Garden News 12-4-19

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Dec 042019
 

Year-end Garden Newsletter – Looking Back and Looking Forward

Oh, what a year it was….12,762 pounds of organic fruits and vegetables were raised in 2019 through the efforts of hundreds of volunteers from churches, schools, civic organizations and businesses and donated to feed the local hungry.

In October we also finished erecting a 1,248 sq. ft. greenhouse by the garden.


Exploratory Beekeeping – Tuesday, December 10, 6:30-8:30pm

Room 131 at St. Timothy’s,

1020 24th St in WDM

Interested in learning more about beekeeping? Join Julia for an overview of a beekeeper’s year regarding labor, costs, and seasonal considerations. Learn about city bee laws and activities that will support pollinators whether you are a beekeeper or not. Planting guides and more available to take home to help you help pollinators.

To register or for more information, contact Julia McGuire at julia@juliecache.com


Here are harvest and donation results for 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tim Goldman 515-745-9842 timothyjgoldman@gmail.com
Mark Marshall 515-988-5381 wdmmarshall@msn.com

 Posted by at 10:02 pm

Garden News 9-17-19

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Sep 172019
 

HELP WANTED!
Given the increased chance of rain later in the week, we could really use lots of help in the garden today. Here’s what is going on:
Greenhouse construction – Help us bring to assemble the greenhouse. Bring a hammer and cordless drill if you have them.
Garden harvesting: Help pick tomatoes, beans, peppers, cucumbers and melons.

VOLUNTEER HOURS TODAY ONLY: 8:30 am – 5:30 pm (at least, call about after 5:30 pm). No one in the garden during lunch break Noon -1 pm

THANKS!!

UPDATE:

Thanks so much for the great turnout in the garden this morning!
We picked lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, and squash. 227 pounds of vegetables were delivered to the food pantry. We are now caught up, and do not need more help with harvesting this afternoon.
Work on the greenhouse will continue to 5 pm. Come out and help if you can.


Tim Goldman 515-745-9842 timothyjgoldman@gmail.com
Mark Marshall 515-988-5381 wdmmarshall@msn.com

 Posted by at 10:41 pm

Garden News 8-21-19

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Aug 212019
 

We are harvesting about 1,000 pounds of organic vegetables each week

The weather is mild and the garden is beautiful. Come out and help for an hour. Volunteer times are available by appointment, just call Tim at 515-745-9842 or Mark at 515-988-5381 to arrange a time convenient for you, or sign up to volunteer during these regular volunteer times:
8:30 am – 10:30 am on Tuesdays and Thursdays (use the link below to schedule)
Morning Garden Sign Up

5:30 pm – 8:30 pm on Mondays and Wednesdays and NEW TIME Fridays 6pm – 8pm (use the link below to schedule)
Evening Garden Sign Up

5:30 pm – 8:30 pm on Mondays and Wednesdays (use the link below to schedule)

Student Service Hours Sign Up

By signing up, you help us to plan our work or send you a cancellation message should the need arise


Garden Greenhouse Update – Under Construction in September

The foundation for the greenhouse will be poured beside the garden by Labor Day.
Materials for the 1,250 sq. ft. all-season permanent greenhouse will arrive shortly after Labor Day.
A service team from Habitat for Humanity will help erect the greenhouse on September 11.

Our plans call for growing enough plant sets in the new greenhouse each spring to meet the needs of the Faith & Grace Garden as well as 20 other donation gardens and 15 refugee urban farmers at no charge.


Here are harvest and donation results through August 18, 2019
Tim Goldman 515-745-9842 timothyjgoldman@gmail.com | Mark Marshall 515-988-5381 wdmmarshall@msn.com

 Posted by at 10:19 pm

Garden News 7-14-19

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Jul 142019
 

Blueberry picking is now in full swing in the garden!
Help is needed!!!  See Details below:

We need help harvesting as well as watering. Come out and help for an hour. Volunteer times are available by appointment, just call Tim at 515-745-9842 or Mark at 515-988-5381 to arrange a time convenient for you, or sign up to volunteer at these regular volunteer times:

8:30 am – 10:30 am on Tuesdays and Thursdays (use the link below to schedule)
Morning Garden Sign Up

5:30 pm – 8:30 pm on Mondays and Wednesdays (use the link below to schedule)
Evening Garden Sign Up

5:30 pm – 8:30 pm on Mondays and Wednesdays (use the link below to schedule)
Student Service Hours Sign Up

By signing up, you help us to plan our work or send you a cancellation message should the need arise.


