soybean
Soybean Trial, 2008
Overview
The McClellan Ranch Community Gardens are bounded by oak woodland and riparian habitat. Gardeners have challenges to successfully grow crops. The alluvial soil is extremely fertile. However, vagaries in the microclimate occur because of its location at the base of a canyon. Wildlife abound, especially gophers, squirrels, rats, and rabbits. Deer are often present in the park but the garden perimeter is fenced to keep them out.
Our garden plot was surrounded by other garden plots before the realignment of the gardens and the 4H facilities to accommodate a new hiking and biking trail. The surrounding plots insulated ours from major pest damage. Now the south and west sides of our plot are bordered by 4H livestock enclosures. This provides easy access to garden pests which attributed to the 2008 crop failure.
The goal this year was to plant a variety of soy beans (edamame) that local gardeners could grow in their home gardens or in their community garden plots. We could then have a tasting so the public could determine which varieties suited their specific palate.
