Saturday, October 15, 2011

Work Day Reminder

Friends,
This is just a reminder that or F & F Garden work day is scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 15, 9 AM - done.  If it is raining, our rain date will be the following weekend, Saturday, Oct. 22, 9 AM - done.  If you have extra yard waste bags, would you please bring some?  The compost bin is full.  If we find we don't have enough bags, I'll run up and purchase some.

Thanks go to Christine for helping me work in the garden Thursday afternoon.  We gathered up the rest of the produce and cleared out some of the beds.  We will clear out the remaining beds, remove the pea supports and remove the upper portion of the fence on our work day. 

Also, over the last two weeks, I took 57 pounds of produce to Food Gatherers.

Please join us tomorrow, if you are able.
Cathy

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

End of season work day‏

Hello Volunteers,

We have almost completed our first successful Faith & Food Garden Season.  It has been quite a journey from start (fall of '09 discussions) to now (end of the 1st growing season).  The bulletin board pictures remind us of all the work and volunteers that lent a hand in creating the AACRC Faith and Food Garden.  As Jesus said, "For I was hungry and you fed me.....", this garden is just another way our church is actively involved in doing God's work.

We want to thank Katrina Brehob for tending the garden last week.  She took 6 pounds of carrots to Food Gatherers.  I will work the garden this week and
Christine Kim has volunteered to help the week of October 10th. 

Our final end-of-season work day will be on Saturday, October 15, from 9AM - 12noon.  If you are available that morning and can lend a hand, your help would be appreciated.  We will remove any remaining plants, take down the pea supports and remove & roll up the added fence top.  We will need a few tools:

  • electric drills
  • strong screw drivers and pliers to remove the staples holding the netting down
  • some strong individuals to assist with the fence top removal
  • gloves (You may want to bring water for yourself, too.)
When the last work day is done, we will then take a couple months off and schedule a meeting, after the new year, to plan for the next growing season.  If you are interested in making changes, having some input, or being more involved in all the pre-planning that goes on before the planting season begins, think about joining us at the first meeting in 2012.  

More later,
Cathy

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Update

Friends,

Last week I took 36 pounds of food to Food Gatherers.  There are just a few tomatoes, carrots, and all the squash remaining.

This week the Brehobs are taking care of the garden.  We can be very thankful that God has given us plenty of rain to make our tasks a bit easier.

I will be speaking with Barb and Muriel about our clean-up date, which needs to be postponed, to allow the squash to continue to grow.  In the meantime, if any of the plants (other than the squash) look spent, we can extract them and put them in the compost bin.

We do need 2 volunteers - someone to volunteer to tend the garden next week, the week of Oct 3rd, and the following week, the week of Oct. 10th Please let me know if you are willing and able to help in on of those slots.  I am hoping a 2-3 week extension on the garden will be enough time for the squash, so we can get all done before November.

Thanks so much,
Cathy

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Update

Friends,

We thank Kathy G. for tending the garden last week and I am tending it this week.  We also thank Barb O. for getting the compost bin for the garden waste.  If it is your week, please take the bin to the street Tuesday - pick-up is Wednesday morning.

Just a quick note to let you know:

  • Last week Kathy took 30 pounds of food to Food Gatherers
  • Today I took 23 pounds
  • I took the rest of the Kale and Collards, so they are done
  • What's left are a few tomatoes, carrots and squash
  • Our final clean-up day may have to be extended into October, as the squash continues to grow.  It is suggested that the squash be picked: 1 - if the vines brown out & die  or  2 - after the first frost.  So we will have to wait and see.
Thanks again for helping to make this a successful first year,
Cathy

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Update

Hello Faith & Food Gardeners!

I hope we all are enjoying the sunshine today, I know I sure am!

This past week the Okonkwos tended the garden - thank you!  They had a very productive week, taking 37 pounds of food from our garden to Food Gatherers. That is wonderful!
This week, Kathy Gottschalk will take care of the garden. 

