From the Gardens Registrar: Community; Seeds; Insecticides; Maintenance Projects

Hello Gardeners,

COMMUNITY – A Community Garden is more than just a group of individual gardens that share tools and resources. We share a space and an experience, and much of what each of us does (or doesn’t do) has a big effect on our garden neighbors and the garden as a whole. Our long-term gardeners understand this, and even many of our brand new gardeners get it almost immediately. But unfortunately, not all of our gardeners are able to look or act beyond their own personal interests.

Last week, one of our long-term gardeners wrote this to me:

“Building community, and with that building communication, is very important and, in my mind, intrinsic in the term "community garden."  Community gardeners need to be reminded, repeatedly, that we are truly in this together.  It is up to each and every one of us to keep things moving forward on a positive and productive note.  Little things like picking up garbage, fixing a broken item, making a pathway better, taking care of tools, hanging them up, dumping weeds properly to NOT obstruct the path.  Simple stuff.  We need to be considerate, community gardeners.  And since we have so many cultures and customs among our group, we need clear and focused communication.   The three C's --  Communication, Consideration equals Community.”

SEEDS – We still have free seeds for winter squash, pumpkins, cucumbers, melons, and flowers. (Beans and summer squash are gone now.) I will continue bringing them to the gardens for another week or two, but I’m assuming that most gardeners who want to plant these things have already done so. Unfortunately, most of the melon seeds we have are for large melons that are better suited to longer growing seasons than we have. But if you want to try growing these, get them planted as soon as you can.

ORGANIC INSECTICIDES – Several gardeners have asked for suggestions for organic pesticides that they could buy or make. We have a short list on our website: http://eagleheightsgardens.org/gardens/organic-growing/  and then click on “organic gardening products.” But I’d like to hear suggestions from some of our experienced gardeners – what do you use on flea beetles, cucumber beetles, potato beetles, bean beetles, etc.? Do you have a favorite insecticidal soap you mix up yourself? Other strategies to keep your vegetables safe from six-legged predators? (My method for getting rid of flea beetles is shouting “Off!” at them. It doesn’t work.) Please let me know, and I’ll pass on your tips. And by the way, if you’ve got an insect you can’t identify, you can send a picture of it to the UW Insect Diagnostic Lab – here’s their website: https://insectlab.russell.wisc.edu/

MAINTENANCE PROJECTS – We’re still interested in ideas you might have for workday activities that could be performed by one or two people. Here’s the link to the google doc you can use to contribute your ideas: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScal4eXhAKGAi47l7Dq20hc9hx7U9lSiKlvAEmhLgxXvkvS2g/viewform

Meanwhile, our blueberry, currant, and gooseberry bushes along the south gravel road at EH could use weeding and mulching. Also, the daylily and iris planting between the cart area and the 100/200 path needs weeding. I think each project would take two people, who wouldn’t necessarily need to work at the same time. Let me know if you’re interested.

Happy Gardening, and Stay Safe,  

Kathryn