Dundee Community Garden Fall Wrap-Up

Hello Dundee Community Gardeners,

THANK YOU to everyone who helped with the fall clean-up yesterday.  We can measure the success of our 2010 growing season in many ways, including by noting that we had two times more yard waste this year than last year at our fall clean-up!  And we donated over twice as much food to Together Inc.'s food pantry this year as last year.  Last year we donated just over 300 pounds to Together;  as of today, we've donated over 600 pounds of produce to Together in 2010!  A big chunk of the 600 pounds is the 190 pounds donated this morning, which were mostly sweet potatoes... along with some squash, peppers, beans, etc.  

SPECIAL THANKS to Vince Huebert for taking charge of the sweet potato project-- we harvested at least 300 pounds yesterday-- and to Jeff Beiermann and Mary Lincoln for keeping up with the lawn mowing all summer!

PLOT RENEWAL FOR CURRENT MEMBERS:  If you wish to renew your plot for 2010, please fill out the attached Plot Reservation Form, and mail it with your check to hold a spot for 2011.  Renewals should be mailed to our treasurer, Deb Hickman, at 1227 N. 53rd St., Omaha, NE, 68132.  Renewal will be accepted until March 1, 2011.  After that, we'll start on our waiting list.

IF YOU DO NOT PLAN TO CONTINUE WITH US NEXT YEAR,  please let us know that also as it helps with our planning.

NEED YOUR FEEDBACK:  Also, all members, whether or not you plan to garden with us next year, are asked to fill out an end-of-year survey (attached) to give us your feedback and suggestions.  You can mail it in with your renewal, or simply e-mail your comments back to me.  We'd like to get the surveys returned within the next week or so please.

PLOTS MUST BE CLEANED OUT before you can sign up for a plot for the 2011 season! Please bag all yard waste from your plot, take it home with you, and set it out with your household yard waste.   (If you live in an apartment, just place it with a neighbor's yard waste.)  Please have all plots cleaned out by Nov. 1.  

OMAHA BY DESIGN HONORS COMMUNITY GARDENS:  

Omaha by Design has honored all community gardens across our city with its 2010 Neighborhood Leaf. Click on the attached link to learn more: 

 http://www.omahabydesign.org/2010/10/neighborhood-leaf-to-honor-community-gardens/   

Thank you for supporting these urban greenspaces that allow families a safe place to be active, learn, and grow together!

THANK YOU to everyone who helped make 2010 our best season yet! 

Dundee Community Garden Final Harvest and Fall Clean-Up

FINAL HARVEST NIGHT TONIGHT AT 6:00:  This is our last Monday night harvest night to pick produce for Together's food pantry.  Join us if you can!   

FALL CLEAN-UP SUNDAY OCT. 17, 1-4 P.M.  We will need lots of help digging up the sweet potatoes and cleaning out the community beds, so bring shovels and garden tools for the fall clean-up.  You'll also want to bring a yard waste bag for cleaning out your own plot.  We plan to have a trailer there to collect the yard waste bags.  

Note: if you clean out your own plot before Oct. 17, leave the yard waste bag in your plot and we'll load it on the trailer on Oct. 17.  If you clean out your plot after Oct. 17, you will need to dispose of your own yard waste bag.

Plots must be cleaned out before you can sign up for a plot for the 2011 season!  Please have all plots cleaned out by Nov. 1.

We will also need volunteers to help store the canna bulbs over the winter.

FREE RASPBERRY BUSHES  We're planning to dig up the raspberry bushes this fall, as they became un-manageable, so please feel free to dig out a raspberry bush to transplant to your own garden!   Dig one up at any time, or we'll try to get them all dug up on  Oct. 17.

FREE CORN STALKS available at the fall clean-up-- for your fall decorating!

FREE CANNAS available at the fall clean-up.  We'll have lots of extras to give away!

END OF YEAR SURVEY   All garden members, please fill out the end-of-year survey at our fall clean-up Oct. 17.  Your feedback is important!

2011 PLOT RESERVATIONS  Current members may reserve their same plot for the 2012 gardening season.  We are testing out a two-tier system next year:  $30 for a regular plot, $20 for members who plan to contribute at least eight hours on our community work-nights.  Look for the reservation forms at the fall clean-up Oct. 17.

VOLUNTEER HOURS CHART: Check out the chart posted on the large white water container.  If you've volunteered some hours  that have not been recorded, please update the chart to reflect your hours.  If you want to volunteer at a time other than a work night, the beds can always use weeding and dead-heading. Each garden member is expected to contribute eight hours working in the community plots over the course of the gardening season.    

Dundee Community Garden This Week - 3 Oct

HARVEST NIGHTS NOW MONDAYS AT 6:00:  For these last two weeks we'll be harvesting at 6 p.m. Please join us if you can help pick produce for Together's food pantry, and we always have a need for help with other gardening tasks. As always, bring gloves, scissors, and other gardening tools to help with harvesting and weeding. 

FALL CLEAN-UP   Sun. Oct. 17,  1-4 p.m.  We will need lots of help digging up the sweet potatoes and cleaning out the community beds, so bring shovels and garden tools for the fall clean-up.  You'll also want to bring a yard waste bag for cleaning out your own plot.  We plan to have a trailer there to collect the yard waste bags.  

Note: if you clean out your own plot before Oct. 17, leave the yard waste bag in your plot and we'll load it on the trailer on Oct. 17.  If you clean out your plot after Oct. 17, you will need to dispose of your own yard waste bag.

