A gardeners wish list

A Gardeners Wish List

"All I want for Christmas is five acres and a John Deere tractor and free gas and lots of volunteer help and five tons of compost and..." ~Carl Wayne

This is the time of year when friends and relatives may be asking you for a wish list for Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, etc. Master Gardeners sometimes are asked, too. Of course we accept all denominations: fives, tens, twenties.

In the unlikely event some gardener, Master or not, does not already have a wish list, this column will provide one for them. It includes the latest scientific breakthroughs, some which have not yet hit the general market.

1. Prebagged tilth. No more mulching and tilling.

2. Concentrated pH. No more worry with lime and sulfur.

3. Hair loom tomato cages made from woven camel's hair.

4. Carbon sinks to replace your porcelain ones.

5. Soaker hoes. Simply fill the handle with water and allow to drip while you are weeding.

6. Free range turnip seeds. No more eating turnips raised in confined rows.

7. Bolts of organic material. Easy to work with. Simply unwind.

8. Canned Parmesan mulch to apply to the top of your lasagna garden.

9. Organic honey scented Mobius pest strips. Instead of eco-harmfulc hemicals, the little buggers will land and walk theyselves to death.

10. Attract a Gardener. These little earrings are mulch scented and look like little flower beds infested with nutgrass. Also included is a list of sweet nothings in Latin.

11. Decorative compost made from Belted Galloway cow manure.

12. Bottled concentrated TLC weed killer consisting of fish emulsion, triple 13, compost tea, bone meal, and seaweed. Scientific reports claim TLC kills more plants than anything else.

While this list will not complete any gardener's wish list, it should be a good start.

Ain't God good!

Victory Garden status Dec 17, 2011

Victory Garden was visited by a band of angels (AKA Collierville Christian Church Boy Scouts) who mulched all the remaining bare places plus adding more leaves where they were a little thin (the leaves, not the boys). Plus they left a big mound of leaves next to our compost pile. Note the row of beautiful carrots. :)

Our garlic has begun sprouting. These are the earliest Thermadrone softneck. Some others are sprouting too. Hope and pray all thousand sprout and grow!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD PLIGHT!

Aint God good!
Carl Wayne

Victory Garden status 12/10/11 next work day Sat 9-11 RSVP

Victory Garden status 12/10/11

next work day Sat 9-11 RSVP

YTD 4,327 + 74 lbs = 4,401 lbs!!!!

Friday Debra Matton picked 8 containers of collard greens for total tare weight of 74 lbs, which I delivered to Harris Cove and South Street south of the tracks.

Next work day Sat 9-11am. RSVP to me if you'll be there.

To-do's:
1. This carrots by 50%.
2. Move leaves onto the bare spots in plots 2 and 5 (the middle ones).
3. Mulch plot 1 where the henbit is smothering the cabbages and rutabagas.
4. Harvest remaining collard greens.
5. Move compost from the pile into the raised beds.

Aint God good!

Spring Garden Team now being formed

The Collierville Victory Garden needs a team of four to six volunteers to begin planning and organizing the spring garden.

The team will come up with a planting plan for the raised beds. Then raise seedlings from provided seeds for the spring garden. We will do 2 kinds of carrots, 2 kinds of reddishes, 2 kinds of beets, early dutch cabbages, parsnips, 2 kinds of lettuce, chard, kale, and possibly more at your discretion.
Then transplant and care for them in our raised beds and then harvest.

All supplies will be provided.

We need to have the plan in place by Feb 1 and seeds started indoors.
Transplant into the raised beds after St Paddy's Day.
Target harvest May 1 completed by end of May.

Contact me.

Thanks,
Carl Wayne Hardeman
901-485-6910
mymaters@yahoo.com

Planting garlic 12-3-2011

On Satiddy December 3, 2011:

Jeff Golladay, Jimmy Gafford, Whit Whitacre, Wes Wooldridge and his two daughters, Dave Fitzgerald, Carl Hardeman, Debra Matton, Jeanne Cannon, two boys and 3 parents of the Crosswinds Elementary School Roots & Shoots Club prepared the soil and planted 1000 garlic cloves of 20 varieties, mulched it and put it to bed for the winter. As of this morning those beautiful raised (Golladay style) beds were up out of the water after 2 inches of rain. HUGE Success!!!

Link to pix may or may not work:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=Share-_-Personal-_-Email-_-Sharee-_-Images&_requestid=97210

Dave is the project leader and did a fantastic job of organizing and documenting the planting. We have a new variable in that we planted cloves he saved from last harvest thanks to his wine cellar and very understanding wife.

Whit also fixed the flat on the wheelbarrow tire. Yea!

Debra and Jeanne will pick collards this week for local Food Pantry.

Carrots and collards and rutabagas and Savoy cabbages are looking goooood!

We still need to spread leaves from the leaf pile onto all bare ground in plots 2 and 5 (the middle ones on each side) and on top of the henbit weeds in plot 1 (far left) around the cabbage and rutabagas.

Note the beautiful spongy humus which was not muddy though the ground outside the garden is/was.

Note we applied NO fertilizer, we did this NO-TILL, and soil pH is ideal 6.8 - 7.1.

Hopefully someone can find some pine needle mulch to put on the garlic beds to bring the pH down just a little.

Victory Garden garlic varieties planted 12-3-2011
Ref: http://www.gourmetgarlicgardens.com/overview.htm

Ajo rojo
Bavarian purple
Belarus
Brown tempest
Chesnok red
Early Italian
Elephant (actually a leek)
Georgian crystal
Inchilieum
Kilarney red
Lorz Italian
Mountain Carlos
Music
Nootka rose
Red neck wild
Red toch
Romanian red
Simonetti
Thermadrone
Transylvania

Did I mention no-till?

Aint God good!
Carl Wayne Hardeman

Victory Garden status 11-22-2011

Victory Garden status 11-22-2011

YTD 2,561 lbs + 46 + 382 + 1170 + 168 lbs = 4,327 lbs!!!! WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

Monday Nov 8, 2011, we picked 46 lbs turnip greens which volunteer angel Evelyn Talada delivered to the Memphis Food Bank.

Wednesday Nov 16, 2011, many volunteer angels picked 382 lbs (61 bags) of turnips and greens which I took to the Collierville Food Pantry.

Friday Nov 18, 2011, many volunteer angels picked 1,170 lbs (195 bags) of turnips and greens plus 10 bags donated by Jerry Lee of Piperton (not included in our lbs). These were taken to two inner city Memphis churches for distribution in Thanksgiving dinner boxes.

Monday Nov 21, 2011, many volunteer angels picked 168 lbs (56 bags of turnip greens leaves only). These were taken to the Fayette County distribution in Thanksgiving dinner boxes.

Next work days:

The garlic planting has been delayed until the ground dries out.

Of course any Master Gardener who needs volunteer hours can go over any time and start spreading 2 to 3 inches of leaves on the front 4 plots except for the front right plot where we want to plant garlic.

Aint God good!

Victory Garden status 11-01-2011

Victory Garden status 11-01-2011

YTD 2,467 lbs + 94 lbs today = 2,561 lbs!!!!

Monday Oct 31, 2011, I picked all the Korean turnips and 3 plastic bags of mustard greens and 2 plastic bags of turnip greens, some with nice turnips. Volunteer angel Evelyn Talada delivered all 94 pounds to the Memphis Food Bank.

Next work days:

Monday Nov 7 4-5pm for Memphis Food Bank. Goal is 20 plastic bags full.

