tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61291712045232121142024-02-07T10:47:31.831-08:00Miller Orchard Community GardenWorking to grow vegetables and community in Iowa City, IowaKatherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955953773716387670noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129171204523212114.post-83413826511448913902012-04-24T12:45:00.003-07:002012-04-24T12:56:46.746-07:00Plant Sales in the Iowa City area<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/terriem/3479138034/" title="Plants for sale/trade by terriem, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3098/3479138034_7dfbb77663.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Plants for sale/trade" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size:78%;">image credit: Terrie Schweitzer, flickr.com</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size:100%;">Three local organizations will be holding plant sales over the next few weeks - all of the proceeds go to worthy causes and can help you get an easy start on your garden.<u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size:100%;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.backyardabundance.org/ClassesandEvents/Calendar/tabid/65/vw/3/ItemID/187/d/20120428/Default.aspx" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); "><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size:130%;"><b>Backyard Abundance Plant Sale</b></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"> </span></b></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size:100%;">April 28, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size:100%;">Robert A. Lee Community Recreation Center<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size:100%;">220 South Gilbert Street, Iowa City<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size:100%;"> <u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size:100%;">Get a jump on spring plant shopping at the Backyard Abundance plant sale fundraiser. Many herbs and vegetables are heirlooms and were organically grown by volunteers. All <a href="http://www.backyardabundance.org/Portals/0/p/Handout-PlantSaleVarieties.pdf" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); "><span style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); ">fruits and nuts</span></a> were sourced as locally as possible and were carefully chosen to maximize yield and thrive in the Midwest. Your purchases help host free yard tours and presentations in our community throughout the season.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size:100%;"> <u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size:100%;">Other interests: Silent auction, seed swap, mushroom growing kits, urban chickens, locally-made garden tools.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size:100%;"> <u></u><u></u></span></p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><u><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size:130%;"><b>Project Green Plant Sale</b></span></u></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:medium;">9:00-11:30 AM, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size:medium;">Saturday, May 5 </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size:100%;">Carver Hawkeye Arena<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size:100%;">Website link with more information: <a href="http://www.projectgreen.org/gardenfair.htm" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); ">http://www.<wbr>projectgreen.org/gardenfair.<wbr>htm</a><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size:100%;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><u><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size:130%;"><b>Friends of Hickory Hill Park Plant Sale</b></span></u></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size:100%;">Friday, May 11 and Saturday, May 12<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size:100%;">4:00-7:00 PM - 10:00 AM-4:00 PM<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size:100%;">PLUS<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size:100%;">Friday, May 18 and Saturday, May 19<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size:100%;">4:00-7:00 PM - 10:00 AM-4:00 PM<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size:100%;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:medium;">1167 East Jefferson Street</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Money raised through the plant sale supports volunteer work in Hickory Hill Park. Click <a href="http://www.hickoryhillpark.org/blog" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); ">here</a> for more information about Friends of Hickory Hill Park.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:7;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); "><u></u> </span></p></span></div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955953773716387670noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129171204523212114.post-34792352554679314082012-04-17T10:05:00.005-07:002012-04-18T06:34:07.691-07:00MOCG News: Work Party Progress and Garden Blessing<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQ5X_y-LxYXovp1xAPmlF7w6vUBozylP8t3t7VjiO9b4-tdcs1oV57WvmD-vTY9uvipUGI6fl7rwaZ3MZb8xIhWc4GNhVt5R6MljQbkK6UPO7tE7WP4IJzbhKhKMma5Eqg245ZapMG6I/s1600/IMG_5520.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQ5X_y-LxYXovp1xAPmlF7w6vUBozylP8t3t7VjiO9b4-tdcs1oV57WvmD-vTY9uvipUGI6fl7rwaZ3MZb8xIhWc4GNhVt5R6MljQbkK6UPO7tE7WP4IJzbhKhKMma5Eqg245ZapMG6I/s320/IMG_5520.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732731634263465330" border="0" /></a></div><span style="font-size:78%;"></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:78%;">A new growing season: mulberry trees, plots and paths all laid out, and tire stacks for growing potatoes.<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Garden Blessing:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">Miller Orchard Community Garden is ready for planting, and we want to bless it! Come to the garden at noon on Earth Sunday, April 22. Folks from First Mennonite Church will lead in a prayer and a song to bless the garden, the gardeners, and all the creatures for whom this plot of ground is home. Bring a sack lunch, if you like, and linger in a beautiful place! The blessing will happen rain or shine, unless there is a storm brewing.</span></span><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-xVFiZ5mtNO2KXETlbGUnj9WPJeB0Ci-Dm6hzhnhyZL1I8eNsIQtHMmFKM5KorAwCmqgA1W_6i_N6mfThhMnZlX6AMPWpQsZUPsc2CX8BjRVyd4hyphenhyphenZxtoV0YicFEbgsPqs2U5h0rVfc/s1600/IMG_5525.