Fairfield Dahlia Project 2019
Donation protected
The Fairfield Dahlia Project aims to create community. It brings neighbors together in the "garden zone" of Fairfield Iowa. To take responsibility for the health of the land under our feet, and find common ground there. The dahlias are spectacular, but beautification is just a secondary benefit. The true impact of the project comes from environmental stewardship. Because the dahlias are grown organically, the whole growing process, from composting to cover cropping, serves to regenerate the soil and create an environment that is natural and critter-friendly.
This project contributes to community self-sufficiency in that tubers are dug, divided and stored over the winter, creating a renewable resource year after year. Still, there are expenses: stakes, fencing, pots, straw mulch, fish emulsion, water, vehicle maintenance and so on. I've been hauling water from the reservoir for three years. But this year I'd like to construct a rustic pergola with rain catchment at the C&Jefferson site. I'm estimating $150 for the building materials and rain barrels. I've already spent $400 this year on various supplies and materials, including stakes, pots, straw, gas, rabbit fence, perlite, vermiculite, peat and so on. Including $42 for several new dahlias. (It's always fun to grow some new varieties.) $400 is not a huge amount, but it would be great to see a contribution from the neighbors. I'm distributing a flier in the neighborhood just for this purpose - to see how much support there is.
Of course, there's a significant amount of grunt-work involved, which you can't really put a price on. Hundreds of hours of work, starting last fall when last year's plsnts were dug up and the tubers divided, labeled, and stored, and continuing earlier this spring when I potted up 300 in anticipation of the planting season.
Well begun is half done: There are now 168 dahlias consisting of 84 different varieties coming up in three locations: C&Jefferson, 5th & Grimes and the Ecobarn at Ecovillage. All but 1 or 2 are growing vigorously, and a few have already started flowering. The real display won't start until early August, and will continue until the first frost in mid-October. Between now and then there will be plenty of work to do for those who'd like to get involved in a hands-on way.
Thanks so much for your attention to this project. Any support you can give, whether monetary or otherwise is greatly appreciated!
Fairfield Dahlias website
This project contributes to community self-sufficiency in that tubers are dug, divided and stored over the winter, creating a renewable resource year after year. Still, there are expenses: stakes, fencing, pots, straw mulch, fish emulsion, water, vehicle maintenance and so on. I've been hauling water from the reservoir for three years. But this year I'd like to construct a rustic pergola with rain catchment at the C&Jefferson site. I'm estimating $150 for the building materials and rain barrels. I've already spent $400 this year on various supplies and materials, including stakes, pots, straw, gas, rabbit fence, perlite, vermiculite, peat and so on. Including $42 for several new dahlias. (It's always fun to grow some new varieties.) $400 is not a huge amount, but it would be great to see a contribution from the neighbors. I'm distributing a flier in the neighborhood just for this purpose - to see how much support there is.
Of course, there's a significant amount of grunt-work involved, which you can't really put a price on. Hundreds of hours of work, starting last fall when last year's plsnts were dug up and the tubers divided, labeled, and stored, and continuing earlier this spring when I potted up 300 in anticipation of the planting season.
Well begun is half done: There are now 168 dahlias consisting of 84 different varieties coming up in three locations: C&Jefferson, 5th & Grimes and the Ecobarn at Ecovillage. All but 1 or 2 are growing vigorously, and a few have already started flowering. The real display won't start until early August, and will continue until the first frost in mid-October. Between now and then there will be plenty of work to do for those who'd like to get involved in a hands-on way.
Thanks so much for your attention to this project. Any support you can give, whether monetary or otherwise is greatly appreciated!
Fairfield Dahlias website
Organizer
Alexander Gabis
Organizer
Fairfield, IA