Victor Chen would like to get some of the youth involved in the harvesting/delivering our produce to Food Gatherers, so, if you are taking care of the garden in the next few weeks, he may be getting in touch with you.  Thanks Victor, for facilitating the youth involvement.

I spoke briefly with Michael today at church and he said he will have the sign rehung some time this week.  Thanks, Michael, for noticing and tending to the needed repair.

I haven't received any other information to share, so I am going to assume all is going well in the garden.

Have a great week,
Cathy

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Update

Hello Faith & Food Volunteers!

I hope you are enjoying this Labor Day Weekend!

Some of you may have noticed our sign is gone.  Michael has taken it down to do some repairs and will return it when all is ready.  I have to admit, the fence looks a bit bare without the sign.

We want to thank the Okonkwos for tending the garden this past week and they will continue for next week.

Our Garden has been enjoying the weather and producing very well.  One week ago, Katrina delivered almost 6 pounds of produce to Food Gatherers, two weeks ago Marie delivered about 5 pounds of veggies and this past week, Barb delivered a whopping 20.7 pounds of veggies from our garden.  HOW WONDERFUL! 
Here's a little story from this past Thursday.  During the Thursday morning Craft Club, we enjoyed watching two fawns foraging around the picnic table and under the conifers.  Later that day, Barb and I received an email from Rachel saying she had seen them munching around the outside of the garden.  Then Barb let us know that some of the squash had been growing out of the garden and was now gone!  So, Barb has pulled all the squash away from the fence.  As cute as the deer are, we want to feed folks, not fawn. : )

I hope the first week back to school, for some of your children, goes smoothly and that all enjoy this first full week of September.  In no time at all, it will be October and most of the growing season will be done.  May we enjoy the rest of our first season of gardening together!

Blessings to all,
Cathy

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Update

Hi F & F Volunteers!

The garden looks great and God has been providing plenty of rain these last few days.

My short road trip to WV with Barb Okonkwo was great and now I'm back on the job, so to say.

We want to thank Marie Shaffer for tending the garden last week and the Brehobs are taking care of things this week

Next week the garden will be tended by the Okonkwos.

I haven't heard how deliveries to Food Gatherers have been as of late, so if folks could jot me an email, I'd be happy to share what you have done in the garden with all.

I will share one bit of other news sent to me by Veena.

... I just received wonderful praise for our Faith and Food Garden.  Bryan Weinert of Zion Lutheran and I were at an ICPJ meeting, and he warmly praised our garden: the look from the road, the sign, the posting of the guidelines, the tool chest, the benches, how welcoming it is...it really is the ultimate Welcome Mat for our church. ...

It is so wonderful that this garden, designed to provide another opportunity for members of our church to be the hands and feet of Jesus, has now inspired yet another seed of growth for the community.  Just another way God is at work behind & in front of the scenes, giving us encouragement, inspiration and opportunities to "DO" His work.

Have a good and blessed week,
Cathy

Monday, August 8, 2011

Ssquash Yllowing Laves‏

Folks,

Sending to all as an FYI

RE: yellowing squash leaves
Did some Googling and came up with the following:  (Please read to the note's end message)

  1. Squash vine borer is a difficult to control pest of vine crops, particularly summer and winter squashes.  Adults lay eggs for a three week period starting in late June.  Cover lower section of stems with floating row cover or even aluminum foil to prevent egg laying.  Look for and remove by hand any brown egg masses seen on the lower stems.  Spraying carbaryl (Sevin) is more effective than using the dust formulation.  If entrance holes and "sawdust" are seen, a wire can be inserted and threaded through the stem for some distance to kill developing larvae inside. Or slit stems lengthwise to find and destroy the caterpillar. Then bury slit stem section under some soil. (852)
  2. Yellow leaves are generally a sign of over-watering.

