Community gardeners should be aware of this pests now before populations explode. It was found next door at the MARC house plant nursery, so I would agree with Hazel that it is probably at the community garden. The whitefly population will increase and create a large sticky mess. So do become familiar with the Rugose Spiraling whitefly:
In the middle column are three items that may be of interest to you: "Whitefly Management in the Landscape" workshops Upper Keys: May 19 at Founders Park, Islamorada, 11:00 - 12:30 for general public (50 seats and 50 standing room only spots); 2 - 4 p.m. for landscapers and pest control operators. Lower Keys: June 1, at the Harvey Government Center, 1200 Truman Avenue, Key West, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. For more information, call 305-292-4501
Rugose Spiraling Whitefly Pest Alert! The Rugose Spiraling Whitefly has been found throughout the Keys! (a/k/a Gumbo Limbo Spiraling Whitefly) More...
Whiteflies in the Landscape PDF document (68 pages; 9.51MB) on everything you need to know about whiteflies. More...
If you have any further questions do not hesitate to contact me.
Kim Gabel, Environmental Horticulture Agent UF/IFAS Monroe County Extension Service 1100 Simonton Street, Suite 2-260 Key West, Fl 33040 (305) 292-4504 phone (305) 292-4415 fax
The Mary Immaculate Star of the Sea School has begn an organic vegetable garden. Under the direction of the midle school Math and Science Teacher, Erin Luciani, they harvest their vegetables for distribution through the St. Mary's Mission on Stock Island.
Volunteer Florida's "Growing Hope" is organizing with Glading Tidings Church for a vegetable garden on their property on United Street.
Join a virtual conversation about priorities for the 2012 Farm Bill with the Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC) and the National Farm to School Network (NFSN).
On Tuesday, February 22, CFSC and the NFSN will host an interactive webinar to provide an overview of past Farm Bill successes, and to begin dialogue on potential areas of action for the upcoming Farm Bill, including regional policy priorities related to local food infrastructure, urban/community-based agriculture, food access, community food projects, farmers markets, linking SNAP (food stamps) to local and healthy foods, Farm to School, and food policy councils. Following the webinar, participants will be invited to tell us what is most needed in their region of the country via survey.
Introduction to Permacultureworkshop February 5th & 6th
Saturday, February 5th (Cost to garden members $30; non-members $40)
10:00 - 1:00 Principles of Permaculture
1:00 - 2:00 Lunch (bring your own or we will order from Help Yourself at our own expense)
2:00 - 5:00 On-site project: Building a keyhole garden installation in the southwest corner of the garden
6:30 - 9:00 Film and pot luck dinner @ Unity Church (free; bring a dish to share)
Sunday, February 6th (Cost to garden members $20; non-members $30)
9:00 - 1:00 How to Create a Food Forest
From Wikipedia:
Permaculture is sustainable land use design. This is based on ecological and biological principles, often using patterns that occur in nature to maximise effect and minimise work. Permaculture aims to create stable, productive systems that provide for human needs, harmoniously integrating the land with its inhabitants. The ecological processes of plants, animals, their nutrient cycles, climatic factors and weather cycles are all part of the picture. Elements in a system are viewed in relationship to other elements, where the outputs of one element become the inputs of another. Within a Permaculture system, work is minimised, “wastes” become resources, productivity and yields increase, and environments are restored. Permaculture principles can be applied to any environment, at any scale from dense urban settlements to individual homes, from farms to entire regions.
From Mario:
Permaculture-based sustainable farming methods included Food Forestry, which involves inter-planting food crops in a fashion that mimics a mid-succession forest, allowing for a low maintenance, high-yielding, space-efficient, sustainable food production system.
The subtropical Hardiness Zone 10 growing conditions of South Florida are well-suited to these “perennial polycultures.” Backyard polyculture garden systems have potential to improve the productivity, stability, sustainability and autonomy of the human food supply in and around cities. By working vertically and horizontally, food forests require less space and can produce more food per acre than horizontal row-crop agriculture.
Greetings Gardeners!
