Jacob’s Well Garden

Sunday night I had the privilege of being a guest of the Jacob’s Well Community Gardeners at one of their quarterly dinner gatherings at the garden pavilion. The meal, headed up by Shiila Safer and Dan Gauthier, current Co-Chairs, was cooked on-site. Fresh carrots, chard, onions, spinach, beets and a few herbs freshly picked from the members’ gardens were a big part and the star of the meal. Delicious!

Jacob’s Well Community Garden was begun some seven years ago on land owned by the Wimberley Valley Watershed Association. The site is that of an old tennis court not too far off the entrance from Jacob’s Well Road down from 2325. Today, there are five rainwater collection tanks with a need for more, along with water pumps to maximize their use.

The garden started out with a few raised beds bordered by concrete blocks built by the gardeners and a high fence from the old court. Now there are 30 beds, all leased and with a waiting list. In addition to individual members tending a bed, 1 bed has been dedicated for use by a class at KAPS whose teacher brings the students over and teaches them how to garden. Their produce is then taken back to KAPS and cooked for the students. Three beds have been reserved for Crisis Bread Basket. The produce from these beds provides fresh vegetables to supplement goods offered at the Center.

The gardeners maintain a compost bed and they provide the organic dirt for the beds. Coffee grounds from a local coffee shop enhance the compost.

The mission statement for the gardens is “To build, grow and sustain the Wimberley Valley’s 1st Community Organic Garden with a Rainwater Collection System.”

Members have a vision for expanding even more, but limited funds are preventing their doing so. If you would like to help, please consider donating by going to the web site of The Wimberley Valley Watershed District. Congratulations to these early entrepreneurs for succeeding and setting a splendid example for other communities.

Written by Martha Knies