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-xVFiZ5mtNO2KXETlbGUnj9WPJeB0Ci-Dm6hzhnhyZL1I8eNsIQtHMmFKM5KorAwCmqgA1W_6i_N6mfThhMnZlX6AMPWpQsZUPsc2CX8BjRVyd4hyphenhyphenZxtoV0YicFEbgsPqs2U5h0rVfc/s320/IMG_5525.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732731789772523762" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">The garden has all manner of entertainment for the kids.<br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTZMFGROLQSNu8_s-5pSk3qSecdWkVaoehT3vt1fbXzc_C-oTHI2Tftq0rTsLtjl5ejPs5E4LVSxx_B7pM9PMsBFeKieOLQmxDVRjxfQSgBHhhl1nS2ZMi4BLwz7MLeWcw_Zpquxxjwc/s1600/IMG_5522.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTZMFGROLQSNu8_s-5pSk3qSecdWkVaoehT3vt1fbXzc_C-oTHI2Tftq0rTsLtjl5ejPs5E4LVSxx_B7pM9PMsBFeKieOLQmxDVRjxfQSgBHhhl1nS2ZMi4BLwz7MLeWcw_Zpquxxjwc/s320/IMG_5522.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732731710637814418" border="0" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;">Work Party Update:</span></b><div>We had a great work party on Saturday, April 14th. The fence got installed, paths are mulched and plots laid out and numbered. The sweet potato tire stacks are on the <i>inside</i> of the fence this year so that the fat woodchuck cannot use them as stairs to breach our perimeter. However, for people looking to come do a little extra work, we still need to have the stakes that hold the fence down pounded into the ground all the way around the fence (they will be in the shed; bring a rubber mallet if you have one), and there is always, always weeding in the front garden beds to do as people have time.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4d8IAL3r1jn7aCJxxrIzeIP41pXwlC6JavxvppF2MIKvAzmVzvyPoDxg30sbFjkS4SEUvWusrlYXMxofW4mdt28EwnyU7JPCrkAMM0-071Sg8rNCOzXeWQkshrCKdF_liX8Zp6QVFK7g/s1600/IMG_5515.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4d8IAL3r1jn7aCJxxrIzeIP41pXwlC6JavxvppF2MIKvAzmVzvyPoDxg30sbFjkS4SEUvWusrlYXMxofW4mdt28EwnyU7JPCrkAMM0-071Sg8rNCOzXeWQkshrCKdF_liX8Zp6QVFK7g/s320/IMG_5515.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732731217979701986" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:78%;"> April 14 workday: laying out the perimeter fence stakes (above) and mulching paths between the plots (below)<br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4Poz3cBmmFkO0zNhU2vEdgmQFLsITZChy8xZctQE2z1mM5RMjLzuhpdvfkGDfQ9BGM5U6tsW1fL0tg6g_lLKhabN04N_aAx08f8sKHiJo_mC_DoE31OShgL-Bei8F_lY2SkSghyHhTg/s1600/IMG_5517.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4Poz3cBmmFkO0zNhU2vEdgmQFLsITZChy8xZctQE2z1mM5RMjLzuhpdvfkGDfQ9BGM5U6tsW1fL0tg6g_lLKhabN04N_aAx08f8sKHiJo_mC_DoE31OShgL-Bei8F_lY2SkSghyHhTg/s320/IMG_5517.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732731537980058386" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Also, please think of the worms in our vermicomposter if you currently throw out kitchen scraps. Keep a little bucket or an old pot with a lid, and collect any sort of veggie or fruit scraps, bread, pasta, egg shells, and non-meat items. When you come to the garden, dump it into the vermicomposter. It has black doors and looks a little like a tornado shelter. The wormies will thank you, and the compost we get from it will help improve the soil.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you need the combination for the shed, please email Marcia Widmer: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(96, 117, 139); -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">tmmrwidmer (at sign) msn dot com.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(96, 117, 139); -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div></div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955953773716387670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129171204523212114.post-38478430831550698372012-03-30T09:36:00.003-07:002012-03-30T09:41:57.911-07:00New Season Beginning<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><div style="font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; "><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/24236972@N03/6293731814/" title="IMG_5034 by MOCG, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6213/6293731814_4056b4de87.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_5034" /></a></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small; ">The garden at the end of the last growing season, with kiosk and vegetable giveaway shelf made by Art & Ecology students.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">The Miller Orchard Community Garden will commence its third growing season on April 14th with a work party to install fencing, lay out plots and paths, and welcome new and returning gardeners. The party will begin at 10 a.m. Please bring food to share, as well as your own plate, cup, and utensils. You can sign up for a plot at the party, or by contacting Marcia Widmer at (319) <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; border-collapse: collapse; ">354-8468 or via email:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"> tmmrwidmer@msn.com. </span></span></div></div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955953773716387670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129171204523212114.post-54689780516308108952012-01-23T07:33:00.000-08:002012-01-23T07:43:51.861-08:00Spring Home and Gardening Gala<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtY4hAcpZZ3RNnBvobhksiAKpRs3QRGKphbvSWAonGyG005uhJ9AgMYDWQ1Sj7I7is3K4JHRzPmS7jXMOxtSVDQAZ18D9T_FfF2PhTpjCkUu7hmkiBs9cnj4dReSudfOS1VKv2BQVtXc4/s1600/DSCF1503.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 315px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtY4hAcpZZ3RNnBvobhksiAKpRs3QRGKphbvSWAonGyG005uhJ9AgMYDWQ1Sj7I7is3K4JHRzPmS7jXMOxtSVDQAZ18D9T_FfF2PhTpjCkUu7hmkiBs9cnj4dReSudfOS1VKv2BQVtXc4/s320/DSCF1503.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700852980446402146" /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small; "> image credit: http://bread-water-salt-oil.blogspot.com/2008/04/heart-of-tomato.html</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Spring Home and Gardening Gala<u></u><u></u></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Saturday, March 3<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">9:00 am - 4:00 pm<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Johnson County Fairgrounds Extension Building<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">4265 Oak Crest Hill Rd SE, Iowa City, IA<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Save money, energy and time by creating a beautiful home and garden that work harmoniously together. Meet fellow gardeners and home energy enthusiasts at this fun and information-packed event.