Dandelions -- They’re Everywhere … They’re Everywhere!

The dandelions are taking over the front lawn of the house between the garden and the church.

We have an opportunity to keep herbicides off the church lawns by weeding dandelions this weekend. Weather permitting, please join me on Saturday afternoon, June 7^th from 1:00 – 4:00 pm weeding dandelions. We will start on the house lawn and move south around the church property, including the CCNS/RE/playground lawn and ending with the garden lawn.

I know that some of you have dandelion recipes. Here is one source – but if you have dandelion cooking experience, please share your recipes with us on our blog. Note: I have never tried any of these, but there is always a first time. To the best of my knowledge, no herbicides or pesticides have been applied to our church lawns since before the winter snows this year. This is information I would personally want before cooking up any dandelion recipes. I will do my best to verify this information in time for our dandelion weeding effort.

Nurturing Ourselves and Our Garden

On Sunday we watered and weeded and planted tomatoes donated by Judy and flower seeds donated by Melanie.

Julie, Joan, and Jane (the three J's) did some weeding before the 10 am service. After the congregational meeting, Melanie, Joan, and Gene weeded grass from the northeast corner of the sloping area along 1300 East. Melanie made the job easier by having watered the area just before the 10 am service.

Melanie applied her fantastic liquid organic fertilizer (made from fermenting vegetable/fruit scraps and Dr. Earth's organic compost starter) to the already planted vegetable plants - testing the organic fertilizer produced by the apartment composter donated to Environmental Ministry. So, no need to fertilize again for awhile.

Melanie dug down 4-5 inches on the north side of the sloping plot on the west side of the fence to turn over the soil and rid it of left over weeds and rocks. She also created a rock ledge to try to keep the soil from eroding down the hillside, and another one to keep the water around the new tomato plants. Cynthia and Melanie then planted flower seeds (Cosmos Bright Lights Mix, Nasturtium - Double Dwarf Jewel Mix, Tithonia Torch, Marigold - Happy Days Mix; and Celosia - Forest Fire). They hand watered all the new tomato plants, and then hose watered the newly planted flower bed, and the whole garden.

Jane volunteered to water on Saturday mornings. Sonia will water on Tuesday mornings and possibly one other morning - Joan will update the schedule.

ATTENTION ALL WATERING VOLUNTEERS: Please water ALL the rows including the row next to the playground, the tilled rows on the grass (south) side of the garden area, AND the tomatoes and flowers planted in the sloping bed on the sidewalk side of the fence. Here is the watering schedule.

And just in case you now think that there isn't anything left to do, we still need:
- watering on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
- weeding dandelions from the church lawn, house lawn, and RE lawn
- weeding grass from the rest of the sloping flower bed on the sidewalk side of the garden
- weeding the garden
- putting the weeded weeds and cut grass into the compost pile
- removing weeds from between the flagstone (garden walkway)
- planting some more herbs and/or flowers

See you in the garden -- and remember -- you don't need to be invited. Come work in the garden when YOU have the time, when YOU want to get "down to earth", when it works for YOU. And so you know, you will probably find Joan working in the garden on Saturdays and Sundays.

Sunday Gardening Anyone?

Tomorrow, Sunday, June 1^st at First Unitarian Church, we have service 10-11 am followed by our 2^nd Congregational Meeting (review and vote on the 2008-2009 budget and endowment disbursements). In between, there will be an opportunity to purchase take-away lunches provided by The Coming of Age Class – a final fundraiser before their upcoming Boston Trip.

Consider coming early and working in the garden before the 10 am service or staying late and working after the Congregational Meeting. There is LOTS of work to do:

- watering the garden – if you get there first

- weeding dandelions from the church lawn, house lawn, and RE lawn

- weeding grass from the sloping flower bed on the sidewalk side of the garden

- weeding the garden

- putting the weeded weeds and cut grass into the compost pile

- removing weeds from between the flagstone (garden walkway)

- planting some more herbs, tomatoes and/or flowers

Watering volunteers are also still needed: Sunday mornings, Wednesday mornings, and Saturday mornings are still available – until the drip system is in place and on a timer. Drop an email to Joan to volunteer.

And just so you know, you don’t have to wait for a call or an email to just come over to the garden and do some work. Come any time that works for you. The dandelions and other weeds will be waiting for you.

