Sunshine Weekly Weeder Newsletter
19 November 2015
www.sunshinecommunitygardens.org
Get Your Service Hours in Now
Service hours need to be completed by 12/31 and a number of workdays are being scheduled to help gardeners get needed hours. Don't forget to enter your hours in the virtual green binder on the website above. The first workdays will be on the next two weekends:
- Sat 11/21 9:00 - 12:00
- Sun 11/22 1:00 -- 3:00
- Sat 11/28 9:00 - 12:00
- Sun 11/29 1:00 -- 3:00
Workdays are contingent on weather conditions, and each workday will be led by a Zone Coordinator.
Proposed 2016 Budget
The board has proposed an annual budget for 2016 based on past spending patterns. We request your input, especially regarding special projects.
The proposed budget is available for review at a new section for Financial Information, under the Member Information tab on the web site. After the board adopts the final version, periodic budget-to-actual reports will be posted on the web page.
Please direct any comments or questions to Carol Limaye at scgtreasurer1@gmail.com.
Micah 6
Sunshine Garden is still collecting non-perishable food for the Micah 6 food pantry. If you have anything to contribute please leave in the box in the trailer. All contributions will be shared with those who are less fortunate.
Garden Tools
All gardeners should return all tools to the toolshed after use, cleaned and hung up in the correct spot.
There have been a large number of tool breakages recently. Garden tools are designed for specific purposes and should not be used incorrectly.
Garden Forks
The most commonly used tool in the garden is the digging fork.
It has a short handle and four straight tines. It is used for lightly turning over the soil. Soil that is well cultivated and has plenty of compost incorporated into it can be dug with a fork. It is not meant for heavy work, and should never be used as a pry or crow bar.
Pitch Forks
A pitchfork is designed to be used with light materials such as mulch, leaves, and wood chips. It has a long handle and the tines are curved. It usually has more than four tines. It acts as a sort of basket to hold light materials in while they are being transferred from one place to another. Do not use it as a digging fork, it will not be very effective and likely to break.
Digging Shovel
A digging shovel is curved and has a pointed end. This is the next most used tool in the garden. It is used to dig holes, turn over heavier soils, dig up large plants etc.
Rakes
Finally the metal rake has a long handle and is used to smooth the soil.
There are two types of rake, the leaf or lawn rake which has longer tines, often made out of plastic, that fan out from the handle. Bow rakes have short tines and is used after the soil has been turned over is used to smooth out the fine soil in preparation for sowing seeds. The leaf rake and the bow rake cannot be used interchangeably as they do not do the job required.
All Bugs Good & Bad Webinar Series
You can view the recordings of any of the previous All Bugs Good and Bad webinars at:
http://www.extension.org/pages/72197/2015-all-bugs-good-and-bad-webinar-series
The next webinar is entitled: "Wildlife in the Backyard - a Double-edged Sword." Tune in on December 4 at 1 pm Central time. https://learn.extension.org/events/1886
Yoga
Yoga class is discontinued until the spring.
Plastic Pots
Please do not throw plastic pots into the trash, put them in the greenhouse. They will either be re-used or taken to the recycling drop-off. If gardeners need any pots they are welcome to use the ones in the greenhouse.
Newsletter
Did you receive last week's newsletter? If you could let me know if you did not receive it I would appreciate it. Send a note to puslane2013@gmail.com.
There will be no Newsletter next week the next newsletter will be on December 2nd.
What's On?
The Natural Gardener
Saturday, 21st November 10 am. Presented by Linda Wall
Weeds: Organic Control.
Linda will go over the types of weeds common in Central Texas landscapes and the organic strategies used to control them. Come find out which weeding tools are the best and learn how to prevent weeds from popping up in the first place.
What to plant in November:
Carrot, Chard, Mustard, Turnip.
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 - Vacant
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@gmailcom
- 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 - Stewart Nichols sgwater@math.austin.tx.us
- 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