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Workshops include:<u></u><u></u></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><u></u><span style=" ;font-family:Symbol;"><span>·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman'; "> </span></span></span><u></u>Successful Gardening Basics<u></u><u></u></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><u></u><span style=" ;font-family:Symbol;"><span>·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman'; "> </span></span></span><u></u>Deer-Resistant Gardening<u></u><u></u></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><u></u><span style=" ;font-family:Symbol;"><span>·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman'; "> </span></span></span><u></u>Easily Create a New Garden Bed<u></u><u></u></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><u></u><span style=" ;font-family:Symbol;"><span>·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman'; "> </span></span></span><u></u>Grow Mushrooms at Home<u></u><u></u></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><u></u><span style=" ;font-family:Symbol;"><span>·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman'; "> </span></span></span><u></u>Grow Seedlings and Save Money<u></u><u></u></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><u></u><span style=" ;font-family:Symbol;"><span>·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman'; "> </span></span></span><u></u>Reuse Materials in the Garden<u></u><u></u></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><u></u><span style=" ;font-family:Symbol;"><span>·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman'; "> </span></span></span><u></u>Create an Eco-Friendly Home<u></u><u></u></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><u></u><span style=" ;font-family:Symbol;"><span>·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman'; "> </span></span></span><u></u>Save Energy with Windbreaks and Shade<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">The cost is $30 if registered by February 29 and $35 at the door. Lunch, access to all workshops and materials are provided. Hosted by Backyard Abundance, the Master Gardeners, Trees Forever, and Center on Sustainable Communities. <a href="http://www.backyardabundance.org/ClassesandEvents/Calendar/tabid/65/vw/3/ItemID/306/d/20120303/Default.aspx">Click here</a> for complete schedule.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:7;"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: -webkit-xxx-large; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><u></u> </p></span></div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955953773716387670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129171204523212114.post-76134914669802988772011-10-29T21:15:00.000-07:002011-10-29T21:33:57.006-07:00Art & Ecology studentsSarah Kanouse's Art & Ecology students from the University of Iowa's School of Art & Art History have done amazing work over the last two semesters at the garden site. They have been tremendously helpful with putting up fencing, weeding, tree-of-heaven removal, and animating the garden space. This semester, Sarah's students completed a pair of lovely and much-desired message boards, one at the front of the site, one next to the garden itself. They designed them so that gardeners can leave messages, post flyers for events and workshops, distribute information to people who might be interested in gardening, and leave extra produce out to be taken by others. They also devised a flagging system so that we can flag plots that can be picked by anybody, great for when gardeners go away for a few weeks in the summer. This will enhance communication, as I suspect that not many gardeners check this blog as their main source of garden information.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/24236972@N03/6293730680/" title="IMG_5032 by MOCG, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6111/6293730680_a96754f4b7.jpg" alt="IMG_5032" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Message board at the front of the garden, with nasturtium still going strong in mid-October.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/24236972@N03/6293731814/" title="IMG_5034 by MOCG, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6213/6293731814_4056b4de87.jpg" alt="IMG_5034" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">The message board with shelf for flags and veggies. The white part is now a blackboard, and the corkboard has a plexiglass cover.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/24236972@N03/6293763430/" title="IMG_4832 by MOCG, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6116/6293763430_55315b1300.jpg" alt="IMG_4832" height="500" width="375" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">The vermicomposting unit, built in the spring.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/24236972@N03/6293240555/" title="IMG_4833 by MOCG, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6120/6293240555_1574173a4a.jpg" alt="IMG_4833" height="500" width="375" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Interior of the vermicomposter. I hope the worms got enough kitchen scraps and that they survive the winter.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/24236972@N03/6293209939/" title="IMG_5038 by MOCG, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6120/6293209939_115e921bb7.jpg" alt="IMG_5038" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">The beautiful butterfly milkweed pod. We have a cluster of them that come up every year at the front of the garden.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/24236972@N03/6293210627/" title="IMG_5039 by MOCG, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6228/6293210627_d9d552f3a7.jpg" alt="IMG_5039" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.wildfoods.info/wildfoods/milkweed.html"><br />Bonus reading on milkweed</a>. Did you know that it is an edible plant and that "[i]n World War II, schoolchildren across the Midwest collected thousands of pounds of milkweed fluff to stuff life preservers for the armed forces in the Pacific, because kapok, the normal material used for this purpose, came from Japanese-occupied Indonesia and was unavailable. Today, you can buy pillows, jackets, and comforters stuffed with this material, which is wonderfully soft and has a higher insulative value than goose down..."?Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955953773716387670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129171204523212114.post-140978195096247842011-10-15T12:09:00.000-07:002011-10-15T12:16:39.588-07:00Harvest Party, October 22<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/stigs/53195655/" title="Harvest by Stigs, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/27/53195655_372cd762f5.jpg" alt="Harvest" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">photo: Ken Stigler (stigs), flickr.com</span><br /><br />What: Harvest Party and end of season clean-up<br />When: Sat., Oct. 22, 12-2 p.m. (rain date, Sat. Oct. 29, 12-2 p.m.)<br />Why: To celebrate the end of the growing season and all the hard work put in by gardeners and other community groups at the garden site.<br />Who: Everybody! Whether or not you gardened, come on down. Want to meet some neighbors? Come see what is happening at the garden. Interested in gardening next season? Come learn more.<br />Where: 815 Orchard St., Iowa City, in the back half of the lot.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Most importantly: Bring some food to share, as well as your own utensils and plate.</span>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955953773716387670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129171204523212114.post-18672732218044282242011-08-13T21:09:00.000-07:002011-08-13T21:53:09.592-07:00Fauna ReportSome of the wonderful folks from <a href="http://www.iowacitysos.org/">Iowa City Summer of Solutions</a> came by and dispatched the tree-of-heaven thicket that had been growing on the edge of the front flower bed and pulled weeds so that the flowers have a bit more room to bloom. We are grateful for their efforts!
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<br />The flowers are attracting lots of animal life: bees, at least three kinds of butterflies, and a female ruby-throated hummingbird at the bee balm today. Very exciting! I was not fast enough to take a picture of the hummer, but here are a few of the slower insects (black butterfly on the bee balm, bees on the sunflowers).
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<br /></div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955953773716387670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129171204523212114.post-5000280875974527032011-07-29T21:00:00.001-07:002011-07-29T21:25:20.764-07:00High summer at the gardenIt's the end of July, and the garden is hopping, literally. We have had a few baby bunnies that have gotten trapped inside the fence, and kids and grown-ups have scared them half to death by chasing them. I think they are too big to fit in now as I haven't seen any for awhile. I found a papery snakeskin in my tomatoes today, evidence that we still have critters inside the garden (glad I didn't see the snake).<br /><br />Here's a picture of the garden from the beginning of the season:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjknq4cjPqzt7zAQVVQYABKE7cdVIwN9YEVGkRz4CnAOf0A1nK_qXyvQfEOLElGZjH42fxM5U1ypmF9YB0JTWj5LJvPJPK862Y96ylXn3zfYFAXYl5O77ThUv0vZJ-ZBFVBdV96BpVuglQ/s1600/IMG_4021.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjknq4cjPqzt7zAQVVQYABKE7cdVIwN9YEVGkRz4CnAOf0A1nK_qXyvQfEOLElGZjH42fxM5U1ypmF9YB0JTWj5LJvPJPK862Y96ylXn3zfYFAXYl5O77ThUv0vZJ-ZBFVBdV96BpVuglQ/s320/IMG_4021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634991435759082562" border="0" /></a>And here it is now. That patch with the grass mulch is now full of zinnias and sunflowers, decorations for a gardener's upcoming wedding.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizEl9eDqC2SDXf_R5UHuMnsIXpkY3AwtCVUvzR8hohWSH6_7-BsmS_OJktfJmEmI8dHRa8hGq0U0f5CsuwWNtZyMfHzf87inM3WAdOATkLzAe7Y8uj-pOaQAwbQe37puo_w7oJAJ0ZLSY/s1600/IMG_4595.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizEl9eDqC2SDXf_R5UHuMnsIXpkY3AwtCVUvzR8hohWSH6_7-BsmS_OJktfJmEmI8dHRa8hGq0U0f5CsuwWNtZyMfHzf87inM3WAdOATkLzAe7Y8uj-pOaQAwbQe37puo_w7oJAJ0ZLSY/s320/IMG_4595.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634991854764967666" border="0" /></a>Here are some other photos from the garden:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8vRIkRbTI3Dp90WykiCx01hX92rIBcVZrq1dl1EFGhx2WYqp-RI4XDYUytMqQ7E5mm4XeWqUWREGkGAf6NWWN-ynXSorSx8hkO5TQAxAH3ja-z8bAL6JiBN06UxnOw7sz1xlF8-7rQs/s1600/IMG_4605.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8vRIkRbTI3Dp90WykiCx01hX92rIBcVZrq1dl1EFGhx2WYqp-RI4XDYUytMqQ7E5mm4XeWqUWREGkGAf6NWWN-ynXSorSx8hkO5TQAxAH3ja-z8bAL6JiBN06UxnOw7sz1xlF8-7rQs/s320/IMG_4605.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634994944967696834" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The entrance sign and sunflower wall from the Art & Ecology students' service learning project<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7kPK0fxEBqnOt49sc2j_emHSdIMsG4Xdz9wjpLv3xK3Dg0HbncI8T1Eq3_g7t69ubDD6fdx6ZTZ-pWNeXTloz9_cWkLhwgJlf-Sl6VGXahUv1TznWudWaorCep4qvztsQ6BpdNJde0s/s1600/IMG_4608.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7kPK0fxEBqnOt49sc2j_emHSdIMsG4Xdz9wjpLv3xK3Dg0HbncI8T1Eq3_g7t69ubDD6fdx6ZTZ-pWNeXTloz9_cWkLhwgJlf-Sl6VGXahUv1TznWudWaorCep4qvztsQ6BpdNJde0s/s320/IMG_4608.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634994955499321506" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">One of the tipis made for morning glories, also by the Art & Ecology class.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQfhdLA2eKUpkRlGBMF2QPbHaMQq4afjzRdBmdUPc6OF5axJ50x2flYWuxZU_QbjhJvCtLNW6B3aw1j0lexJizrMAld785Rslo9bebTleZswc6b9tHLaosP6zgxBZFbz1RgGzsLhX2Ts/s1600/IMG_4594.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQfhdLA2eKUpkRlGBMF2QPbHaMQq4afjzRdBmdUPc6OF5axJ50x2flYWuxZU_QbjhJvCtLNW6B3aw1j0lexJizrMAld785Rslo9bebTleZswc6b9tHLaosP6zgxBZFbz1RgGzsLhX2Ts/s320/IMG_4594.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634993684834523186" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Kale in Karla and Nathan's plot<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn23QcmXLEoECvm74AM2hSQMWgzZJ7gCltxsrDlaQpByjoiCVvNeqpDHkG1p_HaLMrRWxVfQJ7npJR8RS8wIPsXMqNDdv8V7TTpD9Dux7AXJzmeCAmb3aobw8Ayo-lEXxWb8gpNheerdY/s1600/IMG_4597.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn23QcmXLEoECvm74AM2hSQMWgzZJ7gCltxsrDlaQpByjoiCVvNeqpDHkG1p_HaLMrRWxVfQJ7npJR8RS8wIPsXMqNDdv8V7TTpD9Dux7AXJzmeCAmb3aobw8Ayo-lEXxWb8gpNheerdY/s320/IMG_4597.