Workday Recap: August 2017

Great turnout for a warm workday, and we got a lot done! Today we focused on harvesting and tidying up our plots and vines, and working on the compost.

Al gave us a lesson on inoculating sprouts and prepping beans for our fall crops. 

The “inoculate” is located in the shed. If you want to use it, sprinkle just a little bit on your legume seeds (it only works for your beans, peas, and similar) to boost production. The tiny little bag in the shed can cover 5 lbs. of seeds, so a little goes a long way!

We clipped back our sweet potato vines to make sure there is room to walk easily between the rows. We then worked hard to turn our greens into fresh compost.

Keep an eye on our luffa and birdhouse gourds as the grow! They are NOT yet ready for harvest, so leave them on the vine. They will keep producing until the frost!

See you next month. Our workday will be Sept. 16, from 9-11!

Ready for Fall?

Join us this Saturday, August 19th, from 8-10am as we work together to prepare the garden for a fall harvest. Look for autumn garden strategies, crop recommendations, and our free seed swap. It may not feel like fall yet in Texas, but when it does we will be ready! See you there.

Okra Season is Here!

I am proposing a new strategy…anyone can (and should) pick okra from anyone's plot. NOTE: only okra…all other vegetables and fruits are off limits unless you have permission. Here is my reasoning: if you are not picking okra every day it will get too tough and woody. Last week we threw out a large box containing over 5 pounds of inedible woody okra. My other reason is it is easy to miss okra…I picked this, and then after watering I found another pound that I missed the first time.

So if you want to "opt out" of this new strategy…let us know, otherwise…everyone pick okra!

Yummy Zucchini Fritters

This one’s good. Thank you Nancy Skaggs for sharing with us!

Zucchini Fritters

• INGREDIENTS

• 1  cup  Bisquick or 1 cup other baking mix
• 1⁄2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese or 1⁄2cup  cheddar cheese
• 1⁄8 teaspoon  salt
• 2  eggs, beaten
• 2  cups shredded zucchini
• 2  tablespoons chopped onions
• 1 Tablespoon butter or olive oil.

Directions

• Combine Bisquick, cheese, salt, eggs, zucchini and onion in a mixing bowl.
• Blend well. Melt butter in a large skillet.
• Spoon heaping tablespoons of zucchini mixture into skillet.
• Fry for 3 to 5 minutes per side, until golden brown.
• Place browned patties on a paper towel.
• Add more butter to skillet when necessary for additional batches.
• Serves 5 to 6.
• Good dipped in Marina Sauce

Rabbit Repellent Recipe

Here’s the recipe we heard about at the last garden workday.

 

How to Make Rabbit Repellent

You just need a couple of items to make this DIY rabbit repellent: garlic, peppers, and dish soap. Use this organic rabbit repellent recipe to deter rabbits from eating your flowers.

DIY Rabbit Repellent Recipe

Items needed:

• empty milk jug, water
• 5 garlic cloves
• 1 teaspoon crushed red peppers
• 1-gallon water
• 1 tablespoon dish soap

Directions:

1. To make the repellent fill an old milk jug with water, add 5 crushed garlic cloves, a teaspoon of crushed red peppers (you can save a packet from the pizza delivery for this) and 1 tablespoon of dish soap.
2. Shake well; then let it sit in the sun for a day or two to make sure the water is saturated with the flavors and smells.
3. Shake well, then spray or pour on the plants that you don’t want the rabbits to eat.

Workday Recap: July 2017

What a workday! Special thanks to all those who came out despite the heat!

We worked today from 8-10 with a focus on harvesting and prepping the garden in “survival mode.” (With a dash of playing in sprinklers to cool off!)

We had a lot of weeding to do, thanks to the rain, and we laid down new mulch and cardboard on the path.

Special thanks to Doug for donating a new picnic table!

In the next few weeks, focus on watering and maintaining your existing crops. Pull up any diseased plants and replace with cover crops such as black-eyed peas or heat-tolerant crops like okra. Please keep an eye out for “encroachment”–make sure your plants are out of the path and try to train vines to grow up rather than out.

Special thanks to Lynne Hines for our new anti-bunny gate sign!

With 123 lbs. donated so far this month, we have officially beaten the total for all last year combined!

Please note: next month’s workday will be the THIRD Saturday, August 19, from 8-10 a.m. Come dressed for heat!

Wake up, a little earlier for this garden workday.

Our next garden workday is this Saturday, July 8th at an earlier time, 8:00am to 10:00am to beat the heat! We still have much to harvest and discuss. Topics include: early blight, pollination, and encroachment. Come early and keep cool.