Hello Gardeners,

We are now up to 142 lbs. donated, however, our harvest continues to be on the light side.  We’re hoping some of the recent rainfall will perk up those tomatoes a bit.  The squash plants may be about done for the season, not sure if they will hang in there or not!

I’m looking for someone to volunteer mowing this week.  Please let me know if you can do it!

Also thought this is an interesting read: https://www.mcall.com/news/local/nazareth/mc-nws-bangor-main-street-market-food-desert-20190815-zaabscfbwbd77djfnemzlng27y-story.html

Some donations to report:

08/15/2019 – 5 lbs. – Trinity Soup Kitchen – Peppers, Cucumbers, tomatoes, beans.

08/19/2019 – 10 lbs. – Trinity Soup Kitchen – Peppers, Beans, Tomato, Squash, Zucchini

Thanks,

Jason

Hello Gardeners,

Last week I mowed, pulled some weeds and tried to put out these Havahart Deep repellent modules: https://www.amazon.com/Havahart-DO5600-B-Weatherproof-Repellent-Vegetable/dp/B00WW0UOK2. It was worth a try, but based on recent evidence, I don’t believe they have helped much.

We are now up to 127 lbs. donated, however, our harvest is light compared to prior years at this time: 8/11/2018: 177 lbs., 8/11/2017 180 lbs., 8/25/2016 350 lbs.

Some donations to report:

08/01/2019 – 6 lbs. – Second Harvest – Cucumber, Beans, Squash.
08/05/2019 – 7 lbs. – New Bethany Ministries – Peppers, Beans, Cherry Tomatoes, Radishes, Cucumber, Zucchini.
08/08/2019 – 9 lbs. – Second Harvest – Peppers, Tomatoes, Cucumber, Zucchini.
08/12/2019 – 9 lbs. – Trinity Soup Kitchen – Peppers, Beans, Summer Squash, Cucumber, Zucchini.

Thanks,
Jason

Hello Gardeners,

I replaced the expandable hose with a new one and watered everything last night.

Some donations to report:

07/22/2019 – 8 lbs. – New Bethany Ministries – Cucumber, Squash, Zucchini, Beans.
07/29/2019 – 16 lbs. – New Bethany Ministries – Peppers, Beans, Radishes, Cucumber, Zucchini.

Thanks,
Jason

Hello Gardeners,

More harvests to report — the squash and zucchini are coming in like gang busters.

07/15/2019 – 16 lbs. – Second Harvest Food Bank –Radishes, Cucumber, Squash, Zucchini, beans.

07/19/2019 – 35 lbs. – Trinity Soup Kitchen –Radishes, Cucumber, Squash, Zucchini, beans.

Just checking to see if anyone knows what happened to the 100 ft. green expandable hose that we had. I’m not sure if another group borrowed and forgot to return it, but at the beginning of the season it went missing. For now I replaced it with another regular hose, but if anyone knows it’s whereabouts please let me know.

Thanks,

Jason

Hello Gardeners,

I wanted to share that we made our first donation for the season.  We had several large cucumber as well as the first of some squash.  Will also be seeing what can be picked tonight and adding that with Chris F.’s zucchini in a drop off Monday morning.

07/11/2019 – 21 lbs. – Trinity Soup Kitchen –Radishes, Cucumber, Squash, Zucchini, beans.

As things start to accelerate their growth, so are the weeds.  It’s important to try to keep your plots weeded, especially as the hot weather continues and people are getting up there less frequently.  I’d like to plan our next workday on July 21^st around 11:30AM.  A group of us should be able to quickly catch up on maintenance and weeding.

The lawn mower is in working order and available for anyone willing to mow inside the garden.  Just be careful when starting to be on the lookout for mice.  Even after the repair, you can see in the enclosed image that a nest was built inside the mower and it almost caught fire.

I installed the gate posts, which should make securing the garden much easier.  As I continue to secure the fencing, groundhog continue to find ways in.  Please use fencing around your beds where possible.

Thanks and look forward to seeing you all soon.

