The Collierville Victory Garden and Butterfly Haven is committed to the Memphis Area Master Gardeners' mission to pass on the joy of gardening and UT Extension horticultural knowledge. Through the generosity of the Collierville Christian Church and MAMG, this Plant-A-Row for the Hungry (PAR) garden donates its vegetables to the Collierville Food Pantry, Resurrection Catholic School and Fayette County Project Outreach and its flowers to Page Robbins and Habitat for Humanity.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
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.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
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!
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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!
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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!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
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:
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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!!!
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!!!
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
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
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Victory Garden more Spring planting March 4 & 7 2011
See pix:
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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!
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!