Wagner Farm Community Garden

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Garden Map 2014

I got a lot of questions about plot assignments last night, so here's a copy of the garden map again. I'll also post a copy on the bulletin board for tomorrow.

Friday, May 9, 2014

The Community Garden opens officially on Mother's Day!

Notwithstanding the deluge we received last night and this morning, the community garden will be ready for gardening on Sunday! The official start moment is Sunday, May 11 at 8 am.

Before you riot in the streets, keep the following in mind:

If you have not yet given me a signed copy of the rules, YOU MUST DO THIS BEFORE YOU ENTER THE GARDEN. I have left blank copies of the rules at the front desk of the Heritage Center, which is open 9am-5pm on weekdays & Saturday, and 9am-3pm on Sundays.

The circle drive on the north side of the Heritage Center is for drop-off only, even during opening day. Unload any supplies, park in the lot across the street, and then bring your supplies to your plot. Please don’t park along Wagner Road.
It may be handy to bring your own wagon. I have one wagon at the farm, and I will offer it up for use, but that’s one wagon v. 106 of you.
Please do not plan on starting earlier than the time mentioned above. There are still tasks that we need to do before the garden is ready for you guys.
I plan to be in the community garden on Sunday from 8am-3pm, but you are welcome to come later, of course. And there’s no need to start tomorrow if it’s too wet or you have other plans. Sunday is simply the first day to get digging.

Other items:

Volunteers: I’m looking for 6 volunteers to pound in corner stakes Saturday at 2pm. It shouldn’t take very long -- maybe an hour or so. Please email me ASAP if you can offer up time.

T-Shirts: The new WFCG t-shirts are in and ready for purchase. I will have them out at the garden on Sunday. They are $8 each, and you can give me cash or a check made out to Wagner Farm. Please try to bring exact change!

Straw: There are bales of straw in the garden right now. They are $9.50 each, sold whole only. If you are interested in a half bale, ask Andres, our assistant farmer – his hours are 9am-6pm Wed-Sun. If you want to purchase one of the 8 bales, either put it in your plot and then leave $9.50 at the front desk in an envelope with your name, or track me down first. If the bales run out, let me know or again track down Andres for a full or half bale. Straw will be available all through the season, but keep in mind, it’s not free this year (as it was last year, due to a shipment that had some bales not suitable for animals but fine for a garden).

Mud: We got a heavy rain last night, and although the day turned warm and windy, it’s still very muddy out there. By Sunday, it should be drier, but it may not be.

If you have any questions, feel free to call me at 847-414-1412 or send me an email. So happy to start our gardening this weekend!

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Still waiting on paperwork from some gardeners

Yesterday I sent out an email to those gardeners still needing to return a signed copy of the rules (handed out during the organizational meetings). I received emails with a lot of signed copies today, thank you!

For everyone who got the email yesterday but hasn't responded -- you will not be able to garden until your signed copy of the rules is turned in to me. Please sign the pdf I sent in the email, take a picture with your phone, and email or text it to me -- thank you in advance!

(The soil temp hovered around 55 degrees this morning, which is good! We could be in the garden soon! More info to come tomorrow.)

Hopefully optimistic

So this week isn't looking so bad. Sure, it started off chilly, but 80 degrees tomorrow and Thursday? That starts to sound like planting time -- although the temps aren't supposed to stay in that summertime land.

I will know more tomorrow, and I will send out an email if we're opening the plots this weekend. Crossing my fingers... crossing my fingers...

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Plant Sale at The Grove May 17-18

Plant Sale at The Grove. Stock up on springtime greenery from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 17 and 18. Admission is free. Items on sale include flowering pots, baskets, herbs and native plants. All proceeds benefit The Grove. This event is co-sponsored by the Grove Heritage Association and the Glenview Park District.

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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.