Monday Nov 14 4-5:30 for Memphis Food Bank. 20 bags.

Wednesday Nov 16 4-5:30 for Collierville Food Pantry. Big harvest since this is the last time the Food Pantry is open before Thanksgiving. Carl has to leave at 5pm to go to work. Goal is about 80 plastic bags full.

Saturday November 19 7:30-9am. Large harvest for inner city food Memphis food basket program. Goal is all the remaining turnip greens.

Saturday November 26 we will plant garlic. Dave Fitzgerald is leading and planning this. Could use at least 6 people including some to spread the bags of leaves where the turnips will have been pulled up.

Aint God good!

Victory Garden status Oct 27, 2011

Victory Garden status 10-27-2011
Note picture shows the half taken to Collierville Food Pantry.

YTD 2,259 lbs + 208 lbs today = 2,467 lbs!!!!

Wednesday Oct 26, 2011, several volunteer angels picked about 17 bushels of mustard and turnip greens and a smattering of maters. Andrew took half to the Memphis Food Bank, and I took half to the Collierville Food Pantry.

Next work days:

Monday Oct 31 4-5pm for Memphis Food Bank. Goal is 20 plastic bags full.

Wednesday Nov 2 4-5:3pm for Collierville Food Pantry. Goal is 20 plastic bags. Need a coordinator since Carl has to work. Greens can be left for me to pick up and deliver the next morning.

Skip a week.

Monday Nov 14 4-5:30 for Memphis Food Bank. 20 bags.

Wednesday Nov 16 4-5:30 for Collierville Food Pantry. Big harvest since this is the last time the Food Pantry is open before Thanksgiving. Carl has to work. Coordinator needed.

Saturday November 18 7:30-9am. Large harvest for inner city food Memphis food basket program.

Aint God good!

Victory Garden status and next work days 10-24-2011

November will be a busy month. We are blessed with worlds of greens ready to pick. See November works schedule below. We also have been blessed recently with new volunteers and the good work Andrew and the youth group from Collierville Christian Church have done. Hall's Feed Store donated chive, basil, and Savoy cabbage plants. Cyndi dropped off a large donation of bags of leaves and grass clippings.

Victory Garden status 10-24-2011

YTD 2,009 lbs + 110 + 140 lbs this week = 2,259 lbs!!!!

A big beautiful week. PIX

Monday Oct 17 thirteen volunteers (angels) picked and trimmed 110 pounds of greens which Evelyn and Leon Talada took to MIFA.

Friday Oct 21 Andrew picked and took to MIFA all of the remaining Chinese lettuce 140 pounds.

Monday Oct 24 I mulched where the lettuce was and moved the sweet tater vines from the center aisle to behind the garden. They need taken to the dumpster.

Work Schedule for November:

Following are the scheduled work days thru November for the Victory Garden:

We will harvest Mondays 4-5:30PM for MIFA and Wednesdays 4-5:30PM for Collierville Food Pantry.

Wednesday November 16 is a big day as it is the last day to pick greens for the Food Pantry as they are closed the next week. We need a dozen or more volunteer angels.

We also will pick whatever greens are left (except rutabagas) Saturday November 19 8am for an inner city Memphis Thanksgiving food basket program.

Saturday November 26 we will plant garlic. Could use at least 6 to 8 people. Not sure of the time yet.

Also as soon as town tills the zinnia bed on Peterson Lake, we need to plant the Savoy cabbage sets donated by Halls Feed Store.

Aint God good!
CW

Victory Garden status 10-13-2011

Victory Garden status 10-13-2011

YTD 1,458 lbs + 453 + 42 + 56 lbs this week = 2,009 lbs!!!!

A big beautiful week. PIX
Connie picked and delivered zinnias to Apple Grove and Page Robbins. They were thrilled!
http://applegroveliving.com/
http://www.pagerobbins.org/

We gave Page Robbins $23 more from garlic sales. All garlic has been sold, waiting on payment for the last part.

I recognized the total sweet tater weight of 453 lbs this week and have begun taking it to the Food Pantry and Page Robbins some at a time.

Wednesday CW and I picked 42 lbs turnip greens and took to Page Robbins along with a bushel of sweet taters. We also picked 14 lbs Chinese lettuce and took to Apple Grove.

Thursday CW, Keltner, Barbara, Les, Peggy, Kay, and I picked 15 bags of turnip greens (42 lbs) and took 10 bags to Food Pantry along with big pile of sweet taters. We also picked 14 lbs of Chinese Cabbage and took them and 5 bags of turnip greens to Apple Grove.

Next work day is Monday Oct 17 4-6pm picking more greens for the Memphis Food Bank.

Aint God good!

Victory Garden status 10/11/11

Victory Garden status 10/11/11

YTD 1,313 lbs + 35 + 110 lbs this week = 1,458 lbs!!!

Thanks to Sharon Lusk for the work and donation to get our blog reregistered.
http://www.colliervillevictorygarden.org/

Thanks to Les and Peggy Risners and Jimmy Gafford for watering the garden last week.

Wednesday Oct 5, Les, Andrew, and I picked 14 bags 35 lbs turnip greens and took to the Food Pantry.

Sunday Oct 9, 2011 from Andrew, the CCC youth minister, and the youth group:
"We had 5 people pick 29 bags weighed in at 110 lbs by the Mid South Food Bank." YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

See pix of the Chinese cabbage (or is it lettuce) and the 4 beds of turnip greens which all need thinning.

We need several folks to pick greens Wed (for Page Robbins) and Thurs morning (Food Pantry) 7-8am. RSVP needed!!!!

I also will schedule 430-6 timeframe Wed afternoon if anyone lets me know that's when they can work.

Please RSVP if you can help.

PLEASE BRING PLASTIC BAGS.

Thanks,
Carl cell phone 485-6910

Victory Garden status Sep 30, 2011

Victory Garden status 9/30/11

YTD 1,238 lbs + 75 lbs this week = 1,313 lbs!!!

Link to pix

Monday Sep 26 our friend Hershel picked up and brought an entire pickup truck load of bags of grass. Somehas been spread in the middles, and rest needs spread.

Wednesday Sep 28:
Whit, Jimmy, and Carl conducted a tour of the garden for group from VA hospital.
Whit mowed.
Whit, the Duda family, and Carl dug the sweet taters. 423 lbs now curing in my garage. Will report that weight next week when I take them to the Food Pantry.

Thurday Sep 29:
Carl picked 11 crammed full WalMart bags of turnip greens by thinning 3 of the 10 rows in the early fall garden. About 5 bushels. 30 lbs.

Friday Sep 30:
Les, Peggy, and Carl planted Savoy cabbage and rutabagas where the sweet taters was and found another 30 lbs of orphant sweet taters. Also picked 6 bags of turnip greens 15 lbs and took them and the taters to some people south of the tracks.

We need to spread the remaining bags of grass into bare middles. And we need to move the tater vines behind the compost area. And water every 3 or 4 days.

Aint God good!
cw

Victory Garden status Sep 17, 2011

Victory Garden status 9/17/11

YTD 1238 lbs + 4 lbs onions this week = 1272 lbs!!!

Pic of fully planted and mostly mulched fall garden with sweet taters ready to dig.

Tuesday Sep 13 me, Chris Norris, Patt Hardaway, and Jimmy planted plot 6, mulched 12 bags of grass clippings into the middles, stored away some of the mater cages, and moved some of the pea and mater vines behind the storage area. I pulled 4 lbs of onions and took to the Food Pantry on Thursday.

