I’ve always had a flower and herb garden. Occasionally, I would also grow eggplant, jalapenos, green peppers and cherry tomatoes in pots. This year, I wanted a community garden plot. Thanks to Barb Martin of the Forest Hills Farmer’s Market (located in Forest Hills, PA),  I contacted Hazelwood Initiative who gave me a plot in one of their community gardens. Hazelwood is only a stone’s throw from my neighborhood, Squirrel Hill/Greenfield. I grew cherry tomatoes, green peppers, jalapenos, eggplant,  zucchini and cucumbers.

The butternut squash seeds and pumpkin seeds which I saved from the previous season, were eaten by the birds. I planted the onion too late in the summer.

I learned a lot about gardening organically. I used compost and cuttings from my flower garden to serve as mulch. Garlic repels groundhogs as do red pepper flakes. Vinegar poured on weeds during a hot morning will kill those weeds. Beer in a shallow container kills slugs (I didn’t have any so I didn’t use it), and noisy objects like cans hung on string will scare off animals, too.

LOCAL RESOURCES:

http://www.foresthillsfarmersmarket.com

http://www.hazelwoodinitiative.org

https://www.visitpittsburgh.com

www.growpittsburgh.org

pittsburghpa.gov/events/farmers-market