February 10,2014


On January 22nd, old farmers and new dirt scratchers gathered at our local golf clubhouse for a festive 2014 Community Garden official, "kickoff". In addition to a bountiful breakfast buffet, gardeners had the opportunity of sharing stories and renewing or selecting new garden beds. The gathering featured:

•  The coveted "Golden Trowel Award" presented to Larry and Marge
•  The honored "Volunteer of the Year Award" presented to Dave

• An information-filled presentation by Larry and Marge (internationally acclaimed Golden Trowel Award winners) on "How We Did What We Did--Tips, Hints, and Semi-Secrets of Successful Gardening in SCP-Community Garden". Not only was the information they shared valuable, but the costumes and props were quite the rage...possibly setting new fashion trends in our wonderful community.

The coveted "Golden Trowel Award" plaque will be on permanent display on the "trophy wall" at the SCP-Community Garden (under pavilion).

"Nearly Paved" Access Road

Other news....in January our garden entry road was "paved". Actually, this is crushed asphalt and gravel repurposed from another road. This is certainly a tremendous improvement.

            

New Members...New Signs..New Crops....New Horizons



Special WELCOME to several new members of our Community Garden crowd. The more "green thumb aspirants" the merrier.


Look what the "sign fairy" has deposited at the Community Garden...NOW WE CAN KNOW WHERE WE ARE!!

Playing in the Dirt!! Isn't it fun?

Yep! That's EXACTLY what it means!

While the signs were not "planted" in exactly the right location and a few "tweaks" need to be made to the Fire Pit Rules sign, it is great to have these in place. Kinda' makes us "official" doesn't it!!

 

 
The fire pit materials are in the possession of the installer...our
volunteer builder is running behind on his schedule due to a vehicle accident in late summer. He promises to get the fire pit installed "soon". Hey, it's a donation, so we can't be too antsy.
      








 The recent FALL FESTIVAL at Sun City Peachtree included a festive display of decorative gourds and bundled corn stalks for sale. Unfortunately, the corn stalks were not as popular as hoped, but the gourds were a more successful fund raiser for the Community Garden. We raised slightly less than $17,000 from the gourd sales. (Actually, it was more like $35.00. Hey, it was dried gourds, not gold nuggets. Ha!)

A thing of BEAUTY!

Bountiful FALL CROPS are thriving in several of the community garden beds. Several others have great cover crops of clover...a smart idea in preparation for next year. See what can be done with careful tending and a little smidgen of green thumb skill.

More cabbage! Get the cole slaw bowl ready!

  

"Cole" crops (officially the Brassicaceae family, formerly called Cruciferae) make excellent fall veggies. Common brassicas include cabbage,  cauliflower, broccoli and Brussels sprouts.

Hey! Here's an interesting bit of "veggie news". Brussels sprouts were grown as early as the 13th century in the region we now call Belgium...hence the name "Brussels" (note the word ends with an S) as in Brussels, Belgium. Did you have any idea?

Clover "cover" crop

Winter Cover Crops Clover, vetch and several other plants are known for their "nitrogen fixing" capability. They actually take nitrogen from the atmosphere and "fix" it into the soil...making for a good rich planting medium. These "green manures" are cut and tilled into the soil in late winter before they bloom. They also help to keep the soil loose and weed free during the "off season". It LOOKS GOOD, TOO.

Farmers Market - E I E I O

July 6, 2013

Today marked the launch of the Farmers Market! SCP-Community Gardeners shared produce, herbs, flowers...even some wonderful home baked zucchini bread, with fellow residents! Residents expressed deep appreciation for our making making available the access to fresh picked, home grown veggies. The eager throngs of veggie fans arrived well before our official "start" time. (Well, maybe not "throngs", but lots of folks.)

Farmer Helen_Prodigious Purveyor of Produce

Hoards of Proud Produce Patrons

Garden Thriving!

The Community Garden is THRIVING! The garden beds look so wonderful with the lush growth and veggies galore getting ripe. Here are several photos that demonstrate what our gardening is all about.

Beautiful Crook Neck Squash

Lush Gardens Galore

Even Mama Mockingbird Chose Our Garden for Her Family.

 

A Gardener's FIRST HARVEST! How Exciting!!

Unfortunately, the Japanese beetle is but one nemesis that can add to the challenges of successful gardening. The hoards have arrived! Take to arms, fellow gardeners!

The Dastardly Japanese Beetle! Yuk!

Glob of Japanese Beetles Munching & Making More Beetles.

 

Gulley Washers Anonymous!

Work began today, May 14th, to repair the ever-expanding gully that has plagued our road side. A large swale and ditching will divert water runoff from the area above our garden into the adjacent wooded area. Next steps will be some major gravel fill and compaction, along with some little "dams" to slow water flow. Soon our gully will be no more. (All fingers crossed, please!)

"The Gulley"!

Water Diversion..A Dam at Last!

The "Swale" Begins.

Farmers' Market - Get Ready!

Plans are underway for our Community Garden to conduct a "Farmers' Market" this summer. Many residents of our community have eagerly requested that our gardeners "sell" some of our excess veggies. And, really, since one family can enjoy only so much zucchini, it makes sense to share. Besides, this will be a great little "fund raising" venture for us. Stay tuned for details as our produce production proceeds.

Unused "EZ-Access" beds planted exclusively for the Farmers Market.

Walter Reeves Educates the Gardeners! May 18, 2013

World-renown (well, maybe not that renown, but very well known) garden expert Walter Reeves presented "Topsy-Turvey: Growing More with Less" at a special program at the SCP-Amenity Center. Over 150 SCP and Griffin community gardeners thoroughly enjoyed the lively, humorous way that Walter shared his insights into gardening in small spaces. Following the program, a wonderful reception with exceptional "goodies" made the evening just perfect. Thanks to the SCP Garden Club for sponsoring this outstanding educational program.

Walter Reeves gets "seriously" prepared for his presentation.

 

Important Information about "Magic foo-foo dust".

Walter Offered Personal Garden Advice.

The Expert Inundated with Questions from Eager Gardeners

Delightful Reception and Delicious Goodies!