Our beautiful garden is lush and there are veggies to harvest everywhere one looks! I have posted a few pictures of recent harvests. It is so nice to see broccoli in the garden, even nicer to see homegrown broccoli on the plate! The Leon Street bed is struggling and could use some additional support. If anyone is interested in becoming involved communally or is looking to join another committee please contact a Board member to jump on board with that bed. It has produced one or two cucumbers, bush beans, some broccoli rabe, carrots, chard, and a few kohlrabi plants, a delicious brassica that can be used raw or cooked. It's leaves are edible, as is the round, ball-like stalk that is the 'meat' of the plant; this part should be harvested a close to the earth as possible without taking any of the root and then the root pulled out. For use it should be rinsed and peeled, then chopped for use in stir fries, sautes, soups, or roasts; it can also be steamed or shredded raw into a salad. Shredded, it makes a nice slaw too. There are seeds for Purple Kohlrabi or Giant Winter (white) Kohlrabi in the black and white box in our shed. The seeds came from Southern Seed Exposure, their new catalog arrived yesterday and is also in the shed. It is a nice resource, please do not remove it from the garden. They have a great website too www.southernexposure.com.
The communal beds look great and are producing well, please remember that by working in one you are entitled to harvest from all respectfully and with the common good in mind, let's not let any of our precious treasures go to waste, we have abundance.
With great gratitude let's praise and enjoy our abundance and at the same time be mindful of the balance between abundance and overgrowth. There are many plants growing out of beds and into walkways, in some cases into neighboring beds. This should be addressed as soon as possible and those plants running out of control brought under cultivation. Thanks for pouring love into the garden, it is generously giving back.
Communal Committees: The contact list for all those (I believe) who have signed up for a communal plot committee is posted here Communal Committee List 10-3-10.pdf . Please let me know if you see any errors or omissions.
Compost: PLEASE NO PLASTIC of any kind in the compost! We want your food scraps but leave the plastic at home. That includes corn cups or bio bags which really don't break down in a home compost situation. If you notice anyone putting plastic in the compost, please kindly remind them. If anyone wants to post a laminated or painted sign about this by the compost, go for it!
Soil: A small order of soil will be delivered today. If you have taken or plan to use more than the allotted 3 soil and 1 compost, please reimburse the garden $5 for soil and $2 for compost. You can give your money/check to a board member (Jody, Kathryn, Vicki, Jill or Tim) or deliver or mail to Jody at 1217 White St.
Seeds at Strunk: Organic seeds from Seeds of Change are in at Strunk but not yet on display (waiting for the display rack to arrive). Go to the Specials Orders counter and ask for access to the seed table in the back. You could also suggest that they move them to a more visible and accessible area.
Thanks,
Jody
October 17, 2010
Thanks to all who came out for the talk on Pests & Diseases on Saturday! I have heard this before but I always learn something new from Andres the expert. I hope you all enjoyed it.
Andres teaches organic gardening at Miami-Dade College and writes for Organic Gardening magazine on Zone 10.
Find 10-11 membership forms and info here Membership
September 14, 2010
by Vicki Boguzsewski:
Welcome everyone to our third season! Last year we were blessed woth great abundance throughout the garden, everyone is excited about the coming year and the potential it holds. A few points to keep in mind if you would:be sure to complete orientation at the garden with a board memberlabel your plot with your name and a best contactlet me know by the weekend if you would like to be in on a group seed purchase from Eden's Organic Nursery in South Florida and by the end of the month (September) if you'd like to purchase an organic cotton CGKW t-shirt: adults (white v-neck women's/stone crew neck men's) and youth (stone crew neck) available; $11.50ea for members; non-members $15.00ea; sm, m, ,l, xl (payment due upon receipt of tee) seedlings will be available in the coming weeks, some online sites offer seedlings toowhen purchasing seed, try to go for open-pollenated heirloom organics look for zone 9 or 10, consider heat tolerance/salt tolerance and space needed: climbing and spreading things are best suited for communal areas, rather than individual beds; think about 'planting outside the box'
Jill and Kathryn will be demonstrating soil ammendments and the use of minerals soon, and they will offer samples. Happy 2010-2011 Season to all CGKW members!
Last year the GLEE Community Garden donated a plot to the Boys and Girls Club and the kids have been enjoying their very first growing season ever since. After Tim May so graciously built the raised bed, it was time to plant! In order to get started, MARC House was kind enough to supply the club with delicious basil, rosemary and oregano, as well as fragrant lavender and yummy tomatoes. One of the many benefits of belonging to the Community Garden is the sharing of seeds and soil that are purchased for everybody. Both Kathryn DePoo and Vicki Boguszewski were instrumental in these provisions and also helped the club brainstorm what to plant. Thus, the kids ended up with a wonderful array of carrots, radishes, bush beans, zucchini and squash. Each Friday, a varying, small group of club members water the plants, pull weeds, plant flowers and deliver love to their garden. They enjoy seeing the first sprout break through the soil and watching the plants produce their treasures. They also appreciate the tranquility and positive energy that the Community Garden holds. The growing season is coming to an end, but Boys and Girls Club is excited for the next season and the surprises it may bring!
