Hello Dundee Community Garden Members and Friends,
Thanks
to everyone who helped out at our work day last Sat. Check out the new
stone "retaining edging" along the 49th St. sidewalk. The flower beds
are looking great!
"Mulching
of the newly planted Dundee Berry Patch will begin at 10 am this
Sunday, May 6, weather permitting. Please bring equipment if you have
it. Wheelbarrows and shovels are needed."
Urban Farming – A Panel Presentation
Sponsored by the Green Neighborhood Council
Thursday, May 10th from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Neighborhood Center, 115 S 49th Avenue
All GNC workshops are free and open to the public.
As everyone involved in the local urban farming movement knows, the number of backyard and community gardens in the Omaha area continues to increase each year. People of all ages are finding they can grow food for themselves, either learning on their own or from the many teachers and mentors who don’t just tell but show them how to garden, digging in the dirt along with them. Four of those teachers will discuss their work and suggest ways audience members can get involved. Please plan to join us for this informal roundtable presentation and discussion.
Ali Clark works with the Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society as the organization’s Urban Agriculture Specialist. With other community gardening enthusiasts, she recently helped launch a new Community Supported Agriculture farm, the Big Muddy Urban Farm:www.bigmuddyfarm.
Chris Foster is the Director of Gifford Park’s Youth Garden Program. He’ll present a short power point slideshow, highlighting the variety of available activities in Gifford Park’s Youth Garden Program and Community Garden:
www.giffordparkomaha.org/
Dana Freeman has been the School Garden Coordinator with Douglas County Health Department for the CPPW grant and was the Gifford Park Youth Garden Director for 5 years. By May 10th, she will no longer be with the Douglas County Health Department, but she remains a school and community garden advocate and has recently started her own small business called Growing Gardeners, Inc.
Dan Susman travelled across the country last summer with his friend, Andrew Monbouquette to film a documentary about urban farming, called Growing Cities: www.
A free book on gardening or another green topic will be given to each attendee, or while quantities last.
Work Days May 12 and 26:
Our next DCG Work Days will be Sat. May 12 and May 26, 9-12 both days
(come when you can). We'll be planting the remaining two community
beds, the bean teepee, and some flowers and perennials along the north
(alley) side of the garden. We'll also be planting the sweet potatoes!
Please mark your calendars and come when you can. Must be present to
be entered in gift certificate drawings held at each work day!
A Note about Squash and Cucumbers: Last
year our squash crop throughout the garden was DECIMATED by the squash
bug, and we also had terrible problems with the cucumber beetle. We're
going try to control these pests by restricting the plants they love, so
we are recommending that no squash or cucumbers get planted at DCG this
year. If you do choose to plant these crops, please keep a close eye
on them and remove right away if the bugs take over-- and if we find
infested plants, we'll have to pull them out.
and Aphids: Our hollyhocks have been attacked by aphids this spring. We're trying to keep them under control with this organic mixture:
If
aphids are observed on plants a natural spray to kill them can be made
from 1 cup of vegetable oil, 1 1/2 cups of water and 2 teaspoons of dish
soap. Sprayed on the aphids, the insects suffocate and die. Two or
three applications may be necessary over the course of a few days and
the plants should be shaded from direct sunlight while they are still
wet.Read more at
So far, it seems to be pretty effective, but if you see aphids making a come-back, try it out!
Tomato Cages and Mesh Produce Bags for Sale at Spring Fling on Sat. May 19:
The Dundee Merchants Assoc. is cutting way back on Spring Fling, but
there will be sidewalk sales and smaller events for Spring Fling on Sat.
May 19. Dundee Community Garden will be selling our wonderful tomato
cages ($15 for one, or $25 for two) as well as re-usable mesh produce
bags ($5 for a set of three-- these are great-- I already own a dozen of
them-- you won't have to use plastic produce bags ever again!) Please
stop by our table on May 19th-- we'll be set up on the sidewalk in front
of the Denim Saloon/ Dundee Gallery area.
(If you can't make it on May 19, we'll also be selling these items at our Ice Cream Social on June 16.)
Weeds and Planting Your Plot: All
members are responsible for keeping weeds out of their plots. Some
plots are full of weeds, which then spread to others in the garden.
Plots must be weeded by May 15. All plots must be planted by June 1.
If you are having a situation that makes it difficult for you to care
for your plot, please let us know and we'll try to help you out. If you
are no longer interested in caring for a plot, let us know and we can
re-assign your plot-- we've got a long waiting list!
Bring Perennials: As always, we can use more perennials for flower beds, and along the alley.
And Bring Grass Clippings: and as always, we can use grass clippings throughout the season to mulch our flower and vegetable beds.
Have extra vegetable starts, or seeds?
The Yates Community Center for Refugees is looking for seeds and
starter plants for vegetables for their new community garden. If you've
got extras to pass along, contact Mary at megreen4@cox.net
Help Mulch New Dundee Berry Patch on Sunday: Some
of you are familiar with the "Food Community in Dundee" concept. As
part of this, avid gardener Sarah Newman was able to get a mayor's grant
last year to start a Community Berry Patch. The berry patch is located
along Happy Hollow Blvd. by the entrance to Brownell-Talbot School
(just south of Underwood.) Please see Sarah's call for help below:
No need to RSVP, but if you'd like more information, contact Sarah at sarahnewman@cox.net
COMMUNITY EVENTS:
Men's Garden Club Plant Sale
TODAY-- Fri. May 4, 5:30-8 p.m.
Sat May 5, 9-2
Extension Bldg. 8015 W. Center Road, Omaha
This
is a great opportunity to get all kinds of heirloom tomatoes and other
vegetables and flowers! Go early for best selection.
##############################
Urban Farming – A Panel Presentation
Sponsored by the Green Neighborhood Council
Thursday, May 10th from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Neighborhood Center, 115 S 49th Avenue
All GNC workshops are free and open to the public.
As everyone involved in the local urban farming movement knows, the number of backyard and community gardens in the Omaha area continues to increase each year. People of all ages are finding they can grow food for themselves, either learning on their own or from the many teachers and mentors who don’t just tell but show them how to garden, digging in the dirt along with them. Four of those teachers will discuss their work and suggest ways audience members can get involved. Please plan to join us for this informal roundtable presentation and discussion.
Ali Clark works with the Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society as the organization’s Urban Agriculture Specialist. With other community gardening enthusiasts, she recently helped launch a new Community Supported Agriculture farm, the Big Muddy Urban Farm:www.bigmuddyfarm.
Chris Foster is the Director of Gifford Park’s Youth Garden Program. He’ll present a short power point slideshow, highlighting the variety of available activities in Gifford Park’s Youth Garden Program and Community Garden:
www.giffordparkomaha.org/
Dana Freeman has been the School Garden Coordinator with Douglas County Health Department for the CPPW grant and was the Gifford Park Youth Garden Director for 5 years. By May 10th, she will no longer be with the Douglas County Health Department, but she remains a school and community garden advocate and has recently started her own small business called Growing Gardeners, Inc.
Dan Susman travelled across the country last summer with his friend, Andrew Monbouquette to film a documentary about urban farming, called Growing Cities: www.
A free book on gardening or another green topic will be given to each attendee, or while quantities last.
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Check out this Great Article on Rain Gardens by former DCG member Helen Deffenbacher:
This article is written for kids and families, but is full of good information and lists local resources.
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