Crops are In

We've had a relatively good year of gardening, with some exceptions. Squash vine borers continued to sneak in but otherwise pests were not as nasty this year. An over friendly armadillo seems to have taken a liking for our mulched pathways. An "anti-armadillo" blockade is underway. In addition to that rascally armadillo, this blockade will, hopefully, help keep wondering puppies, rabbits, chickens and turkeys from sneaking under our garden gate. Here are a few pics of some interesting crops this year:

 This grand prize winning tomato weighed 1 lb. 11.9 ounces. The proud parents are Sara and Ferol farming in Bed B-2.Now this is what makes a great "mater samich". All this needs is some extra fresh white bread and Duke's mayonnaise

   Sara and Ferol were also blessed with this1 pound, 11.3 ounce whopper.

This interesting sweet tater was harvested by Helen, Mary Carol and Craig from Bed E-7. Can't decide if it looks like a goose, a penguin, or totem pole. Maybe we should  have a "name the tater" contest.

    

Most crops have been harvested, including a fall bounty of lettuce, greens, and cabbage. Most farmers are getting beds cleaned up and prepared for a nice winter nap. Soon the time for browsing seed catalogs and dreaming of future crops will be upon us.

Experts Share Advice

In early April, our garden was visited by UGA County Extension Agent Wade Hutcheson and local farmer and Master Gardener Bobby James. They shared information and guidance about proper planting, watering, fertilizing, controlling weeds and pests, and harvesting of vegetables. After the presentation, these experts toured the gardens and answered individual questions. Mr. James also brought a variety of certified, organic heirloom tomatoes, peppers, herbs, and other vegetables for purchase. All these plants were raised from seed in the James Family Farm greenhouse located off Harlow Avenue in Griffin.

UGA Extension Agent & Master Gardener Share Gardening Advice

Certified, Organic Maters & Other Stuff

Spring and early summer crops are coming in nicely. Several farmers are beginning to harvest some lettuce and the beets, radishes, and broccoli aren't far behind.


Here is the beginnings of one proud gardener's first lettuce harvest. Bring on the "oil and vinegar"...or maybe the Ranch.

Spring has Sprung

The dogwoods and daffodils are blooming...the birds are singing....and the Community Gardeners are busy getting their Spring crops planted. In fact most garden beds already have healthy stands of young lettuce, broccoli, cabbage, peas, onions, and other delightful delicacies. Folks are anxious to get those luscious "maters" in as soon as the soil warms a bit more.

A Taste of  Oriental Flare Dresses Up the Tool Shed

 Check out the marvelous new landscaping at the tool shed. Special thanks to Tom, Barb, Terri, Joyce, and Diana for the planning and hard work. (Sorry if I missed anyone!) These are members of our fabulous "Herb

Garden Guru Committee". In addition to this landscaping project, this committee has been busy with on-going efforts to rejuvenate our herb garden. Thanks to these dedicated volunteer gardeners,  we will soon be enjoying a bounty of parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme (Sounds like an old Simon and Garfunkel song to me!), and other culinary herbs.

Happy New Year_2015!

Well, the Community Garden is fast asleep, gaining much needed rest and strength to be ready to thrive in the coming months. In late November, a cadre of highly skilled and dedicated gardeners gathered to do some much needed year-end weeding and general tidying up of the garden.  Hoses and tools were secured in the tool shed, irrigation lines drained, and a gigantic pile of plant material began its journey to becoming "magic foo foo dust" (that's compost). The truly fun adventures of the day: WEEDING, BURNING, PAINTING.

Priming the new trellis. Next comes a nice coat of paint....then some climbing, flowering botanical something!

It takes an army to burn those Pesky Weeds!

Pulling weeds is so much fun, I just want to....

...stick my head in this bucket!!

This handsome frog is (a) sitting on a bench and (b) contemplating what to plant in his garden. What are you doing?

Indeed, this is a great time to be scanning those seed catalogs and planning your Spring gardens!