CMGA April Lecture and Tour

Jim Mast's greenhouse in Clarkdale
Photo by Loni Shapiro

This month our April lecture "Greenhouse Gardening" was followed by a Saturday tour of Jim Mast's greenhouse and orchard in Clarkdale. The lecture included temperature, light, watering, fertilizing and pests. This was a new hi-tech greenhouse for Jim and he talked about some of the problems: watering by hand, too much moisture, too many plants and insects. We all left green with envy and  knowing more about problem solving in a greenhouse.

After that lecture we headed out to Clarkdale on Saturday morning. We had a beautiful day (about 70) after the snowstorm in Flagstaff (3-4 inches). The greenhouse was full of cool season vegetable planted last fall (broccoli, kale, brussel sprouts, cabbage, etc.),recently planted lettuce bowls, some exotic hanging plants, herbs, and a working experiment Jim is doing for Great Big Plants.

 

      

Greenhouse                                                   Mizuna and Purple cabbage
Photos by Jim Mast

Jim also showed us his outside raised bed with onions, garlic, spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, and some herbs. He recently interplanted some corn between onion rows.

If that wasn't enough, we also got to tour his tree orchard across the street which include fruits and nuts; cherry, peach, pear, apples, almonds, and hazelnuts. Jim had tagged all the trees for us and many already had fruit. Once through the orchard we walked on to a tributary of the Verde River with many willows.



  

Almond Tree and Verde River tributary below orchard
Photos by Loni Shapiro

After our tour through both we had a delightful potluck lunch under the mesquite trees in his back yard. I spent my time watching and listening to the many birds. I even spotted a red cardinal. We decided that we had such a good time that this may become an annual event. Jim and Sheryl are beginning to landscape the rest of their property and it would be fun to see the progress next year. If you missed this lecture and trip just contact Jim and schedule a private tour.