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

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

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

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