Dear Gardeners,

Just a reminder- our garden is strictly ORGANIC!  All weed control, pest control, fertilizers, and soil amendments must say ORGANIC on the bag or bottle.  I have seen several gardeners mistakenly using nonorganic weed killer, pesticides, and soil containing nonorganic fertilizer.  If I see you using any nonorganic products, you will be asked to stop applying them immediately and to bring the product out to your car.  If you see another gardener using a nonorganic product, please let me know their plot number.  Keeping our garden organic will keep us all safe and healthy.  Please be a good Community Garden member and follow our rules.

Please see below for more important Community Garden information:

*WEEDING YOUR GARDEN- The weeds are growing faster than the vegetables in the Community Garden!  I know it takes a lot of work to keep your plot weeded.  It has been challenging for me to keep the Demo Plots and the Sensational Salad plot weeded.  Many gardeners have been asking the best way to weed their garden.  Click on the link below to see a video on ways to weed your garden plot.

                                                                                                     https://youtu.be/OwuplVnm0uQ 

                                                                                         

*WHAT’S GROWING IN THE SENSATIONAL SALAD PLOT (#73)?-  The plant below is called a ground cherry.  They produce a sweet-tart berry that grows in a paper husk.  Each plant produces hundreds of fruits.  Ground cherries are in the nightshade family, the same family as tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants.  You can use them in jellies, pies, or eat them fresh.  Ground cherries were commonly used by the Pilgrims.  Plant some ground cherries in your plot today!

                                

*WATERING CANS- Please use only 1 WATERING CAN at a time from our Community Garden watering can collection when the garden is busy.  I have had complaints that gardeners are using several watering cans at a time and they are having to wait to use one.  If you would like to use more than one at a time, please purchase a watering can of your own.  Thank you!

                               

                                                     

*THE FIRST TOMATOES!- Congratulations to Janese and Wayne Bechtodlt!  They just harvested 2 early girl tomatoes.  Have you harvested any tomatoes yet?  Send me an e-mail and let me know!

                

*GARDEN HELPERS for HIRE- Below are a list of garden helpers for hire if you need a teenager to water and/or weed your garden while you are on vacation.  You arrange everything with them and decide on what you will pay them per hour.

                                Madeline- Mschimka103@gmail.com

                                Meghan- Mschimka103@gmail.com

                                Eliza- eliza_schloss@aol.com (224)226-3048

                                Jack- jackfrya@gmail.com (847)656-6891

                                Soren- sorenwibers751@gmail.com (847)626-8177

*RAW MILK FUNGICIDE- This week and every Saturday at 10:00 a.m., I will be providing a solution of raw milk (from our very own cows) and water to help prevent powdery mildew on your plants.  Bring your own spray bottle.  Note- this does not deter insect pests.

                                                                                          

Happy Gardening!

Alyssa

Dear Gardeners,

I hope everyone had a great 4^th of July!  We are finally getting the sunny weather our plants are looking for!  I think they look  taller every day I visit the garden.  The weeds are growing taller too.  Make sure to come by and weed your plot.  

Please see below for more important Community Garden information:

                                                                                         

*WHAT’S GROWING IN THE DEMO PLOT?-  This beautiful flowering plant is also a great companion to your vegetables.  It is called NASTURTIUM. It has a scent that deters pests from your vegetables.  Plant them in abundance because they also attract pollinators.   Nasturtium is great to plant near your tomato plants, cabbage, and broccoli because it repels whiteflies, cabbage moths and aphids.  All the parts of the plant are edible too!  They have a spicy flavor and are high in vitamins A and C.                                                                                                                                     

                                                                              

                    

*WATERING CANS- Please make sure to put the watering cans back gently in the wooden storage box.  Close the box carefully.  Some of them are getting broken!  If the watering can does not fit, please put it in the other box.  Thanks!

*GARDEN HELPERS for HIRE- Below are a list of garden helpers for hire if you need a teenager to water and/or weed your garden while you are on vacation.  You arrange everything with them and decide on what you will pay them per hour.

                                Madeline- Mschimka103@gmail.com

                                Meghan- Mschimka103@gmail.com

                                Eliza- eliza_schloss@aol.com (224)226-3048

                                Jack- jackfrya@gmail.com (847)656-6891

                                Soren- sorenwibers751@gmail.com (847)626-8177

*RAW MILK FUNGICIDE- This week and every Saturday at 10:00 a.m., I will be providing a solution of raw milk (from our very own cows) and water to help prevent powdery mildew on your plants.  Bring your own spray bottle.  Note- this does not deter insect pests.

                            

Happy Gardening!

Alyssa

Dear Gardeners,

We are finally getting the sunny weather our plants are looking for!  I think they are growing taller every day I visit the garden!

Please see below for more important Community Garden information:

*RAW MILK FUNGICIDE- This week and every Saturday at 10:00 a.m., I will be providing a solution of raw milk (from our very own cows) and water to help prevent powdery mildew on your plants.  Bring your own spray bottle.  Note- this does not deter insect pests.

                                                                                           

*WHAT’S GROWING IN THE DEMO PLOT?-  The plant pictured above is edible ginger.  You can grow ginger from a piece of ginger root.  I took an organic ginger root and cut it into small pieces.  I made sure that each piece had an “eye”.  I let the cut sides dry overnight.  Then I planted the pieces eye side up.  Ginger sprouts very slowly, so I planted the pieces in pots, indoors in March.  The plants grow tall and beautiful!  The ginger root can be dug up and harvested in the fall.

*PARKING ON SATURDAY- The Farmer’s Market will be on the farm on Saturday.  It is also a Greek holiday, so the parking lots will be full.  Street parking is the only parking available.