Plots must be cleaned out before you can sign up for a plot for the 2011 season!  Please have all plots cleaned out by Nov. 1.

We will also need volunteers to help store the canna bulbs over the winter.

FREE RASPBERRY BUSHES  We're planning to dig up the raspberry bushes this fall, as they became un-manageable, so please feel free to dig out a raspberry bush to transplant to your own garden!   Dig one up at any time, or we'll try to get them all dug up on  Oct. 17.

FREE CORN STALKS available at the fall clean-up-- for your fall decorating!

FREE CANNAS available at the fall clean-up.  We'll have lots of extras to give away!

FREE FENCING AND STAKES AVAILABLE: Garden member Carla Hanson has about 40 feet of 3' wire fencing,  and about 15 3' metal stakes, available for whoever would like them.  If you are interested, contact Carla at 556-8498, or hanson1997@cox.net

END OF YEAR SURVEY   All garden members, please fill out the end-of-year survey at our fall clean-up Oct. 17.  Your feedback is important!

2011 PLOT RESERVATIONS  Current members may reserve their same plot for the 2012 gardening season.  We are testing out a two-tier system next year:  $30 for a regular plot, $20 for members who plan to contribute at least eight hours on our community work-nights.  Look for the reservation forms at the fall clean-up Oct. 17.

VOLUNTEER HOURS CHART: Check out the chart posted on the large white water container.  If you've volunteered some hours  that have not been recorded, please update the chart to reflect your hours.  If you want to volunteer at a time other than a work night, the beds can always use weeding and dead-heading. Each garden member is expected to contribute eight hours working in the community plots over the course of the gardening season.  available at the fall clean-up. 

EXTRA PRODUCE ALWAYS ACCEPTED FOR THE FOOD PANTRY!  Let us know if we can pick from your plot if you're not coming to the harvest night!  And if you have produce that is neglected and very ripe, we'll go ahead and add it to our food pantry box! 

Dundee Community Garden Harvest Party on Sunday

Hello Dundee Community Gardeners and Friends,

FALL HARVEST PARTY AND POT-LUCK   This Sunday, Sept. 26, 3-5 p.m.  Come celebrate the end of the growing season with a harvest pot-luck.  Bring a dish to share and your own re-usable place settings and beverage.  You may want to bring a blanket or folding chair as well. We'll be cutting down the sun flowers and giving away the heads to be hung up at home for the birds and squirrels.  We'll also have Dundee Community Garden t-shirts available for $15.  All garden members and friends of the garden, please join us on Sunday!

FALL CLEAN-UP   Sun. Oct. 17,  1-4 p.m.  We will need lots of help digging up the sweet potatoes and cleaning out the community beds, so bring shovels and garden tools for the fall clean-up.  You'll also want to bring a yard waste bag for cleaning out your own plot.  We plan to have a trailer there to collect the yard waste bags.  

Note: if you clean out your own plot before Oct. 17, leave the yard waste bag in your plot and we'll load it on the trailer on Oct. 17.  If you clean out your plot after Oct. 17, you will need to dispose of your own yard waste bag.

Plots must be cleaned out before you can sign up for a plot for the 2011 season!

FREE RASPBERRY BUSHES  We're planning to dig up the raspberry bushes this fall, as they became un-manageable, so please feel free to dig out a raspberry bush to transplant to your own garden!   Dig one up at any time, or we'll try to get them all dug up on  Oct. 17.

FENCING AND STAKES AVAILABLE: Garden member Carla Hanson has about 40 feet of 3' wire fencing,  and about 15 3' metal stakes, available for whoever would like them.  If you are interested, contact Carla at 556-8498, or hanson1997@cox.net

HARVEST NIGHTS NOW MONDAYS AT 6:30: It's getting dark earlier so our harvest nights are moved up to 6:30.  Please join us if you can help pick produce for Together's food pantry, and we always have a need for help with other gardening tasks. As always, bring gloves, scissors, and other gardening tools to help with harvesting and weeding. 

VOLUNTEER HOURS CHART: Check out the chart posted on the large white water container.  If you've volunteered some hours  that have not been recorded, please update the chart to reflect your hours.  If you want to volunteer at a time other than a work night, the beds can always use weeding and dead-heading. Each garden member is expected to contribute eight hours working in the community plots over the course of the gardening season.  

EXTRA PRODUCE ALWAYS ACCEPTED FOR THE FOOD PANTRY!  Let us know if we can pick from your plot if you're not coming to the harvest night!  And if you have produce that is neglected and very ripe, we'll go ahead and add it to our food pantry box! 

FROM FRIEND OF THE GARDEN DAVID CORBIN: You might be interested in letting others know about these two neighborhood events on 10-10-10.  Here is a link to the environment-related events.    http://web.me.com/dcorbin/sites/Corbin_10-10-10.html

Dundee Community Garden This Week: 13 Sept

Hello Dundee Community Gardeners and Friends,

HARVEST NIGHTS NOW MONDAYS AT 6:30: It's getting dark earlier so our harvest nights are moved up to 6:30.  Please join us if you can help pick produce for Together's food pantry, and we always have a need for help with other gardening tasks. As always, bring gloves, scissors, and other gardening tools to help with harvesting and weeding.  

VOLUNTEER HOURS CHART: Check out the chart posted on the large white water container.  If you've volunteered some hours  that have not been recorded, please update the chart to reflect your hours.  If you want to volunteer at a time other than a work night, the beds can always use weeding and dead-heading. Each garden member is expected to contribute eight hours working in the community plots over the course of the gardening season.  