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634993694970961778" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">A pepper plant in one of Mark's many plots<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_ZXfd-79snKl23gwJel4YTIZpu0T5zY1l-XontXX5IFgQCZ0lei8xCwYfJ6x773sFpKCW1OI6F7fo2J617tnDtoLUM6Tchxt6dwdDcWRfPsvAPIlorxbnNYcQChU4jdbp5ymVY__95Q/s1600/IMG_4598.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_ZXfd-79snKl23gwJel4YTIZpu0T5zY1l-XontXX5IFgQCZ0lei8xCwYfJ6x773sFpKCW1OI6F7fo2J617tnDtoLUM6Tchxt6dwdDcWRfPsvAPIlorxbnNYcQChU4jdbp5ymVY__95Q/s320/IMG_4598.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634993702147048466" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">No fear, these are from my garden, not the wedding decoration plot.</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIzb7EPs93mu46kkhWonutwka9lKM3PF_O-mqrrQPzlGCZe3s1ol42QzYoVOd5DY-QH4NT6r_yHj4esUWmJjb3xOy2U2Ng_fsCuHntbJNtNQSB7juyzmpvVriPGlsxVM6Y7Yay8Wc00Bk/s1600/IMG_4591.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIzb7EPs93mu46kkhWonutwka9lKM3PF_O-mqrrQPzlGCZe3s1ol42QzYoVOd5DY-QH4NT6r_yHj4esUWmJjb3xOy2U2Ng_fsCuHntbJNtNQSB7juyzmpvVriPGlsxVM6Y7Yay8Wc00Bk/s320/IMG_4591.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634993673241871314" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Like a sunset in flower form<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRu8-URoIMYga2mdqprAq5CY32tVbTVkTTrGCmwYZbuBVkljvdjTREH8dw5uWLPRrEBS2zYurGL08zq3k-sPfV2r0npVI1Z4ruNVEoJOo1M9A96L_VOwVy8DcBhk6xGUWwueAc7ta71M4/s1600/IMG_4599.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRu8-URoIMYga2mdqprAq5CY32tVbTVkTTrGCmwYZbuBVkljvdjTREH8dw5uWLPRrEBS2zYurGL08zq3k-sPfV2r0npVI1Z4ruNVEoJOo1M9A96L_VOwVy8DcBhk6xGUWwueAc7ta71M4/s320/IMG_4599.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634993709737285394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">So much tasty produce is growing in these little plots.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRu8-URoIMYga2mdqprAq5CY32tVbTVkTTrGCmwYZbuBVkljvdjTREH8dw5uWLPRrEBS2zYurGL08zq3k-sPfV2r0npVI1Z4ruNVEoJOo1M9A96L_VOwVy8DcBhk6xGUWwueAc7ta71M4/s1600/IMG_4599.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdDInIpwLNE810SQeCRu1nI4OvRnhGcbthydNrcGlAee2LOl9uZRlh63AoD2tdB76UCdHFSk2kGyz4qAz6hk6f4rfy1C70Oqk02NuP5BrDmuP3yUBoR7HDUxOPamPKfUKspWFjCbcox4/s1600/IMG_4601.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdDInIpwLNE810SQeCRu1nI4OvRnhGcbthydNrcGlAee2LOl9uZRlh63AoD2tdB76UCdHFSk2kGyz4qAz6hk6f4rfy1C70Oqk02NuP5BrDmuP3yUBoR7HDUxOPamPKfUKspWFjCbcox4/s320/IMG_4601.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634994937075195218" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Hurray for the ripening of the tomatoes!</span><br /></div></div>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955953773716387670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129171204523212114.post-62074527142229438102011-07-29T20:48:00.001-07:002011-07-29T20:58:39.906-07:00The sweet potato stacks workshop<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLM3V5wEo7OhRhieinCXQAwUUTunK_skdj0pxr-mzX_3hRu2zyF7Zqp_uoHORvJWgvXBqcBiGcj56cYNxUXT1IO1n9W_IW_gkyO3tBZsTG_3-cj09Z5sdbjmDzZhz6-OQwfP83fSlCro/s1600/IMG_4026.JPG"><br /></a>A few photos from the sweet potato workshop:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih9rX_RQ3AS2WBjOoX_tc6Wqe1NvVp88OhbBiFS5cfBrcdG1jq4KuJej5JBZvQ7SX6IouhRtItZk73wT4MFYXjMsir_hEEd7HraDh8FMYjhyHzKjVrDlmf8IrTur9W6tQcyiwh0Z3fceU/s1600/IMG_4024.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih9rX_RQ3AS2WBjOoX_tc6Wqe1NvVp88OhbBiFS5cfBrcdG1jq4KuJej5JBZvQ7SX6IouhRtItZk73wT4MFYXjMsir_hEEd7HraDh8FMYjhyHzKjVrDlmf8IrTur9W6tQcyiwh0Z3fceU/s320/IMG_4024.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634988629783605426" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1PWNpeF2rkwppr9oI_fGwqILD5GuFGSsor4ahlhazOUnlo1TUBs_DO4kQLY-lA66sNny685nl88qpB-KBOtJKvDzduRUYEtic7ltOAtKkGTArrA2iyRrd1OtgFf2mb-PxYxSZsGvit1Q/s1600/IMG_4021.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLM3V5wEo7OhRhieinCXQAwUUTunK_skdj0pxr-mzX_3hRu2zyF7Zqp_uoHORvJWgvXBqcBiGcj56cYNxUXT1IO1n9W_IW_gkyO3tBZsTG_3-cj09Z5sdbjmDzZhz6-OQwfP83fSlCro/s1600/IMG_4026.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLM3V5wEo7OhRhieinCXQAwUUTunK_skdj0pxr-mzX_3hRu2zyF7Zqp_uoHORvJWgvXBqcBiGcj56cYNxUXT1IO1n9W_IW_gkyO3tBZsTG_3-cj09Z5sdbjmDzZhz6-OQwfP83fSlCro/s320/IMG_4026.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634988636705206706" border="0" /></a><br />The stacks are pretty easy - 3 tires filled with a 75/25 mixture of sand and soil, planted with sweet potato starts. The sweet potatoes like to have a sawn-off milk jug placed over them for a few weeks, then a shade (an old wood shingle is the best), and plenty of water. At the end of the season, you remove the tires, and the potatoes are easy to harvest from the mound of sand.Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955953773716387670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129171204523212114.post-50232751427010567152011-05-04T19:55:00.000-07:002011-05-04T20:01:45.863-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ZvJQYsp9GlEA45RNJsoM34CH4r7CppytWxS1AEYbQRZV5XUA7Wu1sKXHwez_4JxGOJoqndySz7jQytYHGjdlaXZ2QFv11hHGAaKCi7BP06Fv9X110t1YPf9Y97kpyaiXPR8R3WUOHH4/s1600/potato_montage.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ZvJQYsp9GlEA45RNJsoM34CH4r7CppytWxS1AEYbQRZV5XUA7Wu1sKXHwez_4JxGOJoqndySz7jQytYHGjdlaXZ2QFv11hHGAaKCi7BP06Fv9X110t1YPf9Y97kpyaiXPR8R3WUOHH4/s320/potato_montage.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603061703724693154" border="0" /></a><br />Sweet <span>potato</span> planting workshop are <b>Saturday, May 21 at 9 AM</b>, with a <b>rain date of Saturday, May 28 at 9 AM</b>.<br />Run by Marcia Widmer's dad, Mr. Ever. If you wish to participate, please email Marcia and Todd Widmer and let them know that you plan to attend and how many sweet <span>potato</span> towers each person wants.<br /><br />Supplies needed for the workshop: <div> </div> <div>3 tires/tower (Todd and Marcia will procure, but your assistance with rolling them out to the garden would be appreciated)</div> <div>Sweet <span>potato</span> starts (Todd and Marcia will pick them up)</div> <div>Sand, to mix with the dirt (About 1 bushel sand/tower - we are still working on procuring the sand. If you can help, please let them know.)</div> <div>Shovels (we have some at the site)<br /></div> <div>Trowels, if people want</div> <div>Buckets for transporting water from the rain barrels to the towers (BYOB)<br /></div> a shingle or a milkjug with its top cut off to shield the young plants for the first week or so.<br /><br />If you have questions, you can also contact me (Katherine), but Marcia knows more about this event than I do. Cheers.Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955953773716387670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129171204523212114.post-51204410915175801332011-04-24T10:59:00.000-07:002011-04-24T11:06:44.940-07:00The First Mennonite Church youth group and Karla Stolzus-Detweiler came out to lay mulch paths on Saturday. Thank you so much for all your work. The paths look great, and you did major combat against the weeds. There were also some of Art & Ecology students out constructing trellises and refurbishing the sign, and gardeners mulching beds, a preemptive strike against the weeds.<br /><br /><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.flickr.com/slideShow/index.gne?user_id=24236972@N03&tags=4/23" frameborder="0" height="500" scrolling="no" width="500" align="center"></iframe>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955953773716387670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129171204523212114.post-88373752207789753312011-04-14T12:41:00.001-07:002011-04-14T12:53:09.304-07:00Iowa Planting Guide<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9b/Potato_EarlyRose_sprouts.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 408px; height: 308px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9b/Potato_EarlyRose_sprouts.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">Early Rose Potato, sprouted. photo by Matthias Karlsson<br /></span></div><br />The ISU extension has put out a nice, easy-to-read <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.extension.iastate.edu/publications/pm534.pdf%20%20">planting guide</a>, downloadable as a PDF.<br /><br />Here are some items you can plant right now (mid-April):<br />beets<br />broccoli<br />cabbage transplants<br />cauliflower<br />onion sets<br />spinach<br />sprouted potatoes<br />Swiss chard<br />turnipsKatherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955953773716387670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129171204523212114.post-70012265226709812712011-04-07T19:47:00.000-07:002011-04-07T22:42:29.752-07:00Art & Ecology students at the MOCG workdayWe are very lucky to have students from Sarah Kanouse's Art and Ecology class at the University of Iowa working on a service learning project at the garden site. Many hands really do make light work, and we are grateful for the energy and time they spent helping tidy up the garden site on April 2nd. The students came out in force and helped rake leaves, trimmed trees back so that we can mow, picked up trash and detritus, and gave us a huge assist with the rabbit fence. They will be designing and installing signage and plantings on the east side of the garden. Stay tuned to see the results of their work.<br /><br /><iframe align=center src=http://www.flickr.com/slideShow/index.gne?user_id=24236972@N03&tags=MOCG frameBorder=0 width=500 scrolling=no height=500></iframe>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955953773716387670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129171204523212114.post-19402775367851944482011-04-06T11:56:00.000-07:002011-04-06T12:04:02.626-07:00Spring Kick-off Meet'n'Greet this Saturday (4/9)Do you like to dig in the dirt? Grow flowers? Eat vegetables? Meet new people?<br />You can do all that, right here in our neighborhood. Come find out more.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRkf_ZhnlCW1OqA-huEkO5-oO58RfAyeoCioEWWkdizLfb9sIiLu5S-1Cu2iuHkHAKCT_XFUQG-IO2omNHfxTlnWmLQ9sq0n1PSgZvXIp-rf_Bh8FlrITIglZiGGXN_wnwWK7F68tXVR8/s1600/12198031111906207998gardening.svg.hi.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRkf_ZhnlCW1OqA-huEkO5-oO58RfAyeoCioEWWkdizLfb9sIiLu5S-1Cu2iuHkHAKCT_XFUQG-IO2omNHfxTlnWmLQ9sq0n1PSgZvXIp-rf_Bh8FlrITIglZiGGXN_wnwWK7F68tXVR8/s320/12198031111906207998gardening.svg.hi.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592546690700821906" border="0" /></a><br />MOCG Meet'n'Greet<br />Saturday, April 9th, 1-3 p.m. (raindate 4/16)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRkf_ZhnlCW1OqA-huEkO5-oO58RfAyeoCioEWWkdizLfb9sIiLu5S-1Cu2iuHkHAKCT_XFUQG-IO2omNHfxTlnWmLQ9sq0n1PSgZvXIp-rf_Bh8FlrITIglZiGGXN_wnwWK7F68tXVR8/s1600/12198031111906207998gardening.svg.hi.png"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>12</o:Words> <o:characters>71</o:Characters> <o:company>University of Iowa</o:Company> <o:lines>1</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>87</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Arial; panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Arial Black"; panose-1:2 11 10 4 2 1 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></a><br />815 Orchard St. (located on the lot next to Dental Ceramics)<br /><br />This is a great time to scope out the garden site, meet some of the current gardeners, and sign up for a plot ($10 for a 10'x10' plot). We will also have a brief demonstration on how to make a very easy raised keyhole garden bed.<br /><br />Next events: 4/14 Roosevelt Family night, plant starters, 4/30 seed and starter swap.Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955953773716387670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129171204523212114.post-6640637382320161232011-03-25T12:05:00.000-07:002011-03-25T12:14:28.188-07:00MOCG Spring events - Sign up for your garden plot!The Miller Orchard Community Garden is beginning its second growing<br />season at 815 Orchard St. (across from Planned Parenthood), and we<br />invite anybody who is interested in growing flowers or vegetables to<br />sign up for a plot and get growing! Meet your neighbors, learn about<br />gardening, and eat delicious produce this summer. 10'x10' plots are<br />available (you may sign up for more than one) for $10/plot. Beginning<br />gardeners are welcome. You don't need any special tools or equipment.<br />The garden has rain barrels (thanks to the kindness of Nancy at Dental<br />Ceramics); we are putting up a rabbit fence around the garden<br />perimeter; there are gardening tools and gloves in the shed on-site.<br />We will have group gardening hours Tuesdays from 5-7 p.m. and<br />Saturdays from 1-3 p.m. (this may change to early morning when the<br />weather heats up) for people who want to learn from each other or<br />socialize.<br /><br />Art students from Sarah Kanouse's Art & Ecology class are going to be completing an entrance sign and beautification project in the next 6 weeks, so keep an eye out for a new entrance sign, and watch their plantings grow over the summer. They are also planning a vermicomposting bin for the garden. We are excited about their presence and their projects!