Wagner Farm Community Garden: May 2015

Friday, May 29, 2015

Dear Gardeners,

The Wagner Farm Community Garden is now OPEN for the season! I have seen sooo many cool gardens being planted. I can't wait to see how they all look when they are planted. Please keep the following

1.YOU MAY NOT BE IN THE GARDEN DURING MOWING HOURS. THE GARDEN IS CLOSED ON MONDAYS AND THURSDAYS from 1:00 p.m.- 3:00 p.m. Even if the farmers are not working near your plot, you must not be in the garden during mowing times. This is for your own safety!

2. There is NO PARKING, STOPPING OR DROPPING OFF GARDENING SUPPLIES in the circular driveway. This weekend, the farm will be starting to give wagon rides. The horses need the area between the dumpster and the apple tree (where there is a NO PARKING sign) clear at all times. They will be coming through that area and they need a lot of clearance. Even an idling car can cause the horses to get spooked. This can be very dangerous. Please drop off your supplies on Wagner Rd. In addition, cars have been blocking the green dumpsters and the farm has been denied garbage pick up for the last 2 weeks. Please do not park by the dumpsters.

3. Heritage Center Gift Shop- This month, there are a variety of NEW gardening items. Some of theses items include: herb savers and herb triple blade scissors. Check out these items and more at the gift shop Monday-Saturday from 9-5 or Sunday 9-3!

4. Unfortunately, the red wagons were available for Opening Weekend only. Please provide your own cart or wagon from now on.

I look forward to seeing everyone in the garden soon!

Alyssa Tadelman

Sunday, May 17, 2015

Dear Gardeners!

This weekend, several volunteers and I worked to set up all of the stakes in the community garden. It was raining, but that did not stop us. A big thank you to the volunteers for helping with this! I couldn't have done it without you!

The garden has been tilled three times and amendments have been added. CURRENTLY, THE GARDEN IS CLOSED!!! You may NOT work in your plot and you may NOT begin planting at this time.

This week, the farmers will work to edge the plots and till the areas that have remaining grass and weeds. Weather permitting, we are hoping to open the garden NEXT SATURDAY, MAY 23. At this time, the soil is too wet to work with. Working the soil when it is too wet will compact the soil, ruin the natural soil structure, and make it difficult for plant roots to grow.

I promise to keep you posted and let you know as soon as the garden is ready to open. I can't wait to get into the garden too!

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Alyssa Tadelman

Saturday, May 2, 2015

Spring in the Garden

Hello gardeners!

Spring is here! The birds are signing and our farmers, Trae and Andres, are busy preparing the garden plots. So far, they have tilled the plots and taken soil samples for testing. They are currently working on adding amendments to the soil. I will keep everyone posted by e-mail to let you know when the plots are ready. We are hoping to open the garden by mid to late May.

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What's This?

FieldWatch is a nonprofit organization that is intended to help pesticide applicators and specialty crop growers communicate more effectively. The site registers certified organic gardens and their beehives. This information is provided to crop dusting (pesticide) applicators to let them know the location of organic gardens. They use this information to plan their routes accordingly. Our sign alerts them to keep pesticides away! The Wagner Farm Community Garden and our Wagner beehives are registered as organic sites through FieldWatch.

Q&A

Q: Are cocoa shells allowed as mulch in the community garden?

A: YES! Cocoa shell mulch (also called cocoa bean mulch) is great for gardens. These shells have a sweet smell and look very neat in your garden bed. When cocoa beans are roasted, their shells separate. Roasting the beans sterilizes the shells. Therefore, the shells are weed free and organic. If you are interested in using them in your plot, ask for them at your favorite garden center.

Negatives-When cocoa mulch gets too wet and does not have time to dry between waterings or rainfalls, it can attract pests. Also, in hot, humid weather, the cocoa shells can develop a harmless mold. You can use a mixture of 25% water and 75% vinegar as a spray to get rid of the mold.

*CAUTION- Do not use cocoa bean mulch at home if you have dogs. This sweet mulch can be toxic to dogs if eaten.

Biggest Gardening Mistakes:

Biggest Gardening Mistakes:

1. Planting too soon-The weather forecast shows nighttime temperatures below 50º through next weekend. You are taking a risk if you plant your warm weather crops such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, basil, zucchini, etc.

2. Not hardening off your plants-Plants that have been grown in your house or in a greenhouse need to be “hardened off”. This means they need to gradually get use to the outdoor temperature, sun, and wind before being planted outside. Ask if your plants have been hardened off at your favorite garden store. Check online to see how to harden off your plants.

3. Improper Spacing-Your seedlings look so small and cute right now, but they will be huge! Read plant tags and seed packages for recommendations on plant spacing. Proper spacing will ensure better air circulation which leads to healthier plants and better production. Planting things too close together will make your plants more susceptible to disease. It will also make it difficult to harvest your veggies.

4. Not staking plants-It is important to stake your plants. This will promote proper air circulation and will help prevent disease. Staking is especially important because we have overhead sprinklers.

5. Not weeding-Weeds compete with your veggies for valuable nutrients and space. Some weeds even send out growth inhibitors that stunt the growth of your plants. You will get a weed warning in the Community Garden if you decide not to weed.