Garden and Farm Stand at Newledo

The Garden at Newledo is an organic garden powered by community members who are passionate about growing healthy foods, beautiful flowers and practicing sustainability together. They encourage families without gardening space at home to join them in growing so all can share in the bounty! There’s also a free food share farm stand where produce from the garden and contributions from neighbors are made available 24/7 to all, especially those in need.

If this sounds like something you would like to be a part of, please reach out or visit
The Garden on facebook for Garden updates.

Biochar Project

Biochar is a stable solid, rich in carbon that is made from organic waste material or biomass that is partially combusted in the presence of limited oxygen. It's beneficial for building soil, creating housing for beneficial soil microbes and controlling moisture. A common attribute among all types of biochar is the primary ingredient: a recalcitrant carbon that can persist in soils for years or decades, and even millennia.

Wood chips are plentiful here at the Coast, so Newledo has been experimenting with using them as feedstock. Chipping downed trees and branches and using them to make biochar could also be an environmentally friendly alternative to burn piles, a common practice to get rid of such material onsite.

Newledo is also experimenting with various kiln designs including the TLUD simple kiln and is hoping to construct a continuous feed Kon-Tiki kiln this summer.

Fruit Forest

We’ve planted a combination of fruit trees, native plants, perennials and vegetables to create a fruit forest. The emphasis is on companion planting and best adaptability to our microclimate. This little valley used to have fruit orchards back in the last 1800s so we’re putting “fruit” back in Fruitvale!

Compost Collective

Newledo is experimenting with various methods for composting including the following. We’re also testing various local organic waste including dog hair.

Aerated Static Pile - Experimenting with a small scale, diy aerated static pile that uses air flow, instead of pile turning, to expedite the compost process.

Vermicomposting - Experimenting with worm based compost in our microclimate.

We’re hoping to create a compost collective, scaling up production and increasing the distribution of compost to the broader community. Reach out if you’d like to join the collective.