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkPDLuNOgzPzF_bSU6NmcdPX9a43QQHpd_7fFj0YhEPycAI3-q_2tkBfXCHpbkqTR6SnGgA6usl0D1PixbGUb4qGexlV-l4mhvz7Nwc9ZR8Ug9XhJoizirnzjfxAUtVdsaeb72WsGVfy4/s1600/1240632966_26a78bb66c.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkPDLuNOgzPzF_bSU6NmcdPX9a43QQHpd_7fFj0YhEPycAI3-q_2tkBfXCHpbkqTR6SnGgA6usl0D1PixbGUb4qGexlV-l4mhvz7Nwc9ZR8Ug9XhJoizirnzjfxAUtVdsaeb72WsGVfy4/s320/1240632966_26a78bb66c.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588097073851212498" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Worms make good soil.</span> photo credit: Clare Snow, flickr.com</span><br /></div><br />Our spring calendar of events (all events are free, and everyone is welcome):<br /><br /> ****April 2, workday 10-1 p.m.****<br /><br /> • April 9th, Kick-off Party, 1-3 p.m. at the garden site Come<br />meet other gardeners, enjoy some snacks, drinks, and learn how to make<br />an insanely easy raised garden bed. (rain date April 16th) This is a<br />good time to sign up for a plot, but you can contact Katherine Parker<br />Bryden (phone: <a href="tel:319.466.9445" target="_blank">319.466.9445</a>, email: <a href="mailto:katherinecparker@gmail.com" target="_blank">katherinecparker@gmail.com</a>)<br />anytime between now and April 23rd to get a plot.<br /> • April 14th, 5:15-6:30 at Roosevelt Elementary MOCG at Roosevelt<br />Roadrunner Club Family Night: "Spring Planting" seed-starting activity<br />for kids and families.<br /> • April 23rd, time TBD, garden site FMC Youth group workday to lay<br />down mulch paths. *This is the last day to sign up for a garden<br />plot.*<br /> • April 30th, Seed and Started Plant Swap, 1-3 p.m. garden site<br />(Benton Hill Park pavilion if the weather is bad) Bring some of your<br />extra seeds or plant starts and swap for varieties you don't have.<br /> • Demonstration: Spud Stacks -- Learn to grow sweet potatoes inside a<br />stack of tires. date TBD, but look for advertising in the<br />neighborhood!<br /><br />For plots (last day to sign up is 4/23) or questions, call Katherine<br />Bryden at <a href="tel:319.466.9445" target="_blank">319.466.9445</a>, or come out to the garden if you see people<br />working out there!Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955953773716387670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129171204523212114.post-70742438462889717412011-02-15T01:35:00.000-08:002011-02-15T01:43:42.928-08:00Growing Potatoes in a Small Space<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTerVLOpyP0cCVpC04juPDr7pGGYWiaHCAP0cURMPgWAbyenDT-wuKZ0gcsL8olJj3lANrrEhV3qQyLQfx06a8PorqQKZICc8YQ-yUpckqhzCAqAZPpQa_m_WJPEgr9wxb7tPSvUrqyQU/s1600/2809006820_ceae1244b8.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTerVLOpyP0cCVpC04juPDr7pGGYWiaHCAP0cURMPgWAbyenDT-wuKZ0gcsL8olJj3lANrrEhV3qQyLQfx06a8PorqQKZICc8YQ-yUpckqhzCAqAZPpQa_m_WJPEgr9wxb7tPSvUrqyQU/s320/2809006820_ceae1244b8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573849194264409762" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">image credit: <a href="%3Chttp://www.flickr.com/photos/nsalt/%3E">Nick Saltmarsh</a></span><br /></div><br /><a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/homegarden/2002347126_potatoes25.html">Grow 100 lbs. of potatoes in a 4 foot square space</a><br /><br />We are planning to have a workshop on this very topic in the spring. Stay tuned for details!Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955953773716387670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129171204523212114.post-19787079337127011272011-01-20T07:51:00.000-08:002011-01-20T07:52:14.058-08:00Site view<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFqTQGA3fUR1t5b1injAmkHLuFRxuWEoS_rD9Z1lXVm2QeLFvYy3BgNDqJxTlQXVp8fmt1hljSNLLvzirl5lIVW-W7scz4pLcvjItPKHjkOuY1f3WrGo1X-EqbBszGeMfqYUeK8TQODTc/s1600/MOCG_site.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFqTQGA3fUR1t5b1injAmkHLuFRxuWEoS_rD9Z1lXVm2QeLFvYy3BgNDqJxTlQXVp8fmt1hljSNLLvzirl5lIVW-W7scz4pLcvjItPKHjkOuY1f3WrGo1X-EqbBszGeMfqYUeK8TQODTc/s400/MOCG_site.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564296296403470898" border="0" /></a>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955953773716387670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129171204523212114.post-13075602028259423122011-01-20T06:48:00.000-08:002011-01-20T07:00:13.950-08:00Harvest Party, October 2010<div style="text-align: center;">Harvesting a "success-failure," a still-green pumpkin<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKvCc9huVTp24-ZX2kfc1VzMvB-A7_unsarT5AB0rmrA9OKqzBX5NcnF9GcLWp-W0EMGLsjcfehtcvvgFv1IgILvsaTQD9Jbd_eM2gPagFF7WP3869ez5pqYt4d0tnK3HzpCUJhpOkl0/s1600/pumpkin_kid.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKvCc9huVTp24-ZX2kfc1VzMvB-A7_unsarT5AB0rmrA9OKqzBX5NcnF9GcLWp-W0EMGLsjcfehtcvvgFv1IgILvsaTQD9Jbd_eM2gPagFF7WP3869ez5pqYt4d0tnK3HzpCUJhpOkl0/s400/pumpkin_kid.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564281333164592898" border="0" /></a>Our lone orange pumpkin<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppABKXKQ4p-CHTS0NcL1MbHmiYPnk5vh_sL796sjjaZYQGLYZLhKl6yf4JIhxm6ljz_ucCLFWDtG-IrVvIOOLuA1TogqRf25Gg2tNQyT8fDP42hwE9FUGpFLXExa9wvxqioAUY5t71hk/s1600/2_pumpkins.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppABKXKQ4p-CHTS0NcL1MbHmiYPnk5vh_sL796sjjaZYQGLYZLhKl6yf4JIhxm6ljz_ucCLFWDtG-IrVvIOOLuA1TogqRf25Gg2tNQyT8fDP42hwE9FUGpFLXExa9wvxqioAUY5t71hk/s400/2_pumpkins.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564281260047578738" border="0" /></a><br />A bumper crop of decorative gourds<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRnPAGfVDyvnnmI_me8LeVo6SrV-B64zk0h4sLaMyVP2x3xynKEUkzaevXQxvVGQiqlezNFxSlRFbnQ1JxJsPLE8As3u81RKJRO_6DMPDNDj4vveSHl4r2MXAgHzvdwlPwLPJejvCGJyg/s1600/decorative_gourds.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRnPAGfVDyvnnmI_me8LeVo6SrV-B64zk0h4sLaMyVP2x3xynKEUkzaevXQxvVGQiqlezNFxSlRFbnQ1JxJsPLE8As3u81RKJRO_6DMPDNDj4vveSHl4r2MXAgHzvdwlPwLPJejvCGJyg/s400/decorative_gourds.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564281192859979778" border="0" /></a><br />Fun with tree-of-heaven cuttings: a tipi!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-N83DnHmQWbTkS7r_fOE0RlepBKYO1xL7D8XqHu0ffQMHGtQxwxjUQ9KuezyyEqS7v32_5v_X54FibKqAcNLefr6QvT6txXrOp4lgJLQS2a_eyajKm149GH5vmSGVUQAVq2wFrNvCW2k/s1600/tipi.