SHOUT in the garden

I'm still catching up on emails I missed while I was out of town ignoring them. Add that to the lovely, slightly slower pace of summer and the need to keep my kiddos mostly entertained for long swaths of the day and you'll see the result of a few less blog posts than I'd like to accomplish!

A few things I wanted to say here today, though -- first, happy Sunday! Maybe a little rain is headed our way, and sadly it seems the cool morning temps and the moderate days might be inching toward true summer temps. What a gift that cool spell has been, eh?

I stopped by the garden last week and noted a couple of items that need attention -- number one being broccoli. I saw some beautiful broccoli in a bed that was starting to go to flower -- so if you are a broccoli farmer at Harvest of Hope, please make sure you harvest ASAP so that the veggies get eaten instead of going to seed. There are also some big cabbages, and it's perhaps becoming time to harvest potatoes, too. Make sure you keep an eye on your plot and harvest what needs to be harvested. If you need me to email you the list of pantries and kitchens who would love to receive our veggies, please let me know. I'll likely post the list here this week, too (but won't do so now since that would make a really long post). 

Also: weeds. I posted a picture last week of spiny amaranth, and I'll post it again here. This booger is nasty -- so wear gloves -- and it's best if it's pulled before it has gotten too big (and definitely before it has gone to seed). If you see this in your garden bed, get rid of it! This rode in with our first batch of compost last year -- we're taking efforts to make sure we don't bring it back again.

Finally (and much more fun than talk of spiny weeds), upcoming events:

This Tuesday, June 12, a group called SHOUT! (Students Helping Others Understand Tomorrow), led by Jill Salyers, will be in the garden doing service learning. Larry and Margot will be there to help them, and the students will be prettying up the two flower beds that sit on each side of Harvest of Hope's front gate. 

We're so glad the group will be there, and thank them in advance for their efforts to help us in the garden. Thanks, too, to Margot and Larry for shepherding them!

And, more on this upcoming, but don't forget Sunday, June 24 at 6 p.m. Please try to join us in the garden to hear Master Gardener Phil Ramey give a talk and answer any questions you might have. Plan to arrive early or stay late if you have any work to do on your bed, and we can spend time together. Invite your friends! Bring your family!

Oh -- one more item I forgot -- we could still use a small wheelbarrow, if anyone has one they'd like to part with, or knows of a group looking to help the garden financially. The old wheelbarrow Larry graciously donated has just about wheeled its last load.

Have a blessed day.