    Pluck off the yellow leaves close to the stalk, to prevent mold.
    Stick your finger in the soil about an inch or two away from the plant.
    If you can feel moisture, don't water it. Check it again the same way the next day. If you still feel moisture, don't water it. If it feels dry, water a little. Try to check the soil this way in the early evening as opposed to morning or night when dew may be present on the ground. Try to avoid watering a plant that is already sitting in wet soil. Roots that are saturated tend to get what's known as "root rot."

    Also, (you probably already know this) water in the evening to prevent the water from evaporating from the soil too quickly in the heat of the day. Even with temps in the 70's, there will be evaporation. If you have holes in the middle of the leaves, then that's a sign of bugs. If the leaves are brown, that means it needs more water.

    Don't worry, plants are pretty strong. Your squash will be okay, just keep an eye on those little things.
  3. If it's the basal leaves turning more yellow than the leaves closer to the shoot tip, then it's a nitrogen deficiency. The plant recycles nitrogen from older leaves and trans-locates the nutrients to the younger leaves.

    If all leaves are more yellow away from leaf veins and more green at the vein (interveinal chlorosis) then it is likely an iron or zinc deficiency. This generally occurs in soils with a pH greater than 8.0. If you are in a more arid region of California, maybe less than 16" of rainfall a year, you could have high pH soils.

    Because the yellowing started after a rain, I suspect a nitrogen deficiency. Nitrogen is found in several chemical forms in the soil, and bacteria metabolize other forms of nitrogen and oxidize it to Nitrate (NO3). Nitrate is the form of nitrogen taken up by plants in the greatest quantity. Nitrate is negatively charged and does not "stick" to positively charged clay particles in the soil like other nutrients and is easily leached by rainfall below the root zone. Many aquifers agricultural areas are polluted with nitrate because of this reason.

    I suggest fish emulsion or feather tea, both of which contain most of their nitrogen in the nitrate form, and will be rapidly available to the plants, unlike a pelletized slow release fertilizer.
So, let's look for sawdust around the lower stem.  If found, we'll look for entry and get the little sucker out.  If none is found, then we'll try some fish emulsion, which I will pick up when I get the spray.

If anyone has further info regarding yellowing leaves, please share with us.

Cathy

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Update

Hello F & F Volunteers!

Our garden is looking great!  Today, as I was explaining a few things to Katrina, Kira and Henry Brehob about the garden, our garden was complimented by a woman walking past the church.  In addition to liking our garden, I found out she currently does not attend a church, so I invited her to worship with us.  As she considers the offer, I hope God invites her to become a member of some church family, even if it is not ours.

We want to thank Kathy Gottschalk and the Strengs for tending the garden this last week.  Again, over five pounds of veggies were delivered to Food Gatherers this past week.  This may not seem like much, but when combined with all the other church, community and private gardens doing the same, it all adds up!!! This coming week, the Reiminks will watch over the garden.

Today, I readjusted the squash vines to allow for folks to get around a bit easier.  If volunteers will guide the vines to follow the general layout/path I've started, we can keep the paths passable, while still encouraging the vines to grow & produce.  A few of the squash vines' leaves are yellowing, but I don't think we need to worry - the rest of the vines look healthy and are setting out roots, too. 

I did notice a few things that can be done this week and will list them below:

  • Pull out the peas - they are done for this round.  I will see if a 2nd planting is advised, if not we will replant with another cool crop a bit later
  • Keep an eye on the tomatoes - something has eaten a few plants ends (possibly caterpillars) and should be picked off, if seen, and terminated!
  • The beans may need spraying - watch the leaves for wholes - they get sprayed only once a week, unless there is a heavy rain - directions are on the container
  • Do not pick the carrots just yet - they will get to be 5 - 6 inches long and can still grow a bit.
  • REFRIGERATE veggies picked, if waiting for a second picking that week to have a larger delivery. 
Just in case you missed last week's note, we will turn the water on & off at the hose divert-er which is attached to the extension hose that's connected to the main faucet.  Thanks to Barb O. for supplying that additional hose.

