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

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

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

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

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

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

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