EXTRA PRODUCE ALWAYS ACCEPTED FOR THE FOOD PANTRY!  Let us know if we can pick from your plot if you're not coming to the harvest night!  And if you have produce that is neglected and very ripe, we'll go ahead and add it to our food pantry box! 

SAVE THESE DATES: 

Sunday Sept. 26, 3-5 p.m.  Fall Harvest Party and Pot-Luck

Sunday Oct. 17, 1-4 p.m.  Fall Clean-Up

LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO GARDEN??  SEE ANNOUNCEMENT BELOW!

ATTENTION:  DUNDEE RESIDENTS 

Want to garden but have no sun?

Want fresh vegetables but don't wish to garden? 

Sign up at SharedEarth.com to create the perfect partnership. 

Gardeners looking for a site and landowners with a site to offer can connect online to fashion a mutually beneficial arrangement. 

End the shortage of community garden plots! 

Fresh vegetables for all

Dundee Community Garden This Week: 30 August

Hello Dundee Community Gardeners and Friends,

Did you see our giant carrot in the Dundee Day Parade?  Thanks to everyone who donated produce for our Dundee Day Sale.  We made about $170 by selling produce and flowers.  And great job Tancy and Vince on some impressive Chico bag sales.  Anyone with photos from the parade, please post them on our website at http://www.dundeegarden.org/, or on our facebook page!

NEXT HARVEST NIGHT THIS MONDAY AT 7: We're planning to finally get those picnic tables sanded and varnished, and we can use some extra help with that! As always, bring gloves, scissors, and other gardening tools to help with harvesting and weeding.  We'll be harvesting for Together, Inc.'s food pantry.

VOLUNTEER HOURS CHART: We're planning to post a volunteer hours chart at the garden this week. The chart is based on the hours that have been recorded so far in our work-night notebook.  If you've volunteered some hours at other times, that have not been recorded in the notebook, you can update the chart to reflect your hours.  If you want to volunteer at a time other than a work night, the beds can always use weeding and dead-heading. Each garden member is expected to contribute eight hours working in the community plots over the course of the gardening season.  

EXTRA PRODUCE ALWAYS ACCEPTED FOR THE FOOD PANTRY!  Let us know if we can pick from your plot if you're not coming to the harvest night!  And if you have produce that is neglected and very ripe, we'll go ahead and add it to our food pantry box! 

SAVE THESE DATES: 

Sunday Sept. 26, 3-5 p.m.  Fall Harvest Party and Pot-Luck

Sunday Oct. 17, 1-4 p.m.  Fall Clean-Up

New Community Garden starting in Dundee

Hello Dundee Community Garden Wait-listed people, Members, and Friends,

I'm passing along this information about a second community garden being developed in Dundee!  Mike Elson is taking the lead on this.  Please see his message below and contact Mike if you are interested.  Mary

From Mike:

Recent local actions have resulted in the opportunity for a short-term community garden site in Dundee at the lot at 49^th Street and Farnam Street at the northeast corner of the intersection.  

The site is offered on a temporary basis by its owners, Holland Basham Architects.  Some initial discussions, followed by a meeting on July 30^th lead to quick actions, including funding from the firm to start the project.

"Temporary" means we are more or less assured for full season of 2011, with probably the next one or maybe 2 as well.  The owner - while supportive of the gardening - has fully expressed the possibility of developing the site in the future, pending approval of market conditions.  They have already been planning options and already have obtained the City of Omaha's zoning approval for putting a structure and some parking space there in the future.

A few volunteers put things in motion and the garden bed building phase has begun.  Some beds were built by August 15^th and seeded for fall 2010 crops.  There is much additional work to be done (Volunteers interested in helping would be appreciated). 

Opportunities for gardening will be offered (or added to a waiting list) as space allows.  The site has some garden plots presently available and ready for use.  There is also room for expansion, with plenty of time to "BYOB" (Build Your Own Bed) before the next season in Spring 2011.

People interested in gardening at this location are encouraged to first take a look at the site, and if still interested, be prepared to volunteer some time at the location.

You can receive more information from:

Mike Elson:

agroplus@cox.net

402.670.2899

Dundee Community Garden This Week - August 22

Hello Dundee Community Gardeners and Friends,

NO HARVEST NIGHT THIS MONDAY AUG. 23   We're holding back on our produce this week so that we can sell it at our table at Dundee Day, this Saturday Aug. 28.

HARVEST NIGHT WILL BE HELD FRIDAY AUG. 27 at 6 p.m.  We'll be harvesting for Dundee Day.

CAN WE PICK FROM YOUR PLOT???  

Let us know if we can pick some ripe produce from your plot Friday evening that we can sell at Dundee Day.

DUNDEE DAY PARADE SAT. AUG. 28 at 10 a.m.   We'd love a crowd to march with us in the parade!  Bring yourself and any extra family members you can corral.  We need people to carry our paper-mache carrot, our banner, etc.  We'll be meeting in the Brownell-Talbot parking lot off Underwood Ave. at 10 a.m.  The parade starts at 10:30.   Apparel: wear a Dundee Community Garden t-shirt, or anything that suggests gardening, or be creative and dress up like a vegetable!  (Note: if you want to purchase a DCG t-shirt for $15 to wear in the parade, contact Eric at mrerlo@gmail.com).  Come march with us-- the more the merrier!

EXTRA PRODUCE  If you have extra produce, or cutting flowers, that you'd be willing to donate to out Dundee Day booth, please drop them off on Saturday at the booth. Or you can bring them to the harvest night Friday evening Aug. 27.