Also, I was asked about this again today, so will remind folks to get a receipt from Food Gatherers when you deliver produce and get the receipt to Barb O.  Thanks!

Finally, I will be gone next weekend, so I just want to give a heads-up to Marie Shaffer, who will tend the garden beginning on the 15th.

I can't think of anything else, so have a good week!
Cathy

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Update

Hello F & F Volunteers!

I was unable to send out an update last week - no computer for 5 days.  Glad to be able to access my addresses and get a note out to you!
IMPORTANT:  We have a change in the water shut off.  Ken has asked that the main valve be left on to make it easier for Carolyn to do her watering around the church.  So, we will shut the water off on the divert-or attachment just off of the main valveBe sure to release the water pressure out of the hose - easily done by letting it drain out of the spray wand.  It is not good for the hose to be filled with water, especially on these very hot days.

We thank Marie Shaffer for tending the garden this past week. Next week
Kathy Gottschalk & the Strengs will take care of our blooming garden!!

It has been very nice to receive updates for the past couple weeks from those tending the garden.  It does make it easier for me to share, in more detail, the happenings in the garden.  This past week, Marie delivered over 5# of produce to Food Gatherers and sprayed the beans.  I hope to have the total number of pounds delivered for the next update, but the # of pounds really doesn't tell the whole story because what has been delivered thus far consists of very light weight veggies: collards, kale, snap peas, and beans.  The tomatoes, carrots and squash are the heavy weights of this garden. : )  So, if folks start asking you how many pounds of veggies have been delivered to Food Gatherers, be sure to convey the whole picture.

The squash vines are really spreading!  Today, I pulled several vines back into the garden, as they were making their way out of the fence.  So, for tenders of the garden from this point forward, keep an eye on those vines to keep them in the garden.  Also, spray the beans, if it looks like the leaves are being consumed, and dead-head the marigolds.  They are getting nice and full and will stay that way if they are kept free of the spent flowers.  I have just been tossing them over the fence and onto the lawn.  Then they get ground up when the grass is cut.

There are many green tomatoes, so it won't be long until they'll be red and ready to harvest.  And...there are cherry tomatoes for folks to enjoy while they take care of the needs of our garden.

One final note - I don't know if I told you that Victor contacted me about having the students help in the harvesting and delivering of the produce once school gets back in session.  This will be great - more later on this help!

Thanks and have a good week,
Cathy

Monday, July 18, 2011

Update

Hello Faith & Food Volunteers!

It's been very warm and this week will be VERY HOT!  We thank Laura Kett for tending the garden last week.  She reported that she delivered peas to Food Gatherers and more will be ready this week.  BTW: all receipts from Food Gatherers' deliveries should be put in Barb Okonkwo's mailbox.  If you are not offered a receipt, be sure to ask for one.  Thanks!

This week, Muriel Learned and Malo Engle will tend the garden.  I'm sure it will need watering daily. 

Muriel & Malo: Laura put some peas in the church frig to add to what is picked this week for a larger amount to go to Food Gatherers, so please grab them when you take a run to Food Gatherers.  It looks like the kale and some of the collards are ready for delivery, too.  Laura mentioned some of the carrots still need thinning (next year we need to spread the carrot seeds very lightly when planting) and beans are coming on and may need picking.  She also mentioned the cherry tomato plant in the black pot is not doing well.  It may need a bigger pot, it may dry out faster being in a black pot... not sure what the cause is, but let's remember to water it along with the shrubs and flower tubs at the front of the garden.

I pulled the
trailing squash vines out of the raised beds so they can grow and spread, so take care when walking the paths in that area. 

Finally, when I went to the church this morning, the water had been left on.  Not sure if it was our group or someone else, but please remember to turn the water off at the main valve on the church.  We don't want to waste resources.

Have a good week,
Cathy

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Update

Hello F & F Volunteers!

Our garden is looking great, but with these hot days, lots of watering is needed. 

