Kalachandji's Community Garden

Kalachandji's Community Garden is open to anyone who wants to grow. Experience is not required at all. Some gardeners grow for themselves and their families, and others contribute some or all of their vegetables or flowers to charitable organizations.

In our first season (summer 2010) we grew mustard greens, lettuce, bok choy, spinach, lima beans, soybeans, sugar snap peas, sweet potatoes, okra, amaranth, corn, carrots, beets, tomatoes, bell peppers, hot peppers, eggplant, cantaloupe, mint, basil, some other spices, loki squash, bitter melon, and a few other things. And of course some flowers!

A lot of commercially grown produce is quite poor in vitamins and minerals. While many of our gardeners are very new to gardening, the real focus of the garden management is on quality. We manage the soil fertility in the whole garden, thus making it easy for even the greenest gardener to be successful.

The most important soil mineral for high-quality produce is calcium, and the Dallas black clay soil naturally has 10,000 lbs per acre, which is very high. Many people do not like this soil due to the high clay content - but it is a most excellent soil IF you know what to do with it. It is not just a matter of putting in tons of compost.

For more information on soil and high quality produce, research "high brix" or click on the "blog" to the left, and then the link to our blog. I'm the garden coordinator (Shalagram) and give occasional seminars on various subjects, such as how to start a garden, soil fertility and high brix gardening, and setting up community gardens. You can email me at shalagramdas@hotmail.com or put a post or comment on this Facebook page.

Growing some of your own food organically is a simple, healthy, and very rewarding activity. Give it a try!