Hello Garden Gang,Many thanks to all of you who came to our garden gathering last Saturday. We had a great turnout, and Ellen did a wonderful job of reporting her meeting notes from the Bhutanese garden. Colleen shared a resource for seeds: High Mowing Organic Seeds.
Here's a snapshot of the egg seedlings that I brought to the meeting, and how they've grown just since Saturday--aren't these adorable? I told the kids if they're lucky I'll put them in their Easter baskets!
Here are some of Ellen's notes from the meeting, for future reference. Thanks, Ellen!
Garden Meeting 3/29/2012
Neighborhood Needs Community Center – Bhutanese Refugee Garden
Altamesa, Fort Worth, TX 76133
What a great outreach they have to get a diverse group of people together. It's amazing. They also have a” feed the community” outreach and they feed around 150 families. With these families they partner with 5 other churches and also supply groceries, clothing and of course garden goods.
Tour of the Garden and suggestions from others.
1. All the beds we toured are maintained by the Bhutanese. They come in early morning or at dusk to attend their garden. At this time they have 27 families that work the beds and they are all full.
2. All beds had numbers on them and are full. Regardless of how many beds you have it is important to get the as full as you can quickly to attract new people.
3. Last year they out of the Bhutanese Garden they produced 895 pounds.
4. They had a board on the side of the building that charted the bed and weight.
5. They had a great little sitting area under a tree that was wonderful for the older people to rest.
Suggestions from other Gardens in attendance.
1. Garden in Arlington - This last Halloween they had a trick or treat event that attracted people to the church and in the Garden each Family sit up chairs and had candy. They would ask the kids questions. Example: Which garden has beans? The kids would run off and ask questions then come back and they would get their candy. Out of that they had 2 families
2. Suggestion to get help – Craig’s list
3. Fort Worth - When it gets hot create a natural resource to create shade. Example: cut limbs from tree that has a Y shape place into the ground then a cross beam at the top and start with branches, twigs and build from there. They tried a thin cloth at first and the first wind and rain took it away.
4. Call the volunteer center of north Texas. The Arlington Garden was able to connect and they received $20,000 which purchased 2 sheds and a chipper where the community could bring their branches and they mulch and use it in their garden.
5. While working in your Garden esp. on build days or work days have a banner made and place out front. Most of the gardens do this and they have people that walk up and find out what is going on.
6. If you know it’s going to rain or the weather is not good outside before planting use your church's gym and have a seed party inviting the church family to join in. Have sandwiches and fun for the kids. It does not need to be very big just let the kids know they will be playing in dirt.During this event have a pot painting event and have little pots placed in a certain area of you garden so the kids can watch their plants grow.
Actual presentation
1. Buy in Bulk. Seeds can be stored. Decide what you want to grow in the coming year and store being ready for the season. See handout on seed storage.
2. They had plastic containers that stored the seeds. Small and compact. Do not store in a shed or outside. They need to be stored in a climate controlled area such as your house. They do not need to get to hot or cold before you plant.
3. Transplanting information (from Texas Vegetable Gardening Guide – Argrilife Extension Service)
4.Companion plant growing. See handout.
5. Call outs for planning companions:–
·Alliums (onions, garlic, Leeks etc helps with fruit trees and night shade tomatoes, potatoes and peppers. It repels slugs, aphids and other pests.
·Beans help with Beets, Corn & Brassicas. They help with containing bacteria that fix nitrogen, and it helps to fertilize other plants.
·Beets help with Lettuce, Alliums & Brassicas . Beets help with adding minerals to the soil.
·Borage helps with strawberries, Cucumbers and almost anything. Borage repels many pests and attracts honeybees.
·Marigolds help with Squash, Tomatoes & Asparagus. Produces pesticides that deter nematodes & beetles.
·Geranium helps with Tomatoes, Grapes, Aubergines &Roses Geraniums help trap crop and attract the pest away from the other plants.
·I love that if you plant Basil under your tomato plants it makes the tomatoes taste sweeter
6. Handout – Plants Families.
7. Thinning Plants – Thinning is best when the soil is damp. Thinning is harsh because you see plants that you don’t want to destroy however if they are thick after planting they are competing for water, nutrients and sunlight that seedlings need to grow.
