AUGUST CLEAN-UP + JUMP ROPE CANCELLED! August 13, 2009

This month’s clean-up + jump rope is cancelled.

We’ll conduct our monthly assessment and I’m working to get Mulch for September’s clean-up.

Also-great news: we made it to the 2nd round for a community garden grant from Park Pride, the grant would help us with rain barrels. We’ll see what happens!

FALL CROPS in GA! August 3, 2009

Diego and I started our lettuce seeds today! I love salad so I’m excited to have lettuce again. Here’s a list of GA specific fall crops w/ planting dates. These planting dates are for actual plants that are transplanted not seeds:

Spinach-Planting Dates: Oct 1-21, Moon Favorable: Oct 18-21

Broccoli-Planting Dates: Sept 7-31, Moon Favorable: Sept 18-30

Carrots-Planting Dates: Aug 1-Sept 7, Moon Favorable: August 6-19 and Sept 5-7

Source: http://www.almanac.com (you can go to website and enter your zip code for region-specific information)

UPDATE: FUNDRAISING FOR OUR PARK July 30, 2009

picture from mother earth news, craig elevitch

So here’s the UPDATE: I’m working to get our fundraising stuff in place now that we have a 501C3 fiscal agreement w/ Park Pride.

Base on our last meetings this is what we’re doing…

• FALL FEST-At our last meeting people were interested in a Fall Fest in the West End Park that can highlight and promote some of our urban farming initiatives but also provide activities for young children. We were thinking pumpkins, hay, etc. We talked about a seed swap, local urban farmers bring fresh veggies from their gardens, a map of gardens in the West End/SW Atl and more. If you’re interested in joining the planning committee (which promises to be much fun) please email me: yomara@9to5.org

• SIDEWALKS-one of the major repairs needed in our park is our sidewalks-especially our lovely brick sidewalk (north of the park) which currently makes it difficult for individuals w/ strollers or wheel chairs. Unfortunately, the city is in a major budget crisis and we don’t know how much help they’ll provide! I’m working to put pressure on the City in the meantime, we’re considering kicking off a ‘brick by brick’ fundraising campaign to cultivate private donors and get it FIXED! I’m researching how much it will be to have engraved bricks and once I know we’ll have an outline so neighbors can support by buying a brick!

• FUNDRAISING EVENTS-we’ve talked about doing a semi-formal at the park possibly on the basketball court w/ live music. We’re thinking Spring. We’re still exploring our options. If anyone is interested-please email me at yomara@9to5.org.

• GRANTS-I’m writing a couple of small grants to get rain barrels and start a small children’s garden/outdoor classroom. If funds are secured- we may need some of you handy neighbors to help with some of the projects.

The fall promises to be a busy season. Your INVOLVEMENT is MUY important!

• Next Friends of the West End Park meeting is on August 19, 2009, 10:30am, location TBA
• Next Clean-up is on August 15 at 10:30am (this time we’ve been promised mulch!)

Donations ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE and can be made to:

Friends of the West End Park

Mail to: Friends of the West End Park, 1080 OAK ST SW, Atlanta, GA 30310.

Thanks and I’ll keep you posted!

MY TOMATO PLANT : ( July 25, 2009

Okay-I learned my lesson! I must start my pile of compost asap so I can improve my soil. Here are some pictures of the tomato plant-I believe it’s Fusarium wilt. If any of you can recognize what it is or have any ideas for treatment, please contact me or comment.

WHAT TO PLANT IN AUGUST in GA… July 22, 2009

VEGETABLES	Sow Indoors	Sow Outdoors	Transplant
Bean, bush snap		XXX
Beet		XXX
Broccoli	XXX		XXX
Brussels sprouts	XXX		XXX
Cabbage	XXX		XXX
Carrot		XXX
Cauliflower	XXX		XXX
Chard	XXX	XXX	XXX
Chinese cabbage		XXX
Collards		XXX
Cucumber		XXX
Kale	XXX	XXX	XXX
Kohlrabi	XXX	XXX	XXX
Lettuce	XXX	XXX	XXX
Mustard		XXX
Parsnip		XXX
Potato		XXX
Radish		XXX
Rutabaga		XXX
Squash, summer		XXX
Spinach		XXX
Turnips		XXX

