HARMONY'S COMMUNITY GARDEN

DID YOU KNOW that Harmony was designed to promote the peaceful coexistence of human and animal residents within the community while striking a balance between the preservation, use and enjoyment of Harmony’s natural areas? Underlying these objectives are the values of fostering a respect for the land, the protection of wildlife and the sensible use and enjoyment of Harmony's abundant natural and manmade amenities by its residents.

Opportunities to connect with nature abound in Harmony. We are lucky to have our own Community Garden here. Growing your own vegetables, herbs, and flowers can be a rewarding and tasty experience, one that offers low effort but high interactivity. And the Harmony Nature and Animal Committee has initiated a program for kids called Harmony Conservation Café Club, so they can get involved. Check out past and upcoming events at https://www.facebook.com/conservationcafe/.

Our Community Garden is managed by our Garden Coordinator who can be reached at thegardenatharmony@gmail.com. The garden offers three sizes of plots, from 4’ x 8’ to 8’ x 35’, each for a reasonable annual fee. Every plot has water and a spigot for a hose, and the garden shed offers space for your tools, and sprayers. There’s a wheelbarrow for common use, a gazebo for shade and picnics, and even an area where you can plant a fruit tree. The garden isn’t set up for strict organic practices, but the gardeners have agreed to use sustainable/least impactful practices.

Did you know that there are some vegetables and flowers that are best grown in warmer weather, and some that require cooler conditions? Veggies such as peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, and zucchini work best in the spring and fall months. Ornamental plants such as periwinkle, salvia, and caladium work well over the spring, summer, and fall. Lettuce, peas, broccoli, and cabbage are cool weather plants for the winter growing season (watch out for frosts, though, especially with the more tender plants). Geraniums, petunias, and pansies thrive in cool weather. University of Florida IFAS Extension Service offers some great resources, including a planting calendar: http:// solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu/lawn_and_garden/calendar/

While the peacefulness, camaraderie, and knowledge-sharing at the garden are valuable, you don’t necessarily need a plot there, especially if your time is limited. Caring for seedlings purchased from local stores is usually fairly easy, even if you’re a beginner. Starting plants from seed requires more care and attention but brings great rewards (and lower expense) as you can watch the process of germination and growth. You can grow some of these plants in a small backyard plot or in pots or containers on your patio or porch. Even easier may be to try growing some herbs on your window sills. Be sure to closely follow instructions on the seed package or seedling tags, as some plants need more or less light, moisture, and fertilizer than others. There are lots of online resources through UF IFAS Extension Service and many accomplished Harmony gardeners that would be happy to offer some advice. Start small and experiment…and see what grows. n