Jason

Breakfast in the Garden: May 25 — 9AM-11AM

Join the garden team in the community garden for a free breakfast of breakfast sandwiches, coffee, juice, and donuts at the garden. This is a great opportunity for fellowship and to find out what the garden is all about – as well as learn how you can help too. The garden is located behind the line of trees in the front upper parking lot. Click here and let us know how many will be attending so we make enough food!

Hey Everyone,

Last Saturday, I was able to remove the bags of garbage and get one of the two lawn mowers to the shop. Unfortunately, the owner said the Craftsman would not likely be repairable. However, he was willing to take a look at the Toro as that sounded more hopeful.

I was also able to deliver 187 lbs. of alkaline batteries to the recycling along with some of the church’s fluorescent bulbs. Those batteries would have otherwise ended up in the landfill, however it at $0.75/lb. the cost is quite high. Going forward, I will be accepting contributions towards that effort.

I’m looking for some help Saturday morning, with some continued work on the fencing, as well as loading up that other lawn mower, to take to the shop. Please let me know if you can lend a hand for an hour or two Saturday. Preferably 9AM or 10AM weather permitting.

Our plants are doing well, and Deb Ace gave us several lettuce plants.

Thanks,
Jason

Hello Gardeners!

We had a terrific start on our first workday on Sunday. We were able to begin repairing the fencing, and started cleaning up the beds and transferring new soil to the beds. Rich, Steve Z, The Lockhart family and Ben Mogoi were there to help with the efforts! Some raised beds needed some repairs. A big thank you to everyone that was able to help.

The Lockhart’s proposed a great idea for “Breakfast at the Garden” Saturday, May 25th, at 10AM. We will have breakfast and a great opportunity for fellowship and finding out what the garden is all about.
While the next scheduled work day is 5/4 (Saturday) @ 9:00AM, there is also a general church clean up day on 4/27. I encourage you all to lend a hand for an hour or whatever you can spare.
I wish you all a Happy Easter, and look forward to seeing you all soon!

Thanks,
Jason

Hello Gardeners!

We had our first meeting. In attendance was Nicole L, Steve Z, Jaimee, Rich C., and Ben M. showed a little later. We talked mostly about clean up tasks, repairing the fencing, and idea for seed planting. If you have not let me know about your intention for your plot this year, please let me know. I will be reaching out to you.

We scheduled the first two workdays as follows:

4/14 (Sunday) @ 10:30AM – 1:30PM show up after service!
5/4 (Saturday) @ 9:00AM – Saturday morning.

I had delivered (today) 6 cu. yds of Mushroom Soil. This is about half of what we had last year. Primarily we will use this to top off the beds. For the upcoming workday we can focus on clean up and bed preparation. I will also get a spool or two of fencing. Does anyone have a reasonably hefty wire cutter they could bring?

* Also, 4/27 @ 9:00AM is a church wide work clean-up day, it would also helpful if gardeners can lend a helping hand to that effort, especially as there may be some general clean up tasks that overlap! Come for an hour or whatever you can do!

I started plants, tomatoes, peppers, and two varieties of squash. They are doing quite well. See pictures below!
Looking forward to seeing you all!

PS. Wanted to share with you two upcoming plant sales:

5/10 – Rodale Institute – 10AM – 4PM — https://rodaleinstitute.org/events/may-organic-plant-sale/2019-05-10/
5/10, 5/12 – The Seed Farm – 9AM-3PM SAT, 11AM-2PM SUN — http://www.theseedfarm.org/plant-sale

Calling all gardeners! Were you excited for an extra evening hour of sun? We were too! Spring is on its way, and with it time to begin planning for the Wesley Church Community Garden.

If you would like to learn more about the garden, have a plot, or otherwise volunteer this year, we have our first Garden meeting planned for Thursday, March 28th 6:00PM-8:00PM. Meeting will be in the Youth Lounge at the church. Please be there as we get an early start on discussing 2019 plans for the garden. It’s also not too late to start your seedlings, frost free planting is only about 9 weeks away!

Thanks,
Jason