CULINARY HERBS	Sow Indoors	Sow Outdoors	Transplant
Basil		XXX
Chives			XXX
Cilantro		XXX
Parsley		XXX

source: http://www.motherearthnews.com

DRYING HERBS July 18, 2009

thyme

Today-I spent some time harvesting herbs: thyme, oregano, lavender, sage and mint. I decided to air dry some of the herbs for future use. My research shows it’s best to dry herbs that don’t hold a lot of mositure such as Bay, Dill, Marjoram, Oregano, Rosemary, Summer Savory and Thyme. Moisture dense herbs, like Basil, Chives, Mint, Tarragon preserve better in a dehydrator, or try freezing them.

blooms change the taste of your herbs

It’s said it’s best to harvest herbs before the plant blooms. I share this because I let my mint plant  bloom and I didn’t know what to do with it. The flowers are edible but for the best tasting mint, you should harvest before there is a bloom. If your mint plant has already bloomed, I learned today, you can cut the flower and use the mint leaves that grow in the new branches so you can still harvest your mint through the summer months.

preparing the herb bundles, paper bag + materials

After much reading, I decided to dry the herbs in paper bags. I punched holes so the air will flow and I’m hoping the bags will shield the light and allow the plants to dry in a couple of weeks.

my new mask...

Next, I placed the bundles in the bags and used a rubber-band to secure them . It worked out great, the bags stand on their own so you don’t have to hook them to anything. I do plan to hang bunches on hooks because it looks beautiful but for now, I want to make sure the flavors remain and the herbs are good for cooking. After drying, the herbs can be used for about a year. I’ll let you know how it goes!

done!

The Children’s Sunflowers July 16, 2009

The children planted these beautiful sunflowers at the park on Earth Day.

The children plant their seeds.

The sunflowers grow in our children's garden. Some day we hope to have a nicer children's area.

close-up, didn't they do great?

A SUNFLOWER IS BORN July 11, 2009

PLANTING IN JULY? July 7, 2009

I’M LOVING MY GARDEN!

I made a lovely cucumber, tomato, basil salad today from my garden. It was so yummy! I’ve let the cucumber and tomato plants do their thing (unrestricted). So far, they’ve given our family beautiful fruit. The blueberry bushes are still doing well. I cut the blooms so they don’t fruit until next year. However we did have berries, the strawberry plant’s produced some of the most delicious fruit I’ve ever tasted. I need to add some compost to the ground and reshape the hills. I must admit weeds in the south + mosquitoes make it difficult to stay with it but I’m pushing forward weeding little bits at a time. I read somewhere that it’s time for annuals (especially Petunias) to be cut back 1/3 or more because they start to look stringy. The Crate Myrtles are blooming and there is nothing more beautiful than sitting on my porch overlooking my 3 blooming Myrtles. The sunflowers are HUGE. I didn’t even now they’d grow so tall. I can’t wait to have home-grown sunflower seeds. The tin full of lavendar is exquisite. I’ve repainted my outdoor table and look forward to having people over in August. Moving into the month of July, I have two beds I plan to prepare (one of these cool mornings).

For a list of crops that can be planted in July, click more…

Reuse: Toilet Paper Rolls June 27, 2009

TOILET PAPER ROLLS BECOME PRIME PEST REPELLENT BY LES OKE

via: http://www.motherearthnews.com

Cutworms are a perennial problem in our carrot patch. Because of its nocturnal nature, this pest is hard to eliminate by conventional means.

My wife, Jane, and I came up with a rather interesting solution to the problem. I wondered, what would happen if we took toilet paper rolls, filled them with soil mix and planted carrots in one open end like a soil block? We could transplant the carrots after they had germinated in the tube. The cutworms wouldn’t have a chance.

Our environmentally friendly and practical solution works great. It also turns out that the extra depth of soil in the toilet roll provided a perfect growing medium for root vegetables.

Simply fill the tubes with potting soil or compost, but don’t pack too tightly. Place each full tube on a tray.

Take a small stick and make a 1/4-inch-deep hole in the soil of each tube. Put four seeds of your favorite carrot variety in the hole and cover. The carrots germinate in about a week and should be transplanted when the taproots emerge from the tube bottoms.

Normally, we plant the carrot blocks 12 inches apart in 12-inch rows. This provides lots of space for easy cultivation. When actually planting each block, be sure to hold the bottom, which is open. Next, really soak them so the paper tube will deteriorate in the soil, allowing the carrots to grow. Dig a small hole leaving 1/2-inch of the tube sticking up above the soil level. This absolutely foils cutworms and allows very close hoe work.

After planting, we sometimes mulch the blocks depending on the moisture level of the soil. To grow good root crops requires a steady supply of water, and mulching helps. Then just sit back and watch the carrots grow.