Thursday the Rawlins Redbirds baseball team moved all the remaining piles of vines to the big pile in back, and I moved all remaining cages to storage.

Friday me, Whit, and CW planted all of plots 4 and 5 and mulched with 24 more bags of grass clippings, and peeked at the sweet taters and picked one nice big fat one.

The fall garden is completely planted except for some Swiss chard I will find a place for soon. When we harvest plot 2, we will plant the garlic garden there late November.

We have chinese lettuce and korean turnips and chantanay carrots and rutabagas and collards and mustard and lots and lots of turnips.

Halls Feed Store donated all the seeds and fertilizer for this week's planting. Mary Iberg donated a $25 speaking honorarium which was sent is for deposit in our bookkeeping account.

I am watering every 2 or 3 days. We need a light soaking rain.

Aint God good!
cw

Victory Garden status Sep 10, 2011 next wrok day Tuesday 5pm RSVP

Victory Garden status 9/10/11 Next Work Day Tuesday 9/13 5pm

YTD 1238 lbs + 30 lbs this week = 1268 lbs!!!

Saturday Sep 10, 2011 Sherry and Tony and moi cleaned out the rest of plot 4 and all of plots 5 and 6 and harvested 30 misc lbs and delivered them to Mrs Johnson south of the railroad tracks. Also spread mulch in middles of plot 3, and picked up another 12 bags of grass clippings to spread, and tilled lightly plots 5 and 6 to be ready for hilling and planting.

Pix

Next work day is 5pm on Tuesday. Please RSVP by email to me if you can help. WE NEED SEVERAL VOLUNTEERS for this one last planting push.

What needs done:
1. Hill up rows in plots 5 and 6 and smooth them.
2. Plant turnips: 2 1/2 inch furrows in each hill, sprinkle lightly Osmocote, sprinkle lightly liquid fertilizer, sprinkle lightly seeds, walk the rows for good seed to soil contact, water rows, and pray for the Good Lord to give the increase.
3. Plant carrot and rutabaga seeds in raised beds in plot 4 and outside row plot 2.
4. Move piles of vines to dumpster, not to exceed dumpster half full.
5. Mulch middles of all rows with the bags of grass clippings.

Aint God good!
Carl

Victory Garden status Sep 3, 2011

Victory Garden status 9/3/11 Next Work Day Tuesday 9/6 5pm

YTD 1209 lbs + 24 + 5 lbs this week = 1238 lbs!!!

Saturday Aug 27 Lou, Zoe, Les & Peggy & Emma, and I cleaned out plots 2 and 3. Whit had already made a big start on it and moved that to the dumpster.

Monday Aug 29 Peggy, Sherry, and Girl Scout Troop 55 cleaned out plot 4 and moved most of the detritus to the dumpster. We harvested 24 lbs and took to Mrs Johnson.

Tuesday I tilled plots 2 and 3.

Thursday In Sung and I planted greens in plot 3.

Friday I planted plot 2 turnip greens and picked 5 lbs and took to Mrs Johnson.

Friday the Good Lord watered it all real good.

Next to-do's:

1. Clean out all of plots 5 and 6 and the rest of plot 4 after the last few 'lopes are ready in a few days. Take all detritus to the dumpster.

2. Plant more greens in plots 4, 5, and 6.

I am excited about getting the fall garden going and harvesting the sweet taters in October.

Aint God good!

Victory Garden status 8/25/11 Next Work Day Sat 8-10am

YTD 1105 lbs + 60 + 24 + 4 + 16 lbs this week = 1209 lbs!!!

Thursday 8/16 Chris Norris and Peggy Risner picked 60 lbs of peas and cantaloupes and took to the Collierville Food Pantry.

Monday morning 8/22 In Sung and Carl picked 24 lbs of peas, peppers, maters, and lopes and took to Mrs Johnson south of the tracks.

Monday afternoon 8/22 Carl picked 4 lbs peas and delivered them and the $53 received to date for sale of garlic to Page Robbins. We have much more garlic for sale two for $1. See me or Jimmy.

Thursday morning 8/25 Carl picked 16 lbs lopes, maters, eggplants, peppers, and onions and delivered to the Food Pantry. Also Whit began the arduous process of pulling the spent pea vines by hisself.

Next work day is Saturday morning 8-10ish. We will continue to pull the spent pea vines and mater vines, hill up the exposed rows, and plant greens. We will do the rest of the vines in 2 or 3 weeks. RSVP to me if you can participate.

We will also pick peas next Monday morning 7am. RSVP to me if you can participate.

Aint God good!

Carl cell phone 485-6910

Victory Garden status 8/11/2011

YTD 980 lbs + 62 + 63 lbs this week = 1105 lbs!!!

This week pix: http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=776716199407%3A1656758482&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=Share-_-Personal-_-Email-_-Sharee-_-Top

YTD pix:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=476716199407%3A1849409504&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=Share-_-Personal-_-Email-_-Sharee-_-Top

Sunday Aug 7:
Carl and the Collierville Christian Church Youth Group picked 62 bs of peas and cantalopes which they delievered to the need on South St.

Thursday Aug 11:
Carl, Whit, Lou, and Chris picked 63 lbs of sweet peppers, peas, maters, bell peppers, eggplants, cantaloupes, and watermelons and took to the Dragonville Food Pantry.

Next work days are 645am Monday and Thursday next week. Monday's delivery needs to be taken to Page Robbins and Thursdays delivery to the Food Pantry.

We will begin in next couple of weeks pulling up some of the pea vines which have begun to dry up and start planting turnip greens for a fall garden.

Aint God good!
Carl

Victory Garden status 8/4/2011

Victory Garden status 8/4/2011

YTD 841 lbs + 35 + 104 lbs this week = 980 lbs!!!

Monday Aug 1:
Carl and In Sung picked 35 lbs of peas and a smattering of maters, cukes, aigplants, and peppers and took to Page Robbins. Due to extreme heat we are working early mornings for a while.

Thursday Aug 4:
Carl and Lou Marshall picked 104 lbs of cucumbumers, peas, maters, bell peppers, eggplant fruit, cantaloupe, and turnip greens and took to the Dragonville Food Pantry. I took the turnip greens to Frank & Juanita Fant. She is a life Master Gardener and they are almost shetins.

Next work day Monday 8/1 630-730AM to pick peas.

Eagle Scout candidate Bobby Sanchez has installed the posts for the fencing around the compost/storage area and will put up the side boards soon.

Aint God good!
cw

Victory Garden status 7/28/2011

Victory Garden status 7/28/2011

YTD 773 lbs + 68 lbs this week = 841 lbs!!!

Sunday July 24:
Me and the Collierville Christian Church youth group did some clean up and picked 15 lbs of peas, cucumbumers, sugar baby watermelons, and bell peppers and delivered to Mrs Johnson on South st.

Thursday July 28:
Me, Peggy and Whit picked 53 lbs of cucumbumers, peas, squarsh, maters, bell peppers, eggplant fruit, a cantaloupe, and 2 sugar baby watermelons, and took to the Dragonville Food Pantry.

Next work day Monday 8/1 5-7pm to pick peas.

Intern Chris Norris has been doing a lot of weeding and watering this week and putting a load of rotted manure on the compost pile.

Eagle Scout candidate Bobby Sanchez will complete the fencing around the compost/storage area on Sunday.

Aint God good!
cw

Victory Garden status 7/21/2011

Victory Garden status 7/21/2011

YTD 725 lbs + 48 lbs today = 773 lbs!!!

