The Buzz About Pollinators

Photo credit: Kevin Funnell

Though a few weeks have passed since National Pollinator Week, it’s not too late to plant pollinator-friendly plants, such as mint, bee balm, butterfly bush, fennel, catchfly, lavender, salvia or sage. For more ideas, please check out the Attracting Native Pollinators book in the shed.  “And, of course, be extra nice to bees, wasps, butterflies, and beetles—take them out to lunch or something,” says garden member Karen Balliet. 

What Happened to All the Shovels?

Just curious! I noticed over past few weeks, there are only two bendy little shovels.

How to Sign Up for Open Garden Hours

Here's a refresher from Megan about signing up for the garden hours! 

This is just a refresher for some and new instructions for others regarding the Open Hours and signing up on the google calendar. Please see the instructions below and if you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me.

Thanks,

Megan

Regarding Google Calendar

On Wed, Sat, & Sun you will now see the "Open Hours" time listed in bold. You will NOT sign in for your hours here. Everyone will create their own event that way each of you are able to set reminders for themselves if you choose too. See new instructions below:

1. Look at the date you want to sign up for. If someone has already created an event it will list the time, name of person & Open Hours. Please see examples on the calendar.
2. If a name is not entered for the "Open Hours" time on that day, then double click on the day to create the event.
3. In the Title please write "Your first name-Open Hours ".
4. Then click off the check mark that says "All day" and edit the time to be the open hours time.
5. Set the calendar to summitstreetgarden@gmail.com
6. If you would like to set a reminder for yourself, click on "Add a Reminder" to set the time. You can manually change the time to be anything you want it to be in minutes, hours, days, weeks. You can also set the reminder to be emailed or just pop-up on your computer.
7. When everything is set click SAVE

If you have any questions, concerns, comments please let me know.

Regarding Open Hours Sign Up

By July 15th, 2012 EVERYONE needs to have half of all their sessions completed or signed up on the calendar for me to record.

As a reminder, the amount of sessions member families need to do is listed below:

Member families without a box - Open hour requirements are 1 session, (4 hours)

Member families with a half box - Open hour requirements are 2.5 sessions, (10 hours)

Member families with a whole box - Open hour requirements are 5 sessions, (20 hours)

All hours must be signed up for on the google groups calendar. If for any reason you need to cancel your session,YOU MUST find a replacement to fill in for you.

Rainy Day FAQs

Since there has been so much rain this spring, here is an update of rainy day protocol!

What do you do when your shift is rained out? Obviously you don’t have to brave a thunderstorm or shower if it rains during your garden hours. If it’s cloudy, use your best judgment.

Does a rained out shift count? In the past, a rained-out session has not counted. If your slated shift is rained out, it’s suggested that you sign up for another shift to fulfill your hours. But, since gardeners have set aside time to be at the garden at the rained-out time and the weather is uncontrollable, this is up for discussion at the next few meetings. (The next meeting is July 17 at 11:30 am. Or please feel free to share input in the comments section!)

Do you still want to do your garden hours in the rain? If you still want to put in your hours, there are plenty of tasks in the sheltered area near the compost.

What do you do on damp days in the garden? Feel free to turn the compost and check for overturned chairs. Empty anything full of water to keep mosquitoes away. 

Reminder: Garden Meeting/Work Day on Sunday at 11:30

There will be a garden meeting on Sunday, June 17, at 11:30 am, followed by a work day and a BBQ.

Also, gardener Claire Merlino says that the New York Post may be in the garden on Saturday to take photos for a real estate story.

Want Any Vegetable Seeds?

On Sunday, after the tag sale, I took a stroll to Brooklyn Heights and came across a box of seeds someone had put out to take. It might be a bit late to plant, but if anybody wants some seeds, please let me know! The selection includes snow peas, Italian bunching scallions, parsnip, radicchio, beets (dark red and gourmet blend), red acre cabbage, Bordeaux spinach, carnival blend carrots, Chinese cabbage, Tokyo long white bunching scallions, mache corn salad and kale. I also have red poppy seeds!
—Josie 

Thanks to All Who Donated Items to the Tag Sale on Sunday!

Josie Rubio at the Summit Street Community Garden Tag Sale on June 3.

Thanks to everyone who donated to the Summit Street Community Garden Tag Sale on Sunday! We raised $120 for the garden.

It was also a beautiful day to garden!

Megan even took time out from reading The Hunger Games trilogy to help with the garden and the sale. If you've read the books, you know how difficult that is! 

The Summit Street Community Garden will have another sale to raise funds for the garden in the fall. The next garden meeting will be on Fathers' Day, Sunday, June 17, at 11:30 am, followed by a work day/BBQ!

New RAIN DATE for Tag Sale! Now June 3!

Due to rain and thunderstorm predictions, the tag sale originally planned for June 2 will now take place on Sunday, June 3, from 11 am to 2 pm. Please stop by to support the garden! Bring any donations to the garden at 10:30 am.