LCO grows more fresh produce for COVID-19 charity

LCO, April 2020

In the second week of the Lighthouse Center Oregon (LCO) COVID-19 charity project, we realized that we needed more fresh, organic produce in the coming months to keep up with the demand for the wholesome soups we’re making and donating to the charities we’ve partnered with. No time like the present to ramp up production at LCO’s certified organic greenhouse and garden!

Our garden crew stepped up to the challenge and began a massive planting effort. In the garden and greenhouse, beds are being prepared and enriched with compost, micronutrients, and biochar. Seeds have been started in earnest, including broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, swiss chard, cucumbers, sweet peppers of various colors, eggplant, and watermelon! Green beans and basil are also in the plan.

In the greenhouse, we just planted a 50-foot bed with zucchini. And soon, 150 heirloom tomato plants will find new homes in three 50-foot beds.

Outside in the garden, two 40-foot beds of garlic are coming along great, alongside 250 beets that have recently begun their life cycle. Two 100-foot beds of potatoes will be planted in May along with another two 100-foot long beds of winter squash in June.

We are excited to tend and watch these beauties grow. Our thanks to Mother Nature for sending the bees to help—they are super busy at work right now! And we are looking forward to a bumper veggie crop! In the meantime, we are harvesting lettuce, salad greens, kale, collards, parsley, and radishes to share with the homeless shelters and soup kitchens in Roseburg.