February Fun in the Garden

This month we want to start propagating for autumn planting. We are busy harvesting corn , beans, tomatoes, onions, eggplants, cucumbers  to name just a few. We would like to welcome new members and old to come down to the garden to share the workload and the bounty. There is always so much to share.

Some of the jobs this month:  turning the compost, watering, propagating, making signs, potting up and of course harvesting.

Working Bees for February 

Saturday morning 1st, 8th, 15th starting at 9.00

Wednesday morning every week at 9.00

 Meetings

Wednesday 12th, 26th at 4.30

Governance Meeting: Thursday 20 February

at 6.30    

       

Let's all give a fig.

Calling all gardeners, calling all gardeners, URGENT, URGENT.

A load of mulch has finally arrived courtesy of Active Trees. We now need to be active in moving the mulch. Tomorrow if you can spare an hour or so, early if you are bothered by the heat, come and give a hand. There is weeding to be done and many lighter tasks too.

Many hands make light work. Meaning if you all come it will be easier.

A stitch in time saves nine. Meaning if we move it whilst it is fresh it will be lighter and therefore easier to move.

Don't say I don't give a fig as we have figs and they are rapidly fattening up.

Fun for all as we rollick in the mulch.

Raindrops on strawberries (and other fruit in the Rosacea family)

With all this warm weather it is timely to post our record of rainfall during the last three years.

Vince has been monitoring and recording every drop of rain we have received in the garden since March 2011. I have just punched it all into a spreadsheet and added some averages. Over time we will build this into a long term record for the garden and it might be useful for other Kiama residents.

Last Saturday's working bee was a lovely morning and we had a good meeting at the morning tea. Hope to see members at the meeting this Wednesday and for fun in the garden and a delicious morning tea on Saturday.

...for these are a few of my favourite things!

Red Hot Summer

2014 has begun with news today that 2013 was Australia's hottest year in recorded history! 
Yet the garden is still producing good harvests and even more thanks must go to the small band of volunteers who have kept the garden watered since the summer heat began.
Garden gatherings throughout January should be as follows:

Wednesday Working Bees: from 9.30 am on January 8^th  and 22^nd

Wednesday meeting:   4.30 pm January 15^th and 29^th
Saturday working bees: from 9 am January 4^th, 11^th and 18^th

^{Some gardeners might be wondering what these different plants growing on the top level are.}

^{They are tomatillos, a vital ingredient of salsa verde in Mexican cuisine. The outer lantern type casing dries off when the tomatillos are ready to be harvested. This layer is then discarded and the fruits can be char-grilled, baked or made into various salsa recipes. They have a pleasant tangy taste when raw and they can be added to various salads. Many of the recipes that green tomatoes are used in originated from tomatillo recipes. Once tomatillos are harvested they should store for several weeks if kept dry.}