Farm and Schools Blog

Hi all,

After tilling the field tonight with his big tiller and tractor, Eldon noticed that most of the field is very, very moist; almost too moist in fact.  Evidence of this is in the color of some of the corn and potatoes and tomatoes.  They should be dark green but are a more yellow green.  Fertilizing will help, but watering is a large part of the yellowing of crops. 

Eldon has suggested fertilizing your crops with a triple 16 lawn fertilizer without the weed killer; a straight 16-16-16.  Big R has it on sale for $18 for 50#(?) at the north store.  It would be best to fertilize before we water again which won’t be until Thursday or Friday.  We will just have to see how much the ground dries out over the next two days. 

Thank you everyone who attended the Weeding Party on Monday.  The Valley Kiwanis came out in force and the Master Gardeners came together on a previous night.  Thanks to East Valley Staff and Second Harvest staff.  You all are so wonderful.  The LDS 17th Ward is coming out to weed on the 9th at 7pm if anyone would like to come and weed then, you are most welcome.

Thanks for all you are doing!  Compliments are abundant about the fruits/vegetables of your labors! 

See you at the garden!

Lynette

Hi All,

I’ll be spraying the potato bugs this morning so please do not enter the potato patches until after noon. 

Thanks!
Lynette

While I have been able to schedule a few groups to come to the garden to weed, I can not seem to get commitments from enough groups to take care of the massive amount of consistent weeding that needs to be done. 

On Monday August 2nd the garden will be hosting “Weeds Be Gone” night.  From 6:30pm to dark a formal weeding party will take place.  Bring hoes, shovels, rakes, gloves, tillers, whatever your hearts desire (no Roundup-I know it’s tempting).  If you can’t make it to the garden during that time, then have your own weeding party at the garden when your schedule allows.  The point is to get as many people at the garden to do the most weeding at once and see serious results. 

I encourage you to forward this email on with the hopes of involving more people in our efforts; the more the merrier!

Thank you all for your care and support of the garden.  Many great things can and are happening, but more is needed. 

Hi Everyone,

We have an unwanted visitor to the potato field called the Colorado Potato Bug.  I am working on a solution (organic insecticide) that should do the trick to get rid of them and will apply it ASAP.  Until I do though, please do not walk through the potato fields.  We don’t want to help these critters spread to the tomatoes or other crops.

Thanks!

Lynette

Hi everyone!

The first real harvest of the season happened this morning! About 10 lbs of lettuce, endive, bok choy, broccoli and cherry tomatoes were delivered to Trent Elementary at 8:30am for use in their summertime lunch program.  It was just a small portion, but it is also just the beginning. 

Another youth group is coming to weed.  If you would like to help out too, just be at the garden at 7pm tomorrow (Tuesday July 13th).  We will be weeding the district’s field crops.  “Many hands make light work” has become my favorite saying!  It is always more fun to work in a group than all alone, so I hope to see as many there as can make it!

See you at the garden!

Lynette
509-230-9436 or momromney@earthlink.net