‘America In Bloom’ Community Garden Update

We have been working hard helping to install a large community garden on College and O St. in Lompoc. The PVC pipes were installed and we connected up 25 spicots, approx. one for each garden plot. Some fruit trees were planted in the rear of the property and will be called the “Pie Orchard.” Several people from the community have begun planting after some soil preparation. My (Beckys) plot is all edible flowers and herbs and of course a tomato plant. All plants in my plot have been recycled from customers yards or cuttings from my existing garden at home. The white arbor was bought for a booth promotion last year and a bench came from Dick and Jane DeWees home whom I have recently finished landscaping. Flower pots and other accesories came from various recycled sources. The only thing I purchased was mulch, compost and some sunflower and dill weed seeds. My daughter, Lily painted some flagstone rocks some time ago and donated those to the cause.

We continue to build on the foundation that we have created. We will soon add large flower pots that will be wheelchair accessible, more decomposed granite for the walkways, a gazebo, and soil amendments. Of course we aren’t the only ones working on this project. Many members from the community have donated time and products, among them; Dulcie Sinn has organized the entire effort. Home Depot and Valley Rock Landscape Supply have donated many supplies. Also many individuals have helped with time and labor to get this project started.

Dell Barritt helps ‘America In Bloom’ community garden

Becky’s fiance’, Dell Barritt helped out with the installation of the ‘America In Bloom’ community garden. He got up about 5:00 am Saturday and drove the new John Deere over to the community garden lot in Lompoc at the corner of College and O St. and rototilled the entire lot to help prepare it for others. Several 10 ft. by 15 ft. plots will soon be claimed by residents and they will plant, weed and grow vegetables and flowers for their own consumption. Dell also helped auger over 30 post holes for fence posts. Dell was stung by a yellow-jacket and needed much sympathy for the rest of the weekend, not to mention the sore muscles from the augering.

New John Deere Tractor purchased

Becky purchased a new John Deere Tractor October 1st. It is a 3320 model and has a hydraulic gannon box. It is bigger and has more horsepower than my old tractor which was only a J.D. 650. I can’t wait to get a big job that I can use it on. I also bought a new flatbed trailer to haul the tractor on.

Becky’s Water Features

Let Becky design a beautiful water feature for your backyard area.

Becky’s Creative Landscape & Design

About…

Becky Van Cleave, Becky

Becky Van Cleave was born in Lompoc, Ca. in 1967 and lived in Orcutt, Santa Maria and Los Alamos until she graduated from Righetti High School in 1985 and immediately enlisted in the United States Army. She became a military police officer and spent a year in South Korea.