Friday July 15:
Me, Chris (intern) and Whit picked 6 lbs of peas, maters, and cucumbumers and took to Page Robbins.

Monday July 18:
Me, Carol Pope, Peggy Risner, and Jim Orask picked 24 lbs of peas, cucumbumers, and bell peppers and delivered to Mrs Johnson south of the tracks.

Thursday July 21:
Me, Peggy, Lou Marshall (intern), and In Sung picked 18 lbs of cucumbumers, peas, cucumbers, maters, bell peppers, sweet peppers, and bush baby watermelons, and took to the Dragonville Food Pantry.

Next work day Monday 7/25 5-7pm to pick peas.

Intern Lou Marshall will be doing watering and weeding every 3 days for the next couple of weeks.

Aint God good!!!

Victory Garden status 7/14/2011

Victory Garden status 7/14/2011

YTD 711 lbs + 14 lbs today = 725 lbs!!!

Monday July 11:
Carl and Jim (intern) weeded and watered and picked 6 lbs of tomatoes and peas.

Thursday July 14:
Carl picked 8 lbs of cucumbers, peas, cucumbers, and a squash.

All produce this week was delivered to Mrs Johnson south of the tracks.

I plan to pick plot 2 peas (middle left(south) plot) Friday morning 630-730 and take them to Page Robbins.

Next work day Monday 7/18 5-7pm if the weather is 95 degrees or less.

If you plan to work Friday morning 630-730 am or Monday afternoon 5-7 pm, please let me know by email or cell phone 485-6910. We will not work Monday if temp > 95 degrees, but instead will work 630-800 Tuesday morning. Gotta keep them maters, peas, and cukes picked!

Thanks,
Carl

VG status 7-7-11 next work day mon 7-11 5-7

Victory Garden status 7/7/2011

YTD 687 lbs + 24 lbs today = 711 lbs!!!

Pix

Tuesday July 5:
Carl, Les, Blake, and Irene staked and caged most of the maters and planted carrot seeds and turnip green seeds in the empty spaces in plot 6. Picked a few maters, and retrieved the bucket of cucumbers Janet picked.


Thursday July 7:
Carl pulled barrel of weeds and harvested 24 lbs (tare) cucumbers, maters, bell peppers, top pick purple hull peas, and 1 spaghetti squash, and took to the Food Pantry. I magine we will pick lots of peas on Thursdays from now on. I hope so.

Work needed done next Monday July 11 5-7pm:
Always weeding and watering.
Apply fish emulsion fertilizer to raised beds in plot 4.
Cover weeds in the aisle between plots 1 and 4 with tarp from behind the stockade.

Aint God good!
cw

Victory Garden status 6/30/2011 next work day TUESDAY July 5 5-7pm

Victory Garden status 6/30/2011

YTD 666 lbs + 21 lbs today = 687 lbs!!!

Pix



Monday June 27:

Linda Faile and Zoe (? but I recognize her expert work) finished pulling the weeds from the last two tater rows and hilled them up nicely. They also did more hand weeding and mulching.

Thursday June 30:
Carl and Mimi (intern) harvested maters and gorgeous red cabbages and took them and the new found taters to the Food Pantry. Also finished mulching plot 3 and most of plot 6 and took two wagon loads and 2 barrels full of weeds and trash to the dunpster.

Since next Monday is July 4th, we will work Tuesday July 5th from 5-7pm. All we need to do is to finish mulching plots 1 and 5 and plant peas in the last 2 tater rows and take two more loads of weeds and to the dumpster.

We continue to look for a place to have a garlic themed dinner with net proceeds to charity. Garlic at the CFM this morning was selling for $4 pound.

Aint God good!!!
Carl

Victory Garden status 6/23/2011

Victory Garden status 6/23/2011

YTD 577 lbs + 89 lbs today = 666 lbs!!!

Pix

Monday June 20:
Carl, Peg, Mimi (intern) and Zoe pulled weeds and prepared the beds and planted peas where we dug potatoes and carrots last Thursday. That morning CW Doss applied granular nitrogen to the whole garden. Tuesday AM Carl watered the garden thereby bringing on the heavy rain that afternoon. You're welcome.

Thursday June 23:
Carl, Jamie ?, and Emma Jean Bass (intern) dug the last 2 rows of taters (74 lbs).
Also cut last few green cabbages, picked some green maters, and one huge volunteer turnip and took to the Food Pantry.

Dave Fitzgerald has sorted the garlic, saved next years seed bulbs, and tied up the rest in his garage. He must have a super tolerant wife!

Next work day Monday June 28 5-7pm.
Plan is to clean out, hill up, and plant peas in the two rows we dug taters this morning, and to continue to spread grass clippings on every inch of bare ground.

Anyone have a place big enough for a charity garlic dinner on a Saturday? Remember the building will smell like garlic for a few days.

Aint God good!!

cw

Victory Garden status 6/16/2011

Victory Garden status 6/16/2011

YTD 429 lbs + 148 lbs today = 577 lbs!!!

Pix

Monday June 13, 2011:
Carl, Janene, Martha G and Eric:
Planted peas where the garlic was.
Mulched plot 3 with bags of grass.
Germantown church of Christ youth group:
Mulched the raised beds and rear cross walk.

Wednesday Whit and Carl conducted tour for the Apple Grove staff.

Thursday:
Carl, CW Doss, Peg and Emma:
Harvested 3 rows of taters (74 lbs), all the rest of the carrots (70 lbs) and 4 pounds of maters, cabbages, and a squarsh.
Took it all to the Food Pantry.

Monday work plan 5-7pm:
Plant peas where the 3 rows of taters and the carrots were.

cw

Victory Garden status and work day Monday 6/13/2011

On Saturday morning In Sung, Wes, and moi:

Picked up 3 Bluebird's full of grass clippings.
Mulched most of the rest of the garden.
(Monday 6/13 6:15 Herschel brought pickup truckload of grass clippings. YEAH!)
Weeded and watered.
Planted 12 more tomato plants, replanted pea skips and sweet tater skips.
Harvested 65 more lbs beautiful garlic total of 235 lbs. The Red Toch's are amazing!

I watered 1 and 4, and 3 and 6 thoroughly this morning.

CA article on Victory Garden garlic:
http://memphisareamastergardeners.org/28/1203/album.html
I am still trying to arrange garlic themed garlic dinner to benefit Page Robbins.

Wednesday morning at 9am we have a tour of folks from Apple Grove Alzheimer's and Dementia Residence. Leader is Leigh Hendry .

Monday tonight's goals:
Plant/fertilize/water peas where the garlic was in plot 3. One row in outside bed and one row in bed next to the asparagus and two rows in the middle.
Water the outside rows of all plots where the hoses don't reach well.
Water plots 2 and 4 by hand.
Always put or smother with grass any weeds you see.
Apply grass clippings mulch to the raised beds and around the sweet taters in plot 1 and outside row in plot 1.

Later this week:
Spray liquid MiracleGro on everything.
Apply nitrogen on everything. Fill empty Osmocote shaker bottles and shake over each plant about a spoonful per plant.
Run sprinklers on front 2 and back 2 plots MWF and middle plots TTS for 2 hours.

Thursday morning early 6:30 until 8:00AM dig/pull two rows of red potatoes and all remaining carrots and take to the Food Pantry.
Then plant crowder peas (2 rows each bed) in those empty places.

---the end---

Victory Garden status 6/9/2011

Victory Garden status 6/9/2011

YTD 395 lbs + 34 lbs today = 429 lbs!!!