*PLOT BORDERS- A big thank you to all of the gardeners to moved their plants and fences that were too close to the plot edges.  Thanks for being good community garden members!

*GLENVIEW FARMER'S MARKET- Visit me this Saturday, June 29, from 9:00-12:00 at the Green Table at the farmer’s market.  I will be publicizing our wonderful Community Garden.  Bring your kids to do a fun planting project!

Happy gardening!

Alyssa

Dear Gardeners,

Have you been wondering what the fenced structure in the Sensational Salad plot (plot #73) is?  It is called a Japanese Tomato Ring.  Surprisingly, it is not a gardening practice that comes from Japanese culture.  It was developed by a gardeners from South Carolina in the 1950’s.  At one point, the gardening technique was written up in “The Miami Herald”.  The author incorrectly named it the Japanese Tomato Ring in the article.  Although the name was wrong, it caught on.

The ring can be made from a heavy wire fencing that is about 4-6 ft. high.  Bend the wire into a ring.  Attach the ring to 4 metal posts with wire or ties.  Fill the ring with layers of compost, organic grass clippings, organic fertilizer, liming agent, and garden soil.  Plant tomatoes around the ring.  You can tie them to the stakes as they grow.  The Japanese Tomato Ring is supposed to grow the sweetest tomatoes.

                

                 

We also have a 6 varieties of basil growing around the Japanese Tomato Ring.  Basil is a great companion to tomatoes.  It is a natural deterrent for white flies, mosquitoes, tomato hornworms, aphids, houseflies, and asparagus beetles.  Basil is also thought to improve the flavor of your tomatoes if planted nearby.  Come by and check out the Sensational Salad Plot next time you are in the garden!

*CSA Memberships- We still have CSA Memberships available! NSSED and Wagner Farm are joining forces to offer CSA shares at Wagner Farm. CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. As a CSA member, you will receive a bushel basket filled with produce grown at Wagner Farm for 16 weeks starting the 3rd week of June and ending at the beginning of October. Shares are $400 for the season. Baskets are filled by student farmers, volunteers and staff for Tuesday or Friday pickups 3:00pm-5:00pm. To purchase a share visit Wagner Farm gift store in person.

*WEEDS in the GARDEN- with all the rain we have had, the weeds are growing fast!  Please come by and weed your garden while the weeds are small.  It is easiest to weed when the soil is moist.

*GLENVIEW FARMER'S MARKET- begins THIS Saturday,  June 22 from 8:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.  Come early for fresh eggs.  Stop by the Wagner Farm Studebaker Truck to buy rainbow chard, garlic scapes, mixed greens, and spinach all grown in our Wagner Farm Fields!  Parking will be difficult!  Please park in the Greek Church lot.

*TERRIFIC TOMATOES- Registration is open for our Terrific Tomatoes gardening class.  Learn the various growing methods for successfully producing this very popular “vegetable”.  Tomato varieties, planting, staking, fertilizing, pruning, and more will be covered.  6/25/19- 6:30-8:00 pm.  $15 residents/$18 nonresidents.

Register online at www.glenviewparks.org.

*LENDING LIBRARY-Our lending library has been installed by the South entrance to the garden.  Come by and help yourself to a good book!  Bring a book to share if you’d like.

*GLENVIEW GARDENERS PLANT SALE- The Glenview Gardeners will be having a plant sale at the Farmer’s Market on June 22, 8:00 am- 12:00 pm.  Plants from members’ gardens will be sold and gardening tips will be provided.

Happy Gardening!

Alyssa

Dear Gardeners,

The plots are finally drying up and it’s time to garden.  Don’t worry, it’s not too late to plant your flowers, veggies, and herbs.  You can even plant tomatoes up until the 4^th of July and still get a good late summer crop.  Also, don’t forget to come by and weed your garden.  It is easiest to weed your plot when the weeds are small and the soil is moist.  As always, if you have any questions about your garden, feel free to send me an e-mail.

Please see the other important garden information below:

*TERRIFIC TOMATOES- Registration is open for our Terrific Tomatoes gardening class.  Learn the various growing methods for successfully producing this very popular “vegetable”.  Tomato varieties, planting, staking, fertilizing, pruning, and more will be covered.  6/25/19- 6:30-8:00 pm.  $15 residents/$18 nonresidents.

Register online at www.glenviewparks.org.

*RAISED ROWS IN THE DEMO PLOT- Many gardeners have been asking how I built my raised rows in the Demo Plot (plots #1 and 2).  I used the technique from the book Raised Row gardening by Jim and Mary Competti.  First, I made a row of straw.  I covered the straw with the soil from in between my rows.  I topped my rows with Dr. Earth veggie soil mix and composted cow manure.  My plants seem to be holding up well after all of this rain thanks to my raised rows!

*MY NEW GARDEN SUGGESTION- I wanted to recommend my new favorite veggie, red orach.  It is in the spinach family.  It is pink-red in color and tastes like a tender spinach.  Red orach has a mild, delicious flavor. It is beautiful addition to your favorite salad.  I have been enjoying it raw and in smoothies.  I purchased my red orach seeds at www.rareseeds.org.  

*LENDING LIBRARY-Our lending library has been installed by the South entrance to the garden.  Come by and help yourself to a good book!  Bring a book to share if you’d like.

*GLENVIEW GARDENERS PLANT SALE- The Glenview Gardeners will be having a plant sale at the Farmer’s Market on June 22, 8:00 am- 12:00 pm.  Plants from members’ gardens will be sold and gardening tips will be provided.

Happy Gardening!

Alyssa