Sunshine Weekly Weeder Newsletter
7 August 2013
www.sunshinecommunitygarden.org
Get Your TSBVI hours done for the rest of the Year
There will be a workday on Saturday August 10 at 8:00 am at Sunshine Gardens. This is planned to take place before the TSBVI students arrive for the fall semester. Be part of the team that gets the garden in shape for returning students. All gardeners must contribute 1 hour per six months per plot towards helping TSBVI.
For more information contact Janet Adams at jartdaht@gmail.com
Weed Alert
Sunshine is getting invaded by Khaki weed (Altemanthra pungens). It's in many of the pathways between gardens and in the parking area. It is a tropical weed that likes water and heat. Australia and Hawaii both have problems with it. When it dies back in winter it leaves very sharp, spiny seeds that get in animals' paws and humans' shoe soles which helps it spread. The spines are needle sharp and very painful. Watch this video to find more information: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxsPjUWudNk
If Khaki weed is near your garden dig it out of the pathways, and put it in the dumpster, to help to stop it taking over the garden.
Virtual Green Binder
Good news for gardeners entering their work hours or checking their work hours.
You can now check your hours without entering hours in. Go to the tab "Virtual Green Binder" on the website and a dropdown list will show on hover:
- > Hours Worked
- > Enter Hours Worked
Each gardener is expected to contribute an hour a month to Sunshine, if you're unsure what to do check with your zone coordinator and watch this space. In addition one hour per six months per plot is required to be completed for projects for Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it, If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant.
Find out about Bee Keeping
There will be a tour of bee hives around town on August 17th. Ticket price $5.00 If you are interested here is the website for more info.
http://austintourdehives.weebly.com/
Dumpster Use
What Goes Into the Dumpster?
Khaki weed, plastic bags, containers. Anything that can be recycled or reused leave by the tool shed for other gardeners to use. What is not trash or recyclable/reusable goes into the appropriate pile in the compost area. We now have the ability to maintain our compost piles.
Are "spent" tomato plants thick or thin plants? Probably thick but they should be put into the compost pile - not in the dumpster.
Pollinator Talk: Monarchs, Milkweed and You!
Saturday, Aug 10, 1pm to 3pm
Zilker Botanical Gardens
The Monarch population in Mexico last winter was the lowest ever recorded. Please join us for this educational talk to learn what actions you can take to help this magnificent long distance flyer of the insect world.
Topics will include:
- The biology, life cycle and habitat requirements of Monarch butterflies
- Overview of Monarch Watch, conservation initiatives, and citizen science projects
Host: Mike Quinn, Entomologist and contributing editor to BugGuide.net
Cost: Free with admission to the Garden, $2 adults, $1 seniors and children.
RSVP by emailing
Anjoli.Fry@austintexas.gov
or by calling 512.477.8672 x 17
Fall Vegetable Gardening Presentation
Thursday, August 8, 6:00 pm
Pflugerville Community Library
102 10th St, Pflugerville, TX
Joe Posern, Master Gardener, will be at the Library on August 8th at 6 pm for a presentation on Fall Vegetable Gardening. Everyone is welcome to attend!
The Austin Cactus and Succulent Society's Fall 2013 Show and Sale
Saturday, Aug 31, 10am to 5pm
The 2-day event is free and open to the public with paid admission to Zilker Botanical Garden. It is very popular with gardeners of all ages. The show offers visitors a chance to see rare and beautiful cacti and succulent species from around the world. Vendors from Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico will sell native and exotic cacti and succulents, and hand-made pottery at reasonable prices. There will be a daily silent auction and hourly plant raffle of rare and collectible cacti and succulents. Educational information, literature, and expert advice will be available. Come and bring a friend. For more information about the Austin Cactus & Succulent Society and its programs, please visit www.AustinCSS.com
Xerces Society
The Xerces Society is a nonprofit organization that protects wildlife through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitat. For forty years, the Society has been at the forefront of invertebrate protection worldwide, harnessing the knowledge of scientists and the enthusiasm of citizens to implement conservation programs. Website at www.xerces.com
Thought for the week
There is great healing power in digging. This is so much the case that one is tempted to wonder if any actual electrical power comes up to one from the earth. Perhaps the benefit is merely from the rhythmic movements of the body. At any rate, however sulking and rebellious one may be at the start, sensitiveness creeps up the fork into hands and body and legs. Finally the brain surrenders and one is again at peace with the garden.
Clare Leighton, 1935
Things to do in August
All month: plant Cucumber and Summer Squash
Early to mid month: plant Corn, Eggplant, Pepper, Southern Pea, Tomato, Winter Squash
Fertilize (with organic fertilizers) after first fruit set for higher productivity.
Officer and Zone Coordinator Contacts - Sunshine Garden
Officers
- President - Ila Falvey ila.falvey@gmail.com
- Vice-President - Janet Adams jartdaht@gmail.com
- Secretary - Berk Bettis dolrsdad@aol.com
- Treasurer - Jack Reynolds scgtreasurer1@gmail.com
- Director - Michael Hall fibercable@austin.rr.com
- Director - Kay McMurry scg.plots@gmail.com
- Director - Emily Tisinger etisinger@gmail.com
Zone Coordinators
- Zone 1, Jody Trendler jody.trendler@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 jingli.80@yahoo.com
- Zone 8, Irina Kaducova irina@austinshrooms.com
- Zone 9, Cheryl Hazeltine cph@austin.rr.com
- Zone 10, Emily Tisinger etisinger@gmail.com
Other Coordinators
- Plant Sale - Michael Hall fibercable@austin.rr.com
- TSBVI Liason & Volunteer Coordinator - Janet Adams jartdaht@gmailcom
- Plot Rental - Kay McMurry scg.plots@gmail.com
- Carpentry & Repairs - Robert Jarry r.jarry@sbcglobal.net
- Water Leak Repairs - Stewart Nichols sgwater@math.austin.tx.us
- Tools & Wheelbarrows - Bob Easter beaster1@austin.rr.com
- Website Coordinator - Sharon Rempert scgardenweb@gmail.com
Record Service Hours Online - the Virtual Green Binder