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-N83DnHmQWbTkS7r_fOE0RlepBKYO1xL7D8XqHu0ffQMHGtQxwxjUQ9KuezyyEqS7v32_5v_X54FibKqAcNLefr6QvT6txXrOp4lgJLQS2a_eyajKm149GH5vmSGVUQAVq2wFrNvCW2k/s400/tipi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564281086835122802" border="0" /></a><br />Harvest party potluck. Squash curry, made with squash from the garden!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8uxKAFzl2JtkEqZsZErmLp3CS2hWVRgfT175yHxRm2X2fRsS_FafkqWTjNUlkvcL2niecf_GvGmQjTTEZDNgO8lSsJOImjbFNFvPQDhar316Ers1S5Z05gh498mETjAYjf6wU-ervs6Y/s1600/harvest_party_group.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8uxKAFzl2JtkEqZsZErmLp3CS2hWVRgfT175yHxRm2X2fRsS_FafkqWTjNUlkvcL2niecf_GvGmQjTTEZDNgO8lSsJOImjbFNFvPQDhar316Ers1S5Z05gh498mETjAYjf6wU-ervs6Y/s400/harvest_party_group.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564280794068951698" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfxLZh_NqNHOMafGMwGGfMTbGI2T_O2wQgkwca2i6m83kyznj0Px3URIcgXcniWRhWbR_i7zt1tJFmPRIssgPKeAPaRUZRMPWIGByQyFA7owZZ-eM4n78CWYjtQBcftjnaDlf4_7iTtnE/s1600/eating_harvest.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 106px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfxLZh_NqNHOMafGMwGGfMTbGI2T_O2wQgkwca2i6m83kyznj0Px3URIcgXcniWRhWbR_i7zt1tJFmPRIssgPKeAPaRUZRMPWIGByQyFA7owZZ-eM4n78CWYjtQBcftjnaDlf4_7iTtnE/s400/eating_harvest.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564280914866229266" border="0" /></a>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955953773716387670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129171204523212114.post-33670885224033233592011-01-20T04:47:00.000-08:002011-01-20T07:03:54.639-08:00Planting Party in (gulp!) June 2010<div style="text-align: center;">The tilled garden plot, with two plots planted</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTuFEtfEpMG_VlZt-2zXGC-xG-M8ji1kJ3_p2-zvaYS8mRdLOYEdMQteDIlMMm-tbEyUZitynXMsnKTVjSMQRovp6Y_bLWa_TJ65f3ToDKFETpXBBjICEZvytO9iSmS7BofqUYpLH8NA/s1600/IMG_1365.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTuFEtfEpMG_VlZt-2zXGC-xG-M8ji1kJ3_p2-zvaYS8mRdLOYEdMQteDIlMMm-tbEyUZitynXMsnKTVjSMQRovp6Y_bLWa_TJ65f3ToDKFETpXBBjICEZvytO9iSmS7BofqUYpLH8NA/s400/IMG_1365.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564252193491030210" border="0" /></a>The Children's Garden, newly planted<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikBYMnjeD6GNO1w-SR1YoNl1qvYTVJYJ3cVoEVtHXcXrFisGsDndP8xp0ZnLmmycgQGsXZ-gBGxSaJ0aHJ70HWNm6nkZMkYhGDgxWCD5WP-bttE1hdsSJrNo14QW39g3A5ohbgFJVuYVM/s1600/IMG_1366.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikBYMnjeD6GNO1w-SR1YoNl1qvYTVJYJ3cVoEVtHXcXrFisGsDndP8xp0ZnLmmycgQGsXZ-gBGxSaJ0aHJ70HWNm6nkZMkYhGDgxWCD5WP-bttE1hdsSJrNo14QW39g3A5ohbgFJVuYVM/s400/IMG_1366.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564250644026398450" border="0" /></a><br />The potluck table and gardeners<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjwIh0U2fTK1Z2vL4qI7dJ7DJ9KRdGDLgVpefllGJp0X-66Bl2483z2JMvmt_14PFT6Nzg9j8WRhyphenhyphenn-CFgq2gPVMHttLXDh7vcLrawf3w_aQZZ-B5ohjPdSbq4kLMRWB0aHs3LeQRSi0/s1600/IMG_1362.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjwIh0U2fTK1Z2vL4qI7dJ7DJ9KRdGDLgVpefllGJp0X-66Bl2483z2JMvmt_14PFT6Nzg9j8WRhyphenhyphenn-CFgq2gPVMHttLXDh7vcLrawf3w_aQZZ-B5ohjPdSbq4kLMRWB0aHs3LeQRSi0/s400/IMG_1362.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564249367841356338" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Josh and Shon shoveling composted soil for a plot<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_n1SbhI2EIvoNARANSm75KrNXMIlYtYjkVDrtj_oQXGVRZsBRUm4cXr4ZrU76EGkVNnb92c_JukQF-nXsjm00vkWNethA3GI_YrNwElzeFMgo16J9nRQUNfQ5MYNvsv_SRLcugWQuJ0w/s1600/IMG_1363.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_n1SbhI2EIvoNARANSm75KrNXMIlYtYjkVDrtj_oQXGVRZsBRUm4cXr4ZrU76EGkVNnb92c_JukQF-nXsjm00vkWNethA3GI_YrNwElzeFMgo16J9nRQUNfQ5MYNvsv_SRLcugWQuJ0w/s400/IMG_1363.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564251105172476930" border="0" /></a>Mark with tomato seedlings<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLr2wmEAkC4yecv-FBwcilL1DM9voDLlSbWzBSG88ojz8rGtMFLnEReUlsm2FNApKgZPbCqifUQFaBp3l1CIeQqrIF9TDUYIrkPaob4zJRSH4nGZ-61yl0_ocqyH7D1OfEBfXjaWggFwY/s1600/IMG_1367.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLr2wmEAkC4yecv-FBwcilL1DM9voDLlSbWzBSG88ojz8rGtMFLnEReUlsm2FNApKgZPbCqifUQFaBp3l1CIeQqrIF9TDUYIrkPaob4zJRSH4nGZ-61yl0_ocqyH7D1OfEBfXjaWggFwY/s400/IMG_1367.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564251551901986978" border="0" /></a>Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955953773716387670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129171204523212114.post-68382839713700286672010-09-15T13:30:00.000-07:002010-09-15T13:34:53.880-07:00Fending Off the Weeds with Newsprint (NY Times)From the Anne Raver in the NY Times:<br /><blockquote>...starting a new garden the no-till way — which basically means using newspapers to smother the grass and weeds without resorting to herbicides, and then adding a few inches of compost and planting right through it.<br /><br />The advantages of not tilling are many. Weed seeds are not brought to the surface of the soil, where they readily sprout and grow. You don’t churn up earthworms and countless other organisms that will aerate and enrich the soil just fine, thank you, if you feed them compost and leave them alone. And since gas-powered tillers not only pour hydrocarbons into the air, but also release CO2 when they churn up the soil, leaving them in the garage is a good way to cut down on your carbon footprint.<br /><br />I had read about this method in “Weedless Gardening,” by Lee Reich, a soil scientist in New Paltz, N.Y., and in the spring of 2009 had visited his bountiful gardens, which are never tilled and produce abundant fruit and vegetables with very few weeds.<br /><br />...<br /><br />Fall is a great time to start a new garden, even if you are not going to plant until spring. But if you love fall greens, which get sweeter with cold nights, there is still time to plant seeds of spinach, mustard greens, short-season bok choy, claytonia, mâche — even erba stella.</blockquote><br />Read the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/09/garden/09garden.html?_r=1&hpw">whole article here</a>.Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955953773716387670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129171204523212114.post-55211296783479856992010-07-29T08:52:00.001-07:002010-07-29T08:53:09.710-07:00Hello, WorldHello, world. This is the new blog for the Miller Orchard Community Garden, located in Iowa City, Iowa.Katherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955953773716387670noreply@blogger.com2