BOARD MEETING TUESDAY:

 Our next board meeting, open to all members, is Tues. Aug. 24, 7 p.m. at Dundee Presbyterian.  We're usually in the basement dining room.  We'll be making signs for the table on Saturday as well as finalizing plans for the booth, etc.

VOLUNTEER HOURS: 

Just a reminder that we're expecting each plot owner to contribute 8 hours towards working in the garden on the community plots.  We'll be posting a chart soon to track volunteer hours at the garden.  If you have volunteered some hours that have not been recorded in the red volunteer notebook, shoot me an e-mail at megreen4@cox.net to let me know how much time you've contributed.  

 

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Other gardening news: 

SUSTAINABLE FARM TOUR THURS. AUG. 26, 7 pm :  Join Sierra Club members and friends for a tour of a small sustainable organic farm.  Rhizosphere Farm in Waterloo is a "certified naturally grown" farm, owned by Terra Sorenson and Matt Hall. The tour will show us the greenhouse where the seedlings are started, the out-building, used for washing crops and prepartion for market, and of course the fields wehre the owners practive intensive growing of heirloom crops.  The tour will be preceded by an optional pot-luck at 6 p.m. More information at http://sierranebraska.org  

Dundee Community Garden This Week - 9 August

 As always, bring gloves, scissors, and other gardening tools to help with harvesting and weeding.  So far this summer, we've donated over 200 pounds of vegetables to Together, Inc.'s food pantry!

Hello Dundee Community Gardeners and Friends,

HARVEST NIGHT MONDAYS AT 7:

EXTRA PRODUCE ALWAYS ACCEPTED FOR THE FOOD PANTRY!  Let us know if we can pick from your plot if you're not coming to the harvest night!  And if you have produce that is neglected and very ripe, we'll go ahead and add it to our food pantry box!

VOLUNTEER HOURS: Remember to sign in your volunteer hours in the notebook when you help at a harvest night!  Each garden member is expected to contribute eight hours working in the community plots over the course of the gardening season. 

DUNDEE DAY PARADE:We'll be marching in the Dundee Day Parade on Sat. Aug. 28-- carrying a large carrot, of course!  All members and friends invited to join us in the parade!  Parade guidelines:  please wear a Dundee Community Garden t-shirt or a costume (as a vegetable, a farmer/gardener, etc.) to walk in the parade.

**********************

Other gardening news: 

SUSTAINABLE FARM TOUR THURS. AUG. 26, 7 pm :  Join Sierra Club members and friends for a tour of a small sustainable organic farm.  Rhizosphere Farm in Waterloo is a "certified naturally grown" farm, owned by Terra Sorenson and Matt Hall. The tour will show us the greenhouse where the seedlings are started, the out-building, used for washing crops and prepartion for market, and of course the fields wehre the owners practive intensive growing of heirloom crops.  The tour will be preceded by an optional pot-luck at 6 p.m. More information at http://sierranebraska.org/ 

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1216/is_3_205/ai_64702592/

INTERESTING WEBSITES:   This information on how to harvest and store tomato seeds comes from garden member Adam Krtek and may be of interest to gardeners: 

Dundee Community Garden This Week

 There's lots of produce we can pick for out weekly harvest night tonight.  Please remember to bring gardening gloves, scissors (even a pair of kitchen scissors), and other tools for harvesting.  There's some major weeding we need to do in the flower beds, so a shovel would be helpful too.  If a Monday night harvest night gets rained out, it will be postponed until Tuesday.

Hello Dundee Community Gardeners and Friends,

HARVEST NIGHT TONIGHT AT 7:

CARROT PARTY SAT. AUG. 7: Join us for a carrot-making party and pot-luck dinner.  We'll be making a large carrot out of paper mache for the Dundee Day Parade on Aug. 28.  We'll be making the carrot at the Hickman's, 1227 N. 53rd. St.  Bring newspapers.  We'll work on the carrot from 3-5, then have a pot-luck dinner at 5.  Bring a dish (using carrots if you wish) to share.  RSVP to Deb and Curt at 553-3906, or to curt3@cox.net, if you will be coming!

DUNDEE DAY PARADE:We'll be marching in the Dundee Day Parade on Sat. Aug. 28-- carrying a large carrot, of course!  All members and friends invited to join us in the parade!  Parade guidelines:  please wear a Dundee Community Garden t-shirt or a costume (as a vegetable, a farmer/gardener, etc.) to walk in the parade.

EXTRA PRODUCE ALWAYS ACCEPTED FOR THE FOOD PANTRY!  Let us know if we can pick from your plot if you're not coming to the harvest night!

VOLUNTEER HOURS: Remember to sign in your volunteer hours in the notebook when you help at a harvest night!  Each garden member is expected to contribute eight hours working in the community plots over the course of the gardening season. 

Dundee Community Garden This Week

Hello Dundee Community Gardeners and friends,

HARVEST NIGHT EVERY MONDAY: Just a reminder that our weekly harvest nights continue on Mondays at 7 p.m.  We'll be harvesting for the food pantry, as well as doing some weeding and other chores.  If a Monday night harvest night gets rained out, it will be postponed until Tuesday.

WATERMELON FEED AND SCARECROW MAKING PARTY THIS SUNDAY,  July 25, 3-5 p.m.   

We'll have watermelon for $1, and we'll be making scarecrows to decorate the garden!  Please come join the fun!

