Michael Nolan’s Community Plot

No room to garden? No excuse! With the rapid rise in the number of community gardens, those who wish to grow food are discovering that these organizations offer more than a simple patch of earth — they also provide support, encouragement, and advice. In his “Community Plot” plan, Michael Nolan relies on the square-foot gardening method to produce an intensive crop of favorite vegetables and herbs in a compact 4- by 10-foot bed.

Michael notes that community gardens offer more than just space to grow plants. “I have seen friendships and symbiotic relationships form and flourish because of community gardens, and I have seen food bank shelves filled with fresh food because communities came together to make a difference.” Community gardens also promote active living and a healthy lifestyle. Equally important, they add much-needed plant diversity to our neighborhoods, which encourages native pollinators, beneficial insects, birds, and butterflies.

Typically, each member of a community garden is given an individual plot, where they can tend their choice of vegetables, herbs, flowers, and even fruits. The dimensions of each garden depend on a wide number of factors, including available space and the amount of plots. For this design, Michael has crafted an average-sized single community plot that measures 4 by 10 feet. This may not sound large, but Michael notes that even a small space can be used to grow a surprisingly large amount of food when planted thoughtfully.

Square-foot gardening. Using the method pioneered by Mel Bartholomew, Michael’s plan divides each garden bed into square-foot sections that are each intensively planted to ensure a sizable harvest. For example, in just one square foot of space 16 carrots, 9 onions, or 4 Swiss chard plants can be cultivated. Square-foot gardening is easy to learn and maintain and yields more food in a smaller footprint, making it an excellent fit for community garden plots, which can be relatively small.

Stake out your site. For those new to the square-foot method, Michael recommends laying a grid on top of the bed to help keep the space well organized. A grid can quickly be added to a raised bed with wooden sides using twine and nails, and to an inground garden using twine and stakes. Some gardeners prefer a sturdier grid made from wooden slats, which lasts for several seasons.

Trellised cukes. Another way to increase productivity in a small plot is to take advantage of vertical space by growing climbing vegetables up trellises, posts hung with pea and bean netting, or walls. In Michael’s design, four cucumber plants are trained up a simple trellis. This makes harvesting a snap, allows the fruits to grow clean and straight, and helps prevent disease. Other vegetables that can be grown vertically include tomatoes, pole beans, and climbing ‘Trombocino’ squash.

As Michael points out, success of a certain variety can depend on location; what grows well in the American South won’t necessarily thrive in Vancouver. That said, Michael encourages gardeners to seek out heirloom varieties of tomatoes that thrive in their region; he harbors an obsession for heirloom tomatoes and herbs, growing all that he can find!

The Basics of Square-Foot Gardening

Developed by Mel Bartholomew, square-foot gardening is a method of growing food that focuses on intensive planting in tidy 1-foot-square blocks. For example, a 4- by 4-foot bed is divided into 16 squares by a grid of wooden slats or twine. Each square is then planted with 1, 4, 9, or 16 plants, depending on the size of the chosen crop. For example, 1 broccoli, 4 corn, 9 beets, or 16 carrots will fit in 1 square foot.

The square-foot method also advises growing in raised beds, as these make it easier to divide the garden into squares and allow for permanent pathways between the beds. Once a square has been harvested, compost is added to the soil and fresh seeds or seedlings are planted.

Michael’s Garden Plan

1. Carrots: ‘Touchon’ (16)

2. Parsnips: ‘Hollow Crown’ (16)

3. Garlic: Elephant and ‘California Early White’ (4–6)

4. Onions: ‘Exhibition’ and ‘Red Candy’ (9)

5. Parsley: Italian flat (1)

6. Sage: ‘Tricolor’ (1)

7. Rosemary (1)

8. Thyme: Lemon (1)

9. Pepper: ‘Purple Beauty’ sweet or ‘Early Jalapeño’ hot (1)

10. Kale: ‘Lacinato’ and ‘Red Russian’ (2)

11. Swiss chard: ‘Bright Lights’ (4)

12. Marigolds (4)

13. Pole beans: ‘Kentucky Wonder’ (9)

14. Spinach: ‘Tyee’ and ‘Bloomsdale’ (4)

15. Turnips: ‘Hakurei’ (4)

16. Tomato, marigolds, and lettuce: ‘Red Brandywine’ tomato (1) underplanted with marigolds (2) and leaf lettuce (2)

17. Tomato and lettuce: ‘Amish Paste’ tomato (1) underplanted with leaf lettuce (4)

18. Basil: ‘Genovese’ (1)

19. Oregano: ‘Greek’ (1)

20. Mint in pot

21. Dill: ‘Mammoth’ (1)

22. Nasturtium: ‘Alaska Mix’ (1)

23. Celery: ‘Tango’ (1)

24. Cucumbers: ‘Straight Eight’ (4)