Sunshine Weekly Weeder Newsletter
12 November 2014
www.sunshinecommunitygardens.org
T-shirt design competition
Three designs tied with the most votes, and a run-off is necessary. (Just like the real Nov 4 elections). The T-shirt will be gray.
Please vote online at www.sunshinecommunitygardens.org
Gardeners all
We have an opportunity to feed our compost piles just what they need - organic produce that will supply both moisture and nitrogen. Is anyone willing to do pick-ups at the Natural Grocers located at 3901 Guadalupe several times a week?
Please contact Ila.falvey@gmail.com for specifics if you are interested.
Rabbits are Back
If you spot any animals of any kind in the traps, please send a text message to the telephone number on the trap, or email Stewart at elmer@math.austin.tx.us.
Also, please report any NEW rabbit sightings to the above address, giving the date/time seen, and where seen, including plot number if known.
Help Wanted
Saturday, 15th November, 8 a.m. Lots of help needed. Come one come all.
We need to replace the plastic on the greenhouse in preparation for seeding the herbs for the plant sale. This job will take a lot of volunteers. If you have any questions contact Janet Adams at jartdaht@ gmail.com.
The Green Binder
Important Reminder: The Virtual Green Binder (VGB) makes it easy for each gardener to check hours worked and amount owed. Simply scroll to the bottom of the screen to see the totals. For example, this gardener knows she must complete one hour of TSBVI service by December 31 or pay $50.
*A training session for gardeners needing help entering service hours on the Virtual Green Binder is scheduled for Saturday, November 15 from 9-10. Come help repair the greenhouse and take a quick VGB break.
Freezing Temperatures Predicted for the Next Two Nights
Many winter crops are not affected by the freezes we get in Central Texas. It is difficult to give an exact temperature when plants will be affected by a freeze as there are several issues that have to be taken into account.
- Is your garden in a frost hollow? One garden can be affected by a light frost and the next one may escape. It just depends how the frost moves over the landscape. Experience will teach you which areas are more prone to frost.
- Are the freezing temperatures accompanied by wind. This tends produce a harder freeze than still air.
- How long did the freeze last? The longer the freeze the more damage will be done.
It is rare to have a hard freeze that lasts for long in Central Texas. This means gardeners can take some steps to mitigate the effects of a freeze.
- water the ground the afternoon before the expected frost. Humidity tends to increase the temperature on the ground.
- Cover plants with frost covers, or old sheets, or even cardboard. Do not use plastic as this will not protect from freezes. Use some method of raising the covers above the plants so that a cushion of air is around the whole plant. In effect what the gardener is doing is making a tent around the plants. This can raise the temperature just enough to protect the plants from the freeze.
- Ideally the plants should have been hardened off before the freeze. This is not always possible due to our erratic weather. A transplant put in the day before a freeze is not going to do as well as a plant that is established. A plant that has experienced cold temperatures will withstand a freeze much better.
Plants that can withstand a light frost, between 28-32f, are:
artichokes, beets, carrots, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, lettuce, peas,
swiss chard, escarole, arugala, bok choy, mache and radicchio.
Plants that can withstand a hard frost, 25-28f, are:
Broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, collards, kale, kohlrabi, mustard,
onions, parsley, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips, leeks and sorrel.
Reminder
Gardeners, please remember that Sunshine's site rules require you to maintain two feet beyond the surrounding border of your plot into paths and common areas. This allows us to keep our borders with our neighbors neat and organized.
Thank you!
Stolen Squash
My name is Sunanda and my plot is near the compost.
My cousin and I were saving a big Opo Squash for seeds for next year.We had been saving it since since July. Some stole it or threw it away 2 weeks ago. We are bit upset. It was huge and it was close to a wooden box. The people who took it can't eat it since it will be very hard to cut it or cook it. Would have been good for seeds for next year. Does anyone have any information on it? If so contact Sunanda Vonteri at svonteri@gmail.com.
Thanks
Sincerely
Su
Note to Readers
Do not send emails to this address as the editor only checks incoming mail once or twice a week. Send your emails to one of the board members whose email addresses are at the end of this newsletter.
Links
A site with a multitude of links of interest to gardeners in Central Texas: http://gardeninglaunchpad.com/Aus.html
Vegetables to plant in November
Early to mid-month: - Carrots, Turnip, Chard, Kale, Mustard.
All month: Kale, Lettuce, Radish, Spinach.
Officer and Zone Coordinator Contacts - Sunshine Garden
Officers
- President - Ila Falvey ila.falvey@gmail.com
- Vice-President - Janet Adams jartdaht@gmail.com
- Secretary - Ginny Heilman gheilman1@gmail.com
- Treasurer - Jack Reynolds scgtreasurer1@gmail.com
- Director - Michael Hall fibercable@austin.rr.com
- Director - Kay McMurry scg.plots@gmail.com
- Director - Linda Francescone linda.francescone@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 jingli80@yahoo.com
- Zone 8, Irina Kaducova irina@austinshrooms.com
- Zone 9, Cheryl Hazeltine cph@austin.rr.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@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