Join a virtual conversation about priorities for the 2012 Farm Bill with the Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC) and the National Farm to School Network (NFSN).
On Tuesday, February 22, CFSC and the NFSN will host an interactive webinar to provide an overview of past Farm Bill successes, and to begin dialogue on potential areas of action for the upcoming Farm Bill, including regional policy priorities related to local food infrastructure, urban/community-based agriculture, food access, community food projects, farmers markets, linking SNAP (food stamps) to local and healthy foods, Farm to School, and food policy councils. Following the webinar, participants will be invited to tell us what is most needed in their region of the country via survey.
Water study is up! And this will only work if everyone visits and contributes to the Wiki, so have at it!!! Please share your successes, challenges, questions, resources.
Food Inc opens tomorrow night at the Tropic with a reception by Help Yourself. Is anyone interested in a first night viewing with Tom and I? We were thinking about the 6:30 viewing. We saw the previews last night and it looked pretty good.
Filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that's been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government's regulatory agencies, the USDA and FDA. Our nation's food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment. We have bigger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, insecticide-resistant soybean seeds, even tomatoes that won't go bad, but we also have new strains of e coli—the harmful bacteria that causes illness for an estimated 73,000 Americans annually. We are riddled with widespread obesity, particularly among children, and an epidemic level of diabetes among adults. Featuring interviews with such experts as Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation), Michael Pollan (The Omnivore's Dilemma) along with forward thinking social
entrepreneurs like Stonyfield Farms' Gary Hirschberg and Polyface Farms' Joe Salatin, Food, Inc. reveals surprising—and often shocking truths—about what we eat, how it's produced, who we have become as a nation and where we are going from here.
Greetings Gardeners! Summer heat is heavy around the garden, but not keeping those squash vines down. Kathryn has planted a variety of squashes in the common beds that are doing really well. There are butternut squashes along the fence on Seminary St. and you may notice a tshirt hanging from the fence in that area. That is there to support a very large and still growing Calabsa Squash. It had grown so large that it was taxing it's vine so Kathryn and I rigged up this little support system for it with room for it to continue growing. I still have plenty of seed if anyone wants to experiment with some new plants, sprouts, etc. The okra along the back fence seems to be very happy doing its thing. Some of the greens I was able to start successfully but then the plants got munched on by some critters. Update on CGKW TSHIRTS: our first order was received and they came out nicely. The shirts look good and are comfortable to wear. If you have placed an order with me already, then I have your shirt, if you have not and would like to order, please let me know what sizes and whether you prefer men's, women's, or youth sizes; they are preshrunk, but maybe run a little small. I have ordered some sponsor shirts, but not enough, and a few items that were meant to be in the last order were missed. SO: I will be ordering more tshirts this week! Be in touch asap, I can reorder often so sell some to your friends. Our minimum order is six so it is not difficult to put an order together. Peace and Love. Vicki
We did see Food Inc. it was a very well done visual of the highlights from omnivore's dilemna and in defense of food. we would recommend it highly, but to be honest except for the section regarding Joel Salatin, it's a really depressing picture. We are getting mainly eating from annie's OBC, with the caveat that it comes from so far away.
also, we were on a road trip through Iowa a few weeks ago and brought back a bunch of seeds from the seed saver farm (a very cool place) which we will happily share.
debbi
Hi everyone: quick note to add to the email blast I sent out about re-registration for the garden: we are again offering a "common plots" membership for a nominal low fee for people who don't want their own plot but are willing to help maintain our common plots. I think we said it would be about $40 but that is subject to clarification by other board members who were at our recent meeting. We are doing it a little differently this season - we won't have a specific common or communal plot, you'll belong to ALL common plots in the garden and help water/maintain them in exchange for the ability to harvest from them. Let me know if you're interested.
Also: VERY EXCITING NEWS: I had my first meeting today with people from Samuel's House and the Florida Keys Children's Shelter. They are super motivated to get a second community garden started right at the entrance to the Poinciana Housing complex off Duck Ave. If you are interested in being involved in helping get this set up, please let me know and I will add you to the email list for that burgeoning group. We have a lot of work to do in the next couple of months to get ready for planting in late Oct! Cheers, Tim
The Board of Directors welcomes Kathryn Depoo to the Board membership and the position of school liason!!!! Welcome Kathryn, thank you for all of your dedicated work and enthusiasm!!!!
