (But you'd have to share with me all your gardening secrets!)

I knew there was a reason I liked you ;-)

Wow! My chin hit the keyboard too. Jonhughes, you will have garden groupies dreaming to visit your garden. They will have to put you on a list of famous people homes tours during growing seasons. Nice to see a good guy getting good things coming his way.

2400 pounds and still counting, maybe you need to write a book like Mel's. It would sell and your church would benefit even more.

Congratulations and I hope your gardens stay green and healthy for you every season.

Thank You Scarlet Daisies,

If you're right, maybe I can schedule the garden tours,on my harvest days,and as people come in the gate,I'll hand them a bag and ask them to harvest as they walk around.... (two birds with one stone ;-)
Hey... A guy can dream ;-)

That would be worth the work. Even selling postcards of johhughes gardens would buy the labor paid for the work. Really, though your church could come over and help. Maybe get the kids to come over for a nice salad made from the goods, the garden would be picked clean.

It might take more time to make the salad than picking the foods. Or they can come over pick the food and make the salad for themselves?

Well, anyways, in the next years to come this garden board is going to be filled with jonhughes garden beds. Everyone is contemplating.

I have the postage stamp gardening book, is that the same as French intensive, bioincentive? I probably got the name wrong. I tried that this year, but did it all wrong and not in beds, so bad soil. I'm planning to buy two loads of rocks, big ones, to make a few beds. It will be 200 dollars for two tons, and the cinder blocks are 2 dollars a piece, worth it, but I might get buy cheaper with the load of stones.

I would imagine the rocks would have to be cut into some shapes, if that is necessary,I found a nice website describing it. I might be moving, but not yet likely, either way, I when I get situated, I can cut the stones and place them as the piles of compost work down during the winter. I'll be in a better place either way, but you are definitely the envy of gardening right now, swimming in vegetables you don't even like? That's a terrible sin! Just kidding!

Maybe you can raise meat inside the veggie garden, a small lamb, or cow, with chickens and or turkeys. Free manure, plus meat!

Well anyways, you'd have lots of help if most of us on the board lived in Oregon. I'm in another world in Tennessee.

Here is a link that might be useful: cutting stone

Hi ScarletDaisies,

That was close..... ;-) "Bio-dynamic/French Intensive... it is pretty much "Square Foot Gardening", you just want to plant stuff in every square inch so it inhibits weed growth,retains moisture in the soil through natural shade, encourages worms (because of the moisture and shade)with lots of organic mulch (I mulch with compost).

That must be some great rock, I can get a ton of rock for about 10.00 (I usually pay about 7.75 per ton)
The link didn't show any pictures or info ;-(

Um wow? It looks like God has blessed your garden in the same manner as the loaves and the fishes. It doesn't look like you need any help to me by the looks of your garden. You seem to have matters well in hand. That is one gourmet foodbank you supply. It must be very satisfying to know you helped people get so many healthy meals.

What donnabaskets said ; )

Well, I can shop around, just quoted on what the county trucks sell here. What kind of rock are you talking about? If I ask the right questions here, I might get the same kind of rock. These are the ones for building up river banks, the dark gray ones. I'll be happier to find a much cheaper type. I can get all the small roundish creek rocks for free I can carry, but I might have to trespass, or grovel door to door for permissions, which I'm not above. I respect the law!

It would help to know what kind of rock that is! Thank you jonhughes!

Hi ScarletDaisies,
Look around for a gravel pit and if they don't have what you want,they will know where to get what you are looking for.
I have Giant trucks and Trailers ,so I don't have to pay for hauling, if you can haul it yourself ,you can save a fortune (apparently ;-)

Jon,

I like your idea of planting potatoes in the bottom of buried barrels. How many seed potatoes do you put in the bottom of each barrel?

Hi Maximum,

A Picture is worth a thousand words ;-)

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Hey Jon,
Could I please have a start of that plant that grows the quarters? :)

You got it ! !
It's in the mail ;-)