Weeding, Watering, and Planting

Thank you to all who worked on watering last week - with special kudos to Mother Nature, who took care of much of the work, and to Julie who signed up for two evenings a week! We are hoping to get back to the garden later today to work on the drip system. But watering volunteers are still needed until it is working and on a timer.

Last Monday's weeding party didn't happen the way we planned due to lots of rain. Joan did some weeding in the rain - which she actually quite enjoyed. It is much easier to get those weeds out from between the flagstone in the rain.

Margie worked some more in the garden this week - finishing up some planting and laying out straw. Allison planted tomatos. Several of us watered when Mother Nature took a break.

Rick and Joan weeded and mowed the parking strip on Saturday. It is looking good. Joan reclaimed the full width of the flagstone path in the garden area and planted some herbs (parsley, lavender, thyme, and shiso).

And a bit about shiso - called "ohba" at sushi bars! Flavor is curry-like - combination of cumin, cilantro, and/or parsley with a hint of cinnamon. Nice addition to mesclun salad mixes, especially good sprinkled over cucumbers, cabbage, or fish. Edible flowers. Fragrant tea.

Watering Update

Watering help is still needed until the drip system is fully in place and on a timer. Here is the watering plan so far. Please volunteer to keep the watering going … early mornings are best - evenings are next best … of course, Mother Nature has been stepping in and taking more than her share of turns lately. When she does, you may skip your watering turn.

Joan is working on getting some chalk for the chalkboard (located on the east side of the red shed) - once the chalk is there, if you water, write it on the chalkboard, so the other watering volunteers know when the garden was last watered. If you cannot take your turn and it is clear that Mother Nature is otherwise occupied, call Joan.

NOTE: All rows are now planted and need water including some little tomatoes right up against the posts on the north side, herbs and tomatoes on the grass side, pumpkins on the east side next to the playground fence, and tomatoes and flowers in the sloping beds west of the garden outside the fence. The raised beds need watering - but probably fewer times per week - let's try Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays for now.

- Monday evenings - Julie
- Tuesday mornings - Sonia
- Wednesday evenings (May 28 & June 4) - Becky
- Wednesdays ________________
- Thursday evenings - Julie
- Fridays - Alison
- Saturday mornings - Jane
- Sunday mornings - Allison & Joan

Reply to Joan (jmg@csolutions.net) or blog the day(s) you are able to help with watering.

Memorial Day - Garden Work Party - 8 am

Weather permitting, let’s gather on Memorial Day morning, Monday, May 26^th (8-10 am) in our First Unitarian Church garden to do some weeding (garden, curb strip, church lawn), rock removal, straw spreading, drip system repair, and any other work that is needed. Bring a snack to share and we’ll make it into a work party – to work, to admire all that has been done so far, to learn about the garden, and to share some time with one another. If you haven’t taken a look – be sure to check out our garden blog: http://gardenslcuu.blogspot.com.

Special thanks to all who have contributed time, work, and knowledge to our efforts so far including: Allison, Margie, Misty, Stephanie, Hal, Bob, Layne, Cindy, Rawlins, Clark, Tim, Melanie, Glory, Frank, Susan, Alex, Maddy, Becky, Bob (yes, two different Bobs), Rick, Julie, Ri, Mother Nature, and Wanda (for the idea and for her whispers), and all those whom I forgot to list this time!!

Come work with us, get involved, learn or share your knowledge, and have some fun! BTW – kids are welcome – especially kids who like to play in the playground, plant herbs, or pick dandelions.

See you in the garden,
Joan

What's Where in the Garden?

Margie reports that the garden is mostly planted. Here is a list of "what's where" starting at the East end (playground side) and working West (toward 1300 East):

• Pumpkins
• Table/Raised bed (zucchini, broccoli, strawberries)
• Cabbage
• Tomatoes
• Tomatoes
• Beans
• Peas
• Cucumbers
• Radishes
• Swiss Chard / Beets
• Carrots
• Carrots
• Carrots
• Onions
• Onions
• Tomatoes (not yet planted- supplied by Misty)
• Tomatoes (not yet planted- supplied by Misty)
• Cantaloupe
• Honeydew

Over the course of the next few days, Margie is going to laminate these words and attach them to the appropriate stakes, so everyone knows what's planted where.