Vicki Boguszewski- Member Board of Directors Glee Community Garden of KEy West
Hey everyone. Things are heating up in the garden as we get ready for Season Two. We are taking the composting effort to the next level. We have decided to move the barrell and pallet piles away from the corner near the coconuts and over to a shadier spot under the mahogany. Pete, Jody, Michel and I got a start on it Fri/Sat. If you want to help that's great, we still need to move two more pallets plus contents over to the tree. The barrell already is moved and full of good stuff breaking down inside. We've got one of the pallets moved, too, and it's layered better than before, with a cushion of woody/tough weeds on the bottom, then some goopy veggie/fruit waste spread on that, then more woody/weedy/leafy stuff, and then succcessive layers of partially finished compost, fairly moist and well deteriorated stuff, on top of leafy/weedy stuff. It's packed tighter. When we move the other pallets, let's try for the same layering system. There's a bunch of good partially decomposed compost still in one of the two pallets left to be moved; we can layer that on top of the weedier, drier stuff. AND WE NEED LOTS MORE KITCHEN WASTE to layer in there. Let's try to keep getting the metal can filled with wet veggie/fruit stuff every day or two. We're getting good stuff from the new MARC kitchen and I know some of you are very dedicated about bringing your own kitchen stuff over, that's great, we'll need it to really start making better compost, faster. For more specifics on the new compost system, contact Pete or Jody.
Also: we had a very good renewal response; most folks are coming back for the second season. If you are one of the few who haven't responded, please let me know ASAP! I'll send an email blast reminder out.
Hi everyone, Today I spoke with someone from the Mosquito Control Board Office. I am concerned about the spraying in our neighborhood and around the garden. Tim's property is on the "no spray" list, I had myself added today and asked how we could protect the garden and our food, by having them not spray at the property also. The person there was helpful and suggested the best way to expidite this would be to write a letter to the director, Mr. Fussell (you know the guy asking for a raise on the front page of the Citizen today). She suggested also addressing this letter to Mr. Mike Spoto. I will draft something this week and bring it with me to the Garden on Saturday.
It will be available for everyone to read and sign if they choose to do so. Anyone with input or suggestions for the body of the letter should email or call me by Friday, so that I can include your concerns.Home # 294-0882; cell 509-2938; email: vickikw5@yahoo.com.
If you think they are only killing mosquitoes when they spray, let me share something: In Decemeber I noticed 2 beautiful Monarch butterflies at the garden. They were attracted by the recently planted flowers so generously offered by the MARC clients and staff. By about the second week of December a lovely bright yellow butterfly had joined them. On a Tuesday evening, during that second week, I noticed the Mosquito Control Patrol come by and spray the neighborhood. The next morning was my first day at my then new, now current job. At approximately 8am I headed down Seminary Street on my bike, before I reached the corner of Tropical Street I saw the two Monarchs, locked in an embrace, fallen dead to the ground. About 15 feet ahead of them lay the bright yellow butterfly who had just come around. The chemicals used have also all but eliminated bees in Key West. There are always mosquitoes in my neighborhood, rarely butterflies, and never bees.
WELCOME TO NEW AND RENEWING MEMBERS! Have a look at the Wiki if you haven't already. If you have a garden partner who did not receive the invitation to the Wiki, it's because I didn't have their email address. They can request to be added on the home page.
If you haven't turned in all your forms (garden membership, GLEE membership and Member Agreement) or payment, please get them to Jody asap - to 1211 Watson St., Key West, FL 33040. Any questions email kwjody@yahoo.com
Attention all members: I have posted the draft of the letter to the Mosquito Control Board under the "Pest Control" Documents. This letter requests that the garden be designated a no-spray zone. I will send the letter on Friday as is, unless members want to add to or edit the content. I can be reached at 294 0882 or via email vickikw5@yahoo.com. Peace
Mealy Bugs, we have them! They are the white cottony looking stuff on many of the plants. A couple of suggestions:
1) spray with diluted biodegradable soap (Castille, Dr. Bronner's NOT detergent).
2) cut off infected parts but DO NOT COMPOST. This goes for any diseased or pest infected cuttings. Take them out of the garden and destroy them.
3) Attract other types of predatory insects, such as parasitic wasps (Leptomastix dactylopii), that will consume and control mealybugs. Grow their favorite plants such as dill, fennel, coreopsis and brightly colored flowers near the mealybug-prone plants.