EXTRA PRODUCE: If you have extra/excess produce in your plot that you would like to donate to Together's food pantry, please feel free to put your veggies in with our donations.  

OUT OF TOWN:  Also, if you'll be out of town or just too busy to get to the garden at some point in the summer, let us know if we have permission to harvest from your plot for the food pantry.  If you have extra produce, the food pantry could use sure use it!

BOARD MEETING ON WED, JULY 21, 7 p.m.  at Dundee Presbyterian Church in the dining room (lower level). On the agenda: finalizing plans for the watermelon/ scarecrow activity, making plans for Dundee Day in August (do we want to be in the parade??!!) etc.  Board meetings are open to all members.

VOLUNTEER HOURS: Remember to sign in your volunteer hours in the notebook when you help at a harvest night!  Each garden member is expected to contribute eight hours working in the community plots over the course of the gardening season.

INTERESTING WEBSITES:  These websites come from garden member Adam Krtek and may be of interest to gardeners: 

http://lifehacker.com/5585074/garden-pest-detective-sleuths-what-pests-or-diseases-are-killing-your-plants

http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/how-to-dry-fresh-herbs.html

Thanks, Adam!

See you at the garden,

Mary

Dundee Community Garden This Week

Hello Dundee Community Gardeners and friends,

HARVEST NIGHT TONIGHT: Just a reminder that our weekly harvest night will be tonight, Monday at 7 p.m.  We'll be harvesting for the food pantry. We picked 32# of veggies last week to donate!  (Hopefully it will stop raining well before then!)

EXTRA PRODUCE: If you have extra/excess produce in your plot that you would like to donate to Together's food pantry, please feel free to put your veggies in with our donations.  

OUT OF TOWN:  Also, if you'll be out of town or just too busy to get to the garden at some point in the summer, let us know if we have permission to harvest from your plot for the food pantry.  There are several over-size zucchini in the garden that really need to get picked.  If you don't want them, the food pantry could use them!

VOLUNTEER HOURS: Remember to sign in your volunteer hours in the notebook when you help at a harvest night!

WATERMELON FEED:  July 25, 3-5 p.m.  Dundee Community Garden Watermelon Feed and Scarecrow Making Party.

See you at the garden,

Mary

Dundee Community Garden This Week

Hello Dundee Community Gardeners and Friends,

Happy Fourth of July!

HARVEST NIGHT: We'll be having our next regular harvest night on Monday July 5, at 7 p.m.  Last Monday we picked 14 pounds of beets, chard, kale, collards and lettuce (as well as one summer squash) from the community beds for Together Inc.'s food pantry.  Please remember that Monday nights are a good time to get in some of your 8 hours of volunteer time-- weeding or picking produce or watering or whatever needs to be done!  Record your hours in the red notebook.

SPRAWLING CROPS: Some of your tomatoes, squash, potatoes, etc. are working their way outside of your 4'x10' plots.  Please rein them in!  Consider the lawn mowers!

THANKS: Thanks to Vince Huebert for helping so many of us make very sturdy tomato cages out of rebar.  There's still a small amount of rebar left, so we could make another cage or two on Monday for those of you who would like to make one.  ($5 for cost of rebar.)

BRACELET: One of our members lost a cloisonne bangle bracelet in the garden last night.  If you find it, please let me know! 

SAVE THE DATE:  July 25, 3-5 p.m.  Dundee Community Garden Watermelon Feed and Scarecrow Making Party.

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I'm repeating the gardening tips from a couple weeks ago, as they still apply:

Rebecca's Tips  for the Garden:

For a continuous harvest, cut large outer leaves of leafy greens (such as lettuce, spinach, chard, collards, kale, etc.) and let the inner leaves continue to grow. This way, you harvest just what you need for a single serving and the rest stays fresh in the garden.

Now is the time to cage or stake  tomatoes.  Good support keeps the vines growing vertically instead of sprawling all over the ground. Plants not only take up less space, but are less susceptible to pests and diseases.  Tomato plants can become quite large, so plan on adequate support.

Mulching is extremely beneficial for your  garden. It traps moisture in the soil, so you don't have to water as often.  In addition, it  suppresses weeds---you won't have to  weed as often (that sounds good to me).  For tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants, it is especially helpful.   The mulch will cut down on common problems (diseases) associated with this group of plants.   Grass clippings are usually easy to use and are probably the easiest to obtain.    In addition to being good for the plants, grass clippings can be  good for the soil, since they add organic matter as they slowly decompose.

Vining crops, such as cucumbers, melons, and vining squash will need support to keep them out of the mowing areas.  These crops can be quite large and will take up quite a bit of ground.  Getting them off the ground and onto a support will cut down on diseases and save space. 

Happy gardening,

Mary

Dundee Community Garden Harvest Night and Tomato Cages

Hello Dundee Community Gardeners and Friends,

HARVEST NIGHT:  Our first Harvest Night will be this Monday June 28 at 7 p.m.  We'll meet at the garden and harvest some of the crops from the community beds to donate to Together Inc.'s food pantry.  This is also a good time to help out on the community beds with weeding or mulching, and a good time to work on your own bed.

TOMATO CAGES:  On Monday we'll also be making tomato cages out of wire fencing.  We'll help you make a cage if you wish-- bring $5 to help defray the cost of materials.  Tomato cages will give your tomatoes the support they need as they grow taller, and help contain the tomato plants.

MASTER GARDENER: Master Gardener Rebecca Reagan will be on hand at our work nights to answer any questions you have about what's growing in your plot.

