You would think a store full of plants, plus chickens, would be enough.
Not at Gardensphere, the garden/chicken/art emporium Travis and Gabe Valbert founded at 3310 N. Proctor St.
The brothers have packed their store so tight with delights, there is no room for a workplace garden. For that, they step outside and stroll a few yards to the Proctor Street Bridge.
They plant the triangle of soil between their shop and the bridge. This year, they are going with lobelia and impatiens, though, Gabe said, they would have preferred vegetables.
They tried veggies once, he said, but this is a neighborhood of dogs who misunderstand the purpose of a small vegetable garden along a richly-scented sidewalk. The veggie plants did not grow. If they had, no one would have dared eat them. So the guys do flowers on the ground, and flowers in the air.
“This is our fifth year doing the hanging baskets on the bridge,” Gabe said. “We call them color bombs.”
The baskets, like their support of community gardens, their donations and their commitment to local sustainability, are part of their mission to give back to the community.
They grew up on the principle, taught by the tireless, and exuberant, example set by their grandmother, Charlotte Valbert of Blueberry Park fame.
Gabe and Travis take pride in that legacy of free-for-all blueberries, and in their part in Tacoma’s growing chicken culture.
“We sell 800 to 1,000 chicks a year, and 10 to 12 tons of really high quality chicken feed a month,” Gabe said. “One house gets chickens, and soon you will have a whole block full of chickens. It is nice to have people see the whole process of compost to harvest to eggs.”
On July 13, Gardensphere will hold the third Tacoma Urban Coop Tour, which they bill as “the craziest event Tacoma has to offer.”
“This year, visitors will be able to visit eight coops,” Travis said. “The tour hosts will be on hand to share their experiences with chicken care, coop design, maintaining harmony among the chickens, people and other pets, and more.”
Interested? The self-guided tour will cover the Tacoma urban area and run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $5 per person for people 13 and older. For information, click onto http://www.gardensphere.biz or call (253) 761-7936.
How does your workplace garden grow?
Are you and your employer up for the challenge of a workplace garden? If so, we want to hear from you.
Tell us the kind of space you have, the work you do and why you think a garden is a good fit.
Let us know how you decided the size and form. Are you going raised bed or in-ground? What is your planting medium? Will you go with food, flowers or a combination? What will you do with the things you grow?
What is your position on garden art? Do you fear gnomes? How about clown gnomes?
Over the summer, we will share tips and award prizes.
Let us know what you are growing at work at kathleen@tacomaweekly.com.