4) Spraying compost tea on the underside of leaves is a good thing to do ongoing, to fertilize plants and attract beneficials.
Wow those gardeners with the tshirts look COOL!!!!!!
Our latest order is available. If you have ordered a shirt please make arrangements with me to pick it up. If you have not ordered and would like a shirt, please order before December 3, 2009 for the last order of 2009.
Peace,
Vicki
Please help us get as many people as possible to weigh in before it's too late. Ask your friends and family to Say No to Big Oil by sharing this link via email or on your social networks: http://action.defenders.org/SayNo
Greetings Gardeners,
Hope everyone is well and getting off to a solid start for the new growing season. Some of our communal beds need to be dug out, turned under and amended in order to begin productive planting in them. Anyone interested in digging in should contact myself or Kathryn de Poo. Some work and planting has been started and the watering schedule is in place, but there is lots to do and several seedlings nearing the ready to go into the ground.
Thanks. Looking forward to hearing from you. . .
Peace,
Vicki
Has anyone seen the broccoli seedlings in a small pot that was on the table where the basil is? I had two seedlings going, I'd appreciate having them returned. Thanks.
Welcome new gardeners! Thanks returning members for your continued dedication. Everyone is looking forward to a great season! Happy planting! Be sure to complete orientation at the garden with a board member, label your plot with your name and a best contact, let me know by the weekend if you would like to be in on a group seed purchase from Eden's Organic Nursery in South Florida, and by the end of the month (September) if you'd like to purchase an organic cotton CGKW t-shirt: adults (white v-neck women's/stone crew neck men's) and youth (stone crew neck) available; $11.50ea for members; non-members $15.00ea; sm, m, ,l, xl (payment due upon receipt of tee). Seedlings will be available in the coming weeks, some online sites offer seedlings too. Jill and Kathryn will be demonstrating soil ammendments this weekend and the use of minerals, they will offer samples.
Happy 2010-2011 Season to all CGKW members!
Vicki
Member of the Board of Directors
SLOW FOOD USA Supporting Good, Clean, and Fair Food
"Congress: make our food edible. We demand better control of and more accountability from our food industry to ensure the health of all Americans."
Check it out this petition and video called the "Inedible Egg" http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=ERK8XR9wiK0LfPsttr0VpoejtSLAeZsL
Dear gardeners: Thanks for coming out last weekend and working hard to get the garden spruced up, it looks terrific. Can you feel the weather changing - just a little cooler at night and the light has changed too - pretty soon it will be planting time. I wanted to give a special thanks to those who gave their time on the signup day to rip out all those weeds, fix the chipper, build the new compost bays and get rid of some of the clutter. The space feels really good in there now, ready for new veggies. The cisterns are full of water, hope it keeps raining. Please remember to take responsibility for the area around your bed - weeding, mulching, organizing. If we all chip in just a little, the space is easy to keep tidy and nice looking. Hopefully it will convince folks in town to get behind a couple of more gardens in other parts of the city. Cheers, Tim
Very interesting perspective, some food for thought:http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_21957.cfm
Vandana Shiva: Time to End the War Against the Earth
"When we think of wars in our times, our minds turn to Iraq and Afghanistan. But the bigger war is the war against the planet. This war has its roots in an economy that fails to respect ecological and ethical limits - limits to inequality, limits to injustice, limits to greed and economic concentration. A handful of corporations and of powerful countries seeks to control the earth's resources and transform the planet into a supermarket in which everything is for sale. They want to sell our water, genes, cells, organs, knowledge, cultures and future."
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Comments (27)
Jody Smith Williams said
at 8:46 am on May 31, 2009
Welcome to the Key West community garden Wiki. Check out the great video done by HOB students.
Tim May said
at 9:56 am on Jun 1, 2009
Jody this is terrific! Thanks so much for setting it up. I'll encourage everyone to check it out and use as a forum to post comments, questions.
supergirlkeywest@aol.com said
at 12:58 pm on Jun 4, 2009
I'm prouder to live here everyday! Nice job!
krisda0@yahoo.com said
at 4:16 pm on Jul 2, 2009
This is wonderful! Thanks Jody.
Tim May said
at 9:41 pm on Jul 13, 2009
Hey Jodi should we add the water lens study to the site? You are doing a great job keeping this up, so keep it up!