Pix

Monday June 6, 2011 Carl, Eric Reed, Les, Whit, Zoe, Martha Garner, Linda Faile, and In Sung:

Gathered 26 bags of grass clippings and attacked with hoes and the grass clippings.

Planted 100 each Beauregard and Porto Rico sweet tater slips and walked and watered them in.

Janet showed me how to use our hose on the rear spigot. Since there are timers on two of the spigots, do not turn the water off on them by pulling down the lever.

Whit watered the back two plots thoroughly and repaired the wheelbarrow.

Jeff aired up the tires on the wagon.

I watered the middle two plots on Wednesday.

Today I harvested about 1/3 carrots and some cabbages for total 34 lbs and took to the Food Pantry. I watered and weeded all of the front 2 plots.

Next work is Saturday morning 8am to harvest rest of the beautiful garlic.

cw

Victory Garden status 6/2/2011

Victory Garden status 6-2-2011

Victory Garden harvest Thursday.
YTD 309 lbs + 86 lbs today = 395 lbs!!! (28 lbs onions were in last total)

Pix

Jimmy and I picked cabbages, carrots, beets, cauliflower, broccoli, kale, and chard and along with the 28 lbs of onions picked on Monday took all 114 lbs to the Food Pantry this morning.

We also planted 11 more pepper plants and 2 Mortgage Lifter mater plants.

I have 200 sweet taters to plant this weekend.
We need 50-60 bags of grass clippings to mulch the rest of the garden.
We need to put the cages from the storage area over the tomato plants.

We picked 170 lbs of garlic. Some were huge. Still 1/3 to go as well and 2/3 of the carrots and 1/2 the cabbages. The garlic are drying in Dave Fitzgerld's garage. He must have a very tolerant wife. I have not added the garlic into our YTD total yet.

cw

Victory Garden status 5-28-2011

Victory Garden harvest Thursday.
YTD 251 lbs + 12 lbs Monday + 18 lbs Thursday + 28 lbs today = 309 lbs!!!

The Crosswinds Roots and Shoots Club and Ms McGee limed and put fish emulsion plot 4 raised beds and picked 12 lbs of sweet peas on Monday which I took to Page Robbins.

Thursday I picked 14 lbs of onions and 4 lbs of chard and beets and took to the Food Pantry. Today I picked 28 lbs of Texas sweet yellow onions and will take on Thursday to the Food Pantry.

Link to today's pix. X

YTD pix link: XX

Today In Sung and I got it all the seedlings planted this morning. In Sung works very hard and expertly.

We planted and watered and fertilized 20 tomato plants, 12 squash, 12 bush cucumbers, 49 bell/jalapeno/cubanelle peppers, 6 spagetty squash, 4 icebox watermelons, and 11 cantaloupes. Harvested 28 lbs of peppers to dry out in garage till Thursday. We mulched one row of peppers with 2 bags of grass someone had left.

Whit had mowed and it looks so nice.

Wes will move the much this weekend ino the 2 unplanted raised beds.

Things to do this week:

garlic pulling party Monday 2pm!

pull weeds everywhere.

move last wheelbarrow of leaves and the mulch into the 2 unplanted raised beds. (wes)

hoe/weed the peas.

pick the sweetpeas.

get about 50 bags of leaved to mulch all middles and around all plants. see plot 6 aisle row as an example.

get all the weeds out of plot 1 to prep for sweet taters next week. OK to pull/hoe/till since lots of weeds.

cw

Harvest Thursday May 19, 2011

Victory Garden harvest Thursday May 19 2011

YTD 239 lbs + 5 lbs Monday + 7 lbs today = 251 lbs!!!

Candice and I picked 7 lbs chard, radishes, onions, and some scrawny carrots. I took them to the Food Pantry.

Wednesday Jimmy conducted a tour for a group from the VA Hospital.

Today we sponsored an Ask-A-Master-Gardener booth at the YMCA Senior Expo Fair.

Next work day, Lord willing, we will get the last of the leaves and dirt into the raised beds and set out transplants: squash, cucumber, cantalope, peppers, and tomatoes. That is Monday May 23 from 5-7pm.

Be there or be square. :)
cw

Victory Garden work and harvest 5/16/2011

Monday May 16, 2011, Carl, Whit & Jan, Martha, Candice, and two more ladies:

- Planted 2 more beds (4 rows) of purple hull peas.
- Mowed.
- Did a lot of weeding.
- Applied organic spray to potato plants.
- Continued moving leaves and dirt into raised beds in addition to what Wes had already done this past weekend.
- Dave Fitzgerald hilled up two of the rows of potatoes on Saturday.
- Harvested about 4 pounds sweet peas. Will take to Page Robbins Tuesday.
- Harvested about a pound of garlic scapes.

Will harvest kale, chard, onions, sweet peas Thursday morning 7am for the Food Pantry.

Tom Mashour donated sveral more tomato plants and a large number of pepper plants which we will plant next Monday eveing.

We need lots of bag of grass to completely mulch the garden deeply and to filling the raised beds.

Thanks,
Carl

Victory Garden harvest Thursday May 12 2011

YTD 203 lbs + 36 lbs (tare) today = 239 lbs!!!
Link to pix.

The pix include various shots of the garden plus a family who toured the garden plus the Stanfords ((l-r) Sophia, Aidan, Susan, and Grayson) who helped harvest 36 lbs of onions, broccoli, sweetpeas, reddishes, and turnips this morning which I took to the Food Pantry.

We only have 4 broccoli plants and one had started to bolt. We got the onions (about a tenth) that had begun to flower. We got all the rest of the reddishes (yes I can spell but am Southren), and turnip greens.

Our new purplehull peas have sprouted.

We plan to work in the garden Monday 5-7pm. We will plant more rows of purplehull peas, do some weeding, and continue putting organic material (bring bags of leaves and grass) and dirt into the new raised beds. Come join us and have fun!!!

cw

Victory Garden harvest for the Food Pantry 5-12-2011

YTD 203 lbs + 36 lbs (tare) today = 239 lbs!!!
Link to pix.

The pix include various shots of the garden plus a family who toured the garden plus the Stanfords ((l-r) Sophia, Aidan, Susan, and Grayson) who helped harvest 36 lbs of onions, broccoli, sweetpeas, reddishes, and turnips this morning which I took to the Food Pantry.

We only have 4 broccoli plants and one had started to bolt. We got the onions (about a tenth) that had begun to flower. We got all the rest of the reddishes (yes I can spell but am Southren), and turnip greens.

Our new purplehull peas have sprouted.

We plan to work in the garden Monday 5-7pm. We will plant more rows of purplehull peas, do some weeding, and continue putting organic material (bring bags of leaves and grass) and dirt into the new raised beds. Come join us and have fun!!!

cw

Victory Garden Work and Harvest 5/7 & 9/2011

YTD production= 186 lbs + 12 lbs last week + 5 lbs this week = 203 lbs.