WOW! Garden Greenhouse Update – Project Fully Funded – Thank you for your generous support!

Thanks to the generosity of many of individuals, local organizations and foundations we now have the funds necessary to erect the 1,250 sq. ft. all-season permanent greenhouse beside the Faith & Grace Garden. Our plans call for growing enough plant sets each spring to meet the needs of the Faith & Grace Garden as well as 20 other donation gardens and 15 refugee urban farmers at no charge.

A service team from Habitat for Humanity will erect the greenhouse in September.


Special thanks to all the organizations that have volunteered in the garden this season!!!

8 – 15 volunteers from the Lutheran Services of Iowa Refugee Services program come to the garden on every Thursday morning.

3 – 8 volunteers from Vegelife come to the garden on every other Monday evening.

A 12 member team from Deloitte Services volunteered in the garden for Impact Day in June.

Volunteer groups from Walnut Creek School and Ashworth Road Baptist Church planted potatoes in the garden in May.


Here are harvest and donation results through July 11

Pounds Harvested:
Asparagus 57
Beets 195
Blueberries 45
Lettuce 530
Onions 60
Radishes 25
Spinach 5
Turnips 130
Total Harvested 1,047
Pounds Donated:
Bethel Mission 15
Trinity 218
WDM Human Services 676
Lutheran Services of Iowa 138
Total Donated 1,047

Tim Goldman -745-9842 timothyjgoldman@gmail.com
Mark Marshall -988-5381 wdmmarshall@msn.com

 Posted by at 8:28 am

Garden News 4-24-19

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Apr 242019
 

Interesting TED Talk: Regeneration of Our Lands: A Producer’s Perspective
The health of our soil resource has declined to such a point that it is not only negatively affecting farm and ranch profitability, but it is also having a devastating impact on everything from our water quality to our communities and even to our health. North Dakota rancher Gabe Brown walks us through a common sense solution to this crisis. Gabe Brown is one of the pioneers of the current soil health movement that focuses on regenerating our resources. Gabe, along with his wife, Shelly, and son, Paul, own and operate a diversified 5,000-acre farm and ranch near Bismarck, ND. Their operation focuses on farming and ranching in nature’s image. The Browns holistically integrate their grazing and no-till cropping systems, which include a wide variety of cash crops, multi-species cover crops along with all natural grass finished beef and lamb. They also raise pastured laying hens, broilers and swine. This diversity and integration has regenerated the natural resources on the ranch without the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and fungicides. The Browns are part owners of a state inspected abattoir which allows them to direct market their products. They believe that healthy soil leads to clean air, clean water, healthy plants, animals, and people. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx


Forecast for this evening is sunny and 70 degrees. Come join us in the garden!
This week we are planting onions and potatoes.

2019 Garden Volunteer Times
Mondays – 5:30 pm until 7:30 pm
Tuesdays – 8:30 am until 10:30 am
Wednesdays – 5:30 pm until 7:30 pm
Thursdays – 8:30 am until 10:30 am
Friday and Saturday – By appointment. Contact Tim
Goldman and Mark Marshall by texting 745-9842 and 988-5381.
Sunday – Closed


Signing Up to Volunteer – Highly Recommended

By signing up to volunteer we can contact you in case bad weather or something else unforeseen causes us to cancel on your volunteer day.

It is fast and easy to sign up.
Click the Sign Up that is best for you:
Student Service Hours Sign Up
Morning Garden Sign Up
Evening Garden Sign Up

 

 Posted by at 2:27 am

Garden News 4-16-19

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Apr 162019
 

It’s Potato Planting Time!
We now have 1,600 row feet ready to plant.
We will start planting on Monday.
High School students harvesting sweet potatoes last fall.


Want to learn more about the vegan diet or would you like to meet local vegans? Here’s your opportunity!

Event activities:
– Plant based foods!
– Seed planting
– Guess the veggie game
-connect with Iowa Food Coop, LSI Global Greens, Citizen’s Climate Lobby, Des Moines Taskforce on Sustainability, and Nature Bag
– Speakers on nutrition, eating on a budget and zero waste, among others!
– 3 cooking demos

See you there!