Jody Smith Williams said
at 1:30 pm on Jul 14, 2009
Water study is up! And this will only work if everyone visits and contributes to the Wiki, so have at it!!! Please share your successes, challenges, questions, resources.
keywestdebbi@... said
at 8:37 pm on Jul 23, 2009
Food Inc opens tomorrow night at the Tropic with a reception by Help Yourself. Is anyone interested in a first night viewing with Tom and I? We were thinking about the 6:30 viewing. We saw the previews last night and it looked pretty good.
Filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that's been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government's regulatory agencies, the USDA and FDA. Our nation's food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment. We have bigger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, insecticide-resistant soybean seeds, even tomatoes that won't go bad, but we also have new strains of e coli—the harmful bacteria that causes illness for an estimated 73,000 Americans annually. We are riddled with widespread obesity, particularly among children, and an epidemic level of diabetes among adults. Featuring interviews with such experts as Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation), Michael Pollan (The Omnivore's Dilemma) along with forward thinking social
entrepreneurs like Stonyfield Farms' Gary Hirschberg and Polyface Farms' Joe Salatin, Food, Inc. reveals surprising—and often shocking truths—about what we eat, how it's produced, who we have become as a nation and where we are going from here.
Vicki Boguszewski said
at 1:47 pm on Jul 26, 2009
Greetings Gardeners! Summer heat is heavy around the garden, but not keeping those squash vines down. Kathryn has planted a variety of squashes in the common beds that are doing really well. There are butternut squashes along the fence on Seminary St. and you may notice a tshirt hanging from the fence in that area. That is there to support a very large and still growing Calabsa Squash. It had grown so large that it was taxing it's vine so Kathryn and I rigged up this little support system for it with room for it to continue growing. I still have plenty of seed if anyone wants to experiment with some new plants, sprouts, etc. The okra along the back fence seems to be very happy doing its thing. Some of the greens I was able to start successfully but then the plants got munched on by some critters. Update on CGKW TSHIRTS: our first order was received and they came out nicely. The shirts look good and are comfortable to wear. If you have placed an order with me already, then I have your shirt, if you have not and would like to order, please let me know what sizes and whether you prefer men's, women's, or youth sizes; they are preshrunk, but maybe run a little small. I have ordered some sponsor shirts, but not enough, and a few items that were meant to be in the last order were missed. SO: I will be ordering more tshirts this week! Be in touch asap, I can reorder often so sell some to your friends. Our minimum order is six so it is not difficult to put an order together. Peace and Love. Vicki
keywestdebbi@... said
at 8:44 am on Jul 27, 2009
We did see Food Inc. it was a very well done visual of the highlights from omnivore's dilemna and in defense of food. we would recommend it highly, but to be honest except for the section regarding Joel Salatin, it's a really depressing picture. We are getting mainly eating from annie's OBC, with the caveat that it comes from so far away.
also, we were on a road trip through Iowa a few weeks ago and brought back a bunch of seeds from the seed saver farm (a very cool place) which we will happily share.
debbi
Tim May said
at 10:59 pm on Aug 6, 2009
Hi everyone: quick note to add to the email blast I sent out about re-registration for the garden: we are again offering a "common plots" membership for a nominal low fee for people who don't want their own plot but are willing to help maintain our common plots. I think we said it would be about $40 but that is subject to clarification by other board members who were at our recent meeting. We are doing it a little differently this season - we won't have a specific common or communal plot, you'll belong to ALL common plots in the garden and help water/maintain them in exchange for the ability to harvest from them. Let me know if you're interested.
Also: VERY EXCITING NEWS: I had my first meeting today with people from Samuel's House and the Florida Keys Children's Shelter. They are super motivated to get a second community garden started right at the entrance to the Poinciana Housing complex off Duck Ave. If you are interested in being involved in helping get this set up, please let me know and I will add you to the email list for that burgeoning group. We have a lot of work to do in the next couple of months to get ready for planting in late Oct! Cheers, Tim
Vicki Boguszewski said
at 10:59 am on Aug 21, 2009
The Board of Directors welcomes Kathryn Depoo to the Board membership and the position of school liason!!!! Welcome Kathryn, thank you for all of your dedicated work and enthusiasm!!!!