*Please make sure your plants stay inside of your 4' x 10' bed!  There's lots of squash trying to make it's way out, and it gets in the way of our lawn mowers.

*Hope to see many of you on Monday-- please be sure to sign in your volunteer hours in the red notebook.  We ask each member to contribute 8 hours towards the community beds/ community activities.

*Watering:  As a reminder, please water your individual plots with water from the rain barrels, using a watering can (not the hose).  If rain barrels are empty, you can fill a watering can with water from the hose/ house next door.

*And make sure you have this date on your July calendar:

Dundee Community Garden Watermelon Feed and Scarecrow Making Party, Sunday July 25, 3-5 p.m.

Dundee Community Garden this week

Hello Dundee Community Gardeners,

Thanks to everyone who came to the Ice Cream Social last Sunday-- the weather cooperated later in the afternoon and it was a big success.


Many of you have vegetables that are ready to be harvested from your plots. Don't forget to harvest and eat what you've grown! See Rebecca Reagan's excellent list of timely garden tips below for harvesting and other information.


We harvested over 6 pounds of beet tops, radishes, kale, chard, and lettuce from the community plots this week, which we dropped off at Together Inc.'s food pantry on Tuesday. And we just got the sweet potatoes planted this week. Watch for regular harvest nights to start up soon!


Mowing-- thanks to Mary Lincoln and Jeff Beierman for doing such a good job keeping up on the mowing. As mentioned in the gardening tips below, please make sure to keep your vining plants INSIDE your 4x10 garden plot, so that the mowers can get through.

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Other gardening news:

Garden Member Amanda Leet is starting a community garden at her workplace, Norris Middle School. If you have plants (flowers or vegetables), tools, gardening supplies, or time and expertise that you can donate, she can use it! Contact Amanda at 208-7735, or aleet@mail.unomaha.edu, if you can help her out!

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Rebecca's Tips for the Garden:

For a continuous harvest, cut large outer leaves of leafy greens (such as lettuce, spinach, chard, collards, kale, etc.) and let the inner leaves continue to grow. This way, you harvest just what you need for a single serving and the rest stays fresh in the garden.

Now is the time to cage or stake tomatoes. Good support keeps the vines growing vertically instead of sprawling all over the ground. Plants not only take up less space, but are less susceptible to pests and diseases. Tomato plants can become quite large, so plan on adequate support.

Mulching is extremely beneficial for your garden. It traps moisture in the soil, so you don't have to water as often. In addition, it suppresses weeds---you won't have to weed as often (that sounds good to me). For tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants, it is especially helpful. The mulch will cut down on common problems (diseases) associated with this group of plants. Grass clippings are usually easy to use and are probably the easiest to obtain. In addition to being good for the plants, grass clippings can be good for the soil, since they add organic matter as they slowly decompose.

Vining crops, such as cucumbers, melons, and vining squash will need support to keep them out of the mowing areas. These crops can be quite large and will take up quite a bit of ground. Getting them off the ground and onto a support will cut down on diseases and save space.

Dundee Community Garden Update

Hello Dundee Community Gardeners and Friends,

You won't want to miss our ice cream social this week, open to all members and friends of the Dundee Community Garden! Join us Sunday for ice cream, great toppings, and fun. And we'll have materials available so you can paint a stake for your garden plot.

Sunday June 13, 3-5 p.m. Ice Cream Social at the Garden
*Make your own sundae or float for $1.
*Paint your plot sign.
*Face painting for the kids.

And make sure you have this date on your July calendar:

Sunday July 25, 3-5 p.m. Dundee Community Garden Watermelon Feed and Scarecrow Making Party,

Attached are the DCG watering guidelines. As a reminder, please water your individual plots with water from the rain barrels, using a watering can. If rain barrels are empty, you can fill a watering can with water from the hose/ house next door.

Dundee Community Garden This Week

Hello Dundee Community Gardeners and Friends,

Thanks to everyone who helped get the flowers planted in the flower beds last weekend!
And thanks to Vince for giving a great presentation on Heirloom Plants-- and to the Bread Oven and Blue Line for the great coffee and pastries.

Just a reminder, we've got fun activities planned this Saturday at the garden as part of the Dundee Spring Fling!

Spring Fling at Dundee Community Garden. Sat. May 22
10-12 Seed Planting We've got a free seed-planting activity for the kids
10-12 Ask a Master Gardener your gardening questions
10-2 p.m. Tie-Dye a Dundee Community Garden t-shirt DCG t-shirts available for purchase for $10, or bring your own white t-shirt. Tie-Dye the shirts for just $1.
And we'll be selling our Chico bags for $5.
NEW: Special appearance in the morning of the Bag Monster!
(see the Bag Monster at http://www.chicobag.com/t-meet_bag_monster.aspx )

Also on May 22, you can hear Andrew's Ave. (the band that lives in the yellow house next to the garden, and lets us use their water AT NO CHARGE) before they move out of state! They will be playing from 8:30-9:30 at the Arts for All Benefit Concert, which is from 4-10 p.m. at Stinson Park in Aksarben Village (67th & W. Center Road). More info at http://www.artsforallinc.com/

And put these dates on your calendar:

Dundee Community Garden Ice Cream Social, Sunday June 13, 3-5 p.m. at the garden. $1 donation requested. Lots of ice cream w/ toppings, root beer floats, friendship, and a chance for new members to paint their "plot signs."

Dundee Community Garden Watermelon Feed and Scarecrow Making Party, Sunday July 25, 3-5 p.m.

