We are located 3-1/2 Miles East of Jamestown, and 4-1/4 miles West of Interstate 71, on Old Route 35.
Click here for map and directions.
 

One Town’s TRASH becomes garden TREASURE!

Since 2005 we have willingly been the recipient of all the collected leaves from the Village of Jamestown each fall. The village, which would have normally had to truck the leaves to the recycling center at the west side of Xenia, is able to drive three miles east of town and dump them in the drive at English Garden Farm.

WHY: The garden covers approximately three acres and currently contains over 400 different kinds of trees, shrubs and roses, along with ever increasing numbers of perennials. Nearly all of the three acres is under cultivation, with the only grass being in the pathways and in areas not yet prepared for other planting. The purchase of enough mulch to properly mulch this garden is simply out of the question financially. Jamestown's leaves have been a real boon to our ability to develop and improve the garden. The individual bags of leaves are placed through-out the garden in the late fall.  Even though this does not make the view the most delectable during the winter, just one spring of attempting to move the equivalent of a semi's volume of wet, soggy (read HEAVY) bags of leaves was enough to convince the leaf mover that the visual imitation of a gigantic, above-ground black mushroom field was a preferable evil. The bags are emptied and the leaves spread out between plants in the spring after the worst of the spring winds is over, but while the ground is still nicely moist. Weeds control is hugely aided and the level of moisture conservation is amazing. The mulch is spread approximately 4-6 inches thick. By fall,  it has mostly broken down, adding valuable organic matter to our predominantly clay soil. Natural methods for soil improvement and pest control are preferred here and the leaves certainly help us to achieve that goal.

Thanks Jamestown!
English Garden Farm is happy to share it's methodologies with visitors and encourages the recycling of natural materials to lessen the burden on towns and villages, for soil improvement, and for environmental health. Even if one has to remove the occasional beer can and plastic child's toy (or fake plant parts).  No gnomes so far.