Vicki Boguszewski- Member Board of Directors Glee Community Garden of KEy West
Tim May said
at 10:35 pm on Aug 22, 2009
Hey everyone. Things are heating up in the garden as we get ready for Season Two. We are taking the composting effort to the next level. We have decided to move the barrell and pallet piles away from the corner near the coconuts and over to a shadier spot under the mahogany. Pete, Jody, Michel and I got a start on it Fri/Sat. If you want to help that's great, we still need to move two more pallets plus contents over to the tree. The barrell already is moved and full of good stuff breaking down inside. We've got one of the pallets moved, too, and it's layered better than before, with a cushion of woody/tough weeds on the bottom, then some goopy veggie/fruit waste spread on that, then more woody/weedy/leafy stuff, and then succcessive layers of partially finished compost, fairly moist and well deteriorated stuff, on top of leafy/weedy stuff. It's packed tighter. When we move the other pallets, let's try for the same layering system. There's a bunch of good partially decomposed compost still in one of the two pallets left to be moved; we can layer that on top of the weedier, drier stuff. AND WE NEED LOTS MORE KITCHEN WASTE to layer in there. Let's try to keep getting the metal can filled with wet veggie/fruit stuff every day or two. We're getting good stuff from the new MARC kitchen and I know some of you are very dedicated about bringing your own kitchen stuff over, that's great, we'll need it to really start making better compost, faster. For more specifics on the new compost system, contact Pete or Jody.
Also: we had a very good renewal response; most folks are coming back for the second season. If you are one of the few who haven't responded, please let me know ASAP! I'll send an email blast reminder out.
Vicki Boguszewski said
at 2:03 pm on Sep 14, 2009
Hi everyone, Today I spoke with someone from the Mosquito Control Board Office. I am concerned about the spraying in our neighborhood and around the garden. Tim's property is on the "no spray" list, I had myself added today and asked how we could protect the garden and our food, by having them not spray at the property also. The person there was helpful and suggested the best way to expidite this would be to write a letter to the director, Mr. Fussell (you know the guy asking for a raise on the front page of the Citizen today). She suggested also addressing this letter to Mr. Mike Spoto. I will draft something this week and bring it with me to the Garden on Saturday.
It will be available for everyone to read and sign if they choose to do so. Anyone with input or suggestions for the body of the letter should email or call me by Friday, so that I can include your concerns.Home # 294-0882; cell 509-2938; email: vickikw5@yahoo.com.
If you think they are only killing mosquitoes when they spray, let me share something: In Decemeber I noticed 2 beautiful Monarch butterflies at the garden. They were attracted by the recently planted flowers so generously offered by the MARC clients and staff. By about the second week of December a lovely bright yellow butterfly had joined them. On a Tuesday evening, during that second week, I noticed the Mosquito Control Patrol come by and spray the neighborhood. The next morning was my first day at my then new, now current job. At approximately 8am I headed down Seminary Street on my bike, before I reached the corner of Tropical Street I saw the two Monarchs, locked in an embrace, fallen dead to the ground. About 15 feet ahead of them lay the bright yellow butterfly who had just come around. The chemicals used have also all but eliminated bees in Key West. There are always mosquitoes in my neighborhood, rarely butterflies, and never bees.
Jody Smith Williams said
at 7:22 am on Sep 21, 2009
WELCOME TO NEW AND RENEWING MEMBERS! Have a look at the Wiki if you haven't already. If you have a garden partner who did not receive the invitation to the Wiki, it's because I didn't have their email address. They can request to be added on the home page.
If you haven't turned in all your forms (garden membership, GLEE membership and Member Agreement) or payment, please get them to Jody asap - to 1211 Watson St., Key West, FL 33040. Any questions email kwjody@yahoo.com
Vicki Boguszewski said
at 12:12 pm on Sep 28, 2009
Attention all members: I have posted the draft of the letter to the Mosquito Control Board under the "Pest Control" Documents. This letter requests that the garden be designated a no-spray zone. I will send the letter on Friday as is, unless members want to add to or edit the content. I can be reached at 294 0882 or via email vickikw5@yahoo.com. Peace
Jody Smith Williams said
at 7:47 am on Oct 25, 2009
Mealy Bugs, we have them! They are the white cottony looking stuff on many of the plants. A couple of suggestions:
1) spray with diluted biodegradable soap (Castille, Dr. Bronner's NOT detergent).
2) cut off infected parts but DO NOT COMPOST. This goes for any diseased or pest infected cuttings. Take them out of the garden and destroy them.
3) Attract other types of predatory insects, such as parasitic wasps (Leptomastix dactylopii), that will consume and control mealybugs. Grow their favorite plants such as dill, fennel, coreopsis and brightly colored flowers near the mealybug-prone plants.
4) Spraying compost tea on the underside of leaves is a good thing to do ongoing, to fertilize plants and attract beneficials.
