Wagner Farm Community Garden

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Dear Gardeners,

The day is finally here!!! Opening Day! The garden will be open this Saturday, May 20 at 6:00 a.m. Join me on Saturday and Sunday for cookies, lemonade, and gardening fun (snacks will be inside if it's raining). Please see the following IMPORTANT reminders below:

*FINDING YOUR PLOT-When you are facing West and facing the numbers on the stakes, YOUR PLOT WILL BE TO THE RIGHT of your stake. I have attached a plot map and a diagram of how to find your plot. There will also be a map up on the bulletin board. If you have ANY questions about where your plot is, please ask me, another gardener, or a Wagner Farm staff member.

*RAIN-The garden will be open rain or shine. I will be at the garden most of the day on Saturday and Sunday. IF IT IS RAINING, I WILL BE INSIDE THE HERITAGE CENTER. Feel free to ask for me at the front desk of the Heritage Center. I am available to help you. If lightning is spotted, you will be asked to come inside the Heritage Center for your safety.

*ORGANIC-Please remember that this is an ORGANIC garden. All amendments, fertilizers, weed or pest control must say organic on the packaging. Be a good community member and follow our rules.

*PARKING- You must park in the lot East of the farm by the Greek church. You may drive into the circular drive to drop off supplies (this weekend only) but please move your car to the parking lot as soon as possible. The circular drive will be closed during wagon rides.

*WAGONS-A few wagons will be available from 6:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, for you to bring your plants and supplies from the circular drive to your plot. You can get a wagon from me (Alyssa) by the gate to the garden. Please return your wagons as soon as possible so that other gardeners can use them.

*STAY ON THE GRASS areas or walkways when you walk around the garden. Walking on the soil compacts the soil and ruins the soil structure. Please make sure your children stay on the paths as well.

*STRAW- If you pre-ordered straw, your 1/2 bales will be waiting at your plot. Please keep your straw on your plot and not in the grass area. If you have extra straw, please spread it on the areas labeled "walkway". Please do not put extra straw in the compost bins.

*COMPOST AND TRASH- All compost should be put in the compost bins that are just outside the Community Garden fence (no soil please). All trash should be put in the garbage cans.

*WOODEN SIGNS- If you ordered a wooden sign, it is ready for pick-up at the front desk of the Heritage Center.

Happy Gardening!

Alyssa Tadelman

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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.

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

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