This past week Harvey delivered a lunch bag of snap peas to Food Gatherers and it looks like more will be delivered this week, too. 

We thank the Stobs and Lilian Kuiper for tending the garden last week.  For this week Laura is tending the garden, but since I only put Laura on the calender, I don't know if it is Laura Kett or Laura Boonstra.  Either way, Laura be sure to check the peas for delivery to Food Gatherers.

I hope all are enjoying their summer!  Have a good week,
Cathy

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Update

Hello Faith & Food Volunteers!

I hope you are enjoying your 4th of July weekend!  It certainly is a warm one. 

Our garden is looking great.  Last week Barb and Muriel harvested collards, delivered  them to Food Gatherers, received some new collard seedlings and planted them.  Harvey attached the remaining hinge and the latch to the gate, so no more rope. : )  Thanks to all!

We thank Marian Izerman for tending the garden last week.  This week the Stobs and Lilian Kuiper will oversee the garden.  Harvey, Audrey and Lillian, there are snap peas ready to be harvested and delivered to Food Gatherers, this should be done early in the week, as many look ready now.

I hope folks are taking time to write in the garden journal and take photos when tending the garden.  Both the journal and disposable camera are located in the garden chest.

Have a great week,
Cathy

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Update

Hello Volunteers!

What a great watering God gave the garden this past week!  Sure made it easy for tending. : )  We thank Malo Engel for tending the garden this past week and Marian Izerman will tend it this coming week.  Marian - the carrots need to be thinned every 2 inches, or so.  They look like grass growing along most of the garden bed borders.  If you pull out a lot of little seedlings that look like they would survive elswhere, they can be replanted in the small beds on the north side of the garden along the perimeter.  Also, as a reminder, be sure to
check the peas to make sure they are climbing the support and don't forget to water the potted tomato in the corner (our cherry tomatoes for eating, yum) and the shrubs & whiskey barrel planters on the north side of the fence. : )

The collards are near harvesting and Farmer Dan from Food Gatherers has a new round of seedlings to be planted. So, Barb and Muriel will find out from Dan if our collards are ready to be pulled, get new ones and plant them.  Thanks, ladies!

Harvey has agreed to attach the latch and last hinge to the gate.  This will be great and the rope can be removed.  Yea!  Thanks, Harvey!

In the coming week, if there are any concerns regarding the garden, please contact Barb or Muriel.  I will be out of town on my first vacation in 2 years (since the onset of my CHF).  I'm looking forward to a trip with Paul.  That said, the next update will be on Monday, not Saturday.

Have a blessed week,
Cathy

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Garden Update

Hello F & F Volunteers!

I hope you have had a good week... the garden has!

We thank the Strengs for tending the garden this past week.

Next week the garden will be tended by Malo Engel.
The garden is doing well.  The peas continue to climb their support and all other plants are holding their own.  Be sure to check the garden out tomorrow, if you are at church.

Thursday morning, during Craft Club, we watched a deer walk across the parking lot.  I am so glad we extended the height of the fence. : )

Carolyn is enjoying the picnic table during her lunch time.  I am pleased she has a great place to sit in the shade, enjoy the breeze, eat her lunch, read her kindle and enjoy the view of the garden.  We've made a great contribution to the church and we have received many words of appreciation for the table. : )

Finally, I have updated the volunteer list and you will find it attached.

I pray your coming week is blessed,
Cathy

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Update

F & F Volunteers,
We thank the Stobs for tending the garden this past week and next week the Strengs have signed up to do the watering and weeding.

The garden continues to well, for the most part.  Several of the collards have been feasted on by some caterpillars, so I sprayed them today with a spray Barb and I purchased from English Gardens. This will need to be done every Saturday (the spray is in the chest).  Speaking of Saturday, if you are scheduled to water for the week, it is important to water on Saturday, because the next watering day isn't 'til Monday, unless we get a good rain on Saturday.