Vicki Boguszewski said
at 11:00 am on Oct 27, 2009
Wow those gardeners with the tshirts look COOL!!!!!!
Our latest order is available. If you have ordered a shirt please make arrangements with me to pick it up. If you have not ordered and would like a shirt, please order before December 3, 2009 for the last order of 2009.
Peace,
Vicki
Vicki Boguszewski said
at 11:11 am on Nov 6, 2009
Please help us get as many people as possible to weigh in before it's too late. Ask your friends and family to Say No to Big Oil by sharing this link via email or on your social networks:
http://action.defenders.org/SayNo
Vicki Boguszewski
305.294.0882/305.509.2938/vickikw5@ayhoo.com
Vicki Boguszewski said
at 11:13 am on Nov 6, 2009
Greetings Gardeners,
Hope everyone is well and getting off to a solid start for the new growing season. Some of our communal beds need to be dug out, turned under and amended in order to begin productive planting in them. Anyone interested in digging in should contact myself or Kathryn de Poo. Some work and planting has been started and the watering schedule is in place, but there is lots to do and several seedlings nearing the ready to go into the ground.
Thanks. Looking forward to hearing from you. . .
Peace,
Vicki
Vicki Boguszewski said
at 11:15 am on Nov 6, 2009
OOPs! My email is at yahoo.com, not ayhoo.com - sorry!
Vicki
Jody Smith Williams said
at 7:04 am on Dec 1, 2009
Has anyone seen the broccoli seedlings in a small pot that was on the table where the basil is? I had two seedlings going, I'd appreciate having them returned. Thanks.
melissajeankw@yahoo.com said
at 8:23 am on Sep 13, 2010
I can hardly wait to get my plot planted!
socialworkerdenise@gmail.com said
at 8:31 am on Sep 14, 2010
Very excited to be involved in the garden-- and to get planting! :)
Vicki Boguszewski said
at 9:59 pm on Sep 14, 2010
Welcome new gardeners! Thanks returning members for your continued dedication. Everyone is looking forward to a great season! Happy planting! Be sure to complete orientation at the garden with a board member, label your plot with your name and a best contact, let me know by the weekend if you would like to be in on a group seed purchase from Eden's Organic Nursery in South Florida, and by the end of the month (September) if you'd like to purchase an organic cotton CGKW t-shirt: adults (white v-neck women's/stone crew neck men's) and youth (stone crew neck) available; $11.50ea for members; non-members $15.00ea; sm, m, ,l, xl (payment due upon receipt of tee). Seedlings will be available in the coming weeks, some online sites offer seedlings too. Jill and Kathryn will be demonstrating soil ammendments this weekend and the use of minerals, they will offer samples.
Happy 2010-2011 Season to all CGKW members!
Vicki
Member of the Board of Directors
Vicki Boguszewski said
at 2:32 pm on Sep 16, 2010
SLOW FOOD USA Supporting Good, Clean, and Fair Food
"Congress: make our food edible. We demand better control of and more accountability from our food industry to ensure the health of all Americans."
Check it out this petition and video called the "Inedible Egg"
http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=ERK8XR9wiK0LfPsttr0VpoejtSLAeZsL
Tim May said
at 9:39 pm on Sep 20, 2010
Dear gardeners: Thanks for coming out last weekend and working hard to get the garden spruced up, it looks terrific. Can you feel the weather changing - just a little cooler at night and the light has changed too - pretty soon it will be planting time. I wanted to give a special thanks to those who gave their time on the signup day to rip out all those weeds, fix the chipper, build the new compost bays and get rid of some of the clutter. The space feels really good in there now, ready for new veggies. The cisterns are full of water, hope it keeps raining. Please remember to take responsibility for the area around your bed - weeding, mulching, organizing. If we all chip in just a little, the space is easy to keep tidy and nice looking. Hopefully it will convince folks in town to get behind a couple of more gardens in other parts of the city. Cheers, Tim
Vicki Boguszewski said
at 3:25 pm on Nov 15, 2010
Very interesting perspective, some food for thought:http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_21957.cfm
Vandana Shiva: Time to End the War Against the Earth
"When we think of wars in our times, our minds turn to Iraq and Afghanistan. But the bigger war is the war against the planet. This war has its roots in an economy that fails to respect ecological and ethical limits - limits to inequality, limits to injustice, limits to greed and economic concentration. A handful of corporations and of powerful countries seeks to control the earth's resources and transform the planet into a supermarket in which everything is for sale. They want to sell our water, genes, cells, organs, knowledge, cultures and future."
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