Additional Garden Site and Free Tomatoes!

Two announcements to make: New Space and Free Tomatoes!

1. Work is beginning on a new location at 49th & Farnam. The soil is mostly clay so it's going to be a lot of work, but it's a nice wide open location. Get a hold of Eric Williams if you're interested in a plot at the new site.

2. The Omaha Men's Garden Club plant sale was this past weekend and they would like to donate the unsold tomato plants to community gardens. There are about 1000 plants of different varieties. Plants will need to be picked up at the Extension office at 8015 W Center Road right away as the men's garden club will be taking back any leftover plants on Thursday of this week.

Dundee Community Garden Events

Hello Dundee Community Gardeners and Friends,

Please put these Dundee Community Garden Events on your Calendar:

Dundee Spring Fling at Dundee Community Garden. Sat. May 22, 10-12   Tie-Dye and Seed Planting Activities!  We plan to have a seed planting activity for children at the garden, and a master gardener available to answer all your gardening questions.  Garden member Amanda Leet will be leading tie-dying at the garden for $1.  You can dye a  DCG t-shirt-- we'll be selling them for $10.  And we'll be selling our Chico bags as a fundraiser.

Also on May 22, you can hear Andrew's Ave. (the band that lives in the yellow house next to the garden, and lets us use their water AT NO CHARGE) before they move out of state!  They will be playing from 8:30-9:30 at the Arts for All Benefit Concert, which is from 4-10 p.m. at Stinson Park in Aksarben Village (67th & W. Center Road).   More info at http://www.artsforallinc.com/

Dundee Community Garden Ice Cream Social Sun. June 13, 3-5 p.m. at the garden.  $1 donation requested. Lots of ice cream w/ toppings, root beer floats, friendship, and a chance for new members to paint their "plot signs."

Compost: Coffee Grounds are great compost for garden soil, working well as a mulch or fertilizer.  You can get used coffee grounds for free at Blue Line or any Starbucks-- just ask!

Facebook:  Did you know the Dundee Community Garden has a facebook page?  Friend us at www.facebook.com/DundeeGarden   And you can visit our website at www.dundeegarden.org

 

Dundee Community Garden This Week: Workdays Saturday, Monday

We'll be having work days in the garden this Saturday May 1, 10 a.m., and Monday 3, 6:30 p.m. Come help us get the community plots planted, mulch spread out, etc., etc.

Thank you to Jeff Beiermann for mowing the garden this week! Jeff could use some help keeping the garden mowed this summer, so if you would be willing to help, let us know! This is a good way to get in your 8 hours of community work time!

PLEASE PUT THESE DUNDEE COMMUNITY GARDEN EVENTS ON YOUR CALENDAR:

Introduction to Gardening Workshop: "Heirloom Plants and Open Pollination" Sat. May 15, 10-11 a.m. at Dundee Community Garden

Join us at the garden for a workshop on heirloom plants: what they are, why they are important, where to find them and how to grow them. This workshop will be led by garden member Vince Huebert, and is free and open to the public. We'll have coffee from Blue Line and pastries from Bread Oven!

After the workshop, we'll have a community work-day and get the bedding plants in the flower beds.

Rain location is at A.V. Sorenson Center, located on 48th & Cass Streets.

Dundee Spring Fling at Dundee Community Garden. Sat. May 22, 10-12 We plan to have a seed planting activity for children at the garden, and a master gardener available to answer all your gardening questions. And we'll be selling our Chico bags as a fundraiser—and DCG t-shirts!

Dundee Community Garden Ice Cream Social Sun. June 13, 3-5 p.m. at the garden. $1 donation requested. Lots of ice cream w/ toppings, root beer floats, friendship, and a chance for new members to paint their "plot signs."

Facebook: Did you know the Dundee Community Garden has a facebook page? Friend us at www.facebook.com/DundeeGarden And you can visit our website at www.dundeegarden.org

OTHER GARDENING-RELATED EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY:

Green Neighborhood Council's Green Living Workshop:

Backyard Composting and Vermicomposting

When: Saturday, May 8th from 10:00-11:30am

Where: First Unitarian Church (3114 Harney St.

The average American disposes over 4.5 lbs of trash per day. A large

percentage of this waste is compostable material that can be put to good use. Composting is a simple, easy and efficient way to reduce waste while naturally improving the soil in your own lawn and garden. Please join presenters Nicholas Randall, Mary Bamesberger and Ron Duce to learn more about backyard composting and vermicomposting, and how to begin or improve your own compost! This workshop is free and open to the public. Attend for a chance to win backyard composting items to get started in your own backyard!

For more information or to RSVP, please contact GNC@GreenOmahaCoalition.org

2. How to Engage Children in the Garden

When: Wed, May 5, 6:30pm – 8:30pm

Where: Douglas County Extension Office, 8015 W. Center Rd.

Description: Discover from local experts how to involve kids in the garden, encourage kids to be active and start a kids' gardening program. Bring your creativity, a willingness to share and be prepared to get your hands dirty! Registration required. Call Patty Falcone at 444-7146.

3. Gimme Green Film Screening, Potluck and Discussion

When: Sunday, May 9th (6:00pm Potluck, 6:30pm Movie)
Where: Second Unitarian Church (3012 S. 119th St.)