ONE SIZE FITS NONE
Publisher synopsis:
“Sustainable” has long been the rallying cry of agricultural progressives; given that much of our nation’s farm and ranch land is already degraded, however, sustainable agriculture often means maintaining a less-than-ideal status quo. Industrial agriculture has also co-opted the term for marketing purposes without implementing better practices.
(cont next column)

Stephanie’s book signing will be at the Beaverdale Book Store on April 26th.

Stephanie Anderson argues that in order to provide nutrient-rich food and fight climate change, we need to move beyond sustainable to regenerative agriculture, a practice that is highly tailored to local environments and renews resources.

In One Size Fits None Anderson follows diverse farmers across the United States: a South Dakota bison rancher who provides an alternative to the industrial feedlot; an organic vegetable farmer in Florida who harvests microgreens; a New Mexico super-small farmer who revitalizes communities; and a North Dakota midsize farmer who combines livestock and grain farming to convert expensive farmland back to native prairie. The use of these nontraditional agricultural techniques show how varied operations can give back to the earth rather than degrade it. This book will resonate with anyone concerned about the future of food in America, providing guidance for creating a better, regenerative agricultural future.


2019 Garden Volunteer Times
Mondays – 5:30 pm until 7:30 pm
Tuesdays – 8:30 am until 10:30 am
Wednesdays – 5:30 pm until 7:30 pm
Thursdays – 8:30 am until 10:30 am
Friday and Saturday – By appointment. Contact Tim
Goldman and Mark Marshall by texting 745-9842 and 988-5381.
Sunday – Closed


Signing Up to Volunteer – Highly Recommended

By signing up to volunteer we can contact you in case bad weather or something else unforeseen causes us to cancel on your volunteer day.

It is fast and easy to sign up.
Click the Sign Up that is best for you:
Student Service Hours Sign Up
Morning Garden Sign Up
Evening Garden Sign Up

 

 Posted by at 2:48 am

Garden News 2-21-19

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Feb 212019
 

Only 28 Days Till Spring!!!
Garlic peeking through snow in January. We plant garlic in the fall and harvest it in June.


Beat the Heat This Summer!

Beat the summer heat by volunteering in the mornings on Tuesdays and Thursdays this season. Come for all or part of the time between 7:30am and 10am.

Volunteer groups are now being organized. Contact Tim Goldman for details.


10th Annual Feed Greater Des Moines Conference

Join us for the 10th Annual Feed Greater Des Moines Conference. This year’s conference will focus on intersections; the intersection of refugee services and local food production and the intersection of housing and food insecurity. Attend workshops to learn how you can volunteer, donate and advocate for positive change.

Sponsors include Eat Greater Des Moines, Kum & Go, 818 Design, Campbell’s Nutrition, Community Choice Credit Union, Grand View University, United Way of Central Iowa and WesleyLife.

Eat Greater Des Moines is a central Iowa-based organization that facilitates and builds connections to strengthen the area’s food system. Their mission is to identify, develop, and connect resources with the broader community to support the entire food lifecycle in central Iowa. Learn more at: www.eatgreaterdesmoines.org

10th Annual Feed Greater Des Moines Conference
March 6, 2019 | 10am – 4:30pm
Grand View University Student Center
2811 East 14th Street
Des Moines, IA 50316
Facebook: eatgreaterdesmoines
Instagram: eatgreaterdesmoines
Twitter: EatGreaterDM
Event hashtag: #FeedDSM19
Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/2207053322871970/
Ticketing page and event landing page: http://feeddsm.com/


Garden Coordinator Mark Marshall enjoying the off season in Hawaii….

Mark Marshall and wife Sandy like to vacation in Hawaii once gardening season ends. They enjoy the ocean and time on the beach. Sandy says it’s a great time for Mark to really relax….until he spied a church garden that needed some weeding last week.
Mark, hope you are enjoying your time away!


Looking back at last season – over 11,000 pounds donated!

This annual guide is a summary of currently suggested vegetable varieties, seeding rates, fertilizer rates, weed control, insect control, and disease control measures for commercial growers.
We think it also may be of some interest to organic gardeners and small farmers.
Created by Purdue University Extension. 240 pp. Available in hard copy from ISU Extension ($15), or as a free PDF from Purdue University.


For More Information on The Faith & Grace Garden

Tim Goldman -745-9842 timothyjgoldman@gmail.com

Mark Marshall -988-5381 wdmmarshall@msn.com

 Posted by at 6:27 pm

Garden News 9-14-18

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Sep 042018
 

Donate Today to Help Us Grow a Greenhouse!

