Fall Garlic Planting

Overall, we helped to plant plots of garlic, from shifting the dirt to planting to blanketing straw on top. Also got to build community by meeting new people.

During my service I helped first separate the garlic into individual pieces. Then helped plant them into our soil. Then had to cover our plantings with straw to help preserve them for winter. I observed firsthand how garlic hates competition. If planted too closely, the massive root systems become tangled and stunt each other’s growth. Planting them 4 to 6 inches apart gives each one enough room to grow into a full head.

As I volunteered at the Fall Garlic Planting, I was fascinated by how intricate and every little thing connected to each other in nature. Even as simple as planting garlic involves many biological processes. The one thing that stood out to me was the compost we used to plant the garlic, which was made from worm waste. In order to produce the worm waste, there was an inside area that I toured where the worms could reproduce. Being able to see this process actually helped me understand that what may seem unideal or just trash, can actually contribute to plant growth and become a part of a natural cycle. The process of planting the garlic started with us separating the garlic cloves, but still keeping the skin on the garlic to prevent rot. Then, we made holes in the compost that was about six inches deep and placed the cloves inside of them facing down. Because the roots would have to grow back around before growing in the correct direction, it was important that we placed the cloves in the ground root down, rather than the stem. At the end, we covered the holes with hay. After attending this event, I left with a clearer understanding of how the little things really contribute to a bigger purpose regarding farming. Since we also learn about living things, growth and organisms in my biology lab class, this also connected really well by seeing those concepts in real life while also doing the physical labor that comes with it.