Saturday May 7 and Monday May 9, 2011, interns Rita and Candice, the Crosswind Elementary School Roots & Shoots Club, me, Les, Peg, Whit, Wes and Girl Scout troop moms and girls: (hope I did not leave anyone out)

mowed and edged.
moved some of the dirt to raised beds.
moved most of the leaves to the raised beds.
hand weeded.
harvested sweet peas and reddishes and took to Page Robbins.
planted 25 beauregard and 25 porto rico sweet tater plants.
planted 2 rows top pick purple hull peas.
planted 4 rows pinkeye purple hull peas.
planted 8 better boy maters.
planted burpee slicing cucumbers and yellow straightneck squash between the maters.
planted marigold plants tween the maters.
planted white marigold seeds in aisle side plot 6.
planted 8 CA wonder green bell pepper and 4 black beauty eggplants in plot 6.
put Carbon Boost and catfish emulsion and osmocote in holes where everything was planted.
provided product of modern chemistry on bug infested taters.
watered all new plants (Monday).
reapplied poison on the ant hill.
conducted tour for Jim Townsend, Farm Manager, Binghampton Community Garden.

broccoli is almost ready to pick.

all plants donated by halls feed and bonnie farms.

Thursday 7am I will harvest some onions, sweet peas, reddishes, and all the greens and take to the Food Pantry.

We found an adult rabbit head in plot 1 today, and the rear spigot had been disassembled and reattached leaving most of the hardware on the ground.

We NEED to front wheel of the wheel barrow fixed and the rear spigot reassembled.

Next Monday we plant remaining rows in plots 1 and 2 with purple hull peas, and continue moving dirt into the raised beds so we can put more plants in them.

Aint God good!!!

.

Victory Garden 5-5-11

See the pix of todays harvest and a new zinnia bed my family is creating in a median on Peterson lake Rd. PIX Link

Today I picked 12 lbs of kale, chard, reddishes, and buttercrunch lettuce and took to the Collierville Food Pantry.

Saturday 2-4:30 and Monday 5-7pm are BIG work days at the garden. We need everyone to be there and get the garden recovered from the torrential rains and plant the summer garden.

My cell phone 485-6910.

Muching, tilling, picking, and grinning

We continue to have a highly productive Spring garden. Our taters are starting to poke they noses into the air. The asparagus have tall spears (promise of a huge harvest next year). The garlic are gigantic (hope the bulbs are too). We have lettuce and chard big enough to eat. And the sweet peas, onions, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbages, carrots, beets, radishes, and kale are thriving, as well as the new seven mater plants and one eggplant we set out yesterday. Friday Jeff and Jimmy and moi and a young man from the neighborhood tilled the middles in plot 2 and we pulled the new humus onto the raised beds. Yesterday Carol Pope, moi, and Ms McGee's Roots and Shoots club from Crosswind Elementary School thinned the carrots and beets and radishes, planted the maters and eggplant, and mulched the middles of plot 2. We got a nice mess of smallish but beautiful Red Radishes when we thinned them. See pix: 2011 year-to-date pix: Dr John Bradley donated several gallons of fish emulsion and all the Carbon Boost we need. The fish emulsion is processed so as to have minimum odor. Susan Stanford and Aidan raised $304 for us at his birthday party. What a creative idea! A man donated several bags of nitrogen fertilizer which we can certainly put to good use. Eagle Scout candidates continue to contribute mightily to our infrastructure. Next project is installing wood sided raised beds in plots 1 and 4 by the first of May. Halls Feed Store donated all the liquid fertilizer we will need this year, and they and Bonnie Farms are donating the plants we will set out April 25. We are so blessed! Next work day is Monday April 25 5-7pm as I will be out of town on business all next week. We will plant, Lord willing, purple hull peas, cucumbers, squash, more maters, and more eggplants. Things that need done and can be done by any good souls any time: 1. Mulch plots 2 and 6 with leaves from the leaf pile (or from the walking paths) until they are as high as the raised beds. 2. Till or rake or whatever plots 1 and 4 in preparation for building the raised beds therein. This is the highest priority. For reference the plots on the left/south side are numbered 1-3 starting at the back/west end and the right/north side are numbered 4-6 starting also at the back/west end. Ain't God good! cw

Work day annoucement for Monday April 4, 2011

We are now in a cycle of working Monday evenings from 5 till 7pm. This Monday April 4 is special as Aidan Stanford's birthday party will be there. They will do some work and plant sunflower seeds. I love seeing children learning and loving gardening. What all needs done: 1. Remove all of the leaves from the back two plots (1 and 4) so the Eagle Scout candidate can build the raised/irrigated wooden-sided beds. 2. Thin the carrots/beets/chard in plot 6 to an inch apart. 3. Build up the raised beds in plot 2 in preparation for planting purple hull peas there Monday April 11 which happens to match the right phase of the moon. 4. Hand weed as needed. 5. Apply the row cover film over the rows in plot 6 to prevent bugs but allow sunshine and water in. THANKS!

Veggie Garden report for Monday March 28 2011

I met with the Junior Girl Scout Troop frm Collierville United Methodist Church mo Monday March 28, 2011. They did some heavy mulching of the middles of plot 6 and started the removal of leaves from plot 4. We also had fun planting kale seeds. They worked hard and did a super job and we hope they come back more often.

WE HAVE ASPARAGUS! and next work day monday 3/28 5-7pm

We have new asparagus spears this morning. Aint God and Jim Holland AWESOME!

http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=542156828407%3A921843284&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=eMail-_-Share-_-Photos-_-Sharee

And beautiful iris and strawberry and jonquil flowers. And almost all new seedlings are up except the ones we just planted on Monday night.

And two new wooden storage bins masterfully designed and built by an Eagle Scout candidate. The south one (left side) is for the veggie garden. I put our hoe and rake and garden fork in it as well as two rubber containers for garden tools and supplies. I will get a lock and will give the combo with anyone who wants/needs to know it. Also let me know what other tools and supplies to get and put in there.

Next work day is Monday March 28 5-7pm. We will weed and continue moving leaves from plots 1 and 4 so the Eagle Scout candidate can build wood-sided raised beds in them.

We will begin planting the summer garden on Monday evenings beginning April 11 as the moon sign will be just right (waxing). Halls Feed Store and Bonnie Farms are making a generous donation of whatever veggies plants we need.

Dr John Bradley and FBSciences.com in Collierville made a generous donation of their Carbon Boost product to us and the Master Gardener PAR gardens. It has been a major reason we have been growing large delicious produce the last two years. It is an all natural carbon-based enzyme product which is a fertilizer enhancer. Everything we have planted to date has had the benefit of Osmocote, Carbon Boost, and Green-Tek Total minerals. Dr Bradley is in Africa this week working on an trial for growing millet in depleted soil in drought conditions. Amazing results so far. Truly FBSciences and modern ag science is making giant strides in helping the hungry of the world to feed themselves.

All the seedlings are up except for the ones planted last Monday night - need a few more days of warm weather.

I have OUR copy of Dirt, the Movie which is available for your home or group viewing. We have an unlimited screening license.

WOW! Aint this fun!

Victory Garden Plant and Harvest March 21, 2011

Victory Garden PLant and Harvest March 21, 2011.

Wes and his daughter, Tom, Dave, Whit, Larry, Martha and Nate, Brenda, Les, Peg, Twila, and moi: (did I leave out anyone?)

Planted 30 lbs of taters and interplanted them with more onions to maximize use of space.
Moved the leaves off plot 2.
Moved the black plastic from 4 onto 2.
The red Kennebec taters are in the middle 4 rows of plot 4 and the inside row of plot 2.
Transplanted the carrot and radish and beet seedlings into the inside row of plot 4 and transplanted and planted sunflower seedlings and seed.
All the rows of carrot/beet/chard/radish/sweetpea seeds have sprouted.
Began moving the leaves off plots 1 and 3 in preparation for the Eagle Scout raised bed project in those plots.
Harvested 25 lbs of collard greens, winter onions, and a few free range turnips and delivered to Mrs Johnson on South St.
We recognize we are playing a game of BLINK with Mother Nature since the latest ever killing frost reoccurred on April 15, 2008.
Mowed and did weedeating last week.