Barb and I replaced 4 collards and 4 tomato plants that weren't looking too well.  This very hot and then cool weather has been hard on the plants.

The beans are looking great.  They had grown to reach the protective netting, so I removed it today.  The peas are climbing their support and the carrots are coming up.  The carrots will need to be thinned out every 3 inches in the coming weeks, so if you are tending the garden, be sure to do this as you weed.

Tomorrow, when you attend church, you will see the beautiful sign hanging on the garden fence.  Michael Woodyard hung it this morning and it looks great! And yes...it is hanging level.

On a final note, I do have a latch and hinge that need to be put on the gate.  If you are willing and able to attach these to the gate, please get in touch with me.  We will make arrangements to get these to you and you can put them on at your convenience.

Thanks & have a good week,
Cathy

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Update

Faith & Food Volunteers,

The first week of the garden has gone smoothly.  Some of the carrots, squash and beans are up.  We lost one squash plant and two collards, so I picked up some more and will plant them this evening,when it is cooler.

Watering takes about 30 min to do a good job.  The drainage is great, so it is important to spend time in each bed to ensure through watering.  It is important to water the tomato pot in the corner, flower pots (whiskey barrels) and 6 shrubs that front the fence, too.  Fortunately, this is easy to do through the fence.

I found leaving the hose laid out was easier for me when I returned to water again.  Someone kindly coiled it up one day, but stretching it out, especially when the hose twists, was a bit of extra work for me.  I would recommend each volunteer to do what works for them and for others to let things be for that volunteer.  A laid out hose does not look bad in this setting, especially since this is a "working" garden.

We do have some carpenter bees that have begun to bore holes in the wood supports for the peas.  I will fill the hole that I found with caulk, and if each volunteer does the same when it is their week, that should take care of the problem for this year.  I think it would get too hot in the garden chest to leave the caulk.  If you don't have caulk, let me know and I'll stop by to fill in the hole on.  Next year, I would suggest we either use a different kind of wood or metal supports.

When it is your turn to tend the garden, being prepared for the heat is important.  The main advice I give is to have water, hat, bandanna - whatever keeps you cool, and do take care when walking on the wood-chips if you are wearing sandals.  I discovered some of the wood-chips are long and pointed and one found its way into my toe, leaving a very nice sliver - so take care!

Finally, be sure to release the water pressure from the hose when shutting off the water, either at the main valve (side not being used) or by letting it out the wand.

Have a great week,
Cathy

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Today

Faith & Food Volunteers.

What a productive and good time was had by all who worked the garden today!  The veggies are in, the fence is extended, the shrubs are planted and the flower containers look great!

Now, it is up to the soil, sun, watering and God's help to have a fruitful yield.  May this garden be blessed!

Tomorrow, right after the service, we would like to get a photo of all the garden volunteers down by the garden.  This photo will be sent out to all who have given to this garden from the greater community at large.  Please join us for this picture.

Enjoy the rest of your Memorial Day Weekend!
Cathy

Friday, May 27, 2011

Planting Day

Faith & Food Gardeners,

I sure am praying for no rain tomorrow morning.  We have all the seeds, plants, wood, netting and are ready to plant our garden and do some added tasks.   We will start at 9 and work 'til we are done.  Be sure to bring your own gloves and favorite tools (trowel, shovel) and water.

We will:
  • plant the veggies
  • plant the 2 whiskey barrel flower planters
  • plant 6 boxwood
  • hang the sign
  • extend the height of the fence
  • take a photo of the whole group with a "Thank You" sign to send to all our friends who donated time & materials
  • enjoy lunch, if the weather permits and folks feel so inclined

IF IT RAINS, the only rain date that Barb & I can join forces (sooner than later) to get plants in the ground is Monday, same time & place.  Come if you can, but let's pray all goes as planned for tomorrow.
Hope to see you tomorrow,
 
Cathy

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Spring Is Here!

Time to plant, water, weed, and harvest. Watch this blog for the latest info about the garden.