Stop by Red Hook Playgroup Farmers' Market on July 26!

The Red Hook Playgroup will be hosting its third annual farmers market in the Summit Street Community Garden. Stop by on Friday, July 26, from 2:45–3:15 pm for fresh produce and lemonade. Proceeds will benefit the garden.

You can also donate locally grown food to the sale, including produce from your own plot/garden, apples from a friend's farm upstate or even a portion of a CSA share! The playgroup has put out a box on the long garden table labeled "RHP" for donations, which are collected daily. 

 

Don't forget to stop by and support the Red Hook Playgroup sale! 

Pictures from the July 13 Work Day

Thanks to all who came out for the meeting and work day yesterday!

In addition to the members, several mosquitoes attended the meeting. We have a new mosquito-repelling lantern, pictured in the foreground. We tested it during the meeting, and I noticed the mosquitoes stopped bothering me. If you use it, just please remember to turn it off. There's an on/off button towards the bottom.
We also discussed an upcoming bulb and bake sale, with a possible musical element. Stay tuned for details. Right now, the theme for this fall day is tentatively called "Bulbs, Bakery and Bluegrass."

We also have two new members! Please welcome Andrea (left) and Cynthia (right) as Summit Street Community Garden members!

The edges of the lawn were trimmed by Keith and Robey.

And Sondra fervently went to work on cutting up clippings for the compost.

As for me, I took photos! I couldn't stay for the entire work day, but I vow to return and attend to my neglected plot (above). The company that I worked for folded recently, and I thought this would finally give me time to achieve my dream of a completely weed-free path in every area of the garden. I think I'm going to take a break from my computer and spend a much-needed, therapeutic day in the garden this week.

Someone has a beautiful berry harvest.

The hydrangea looks nice and healthy, especially after all this rain. Fact: Nothing is sadder than a droopy hydrangea.

Gladiolas are so striking. I need to remember to plant some in my plot next year.

I love this study in reds at the entrance to the garden.

What's missing? It struck me, after taking this picture, that it's rare to find coneflowers without bees in them. The bumblebees must have been busy elsewhere.
Happy gardening!

Things to Do in the Garden: July Edition

How is it mid-July already? Most of us have completed half of our required garden session hours. If you're in the garden or doing open hours, here's a helpful list of things you can do from gardener Claire Merlino. I've added some photos and links.

Deadhead roses and daylilies. As always, if you’re not sure what deadheading is, then ask another gardener. We’re all learning. The Gardeners' World website has helpful how-to instructions.

Trim the outside Columbia edge. Cut back the English ivy and Virginia creeper.

But don't trim the mint! Please don't cut the mint down. When the mint blooms, it attracts helpful pollinators.

Grape vine weaving and trimming. Stray grape tendrils waving at pedestrians can be woven in or cut back. The grapevine is woven to keep windows into the garden. If you have questions about the grapevine weaving, ask Claire or Megan.

Cut compost into small pieces. The compost is in good shape, but new material magically arrives regularly, so please help cut the stuff into smaller pieces.

Of course, there’s always the paths! The weeds are hard to keep up with once the hot weather hits, so the more that can be dug out by the roots now, the less to weed again later. (Yes, there are bricks under here.)

Dump out any standing water. Standing water attracts mosquitoes. If you see any containers with standing water

--> —even if it's a small amount --> —please empty it. Happy gardening!

Bring Electronics to Recycle to the Work Day Tomorrow!

Don't forget that there's a meeting tomorrow, July 13, at 11 am. If you have any electronics to recycle (cell phones, MP3 players or tablets), bring them to the meeting. Gardener Claire Merlino is collecting them to recycle to raise money for the garden.

Reminder: Meeting and Workday Saturday, July 13

Thanks for Making the Tag Sale a Success!

  

 A very belated thank you to all of those who made the Summit Street Community Garden Tag Sale a success! We raised money for equipment, plants, the water bill and other garden expenses. 

If I leave with slightly less than I hauled down to the garden, I consider it a personal success. I couldn't resist some crochet hooks and some yarn (above). If I don't manage to make anything by next summer, expect to see my prized yarn purchase back at the sale. Somehow, I acquired five yoga mats at various press events. I could have started holding classes in my apartment. I donated two of them, and I hope they found good yogi homes.

This may have been one of my favorite random items from the tag sale.

Ashley brought some of her family's Bouldin jams, jellies and homemade pickled items. I highly recommend the blackberry jam. Stay tuned for our fall bakc and bulb sale!

 

Reminder: Tag Sale Saturday, June 8 (Rain Date and Work Day June 9)

The Summit Street Community Garden tag sale is Saturday, June 8, from 9 am–2 pm. Since it looks as if it will rain, also keep in mind that Sunday, June 9, is the rain date, as well as a work date/meeting. Here is a note from tag sale organizer Denise Connors:

Our Tag Sale this Saturday, June 8 is approaching.  We still need a few more volunteers for the last shift.  Please let me know if you can provide:

Tables

Plastic Bags & Hangers – leave in the shed beforehand

Need a volunteer who has a car to bring leftover items to Salvation Army at 436 Atlantic Ave.

If you think something should sell at a particular price, please mark the item as such – but we will be bargaining. We will definitely be selling special items for more. As a guideline, items will be priced as follows:

Books – Hardcover $2/Softcover $1 (including children’s books)

CDs & LPs - $3

Bric-a-Brac - $3 to $5

Jewelry - $3 to $5

Clothing

-          Tops & Shorts - $3

-          Pants, Dresses, Jackets, Shoes/Boots - $5

-          Children’s Clothes - $3

-          Children’s Toys – to be determined

Household Items/Electronics – to be determined

Lemonade - $1

Brownies - $1

Cookies – 2 for $1

Pickles/Jams - $5 each

We will set-up at 8:30 am. If you want to reclaim any of your items, please do so by 2 pm.  After 2 pm, we will bag the items left. Clothes will be donated to the Summit Street Church.  The rest of the items will be donated to the Salvation Army. Is there anyone with a car who can come by to help deliver these items to the Salvation Army?

Stop by the sale and possibly find your next treasure!  It’s fun and a great way to raise money for the garden.