Pix:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=121833628407%3A1192753337&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=eMail-_-Share-_-Photos-_-Sharee

YTD production= 161 lbs + 25 lbs today = 186 lbs.

We continue to be blessed by Hall's Feed Store as they and Les Brannum of Bonnie Farms have offered to donate whatever plants we need. I have asked for tomatoes (Better Boy and Bonnie Hybrid), yellow crookneck squash, and Burpee slicing cucumbers.

Next work day is 5pm Monday May 28. We will do whatever weeding needs done, plant any skips, and continue to move the leaves off the two end plots (1 and 4) and hill up the beds in plot 2 (middle left side where the plastic is). I envision us planting plot 2 with purplehull peas Monday April 4 amd if the warm weather holds, also tomatoes along to outside row of plots 5 and 6 interplanted with squash and cucumbers.

Our new tool boxes are beautiful and will be ready to use when the hardware is attached.

We decided to turn down the offer of 2 bee hives to be installed and serviced by local beekeepers, due to concerns with neighbors.

We conducted 3 tours total 60 children from the YMCA last Wednesday. I spoke to the Life Skills Class at MIFA on Wednesday evening and at the Collierville Library Saturday noon. I will be speaking at the Union County MS Spring Garden Show this Saturday and at the Master Gardener Spring Fling Friday April 1 and Memphis Botanical Garden April 7. Also advising on startup of several new gardens.

Aint God good!!!

Tater planting party Monday March 21 5-7pm

RSVP to me at mymaters@yahoo.com if you can help with a potato planting party on Monday March 21 from 5-7pm.

We will plant potato sets, do some weeding by hand if needed, plant seeds where they did not sprout, and move leaves from the pile to the middles on plots 3, 5, and 6.

Thanks,

Carl Wayne Hardeman 485-6910 cell phone

Victory Garden more Spring planting March 4 & 7 2011

See pix:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=284250018407%3A904921898&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=eMail-_-Share-_-Photos-_-Sharee

We are taking a chance with Mother Nature and forging ahead planting our Spring Victory Garden. In addition to the lettuce and cabbages and sweet peas and onions planted earlier and the beautiful garlic:

Friday March 4 Tom Sullivan, Peggy Riser, and I planted 12 red cabbge plants, 6 broccoli plants, and 6 cauliflower plants - in the rain. We noted the sweet peas are coming up.

Monday March 7 In Sung, Jim Holland, Tom Sullivan, Jan & Whit Whitacre, the Crosswind Elementary School Roots & Shoots Club (students, Ms McGee and parents), and I planted 30 asparagus plants and six 32 foot rows (two raised beds) of carrot, beet, and radish seeds. We applied bone meal to the asparagus and Osmocote and Carbon Boost in the seeds furrows.

The children were eager and a HUGE help and did all the seed beds work and planting. They loved the last step when we walk the rows to make good seed-to-soil contact.

Jim Holland is leading the asparagus experiment. We planted 10 heirloom Mary Washington sets and 20 Jersey Hybrid Supreme Giant plants in four 32 foot long rows (two raised beds). Jim said they were huge with roots about 18 inches long. We'll have asparagus next year, Lord willing and the creek don't rise.

Hopefully tonight's storm will be gentle on us and the warm days expected the next week will help the seeds sprout. We planted and the Good Lord and Mother Nature will give the increase.

Also I signed an agreement with Eagle Scout candidate Jon Reesman to build wood sided raised beds in plots 1 and 4 and install soaker hose irrigation.

This is so much fun!

Victory Garden veggie garden status 2/19/2011

Victory Garden veggie garden status Saturday Feb 19, 2011:

We were blessed with beautiful weather and a fine group of hard working people including two new volunteers: Kim and Bob.

We were also blessed with a donation of beautiful Bonnie Farms cabbages, lettuce, and onions by the good folks at Halls Feed Store in Collierville. They have everything you need and at the right price!!!

Volunteers included moi, Roy and Wendell from Church of the Epiphany, Paul Hayes of Germantown church of Christ, Kim and Bob, Les and Peg and Luke, Sue, Brenda, Wes, Dave, and Jennifer.

I am thrilled that we are having a part in helping others start a Victory Garden including the two above, a church in Ga (via email), the Union County MS Master gardeners, and possibly two more.

This morning we spread another 50 lbs of nitrogen on the carbon (leaves) mulch. We hilled up the raised beds in plots 5 and 6. We mulched the collards in plot 5. We put black plastic down in plot 6 and planted 60 Texas sweet onion sets, 60 Georgia sweet onion sets, 1/2 flat Dutch flat cabbage, 1/2 flat Bonnie hybrid cabbage, 1/2 flat Romaine lettuce, 1/2 flat Butter Crunch lettuce, and three varieties of sweet peas: little marvel, early Alaskan, and Wando. Hope it rains tonight to help the plants' little toes get set in the ground.

Plot 5 will be planted in red potatoes. Dave Fitzgerald is leading this as well as the garlic crop.

We need, maybe next Saturday morning, to hill up and put down black plastic in plot 2 and the non-garlic half of plot 3. The garlic are beautiful and have doubled in size this past week after Dave applied organic nitrogen (blood meal).

Plots 1 and 4 will be turned into wood sided raised beds and drip irrigation by an Eagle Scout candidate. Another blessing!

I planted seeds at home for us: detroit red beets, red radishes, chard, and chantenay and danvers carrots. I have enough extra seeds to put in plot 6 directly in the ground first Saturday after St Paddy's Day.

Link to pix of garlic and today's planting:

http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=692317097407%3A1872317805&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=eMail-_-Share-_-Photos-_-Sharee

Thanks,
cw

Status and work day annoucement for 2/19

The Victory Garden is now blessed with 105 names on the email list. If you would like your name removed from this list, just let me know.

We hope to see most of you some time this year working in the garden.

YOU MUST SIGN and turn in to me or Joan Hermann a copy of the liability release document BEFORE you work in the garden, then I will co-sign it. This must be done each year and is part of our agreement with the good people of Collierville Christian Church.

Reminder our web site is: http://www.colliervillevictorygarden.org/ where all these status updates are posted.

I will be giving a status update to Collierville Christian Church 6pm on Wednesday Feb 23. All are welcome but contact the church office so they will know to have enough food since this is during their fellowship meal.

Halls Feed Store in Collierville has made a very generous donation of $100 in supplies. I used $21.80 of that today for seeds and Osmocote. I also bought more seeds and black plastic ($60.03) at Russells this morning since Halls did not have those particular items. This is in addition to the $32.75 for 33-0-0 nitrogen (green) to mix in with the carbon leaves (brown), and $14.19 for the blood meal (nitrogen) which Dave Fitzgerald applied to our beautiful garlic patch last weekend.

Flower Team: Do you need helping moving the last pile of leaves somewhere? Where?

RSVP to me if you can work in the garden this Saturday Feb 19.
Come and leave anytime during 9am-noon.

Bring gloves and liquid refreshment and a hoe, yard rake, garden rake, and/or shovel.
We will rebuild the raised beds but not by a lot of digging like last year.
We also will plant sweet peas since the traditional date for that is St Valentines Day.
We will also put down black plastic to warm the soil for the March 19 St Paddy's Day planting of beets, carrots, kale, chard, turnips, potatoes, cabbages, and onions.

