Sunshine Community Gardens

15 October, 2020

www.sunshinecommunitygardens.org

Gardener's Picture page

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Tropical Fruits Grown at Sunshine

Gardener Luda Voskov (plot H1-3) is the gardener who has successfully grown these tropical fruits. Luda reports: "Banana is blooming after 24-month no freeze temperature in Austin and 6-month old Papaya, 6 feet tall (from seed) now started to show flowers and fruits."

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A Message from Sunshine's President

Hello Sunshine Gardeners!

I hope everyone is enjoying the fall weather and getting their fall gardens in shape. The gardens are looking good, but our COVID-19 situation is still very concerning.

Hospitalizations are creeping up again statewide and many experts, including Dr. Hellerstedt, commissioner of the Department of Health across the street, are worried that we may be at a "inflection point" similar to what we saw in late June before cases spiked.

We all need to personally recommit to fight this disease by not yielding to "COVID Fatigue" and adhere to behaviors we know work better than any vaccine. They are:

1. Maintain social distance minimum of 6 feet.
2. Wear a mask if you are speaking with someone anywhere near 6 feet, or are in a building.
3. Wash your hands.
4. If you do not feel well, stay home.

At least one vaccine is coming but it will be months before it is available in the general population- think late spring.

Gardening is good and good for you! and should be able to be enjoyed by all with some common sense. Please respect others by giving them their space.

Thanks!
Steve Uecker

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Dogs in the Garden

While gardeners' dogs at the garden are permitted, please follow the site rules: The Rules require:

"Pets must be restrained on leashes at all times. Pet owners must clean up after their pets."

Please make sure you follow these two rules so your dog will be welcome at the garden.

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Butterflies Abound at Garden Enjoying Silky Gold Milkweed

Randy Thompson captures photos of a couple of butterflies at Garden and shares those photos with us

 

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Do You Need Service Hours?

Jim Willmann reports that Zone Coordinators want you to know what tasks are available for you needed Service Hours:

Priority (Tasks specifically needed)

1. Removing grass growing (and debris collected behind) in curb gutter along 49th St. (TSBVI) (Will need flat shovel and wheelbarrow to remove and haul away debris)
2. Digging up khaki grass. (TSBVI) (Board has authorized to count as TSBVI hours this fall)
3. Weeding granite paths in raised bed area. (TSBVI) (Please try to get out roots - particularly the Bermuda grass.)
4. Removing hackberry trees in south fence line between compost area and TSBVI warehouse parking lot. (TSBVI) (Try to get out as much of root as possible. Removed hackberries go in dumpster.)

TSBVI

1. Removing hackberries growing in cyclone fence around Sunshine. (South fence line between Sunshine and TSBVI has some starting to get big. Please try to dig out as much of the roots as possible.)
2. Mowing between fence and street along 49th St. and Sunshine Dr. along and 10' inside fence. (Frequent mowing will be needed this time of year.)

Regular

1. Mowing (Please check area around trailer and greenhouses. With rain and cooler weather, Frequent mowing will be needed this time of year.)
2. Maintaining common paths
3. Mowing and cleaning up overgrown/messy areas in common areas.

Note: TSBVI hour tasks will count as regular hours.

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Veggie Pest Management

Gardener Kristin Phillips attended an online class about Veggie Pest Management offered by Texas A&M Agrilife Extension and shares the class with interested gaardeners. YouTube link

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Do you know about Barton Springs Flour Mill?

Gardener Ila Falvey recommends watching this video to learn about a local flour mill. Ila says, "This is a fascinating talk by James Brown, founder of Barton Springs Flour Mills".

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Weeder Content

Please email your article or suggestion to Holly Gilman by end of day Wednesday.

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