Wagner Farm Community Garden

Monday, September 29, 2014

Lots going on October 4 at the Farm

Build a Scarecrow

Nothing says fall like a scarecrow standing guard over a field of corn or garden vegetables. Build a scarecrow to decorate the front yard or entryway as fall starts making its presence known. Bring some old clothes and Wagner Farm will supply the straw and helpful tips on building a decorative scarecrow. The fee is $5 for a Pumpkinhead and straw.

Eagle Scout project

One of our own gardeners, Maxwell McWilliams will be bringing volunteers, rocks, sand, and perennials to the WFCG between 9am-3pm as he completes his Eagle Scout project by improving drainage at the water spigots.

Clearing out your plot

Found in two 'cleared out' plots today

As we wind down the season and you begin to clear out your plots, please pay particular attention to small trash -- especially plant labels and ties. Plant ties get caught in the tiller, and plant labels break easily, adding unwanted plastic to our soil.

Thanks!

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Weather Extremes

Minimum temperature ranks for January-July 2014 within the historical record (1895-2014), from record coldest (darkest blue) to record warmest (darkest red). Courtesy of www.climate.gov.

What a weird summer this was -- not just for us in Chicago, but all over the country. Our state climatologist recently posted the above map to illustrate how unusual the weather has been, with extremes in both directions. According to the climatologist, our country usually experiences one or the other -- higher than normal temps in some areas with average in the others, or cooler than normal temps in some areas with average in the others -- but not extreme heat in one area and unusual cold just a few states down.

Monday, September 15, 2014

Sundays are now open in the garden - mowing schedule change

As we move into fall, the farm schedule shifts in preparation for winter. Sundays will now be open for gardeners, and mowing will be moved to a weekday. I'll send out an email when I have the new mowing time.

Irrigation System closed down for the season

The irrigation system is being closed down for winter as I type. We try to shut down the system before we get frost -- and this year, that could happen a lot sooner than mid October, which is more typical.

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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.