April Showers Bring May Flowers

We have several new garden members this season! Please makes sure to introduce yourselves to gardeners you do not know. Let’s get to know our community!

There is still mushroom compost available for individual gardeners who haven’t put it into their plots yet. Make certain to mix is up with your old soil.

One mouse and no rats were found in the Rat Zappers last week. THANK YOU to our Rat Zapper Patrol!

Our first Saturday Work Group will be this week. If it is cancelled due to bad weather there will be an email sent out by 8am. Work Tasks will include

• Check garden hoses for leaks and put on hose reels
• Clean around compost area
• Put up metal stakes for tomatoes
• Weed community beds and aisles

Calendar

6 May 9-11AM
Saturday Work Group

6 May 11 -12PM
Foraging Workshop @ Kula Farms

Master Gardening Tip of the Week

When planting summer plants like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants, they grow best when the day, night, and soil temperatures are 70 degrees.

Reminders

• Keep track of your volunteer hours in the blue binder in the mailbox.
• Close shed, mailbox, and lock gates when you leave the garden
• Shut off spigots, drain hose, and put back on hose reel after using. Don’t allow the hose attachment to hang.
• Wheelbarrows need to be left upside down so as not to collect rain.
• Green barrels are for discarded plant material ONLY. Anything else must be placed in recycling or trash cans.
• Keep the area near black tumblers at the back of the garden clear
• Do not pile up materials at the back of the garden like old wood/metal trellises. Place these either near the green barrels for disposal if no longer viable or to the left of the first compost bin section where there are other plastic/metal stakes.

What’s Growing on

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Mail

Music in the garden

When: Thursday, July 21st 6 pm
what: acoustic performances by Serious Matters Highwind

Bring a chair or picnic blanket!

Updates

July 23rd
Work Group D tasks:
when: 9 to 11 am

• Irrigate beds especially ot beds, 3, 16a, and 39. (Water soil, not the leaves.)
• Trellis & prune the tomato rows as needed.
• Mulch with woodchips by sheds and other areas of garden as needed
• Weed and mulch communal pathways and beds.

Remember

• Weed aisles near your individual beds.
• Drain hoses after use and place hose attachment on post. (There is one hose on communal side that needs to be placed back in the bucket after use.)
• Do not place anything in compost. Instead, all plant material should be placed in green barrels.
• Check for insect damage and inform Teresa immediately.
• Remove old, damaged, or diseased plant material asap from your garden.
• If you are away or unable to tend to your garden, inform Teresa immediately.

Unable to make a workday?

If you have not signed up for a work group, please consider joining either the first or second Saturday as we are in need of gardeners. Otherwise, please join any work group.

Check the board in shed for tasks

• Weed communal beds and aisles.
• Weed inside and outside perimeter fence.
• Place woodchips down where needed.
• Harvest as needed in communal beds and delivery to Deb Keszler.

Remember to log in when you work in the garden: blue notebook is in the shed

Meet and greet

When: saturday, july 16th 8-11 am

What: meet your new garden manager teresa maltz. Join her in yoga from 8 to 9 am then see what’s growing on afterwards!

Stick around to help out the work group with a few tasks. Light refreshments will be provided.

Updates

July 16th
Work group C + Yoga
When: 9 to 11 am

Tasks:

• Irrigate beds especially ot beds, 3, 16a, and 39. (Water soil, not the leaves.)
• Trellis some of the tomato rows as needed.
• Harvest beets and carrots in 7a+ b.
• Plant summer squash in 7a + b
• Mulch with woodchips by sheds and other areas of garden as needed
• Weed perimeter of fence (Inside and out) O remove morning glories is priority.
• Weed and mulch communal pathways and beds.

Remember

• Weed aisles near your individual beds. Aim to weed bucket full.
• Drain hoses after use and place hose attachment on post.
• Log in when you work at the garden; blue hardcover notebook is in shed.
• Make sure all gates to the garden are shut and locked before leaving!

Unable to make a workday?

If you have not signed up for a work group, please consider joining either the first or second Saturday as we are in need of gardeners. Otherwise, please join any work group.

Check the board in shed for tasks

• Weed communal beds and aisles.
• Weed inside and outside perimeter fence.
• Place woodchips down where needed.
• Harvest as needed in communal beds and delivery to Deb Keszler.

As it takes a village to raise a child, it takes all of you to maintain and keep the garden growing!!

Updates

July 9th
Work group B
When: 9 to 11 am

Tasks

• Irrigate beds especially ot beds, 3, 16a, and 39.
• Harvest beets and carrots in 7a+ b.
• Plant summer squash in 7a + b
• Mulch with woodchips by sheds and other areas of garden as needed
• Weed perimeter of fence (Inside and out)
  • remove morning glories is priority.
• Weed and mulch communal pathways and beds.

Remember

• Weed aisles near your individual beds.
• Drain hoses after use and place hose attachment on post.
• Log in when you work at the garden; blue hardcover notebook is in shed.
• Harvest as needed. Take harvest to deb keszler at 69 maple avenue, west long branch. You can take it to her home any time/day.

Unable to make a workday?

Check the board in shed for tasks

• Weed communal beds and aisles.
• Weed inside and outside perimeter fence.
• Place woodchips down where needed.
• Harvest as needed in communal beds and delivery to Deb Keszler.

