Dear Gardeners, What a rain last night! I swear my tomatoes have doubled in size this week and at least the weeds are pulling easily. There is construction starting on University Houses apartments and expect some new fencing and equipment. We have been assured that the road to the parking area will remain open and that a path alongside the woods in the northeast corner of the gardens will cut through to Eagle Heights. Please let me know if you have any problems getting to the gardens, but we understand that there will be temporary difficulties as the work goes on. This Wednesday, we start our donations to the food pantry. The Share the Bounty project collects produce from Eagle Heights and University Houses gardeners and transports it to the St. Vincent De Paul food pantry, the county’s largest food bank. Here’s how it works. Starting Wednesday, 7/2,, containers are placed behind the University Houses garden shed on the white stands. Put your extra vegetables in the containers by 8 a.m. Wednesday or by 10:00 a.m. Saturday. Volunteers take the vegetables to the pantry where they will be much appreciated by families who can’t afford to buy enough healthy food. Growing fresh food in our community garden is great. Sharing our bounty with those in need is even better. Please donate if you have good quality produce to share and please do not remove anything from the bins. Extra produce can also be put on the "share" shelves by the bulletin board anytime and anyone is welcome to take items from there. This Thursday, 7/3, we'll have a workday at Eagle Heights to move wood chips, weed plots and fruit plantings and general maintenance from 5 pm to 8 pm. We'll continue that work on Saturday, 7/5, from 8 am to 11 am. If you would like to work one of these opportunities, please reply with which one you are volunteering for and I will get you more information. As you pull out your bolting lettuce and spinach, consider putting in some bush beans or cilantro to stretch out the harvest. I see the peas are finishing up but the carrots and bush beans are coming in. There are still lots of big toads in the gardens and I've started seeing baby toads as well. Thanks to all of those who planted flowers that make the gardens a happy place and encourage the pollinators. Gretel, Garden Registrar