Sunshine Community Gardens

4 September, 2020

www.sunshinecommunitygardens.org

Gardener's Picture page

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Help Needed in TSBVI Garden

TSBVI will soon be back in session and their garden needs some serious attention. Please weed the paths remembering to leave the surface smooth. And logically, that service counts as TSBVI hours. Any questions? Contact a Board member.

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2021 Plant Sale

Janet Adams reports:

The rumors are flying. Due to the virus there is some question about having the plant sale in March 2021. No decisions have been made, but the plant sale committee (Janet) is welcoming your input. Please let Janet know what you think and if you have ideas for modifications. The Board is considering options as well.

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Compost

If you missed the first order of turkey compost delivered Wednesday, September 2, there will probably be another. Stay tuned for that. And the compost operation at the garden is doing its best but is very dependent on rain.

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Seeds for Your Fall Garden

Juan Maestre, a Sunshine Gardener, has an abundance of different seeds that he would like to find homes for. Seed packets will be available in front of the trailer office this Saturday, Sept. 5 from 11-noon.

Please wear masks and practice social distancing when picking up seeds.

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Long Time Sunshine Gardener Dies

Tribute by Jim Willmann

Longtime Sunshine gardener Imre Eifert, 86, recently passed away. He had been in assisted living for the past couple of years and was moved to hospice shortly before his death. In many ways, Imre and his love of gardening reflected the spirit of the Sunshine community, and he will be greatly missed by those of us who had the pleasure of knowing him. Imre always had a positive outlook and when he spent an hour at Sunshine, 45 minutes of that hour would be talking to his fellow gardeners and 15 minutes working on his plot. Imre worked in the UT botany department and loved his plants - his irises, four-o'clocks, blue sage. If you ever helped Imre and called something a "weed," he would remind you it was a "plant" and proceed to tell you its history.

Mike Legan, a fellow Sunshine gardener and friend, tells the following "Imre story":

My favorite Imre story is the one he told me about the epiphany that was the origin of his lifelong love of, and almost mystical feeling for, plants. He was 5 years old and his mother had sent him to get something at the grocery store. His way led him past some low rises in the land , a sort of sand dunes. They had a few plants on them. Suddenly one of these plants caught his eye and he stopped and looked at it. As he gazed, he was slowly overcome by a feeling of awe. It was as if he had never seen a plant before. He found himself saying, my god that thing is alive! He never recovered from this awakening to the wonder of plant life.

Imre loved spending time at Sunshine. Although he is gone his beloved Irises will have a special place at Sunshine.

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Join the Sunshine Community Gardens Slack!

Board Member Marsha Riti writes:

To help gardeners connect virtually we have created a brand new Sunshine Community Gardens Slack group. (What's Slack? It's a private online community chat forum and messaging app).

To join, click this link or copy and paste it into your web browser.

There are fun channels to ask for light garden help, plant help, and to share pictures of your garden, harvests, and recipes. Check out the Sunshine Community Gardens Slack group and engage with your fellow garden friends!

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Please Remember the Following Directive From the Board: Wear Your Mask in the Toolshed! Thank you.

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Important Info from the SCG Board of Directors

From the Board Secretary: Important Member information from the August Board Meeting

During the August board meeting, the following items were passed, and we'd like membership to know about them:

Please *Wear a Mask When in the Shed*

The tool shed is a small, confined space with little ventilation. It is difficult to know when someone enters the shed and is already within six feet of another person. Please wear a mask when you go to the shed. (The board has made an exception for Bob Easter, the tool guy, when he is working in the heat for extended times, and no one else is in the shed.)

Khaki Weed Pulling = TSVBI Volunteer Hour (now until October 31, 2020)

Because it is difficult to have workdays during the pandemic and in the heat of summer, the board has made pulling khaki weed acceptable volunteer work for your TSBVI hour. Now is a great time to take care of this work hour (the khaki weed is abundant and blooming). If you didn't get your spring TSBVI hour done, this is a great way to make that up, while helping the garden. Please see past Weeder newsletters if you need an identification of khaki weed. Also, remember that khaki weed goes straight to the dumpster, as we don't want to spread it more in our compost!

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Director Marsha Riti says PEAS is a Worthy Program:

If you are able, please consider helping our friends at PEAS (Partners for Education, Agriculture, and Sustainability) reach their goal of $3000 for their Resiliency Gardens program! -- In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges it has created in Central Texas communities, Partners for Education, Agriculture, and Sustainability (PEAS) is working to supply supplemental relief and a connection to nature for families experiencing economic challenges in our community by providing home-based gardens along with virtual garden education and support for adults and children. To learn more about this program and/or make a donation, visit: https://www.peascommunity.org/home-based-resiliency-gardens.html

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Weeder Content

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

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