CVG Progress Report March 17, 2014

Jayme, Teresa, and Stephanie spent 3 chilly hours this morning starting the compost filling process of the new south cinder block raised beds. We started by turning in a layer of oak leaves in each bed. In each of the cinder block holes, we filled the bottom half with oak leaves, then topped with a 8-10 inches of compost. Still determined to keep working, we transferred 3/4 or so of the compost located inside of the CVG garden fence to *one* of the raised beds, raising the planting level to the top of the lower cinder blocks in the wall.  As we handled the dirt, it seemed to release a slight coffee aroma...and we found many worms, as well. I guess worms like Starbucks coffee (grounds), too!

We're working with Collierville Christian Church to have a "Thank You" event at the Victory Garden and Plants 4 Habitat on May 4 from 10am-1pm. The church will be having a BBQ that day as well. We'd like to let them know that their support is very much appreciated! So, I hope that everyone that works at CVG can come! We'd like to have a few garden demonstrations that day, too.... if you have any specific ideas for garden demonstrations and would like to participate, please let me know!

Future work plans:

-Remove excess landscape fabric from the west raised bed located along the central walkway of the garden before filling with compost

-Continue transferring the compost from the compost pile(s) into the raised beds

-Top-off the cinder block holes as the compost settles in

-Complete work list from previous post.....

Maybe you can tell there's a walkway now where the compost used to be....

CVG Work Plans: 24-29 March, 2014

Assuming the weather cooperates, Stephanie will be out at the garden every day this week from 10-noon (or longer) working on the north raised beds. Please join her if you can. She's hoping to :

- secure the landscape fabric with the metal u-shaped anchors
-start hefting the cinder blocks on the parking lot into the garden walkway near the north raised beds (not in the working area)
-continue laying down and securing the landscape fabric in the north raised bed walkways
-continue leveling and placing cinder blocks in the north beds
-finish moving the compost that is located inside the garden fence to the south-side raised beds
-get a load or two of promix from the eplex?
-weed in the garden as much as we can (putting the weeds in the dumpster)
-start moving the compost from the compost area (OUTSIDE of the closed off area) into the south raised beds
-move the cardboard trash (minus the plastic tape) to the compost area or the dumpster
- add a bag of oak leaves to each of the new north raised beds as they are completed
-spread any pine needles that we have in the raised bed walkways
-weed under/around all of the pots placed outside of the garden fence (putting the weeds in the dumpster)
-probably 3 other things that I've forgotten


Carl will be leading a planting party on Saturday starting at 8 am! So try to come if you're available!

North beds taking shape:

Weeding that needs to be done:

Please do not remove the compost inside the taped area below. We will use this to start our new compost piles.

Scarecrow that we would like to replace.... maybe with a flower pot one?? Any one have any ideas?

 Considering buying some 16" x 16" stepping stones for use as seats on the inside corners of the raised beds.... Maybe the Roots and Shoots club would like to decorate them for us??

Victory Garden status March 15 2014

• Mar 15 at 5:29 PM

MONUMENTAL progress was made today (Saturday, March 15) on the CVG central plot raised beds! Carl Wayne, Patree, Jayme, Teresa, and Stephanie were joined by about a dozen dedicated and hard-working Troop 56 scouts and parents to complete the south set of 4 beds. Work included placing landscape fabric in the raised bed walkways, leveling and setting the blocks, and reinforcing the raised bed walls with rebar. Of the 300 11-pound cinder blocks placed today in 3 hours, only one block was busted. Thank you all so very much for the impressive job completed today!

On Monday, March 17 at 10 am, should the weather cooperate, I will spend a couple of hours at the garden on prep-work for the north set of raised beds, including completing the placement layout and pre-leveling. If it's too muddy, I will begin moving the compost and some of the oak leaves into the new raised beds and turning them...if you are available, please come!

In the next couple of weeks, we're hoping to have another big work day to complete the raised beds.... stay tuned for the scheduled day and time!

Until then, here's our near-term work plan list:

-Purchase forty more rebars

-Purchase four more rolls landscape fabric

-Purchase a gallon of roundup for use around the old raised beds

-Complete second set raised beds

-Put all the bags of leaves and all of the compost pile into the new beds

-Order truck load pro mix from eplex to finish filling the new raised beds, including inside each cinder block

-Plant napa cabbage sets plot 6 which is front right north against the north outside fence. Thank you Les Branum of Bonnie Farms for the donation!!

Victory Garden status Monday March 10, 2014

I continue to be amazed by y all the hardworking volunteer angels in the Victory Garden and our beautiful garlic and sprouting button onion sets and sweet peas.

Saturday March 8 and Monday March 10 Deborah and Jack, Sam, Rose, Wes, Bob, Jane, Jayme, Kathy, Arlene, Dave and little ole me got a ton of work done. 

Traditionally St Paddys Day is the day to plant but you gotta factor in the weather and the moon signs and my grandson's baseball schedule.

We straightened out all the black plastic and secured it, filled up another 66 containers with compost reddy to plant, dug the carrots 6 lbs, cleaned out the raised wooden beds, prepared four bales for planting maters, planted taters in the wire cage, and moved about a third of the compost pile into the garden reddy to use next weekend.

Today we planted seeds for Atlas (Parisienne) lollypop shaped carrots, red La Sota tater sets, and Chinese cabbage seeds and covered them with row covers and when we ran out, finished with straw. Dave applied blood meal nitrogen to the garlic.

Plan for this week is:
  Jeff and Jimmy and Stephanie to lay out the new raised beds in the two middle plots, 
  Bob to see if he can get us another donated trailer load of compost from the Dixon, 
  and me to buy the materials from our MAMG $1,000 allotment.

Other needs can be done anytime by anyone - just let me know you did it:
  Get up all the trash paper and cardboard and put in dumpster.
  Attack and destroy ever weed and put the weeds in the dumpster or any container out   front of the garden for me to remove.
  Move the rest of the compost pile on top of that alreddy in the garden aisle.

Our sister garden's blog http://mamgmusings.blogspot.com/

Assuming we get the materials and and new raised beds laid off, we will work next Saturday morning 8 until we get through. I will be there until 10am only.

After last expense filing this is from the MAMG treasurer:

balance in restricted funds: 163.19

balance in budget 1,823.85

I like this article:  Nature's ways instead of chemicals:

http://southeastfarmpress.com/cotton/heavy-rye-cover-keeps-down-and-smothers-resistant-palmer-amaranth?NL=SEFP-01&Issue=SEFP-01_201403sAML,,07_SEFP-01_640&YM_RID=rowsofbuttercups@yahoo.com&YM_MID=1453527&sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_1_b

Aint God good!