Pedal to the Petals
On Saturday, September 14, a group of 30 Boiseans set off from George’s Cycles on bikes to tour a few of the North End kitchen gardens we’ve been tending this summer. We had representatives from every age group (even a 1-year-old in a bike trailer!) and folks from all over the Treasure Valley. Our photographer, Carrie Friesen, even had the good sense to get a group picture before we set off.
A huge thank you and shout out to our sponsor George’s Cycles for this event. We couldn’t have done it without you!
We rode from downtown to a garden near Camel’s Back Park on quiet city streets, chatting along the way. Our first stop was a border garden we installed a few years ago for a family with young kids. I explained our system to the group and took questions about raised beds, irrigation, compost and more.
From there, we rode our bikes toward Harrison Boulevard, weaving through clogged streets for the Hyde Park Street Fair. The team from George’s did an incredible job keeping us all together and safe on the roads, holding traffic and shouting out directions. I was truly amazed and appreciative of how well they coordinated the ride between gardens.
We arrived at our second garden and gathered in the backyard. It’s a cozy space with steel beds and easy viewing points, so everyone had an opportunity to step into the garden and examine how it’s growing. I demonstrated our tomato pruning and trellising techniques here and talked more about our intensive planting method.
While we were riding around Boise, my team and I talked about how many other homes we’ve had the opportunity to work in, whether that’s been for installations or coaching sessions. We also rode by so many front yard gardens that we hadn’t personally worked in, and I felt so grateful to be operating this business in Boise. The creative way that folks here use their footprint, big and small, continues to amaze me, and riding by on a bike allows me to see that more clearly than driving around in my truck.
Our third and final stop was the North End Alley Project, a cooperative garden effort led by Gina Lockwood, my first client and now a member of our GFG team, and her neighbors. The alley between Thatcher and O’Farrell Streets that runs between 4th and 5th Streets hosts multiple community garden spaces, murals and two Gold Feather Gardens (including Gina’s and the Tiny but Mighty garden). From a dinosaur garden to a My Little Pony garden, there’s sitting areas, rain barrels and so many fun things to explore.
In the alley, Chef Jonathon Merrick (from @FamilyMealBoise) fired up pizzas for us, and we enjoyed cold refreshments and time to mingle. Each time I spend an afternoon with other gardeners, I feel so rejuvenated. Their curiosity, kindness and humility makes it easy to connect, and each person has their own story for why they garden or why they want to start. It’s empowering, inspiring and energizing.
If you’d like to be sure to hear about our future events, please click the link below to sign up for our newsletter. It’s the best way to be sure you don’t miss out. In fact, we have an event coming up next Tuesday, September 24 at White Rabbit. If you struggled to make your summer garden work for you, this is a great event to ask questions and learn more about our techniques so your fall garden can be the best ever.
Photos by Carrie Friesen - If you need family photos for Christmas cards or know someone getting married, she's a complete star!