Feed the Hungry, Love the Earth, Live Your Faith,
Grow the Greenhouse!

Click Here to Donate and Make this Greenhouse a Reality!

The Faith & Grace Garden is a food pantry garden. All the fruits vegetables grown in the garden are donated to feed hungry people. We donate on average 10,000 pounds of fresh, organic, fruits and vegetables to feed the hungry and have been doing so since 2000.  Click Here To Watch A Video About the Garden!

This year we are taking a big step forward. We want to feed even more people by building a greenhouse to grow plant sets for our garden and the 40+ other donation gardens in central Iowa.

Tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, cabbage, and many other vegetables are started from seed in a greenhouse and then set into the garden as young plants to grow until harvest.

Our plans call for the purchase and construction of a 20’x48’ permanent greenhouse beside the garden. The greenhouse will provide room to grow some 6,500 plant sets each year!

65,000 more pounds of food to fed the hungry!!!!!

The Faith & Grace Garden has no paid staff; We are an all-volunteer effort. Our volunteers are a cross-section of our community. Volunteers come from surrounding neighborhoods and include schools, churches, civic groups and companies. We partner with local high schools and students earn community services hours as well as class credit.

Here are the crops we are growing this year:

Apples
Lima Beans
Asparagus
Melons
Blue Berries
Peppers
Broccoli
Potatoes
Bush Beans
Radishes
Cabbage
Tomatoes
Cantaloupe
Spinach
Cucumbers
Sweet Potatoes
Garlic
Winter Squash
Lettuce

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

 Posted by at 4:26 am

Garden News 9-4-18

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Sep 042018
 

It’s Harvest Time…..we are now picking about 1,000 pounds of organic fruits and vegetables a week!


Volunteers From Vegelife Help in the Garden Every Monday Evening.

For more information about VegLife contact:

info@veglifedesmoines.org
or go to:
http://veglifedesmoines.org

Garden volunteer hours are every M-W-F,  6:30pm until dark (weather permitting).


So How Is All the Recent Rain Affecting the Garden?

Well, since Friday, 5½ inches of rain has fallen in the garden with more rain in the forecast.

This is good for the peas, radishes and lettuce that we planted recently. Those plants should germinate and thrive especially as the weather turns cooler.

This weather is challenging for the tomatoes and melons which tend to split open when they swell from taking in too much water. So we really need volunteer help with the harvest when the sky is clear. Please come out and lend a hand!


Produce donated through August 31st, 2018

What we grew Pounds
Apples 26
Bush Beans 314
Blue berries 90
Broccolli 29
Cantaloupe 211
Corn 60
Cucumbers 476
Grapes 16
Lettuce 70
Onions 18
Peas 60
Radishes 128
Potatoes 689
Tomatoes 2,214
Water melon 43
Zucchini 749
Total Harvested 5,193
Where donated:
Trinity Church, 8th & College, DSM 2,895
WDM Human Services 2,298
Total Donated 5,193

Tim Goldman 515-745-9842 timothyjgoldman@gmail.com
Mark Marshall 515-988-5381 – wdmmarshall@msn.com

 Posted by at 4:16 am

Garden News 7-14-18

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Jul 142018
 

Chubby Rabbit Apprehended!!!

Chubby’s reign of terror in the Faith and Grace Garden ended last Friday night when he was caught in one of our new catch-and-release traps. As many of you know, Chubby and brother Tubby (still at-large), have been munching their way through our peppers, peas and beans since mid-May.

Chubby was taken to an undisclosed location, and after a stern lecture, released on his own recognizance. He won’t be missed….


Come Garden in the Cool of the morning with us!!

Volunteer time: Thursdays from 7am – 9am through August 30.

Mornings are a beautiful time in the garden…the birds…the wildlife in the woods….and the quiet.
Come out and beat the heat with us!!
Tim Goldman 515-745-9842 timothyjgoldman@gmail.com
Mark Marshall 515-988-5381 – wdmmarshall@msn.com


Produce Donated Through June:
Trinity Methodist Church…………………35 lbs
WDM Human Services…………………….180 lbs


It’s blueberry time again…
Also, can you see her?  Nesting Mallard Duck in the Garlic Patch 🙂

 Posted by at 3:34 am