Lecture in the Garden

June 28th
Time: 6 pm

Dr. Catherine duckett will explain how we can be part of the solution of climate change

Updates

July 2nd work group a + potluck when: 9 to 11 am

Tasks:

• Empty out first compost bin and use to fill 9a.O mix compost into soil.
• Plant winter squash in bed 9a
• Turn middle compost bin.
• Prune tomato plants from the bottom to allow more circulation.
• Weed and mulch communal pathways and beds.

Alert!

Leaky hose at post 15, taped hose, and ot bed hose. Will be looking into taking care of the situation. Thank you for understanding.

Remember

• Sign in and write down what volunteer tasks
• Drain hoses after use.
• Irrigation system is used for all communal beds except 13 and 15. Keep water system on.
• Add browns to compost pile if you put greens in.

More Updates

Work tasks for gardeners not able to make Saturday

• Irrigate accessibility/OT beds 1-7 marked as community
• Mulch with woodchips by sheds and other areas of garden as needed
• Irrigate pollinator beds as needed
• Mulch with woodchips by sheds
• Weed communal beds and aisles
• Weed perimeter of fence

Lecture in the garden postponed!!

Climate change and our gardens has been postponed until June 28th
TIME: 6 PM

Dr. Catherine Duckett will explain how we can be part of the solution of climate change.

Updates

June 25th – Work Group D

when: 9 to 11 am

Tasks:

• Plant bean seeds in next quarter of bed 25b.
• Weed, lay cardboard, mulch near accessibility gardens and shed.
• Plant winter squash in bed 7b if beets have been harvested.
• Use compost in first bin, turn second bin.
• Weed and mulch communal pathways and beds.

Join!

Please feel free to join any work group even if you are not scheduled to do so. The first and second saturday work groups need more people to help out.

Remember

• Sign in and write down what volunteer tasks
• Drain hoses after use.
• Irrigation system is used for all communal beds except 9 and 11. Keep water system on.
• Add browns to compost pile if you put greens in.

More Updates

Work tasks for gardeners not able to make Saturday

• Irrigate accessibility beds 1-7 marked as community
• Check cucumbers planted in plot 11a and water if needed.
• Bring cardboard and place under picnic table in garden.
• Bring browns for compost pile: shredded cardboard and paper towel rolls, shredded newspaper, straw, sawdust, tea bags
• Harvest beets in 7b, jeanne’s plot 28b and on sides of 25a & b
• Harvest kale in 27a and swiss chard in 28b
• Bring harvested produce to place accepting fresh produce (Check front display board for locations)
• Weed communal beds and aisles
• Weed perimeter of fence

Happenings in the garden

June 15th: cub scouts visit and volunteer

June 16th: 6 pm music in the garden with Joey Dico & Mines Inc.

Updates

June 18
Work Group C + Yoga
9 to 11 a.m. [Yoga 8-9 a.m.]

Tasks

• Weed communal pathways and beds
• Weed front beds
• Plant bean seeds in next quarter of bed 25a
• Plant winter squash in bed 7b
• Weed, lay cardboard, place woodchips near shed
• Trim off bottom tomato leaves from each plant

Pay attention

After watering your bed, make sure hoses are drained of water. Conserve water by watering properly.

Please remember to sign in and write down what volunteer tasks you did during work days and on your own. The log book is located on top of the three tier metal desk inside shed.

Compost

We have noticed some rodents in the compost bins. Actions are being taken to remedy this issue. Please notice the composting instructions at the garden and also attached to this newsletter. 5 tips to keep rodents out of your compost.

Updates

June 11th

Work Group B + Potluck

When: 9 to 11 am [potluck 11 am to 12 pm]

Tasks:

• Weed communal garden beds 9a, 11b, and 19a
• Weed communal pathways
• Weed communal pathway
• Weed, lay cardboard, place woodchips near shed
• Plant next quarter of green beans

Pay Attention

Keep the water knobs on near the communal beds. Irrigation instructions are posted where the hoses are located. After watering your bed, make sure hoses are drained of water. Conserve water by watering properly.

Please remember to sign in and write down what volunteer tasks you did during work days and on your own. The log book is located on top of the three tier metal desk inside shed.

If you missed it

If you missed the film Wild in the Garden State, here are some useful websites to check out:

The Native Plant Society of New Jersey

Barnegat Bay Partnership

Jersey-Friendly Yards

Updates

June 4
Work Group A
9 TO 11 a.m.

Tasks

• Plant bush beans ½ of bed 25– (For succession planting)
• Continue weeding around compost/shed area
• Place cardboard and woodchips around compost/shed area
• Add mushroom soil to accessibility beds
• Weed near accessibility beds and other areas as needed
• Place woodchips where needed

Harvest

The remainder of the lettuce need to be harvested. Check display case in front of garden for places to donate. Thank you!

Yoga in the Garden

May 21st 8 am who: Jamey Flaccauento bring your own mat, blanket, and water.

Updates

May 21st Work Group C
9 to 11 am

Tasks

• plant and water tomatoes and peppers
• shed inventory
• weeding around compost/shed area

In case of inclement weather on a work day, gardeners and volunteers are recommended to make up their work day on another Saturday. Work day cancellations will be made aware via email.

Mulch delivery

Accurate Tree Services has dumped some wood chips near our garden. This will be used by a volunteer group coming up to help with inhibiting weeds. Feel free to use between member rows but do not use between the communal rows. Thank you.