Thanks!
Carl Wayne Hardeman cell 485-6910 email:mymaters@yahoo.com

Garden laid by for the winter Jan 8, 2011

Victory Garden Sleeps For the Winter Jan 8, 2011

“…I got a peaceful easy feeling…” ~ The Eagles

We laid by the Victory Garden on Saturday with a foot thick layer of ground up leaves, and Sunday, Mother Nature covered it with a half foot of snow. The garden has been put to bed for the winter. I have a peaceful easy feeling this morning.

Snow is both Mother Nature’s insulation from bitter cold expected this week and a drip irrigation system letting water slowly seep into the ground.

We finished the last winter harvest for the year just before mulching the garden. We pulled turnips and rutabagas to give to the Food Pantry and some lovely elderly ladies who live south of the tracks. This beautiful sustainable garden consists entirely of raised beds of loose dark humus made of in_place composted Dragonville leaves and grass.

While hidden from our eyes, the garden lives on. The thirty-one varieties of garlic, the yellow onions, and collards, will bring new bounty in spring. The collards already have new small leaves.

We were blessed in 2010 with a bounty of 3,666 lbs of fresh tasty produce grown sustainably and all donated to the needy. We have begun 2011 with 161 lbs.

We have been blessed seeing the joy of many children helping and learning in the garden. Status reports and links to pictures: http://www.colliervillevictorygarden.org/
The lady with the rutabagas is Somer Greene, VP Community Service Hutchison School.

We were blessed by the good people of Collierville Christian Church for letting us use their property and generously supporting us with infrastructure and valuable water. And we were blessed by a generous donor who took care of our funding needs for the near future.

We are honored having been designated a Tennessee Demonstration Garden. We are open 24 X 7 X 365 and have walking paths. You can schedule a tour by contacting me or go on your own. There is always something worth seeing.

We volunteers are already planning the early spring garden. We need and welcome more volunteers, both novice and experienced. Our primary objectives are education and demonstration of sustainable practices, providing fresh produce to the needy, propagating and raising landscaping plants for Habitat For Humanity, and having fun.

Lord willing we will work Saturday mornings in mid March and mid April planting the spring garden and the summer garden. Come join in the fun and receive the greater blessing of giving.

Aint God good!

Carl Wayne Hardeman mymaters@yahoo.com 901-485-6910

Victory Garden mulch and final winter harvest Jan 8, 2011

Victory Garden Jan 8, 2011:

We welcomed Terri(sp?) and Somer Greene of the Hutchison School who will be putting in a garden at that school.

Carl, Whit, Wes, Zoe, Jack, Les, Peg, Terri, Somer, and Larry:

Finished mulching the garden a foot deep. Used 2 piles of mulched leaves. Left the 3rd for the HFH/Flower Team.

We harvested the last of the turnips 18 lbs and rutabagas 80 lbs for a total of 98 lbs which I delivered to Ms Julia Ferguson in Harris Cv south of the tracks.

YTD 2011 total 161 lbs.

Kodak gallery VG2011:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=723315047407%3A980645892&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=eMail-_-Share-_-Photos-_-Sharee

Next Saturday Jan 15 9am - 1pm is open garden tour for the HFH/Flower Team, but feel free to come any or all of that time to show the veggie garden and earn required education_given Master Gardener volunteer hours.

Also on Saturday, weather permitting, I have my spreader and 100 lbs of Super Green (with sulfur) 33-0-0 to add nitrogen (green) to the leaves (brown, carbon) which is necessary for composting, and to bring down our 7-7.2 pH which needs to be in the 6.5 to 6.8 range.

We are blessed!
cw

Victory Garden harvest Jan 4, 2011

Victory Garden harvest Jan 4, 2011:

I harvested 13 lbs cabbages and 27 lbs turnips (discarded the greens) and 23 lbs rutabagas for a total of 63 lbs which I will deliver to the Food Pantry on Thursday morning.

YTD 2011 total 63 lbs.

Kodak gallery VG2011:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=592820637407%3A239269843&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=eMail-_-Share-_-Photos-_-Sharee

I will pick more turnips and rutabagase next Wednesday 4pm.

We are blessed!
cw

Victory Garden: getting started in 2011

Carl Wayne Hardeman is chairman and Joan Hermann is vice chairman for the Victory Garden for 2011. We are always looking for more board volunteers and volunteers in general. We try to operate informally by email and by consensus. Your input is more than welcome. We are helping each other grow.

We harvested 3,666 pounds of fresh produce in 2010 and donated all to charity, principally the Collierville Food Pantry. We keep a simple horticulture plan to match the needs and wants of their clients, so total weight is not our primary objective. We report annually the total weight to the Garden Writers Association Plant-A-Row (for the needy) project.

Martha Pauley is our liaison with the good people of Collierville Christian Church. They supply us with the garden space, water, various infrastructure improvements, and lots of prayer and encouragement.
Their requirements are:
1) we keep the garden safe and neat and amenable to the property neighbors,
2) be good citizens of the town and compliant with all town codes, and
3) every volunteer complete annually before working in the garden the attached liability release form. Print out and sign and bring them to me or Martha for filing and our signature. This is the same form required for doing Habitat For Humanity work.

We are a part of the non profit Memphis Area Master Gardeners Association and a State of TN demonstration garden. Donations can be made to the MAMGA and earmarked for the Victory Garden. We are a CORE project which means any volunteers who are a Master Gardener, not a requirement, get official credit for their required annual volunteer hours. We have approximately $2,200 in funds, which is more than we need or use in one or two years unless we get very ambitious.

Our objectives include:
- Demonstration of sustainable gardening practices:
- Limited tilling.
- Limited fertilizer (nitrogen).
- Limited insecticides (squash and cucumbers).
- Integrated pest management.
- Companion plants.
- Intensive planting.
- Year long gardening.
- Raised beds.
- Heavy mulch.
- Education via tours and novice volunteers.
- Provide fresh produce to the needy.
- Have fun.

We have two primary teams which are always looking for more help:
- One team handles all work in the six garden plots. We ordinarily work Monday evenings and Wednesday evenings and Thursday mornings. Carl is the primary contact.
- One team handles the front two flower beds and the Habitat For Humanity holding beds. Joan Hermann is the primary contact.

We are off to a good start this week with harvesting of rutabagas Wednesday 4pm, and spreading leaves on the garden Saturday 9-noon. Our garlic experiment is thriving with 686 cloves planted of 31 varieties. Dave Fitzgerald is leading this project. We hope to have some sort of event associated with harvesting the garlic when they are ready. Dave and Larry Bicknell will be leading the Spring potato planning and planting. Valentines Day is the traditional sweetpea planting time but we will probably wait and do that around St Paddy's Day which is the traditional potato and onion planting time.

We need to purchase and put down black plastic ASAP to deter weeds getting started and to let the soil warm up earlier than normal. When we plant early crops, we will put row covers over them to protect from frost and insects and help deter weeds.

We need someone to erect two rows of pole bean trellises. We will purchase the supplies.

We need someone to start from seeds 100 each beets (Harvard) and carrots (Nantes) and carrots Chardonnay) from seeds. They need to be ready for transplanting in the garden by end of March.

Your comments and questions and suggestions are more than welcome.
Our blog is http://www.colliervillevictorygarden.org/
and we are physically located at http://colliervillechristian.org/find-us/ .

Thanks,
Carl Wayne Hardeman
mymaters@yahoo.com
901-485-6910