Gardening Dec 11th

Thank you to all the TEENs who gardened last Sunday - Raven, Jeni, Tom, Kolby, Kenzie, Marcus, Isaih, Taylor, Alexander, Christina, Malavika, Kate, Miette, Pooja, and Maddy - THANK YOU!! The worm composter is doing great and enjoying it's new home inside! I’m looking forward to transplanting the herbs & veggies this Sunday after we finish constructing the spiral garden!

Monarch Larva Monitoring Project - update!

Our MLMP Trainer Gail notified me this morning that a wild monarch she tagged in her yard was documented in Kino Bay Mexico! That's over 400 miles!

Keyhole Gardens - Similar to Spiral

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7432972.stm

Here is the information on a type of keyhole garden in Africa. They have height like our spiral garden, making it easier for people to tend to their plants but this also has a composting section in the center.

A Brief Overview of Soil

Have you ever wanted to know how to explain carbon storage in soil better? Do you now?

http://soilquality.org/home.html

This site contains current (sustainable) soil information of agricultural lands. Even though we are in an urban area, most of the info is still useful.

Additional soil projects and info can be found on the USDA soil site.

http://soils.usda.gov/sqi/assessment/test_kit.html

Enjoy!

Lumi Path Guide Training

Thank you to Aline, Brenda, Londy, Destiny, Kaitlyn, Maddy, Jessica, CJ & CJ for a great afternoon of lighting lumi candles and training to be a path guide.

Jeff thanks you as well and says that TEENs "do MUCH better at crouching down with hand lighters than us old folks."

Pam, Jeff and I appreciate your hard work, especially fighting the cold, wind and rain!

If you would still like to sign up for shifts, please email or call me to schedule.

Stay warm!

Pumpkin Patch Garden Update

The veggies, fruit and flowers are doing great!

Thank you to all the TEENs that have tending the Pumpkin Patch Garden this season!

The climbing white flowers are snow peas; leafy greens in middle are celery stalks; yellow and red marigolds and bushy carrot leafs in the back! (carrots are currently about the size of my pinky fingers.)

There is red cabbage up front, leafy spinach in the middle, ripe strawberries, and tall broccoli and cauliflower in the back.

The herb bed has large basil plants in the front and back, with marigolds and nasturtiums blooming throughout. The mint has taken over and the lemon verbena and sage are smelling wonderful!

Upgraded TEEN Patio!

Thank you to Izador, Abby, Rachel, Julia, Mathew, Kenzie, and Aline for your hard work and enthusiasm during Saturday's gardening event!

TEENs transplanted desert plants into half of the back bed to open up space for veggie gardening and digging for young kids, turned the chiminea into a planter, removed 4 jojobas and pruned them, painted rocks to form a snake bench for preschoolers, turned wagons into planters, spread wildflower seeds and more! It was a large task and you should all feel very accomplished!

Thank you!

Big Bug Brunch - Thank you!

Thank you to Meaghan, Emily, Maddy, Bomi, Brandon, Erica, CJ, & Korrina for a great weekend of insect crafts!