Sunshine Weekly Weeder Newsletter
24 March 2016
www.sunshinecommunitygardens.org
Garden Information
Fire Ants
We are trialing a new fire ant control method. There is a bag of dried molasses in the tool shed. Sprinkle a cup on the ant mound to repel the ants. If you try it, please report your results (good, bad, or otherwise) to Jeff Monks (garden@jeffmonks.com).
Compost
The Sunshine board has discussed possibly doing a bulk purchase of compost for members. This would likely be the same organic "Dr. Gobbler" turkey compost we sold at this year's plant sale and used in the Micah 6 garden and tomato test garden last week. We can have a bulk quantity delivered and would offer it to SCG gardeners (for use at Sunshine) at cost (probably something like $5 for a wheelbarrow of compost).
We're trying to gauge interest and figure out how much compost to buy, so if you'd like to participate, please fill out our one-question survey here.
Frost Damaged Plants
Damaged plant advice from Ila Falvey, Master Gardener - "I think they will recover for the most part. If the stem and leaves turn black don't expect them to recover. Slight burns won't kill them." \
Expect Visitors
Next Tuesday, March 29th, we'll have some visitors to the garden. Whole Kids Foundation, a charitable endeavor by Whole Foods Market, is working on their annual fundraising campaign that raises funds to support grants for school gardens, salad bars in schools, a healthy teacher program and other programs that promote healthy living. They will be doing some photo shoots using Sunshine Gardens as a backdrop for their promotional materials that will be put up inside all Whole Foods stores and online to promote the campaign.
Their marketing folks and photographer will be at Sunshine most of the day on the 29th, so don't be surprised if you see some unfamiliar faces on that day, and please try to make them feel welcome!
Micah 6 Update
We delivered 71.5 pounds of vegetables last week.
Thanks to the gardeners who followed the procedure and flagged their gardens to be harvested for Micah 6.
How Can You Help?
- DO NOT let the vegetables from your garden go to waste!
- If you can't harvest because you are out of town or busy, complete the signup process below and allow the Micah 6 volunteers to harvest your produce.
- If you are harvesting to make room for spring plants and can't use it all, donate your produce.
- How to donate your produce:
- If you are harvesting vegetables from your plot for donation, place them in plastic bags available in the "cool room" and put them in the refrigerator in the trailer.
- To sign up for someone to harvest in your plot, follow the directions posted in the "cool room" in the trailer or on the bulletin board outside the tool shed. You are asked to place a flag (located in the "cool room") in the plot and then post your specific directions on what can be harvested on the white board in the "cool room" along with your plot number. Also, use a "green dot" which is provided to locate your plot on the map located on the wall next to the white board. More details are provided on the posted directions.
- Harvesting is done on Thursdays and/or Fridays. Depending on the number of donations, deliveries are made Thursdays from 3:00 to 3:30 PM and Saturdays from 9:00 to 9:30 AM.
- Volunteers:
- We need planters, harvesters, weeders and deliverers.
- Contact Mary Gifford (mgifford@austin.rr.com / 512-453-9742) or Dana Kuykendall (Kuykendall@austin.rr.com / 512-496-6575) if you would like to volunteer. You will find find Mary in her garden. It is in front of the tool shed. Stop by and talk to her if you have questions.
- Volunteer hours count towards service hours.
Local Events
Funky Chicken Coop Tour
Saturday, March 26th
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Coops all over Austin will be open to inspire, delight and surprise hundreds of visitors just like you. Here's all the info you need for a spectacular Coop Tour Day!
Tickets:
Buy them online or in person from select Tour Sponsors - Callahan's
General Store, Buck Moore Feed and Pet Supply, and Wheatsville Co-op.
Tickets cost $10 per adult. Kids 12 and under are free. All online
ticket purchases in advance of Tour Day will be entered on tour day
into a raffle to win a free deluxe coop courtesy of Happy Hen Treats.
Officer and Zone Coordinator Contacts - Sunshine Garden
Officers
- President - Jeff Monks garden@jeffmonks.com
- Vice President - Jim Willmann jhwillmann@gmail.com
- Secretary - Shannon Posern shannonposern@gmail.com
- Treasurer - Caroline Limaye scgtreasurer1@gmail.com
- Director - Michael Hall fibercable@austin.rr.com
- Director - Kay McMurry scg.plots@gmail.com
- Director - Katy Davis katydavis@austin.rr.com
Zone Coordinators
- Zone 1, Martin Morales marmoral512@gmail.com
- Zone 2, Katy Davis katydavis@austin.rr.com
- Zone 3, Ludmila Voskov lvoskov@austin.rr.com
- Zone 4, Ila Falvey ila.falvey@gmail.com
- Zone 5, Mary Gifford mgifford@austin.rr.com
- Zone 6, Charlotte Jernigan charlotte@cybermesa.com
- Zone 7, Jing Li jingli80@yahoo.com
- Zone 8, Irina Kadukova irina@austinshrooms.com
- Zone 9, Kerry Howell casonhowell@gmail.com
- Zone 10, Christopher Schroder christopher.s.schroder@gmail.com
Other Coordinators
- Weekly Weeder Newsletter - Margaret Powis purslane2013@gmail.com
- Plant Sale - Michael Hall fibercable@austin.rr.com
- TSBVI Liason & Volunteer Coordinator - Janet Adams jartdaht@gmail.com
- Plot Rental - Kay McMurry scg.plots@gmail.com
- Compost Coordinator - Janet Adams jartdaht@gmail.com
- Compost Tea - Jennifer Woertz jennifer.woertz@urs.com
- Education Committee - Shannon Posern shannonposern@gmail.com
- Carpentry & Repairs - Robert Jarry r.jarry@sbcglobal.net
- Water Leak Repairs - Steve Schulz sschulz784@aol.com
- Tools & Wheelbarrows - Bob Easter beaster1@austin.rr.com
- Compost Tea - Jennifer Woertz jennifer.woertz@urs.com
- Website Coordinator - Sharon Rempert scgardenweb@gmail.com
Record Service Hours Online - the Virtual Green Binder