As part of the Environmental Documentary series jointly sponsored by the Green Sanctuary Committees of First and Second Unitarian Churches, Gimme Green, an award-winning documentary that takes a humorous look at the $40 billion lawn care industry will be shown. Glenn Pollock, Co-Chair of the Green Sanctuary Program at First Unitarian Church and a longtime prairie conservationist, will lead the discussion afterwards
and present alternatives to the "perfect" lawn. This will be our last potluck, DVD and discussion before a summer break, so please join us!

4. Black Sheep Farms Tour

When: Saturday, May 15th from 4:00-10:00pm

Where: Black Sheep Farms, Bennington, NE (12808 N. 192nd St.)

The Omaha Farm Tour is a joint presentation of the Green Omaha Coalition, World Environment Day Omaha, Slow Food Omaha and Black Sheep Farms. Tour the farm, share a meal and discuss food issues with people making a difference in the greater Omaha metro area. Carpooling is encouraged, as parking will be limited.

While the event is at Black Sheep, Kelly welcomes others with farms and links in the local food chain to have a table and information at the day. Contact her at kelly@blacksheepfarms.com if you are interested. Slow Food Omaha will be helping with the zero-waste potluck (http://www.omahafarmtour.com/potluck-dinner.php) and having a table/information. The tours start at 4pm, and the potluck itself is at 6 pm followed by a showing of the movie Fresh. It should be a great day!

In the event of rain, the Omaha Farm Tour will be held on Saturday, May 22nd.

Dundee Community Garden News!

Hello Dundee Community Gardeners and friends,

Community Work Day: Sat. May 15

Weather permitting, we'll have a community work day this Sat. April 24 at 10 a.m., and also Mon. April 26 at 6:30 p.m. We'd like to get our four community plots planted with seeds-- we'll be donating produce from these plots to the Together Inc. food pantry.

Sat. May 15 we'll get started at 11 (after the Intro. to Gardening Workshop) and plan to plant bedding plants in the community flower beds, and we'll dig out the compost pile.

Note: if you have extra plants/flowers/herbs that you'd like to donate to the community beds, please bring them on one of our work days!

Reminder: all gardeners are expected to contribute 8 hours over the course of the summer to working on the community beds at the garden. Please try to help out at a work day that is convenient for you!

Oma-Grow: we've gone through quite a bit and will be having a fourth load dropped off at the garden Friday, so there will be plenty for people need to get their plots dug up this weekend.

Please put these Dundee Community Garden Events on your Calendar:

Introduction to Gardening Workshop: "Heirloom Plants and Open Pollination"
Sat. May 15, 10-11 a.m. at Dundee Community Garden

Join us at the garden for a workshop on heirloom plants: what they are, why they are important, where to find them and how to grow them. This workshop will be led by garden member Vince Huebert, and is free and open to the public. We'll have coffee from Blue Line and pastries from Bread Oven!
Rain location is at A.V. Sorenson Center, located on 48th & Cass Streets.

Dundee Spring Fling at Dundee Community Garden.
Sat. May 22, 10-12 We plan to have a seed planting activity for children at the garden, and a master gardener available to answer all your gardening questions. And we’ll be selling our Chico bags as a fundraiser—and DCG t-shirts!

Dundee Community Garden Ice Cream Social
Sun. June 13, 3-5 p.m. at the garden. $1 donation requested. Lots of ice cream w/ toppings, root beer floats, friendship, and a chance for new members to paint their “plot signs.”

Facebook: Did you know the Dundee Community Garden has a facebook page? Friend us at www.facebook.com/DundeeGarden And you can visit our website at www.dundeegarden.org

OTHER GARDENING-RELATED EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY:

Green Neighborhood Council's Green Living Workshop:
Backyard Composting and Vermicomposting
Saturday, May 8th from 10:00-11:30am
First Unitarian Church - 3114 Harney St.

The average American disposes over 4.5 lbs of trash per day. A large percentage of this waste is compostable material that can be put to good use. Composting is a simple, easy and efficient way to reduce waste while naturally improving the soil in your own lawn and garden. Please join presenters Nicholas Randall, Mary Bamesberger and Ron Duce to learn more about backyard composting and vermicomposting, and how to begin or improve your own compost! This workshop is free and open to the public. Attend for a chance to win backyard composting items to get started in your own backyard!

For more information or to RSVP, please contact GNC@GreenOmahaCoalition.org


How to Engage Children in the Garden
Wed, May 5, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Douglas County Extension Office, 8015 W. Center Rd.

Discover from local experts how to involve kids in the garden, encourage kids to be active and start a kids' gardening program. Bring your creativity, a willingness to share and be prepared to get your hands dirty! Registration required. Call Patty Falcone at 444-7146.


Black Sheep Farms Tour
Saturday, May 15th from 4:00-10:00pm
Black Sheep Farms, Bennington, NE (12808 N. 192nd St.)

The Omaha Farm Tour is a joint presentation of the Green Omaha Coalition, World Environment Day Omaha, Slow Food Omaha and Black Sheep Farms. Tour the farm, share a meal and discuss food issues with people making a difference in the greater Omaha metro area. Carpooling is encouraged, as parking will be limited.

While the event is at Black Sheep, Kelly welcomes others with farms and links in the local food chain to have a table and information at the day. Contact her at kelly@blacksheepfarms.com if you are interested. Slow Food Omaha will be helping with the zero-waste potluck (http://www.omahafarmtour.com/potluck-dinner.php) and having a table/information. The tours start at 4pm, and the potluck itself is at 6 pm followed by a showing of the movie Fresh. It should be a great day!

In the event of rain, the Omaha Farm Tour will be held on Saturday, May 22nd.