With the onset of cold weather and the first few hard frosts, we have been spending the last few weeks mostly cleaning up the garden beds, and laying down compost and straw, in preparation for winter. Only the root vegetables, snug underground, and the thick broadleaf kale have managed to keep producing, providing a steadily diminishing harvest for St. Rosalie’s Food Pantry.
But as the garden harvest is tailing off, it’s time for our pivot indoors! Believe it or not, it’s already springtime, at least in the ECI greenhouse, where we have a whole new crop of seedlings just starting to take root. And heading into the first week of December, we have half a dozen trays of lettuce, spinach and kale that are already leafing, holding out the promise of a very green holiday season.
The ECI Greenhouse
Mind you, this is only possible thanks to the generous support of the Falk Foundation, which provided us with a $15,000 grant back in 2021, enabling us to buy and set up our greenhouse. We are so grateful to them for their largesse. While the greenhouse is relatively modest in size, providing us with 200 sq. feet of usable space, it’s amazing what we’ve been able to accomplish in this small space and what a huge difference it has made in how we operate, by extending our growing season. Not only do we get a jump on the growing season, by planting trays of seedlings in early March, well before the last frost, but with a small electric heater and fan, we can keep growing – subject to the willingness of our volunteers – all throughout the year.
Our crop of winter greens
Right now we have the greenhouse temperature set at 55 degrees – not exactly tropical, but then again, we have no immediate plans to grow mangoes or bananas. In fact, the assorted greens we’re growing prefer things on the cool side, which is fine with us because this way we can keep a lid on our electric bill. It’s really quite amazing how snug and efficient our little green house is, to say nothing of how beautiful it is.
In this season of gratitude, we are deeply grateful to the Falk Foundation, for enabling us to keep our trays of lettuce leafing through the grayest days of winter.
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Just a reminder that the ECI Winter Dinner is coming soon … Wednesday December 13th. Please join us at the Canoe Place Inn for what we’re sure will be a real holiday feast, with the best farm-to-table ingredients, prepared by one of the best kitchens on the East End. Cash bar starts at 5 pm, with music by Christiaan Padavan starting at 5:30, followed by dinner at 6 pm. Tickets are $75 per person. Seating is limited so reserve your seat now.