• First of all, Olga Rigg has painted a beautiful sign (designed by Debbie Kasper and Alix Ingber) for our new pavilion extension.  You should see it in place soon, but here’s a preview:

  

• Second, the first installment of our guest blog at the Chronicle of Higher Education went up today.  You can see it here:  Sweet Briar’s Community Gardeners Learn to Scrounge

Cinco de Mayo has arrived!  We’ll be celebrating in our customary fashion on Friday, May 8.  We start at 5:00 and will eat around 5:30.  Bring the food and drink of your choice.

Reminders from Tim:  don’t forget to bring your dues money!  We’ll also have sign-up sheets available so you can sign up for teams if you have not already done so.

The main water line is closed off so that I can replace hardware for line extension to the area surrounding Katia’s plot. Please do not use; should be connected by tomorrow or Wed. at latest. We should have some rain today and tomorrow, so plants you just put out should be okay. You can dip watering cans in the rain barrels under the pavilion if needed.

Anyone interested in helping with plumbing and trenching let me know, we’ll be working on it in the upcoming weeks.

I will also be doing some roof construction onto the pavilion in preparation for the Cinco de Mayo. If you want to help let, I can always use a hand.

UPDATE FROM TIM: Water line back on

The water line is useable again. There is still be some
maintenance that will occur in the upcoming weeks, perhaps starting
with this weekend.

Scott will be working on the line extension, and probably will only
be turning the water off when he is there. Just be careful around
the trenches, it’d be easy to twist an ankle. There will be one by
the Griffith’s plot, and one in front of the main CSA plot.

I’ve been getting a lot of feedback about the meeting, and everyone seems to be optimistic about re-organizing the garden and allowing for more participation.  Having groups of point people for each of the main “Garden Bascis” (eg. Maintenance, Mowing, Wiregrass removal, CSA, Flowers, Pruning, Corn plot, etc.) seems to really appeal to most.  We can discuss more as the spring rolls on.  Alix is also going to re-design the website, and would like feedback on how it works, what could be added/subtracted, etc.  So input on that will be welcome.  The key here is that people use/check the website regularly.  More on that later.

Well, the first Community workday will be Thursday March 26th. Several people wanted to have the Garden Clean-up Day this week, since the weather is fine.  Anyone interested?  I am unavailable thursday evening, but have some time friday.

The major things to be done are (other than picking up trash that has blown around):

1- remove ground cover in flower plot by gate.  (leave Rudbekias, Shasta Daisies, Calendula, and any Cosmos that may have sprouted.  I have seeds to spread after.)  Alix and Lisa-  you all know what to do here.

2-Wiregrass removal in pathway between Katia’s plot and the CSA. THis is the CSA expansion.  We are eliminating this pathway and planting here and in Christian’s old plot.   Dan Gottlieb know’s his stuff on this one.

3- CSA plot weeding and prep.   We need to get 1 or 2 beds ready for Collards, Cabbages, Broccoli, Sugar snaps. I can broadfork the beds after to aerate the soil.   Leave weeds to mulch the soil.  There is some chard, kale, and maybe lettuce in some of the beds.   Any CSA crew member (Katia, Janet)  could take the lead here.

4- Mulching with straw the new plot area (where the greenhouse used to be).  There are large bales by the grapevine annex.  Just transport inside and spread w/in the flagged area, cover with locust posts to prevent blow-off.  SA truck bed would help.  This is open for anyone to lead.

So, What dy’all think?
Tim

P.S. Things to plant now- Collards, Kale, Sugar snap peas, broccoli, etc.
P.P.S. All of this info will soon take place on/within the website.  Be ready.