Sunshine Community Gardens

26 September 2019

www.sunshinecommunitygardens.org

Gardener's Picture page

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If you are signed up to receive the Weekly Weeder and have not been receiving it, here is a troubleshooting page to help. If this doesn't help, please let Sharon at scgardenweb@gmail.com know. Thanks.

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The First Annual Khaki Weedout and Barbecue was a great success

The First Annual Khaki Weedout and Barbecue was a great success. Thank you to everyone who participated in this enjoyable event and a special thank you to Martin Morales who smoked the most delicious pork and chicken in his "rig" for hours in the heat. I heard murmurs of the "best ever gathering" at Sunshine.

Despite the hot weather, several gardeners attended the First Annual Khaki Weedout on September 21st. Much of the obnoxious khaki weed met its fate in the SCG dumpster.

For those of you who couldn't make it, there is no more delicious food but there is still khaki weed for you to pull and dispose of in the dumpster.

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Sharon Flourney (former Sunshine Gardener) writes:

"I am a former Sunshine Gardens gardener and I am currently serving on the Advocacy Committee of Travis Audubon Society." Sharon is leaving a Petition to Congress concerning the Endangered Species Act in the Garden Office for those of you wishing to sign. The purpose of the petition drive is outlined below.

Petition to Congress Concerning the Endangered Species Act

The Center for Biological Diversity is coordinating a petition drive, targeted to Congressional leaders. urging them to create legislation for enforcing the Endangered Species Act (ESA). A House of Representatives bill, entitled the Paw & Fin Conservation Act (H.R. 4348), would direct the executive branch in its actions concerning the ESA. There is concern that our current administration is interpreting the act in ways that will reduce the protections for endangered animals and plants in favor of commercial interests.

If you are interested in signing the above petition, please do so before October 7th when Sharon will collect it.

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Zilker Botanical Garden Upcoming Events

September 26th, 2019 - "Herbs: From Garden to Kitchen" with Judith Craft

Garden Club of Austin's Monthly Meeting 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Come join The Garden Club of Austin's for their monthly meeting and program: "Herbs - From Garden to Kitchen". Judith Craft, Master Gardener and long-time member of the Herb Society of Austin will be on hand to demonstrate and discuss various herbs; their ideal growing environment and culinary uses. All are welcome - gardening newbies and seasoned gardeners alike. And if you are new to Central Texas, this club is a great place to get helpful information on what to successfully plant and grow in your yard or on your patio or balcony.

Check out The Garden Club of Austin's website.

For more info, check out our Facebook event.

September 28th, 2019 Get Dirty with Natural Building

Zilker Botanical Garden -- 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Join Natural Neighborhoods at their "Get Dirty with Natural Building" event! Somethings to help build will be: Create English Cob aka mud patties, and help sculpt the new bench, Bolster the sapling wattle fort with a cob paneling, and Chisel life size Lincoln logs for the Children's Log Cabin Nature Maker Space! This project is supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department.

Cost: Free with garden admission

Check out the Natural Neighborhoods' website.

For more info, check out our Facebook event.

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Travis county agrilife extension service

Join Us for Earth-Kind Gardening Field Day September 28th

Posted: 04 Sep 2019 03:14 PM PDT

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Travis County Master Gardeners invite you to visit the Earth-Kind Demonstration Garden on September 28th, 9 am to 2 pm at the Travis County AgriLife Extension Service, 1600 Smith Road, Austin TX 78721.

Free and open to the public, this fun, hands-on field day involves community members in creative, low-cost ways to grow vegetables, herbs, and fruit to improve the family diet, as well as information about Earth-Kind landscaping.

The field day features an assortment of DIY and demonstration activities, including tool sharpening, composting, grow boxes, and garden art, and information about drip irrigation methods, water conservation, rainwater harvesting, vegetable gardening, Texas Superstar plants and Integrated Pest Management. There are several activities for kids, including an insect identification scavenger hunt. Travis County Master Gardeners are on hand to answer questions and identify plants in the garden. A limited supply of Earth-Kind plants and fall vegetable starts will be available for purchase. Field Day participants also get the chance to sign up for a free rain barrel giveaway.

Workshop Schedule

• 9 am. Compost Bin Construction. Participants will assemble a 3-bin wood and wire composting system on site. Sign up here.
• 11 am. Build a Grow Box. This will be a demonstration on how to construct a grow box, and a hands-on workshop for those wanting to make a smaller grow bucket. Grow Boxes are self-watering, low maintenance gardening containers for small spaces. They are reusable, last for 5 years or more, and are great for vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers. Sign up here.
• 1 pm. Plant a tree with Tom Spencer, Executive Director of TreeFolks. Sign up here.
• 9 am - 1 pm - Bring a gardening hand tool & learn how to clean and sharpen it (no RSVP required)
• 9 am - 1 pm - Construct a bee house (no RSVP required)

Be sure to meet your Travis County AgriLife Extension Agents: Daphne Richards County Extension Agent - Horticulture (and Augie too); Noel Troxclair County Extension Agent - Agriculture and Natural Resources; bring your bug questions to Wizzie Brown Extension Program Specialist- IPM.

For more information, visit our website or call 512-854-9600.

Note about Highway 183 construction. We suggest Airport Boulevard or 7th Street as preferred routes to the AgriLife office.

Visit the Central Texas Horticulture website.

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