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 valve.  Be 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