Spring Planting Update

So far, we have planted cabbages (1,100), onions (5,000), and tomatoes (600) plus lettuce, spinach, beets, potatoes, and radishes in the garden.

Now, we are planting peppers and cucumbers. Soon, we will plant sweet potatoes, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, and cauliflower.

Weather forecasts point to a hot and dry summer this year. We are preparing for dry conditions by installing a drip irrigation system in the garden as we plant. After we install the drip system, we mulch the ground with leaves to retain moisture and to reduce weed growth.

Photos:(Right) Last week, youth from Covenant Presbyterian Church fertilized the blueberry bush. (Bottom) Dripper (red) is attached to a water line next to a  tomato plan and then mulched over.

Volunteer Times – Now Tuesday and Thursday Mornings, Too!
Volunteer times in the garden are as follows:

To sign-up to volunteer, go to here.

Why sign-up? It helps us to plan our activities and to communicate, especially when the weather looks bad and we need to cancel.

There are also opportunities to volunteer in the garden by appointment, contact Mark Marshall at 988-5381 or wdmmarshall@msn.com or Tim Goldman at 745-9842 or timothyjgoldman@gmail.com to arrange a convenient time.

We ask that volunteers coming to the garden observe the CDC’s guidelines. If you are not fully vaccinated and wish to volunteer, please let us know and we will arrange to make your time in the garden safe for all.

As always, volunteers should dress for the weather, wear hard soled shoes, and bring garden gloves if you have them. Gloves are also available at the garden if you do not have them.

If you cannot volunteer your time, consider a financial donation to continue this important work. Send your check to St. Timothy’s, 1020 24th Street, West Des Moines, IA, 50266. Please note Faith & Grace Garden in the memo line.

On Saturday, Craig Crirst and another volunteer from the Agape Garden in Ankeny, came with their tractor and potato planter and planted 300 pounds of seed potatoes in the Faith & Grace Garden. They also got rid of an old stump in the garden. THANKS GUYS!!

This week we will be planting kale, cabbage, and other cool weather crops in the Faith & Grace Garden.

Volunteer times in the garden are on Monday and Wednesday evenings. To sign-up, go to here.

There are also opportunities to volunteer in the garden by appointment. Contact Mark Marshall at 988-5381 or wdmmarshall@msn.com or Tim Goldman at 745-9842 or timothyjgoldman@gmail.com to schedule a convenient time.

We ask that volunteers coming to the garden observe the CDC’s guidelines,  Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

including frequent handwashing, and avoiding direct physical exchanges with other gardeners. Most importantly, if you are feeling ill, have family members or friends who are ill, have been to a location where COVID-19 is prevalent, or are at-risk or immunocompromised, please refrain from volunteering in the garden.

As always, volunteers should dress for the weather, wear hard soled shoes, and bring garden gloves if you have them. Gloves are also available at the garden if you do not have them.

If you cannot volunteer your time, consider a financial donation to continue this important work. Send your check to St. Timothy’s, 1020 24th Street, West Des Moines, IA, 50266. Please note Faith & Grace Garden in the memo line.

PANIC PICK SUNDAY, 1 – 3PM
On Sunday afternoon we will be picking the garden clean before the hard freeze. There are plenty of peppers to rescue, and broccoli, peas and lettuce to pick. We will be working on mulched ground so even if it rains earlier in the day it should be fine to harvest in the afternoon.

Please come out and help us finish the gardening season!

We ask that volunteers coming to the garden observe the CDC’s guidelines, Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
including frequent handwashing, and avoiding direct physical exchanges with other gardeners. Most importantly, if you are feeling ill, have family members or friends who are ill, have been to a location where COVID-19 is prevalent, or are at-risk or immunocompromised, please refrain from volunteering in the garden.

As always, volunteers should dress for the weather, wear hard soled shoes, and bring garden gloves if you have them. Gloves are also available at the garden if you do not have them.

If you cannot volunteer your time, consider a financial donation to continue this important work. Send your check to St. Timothy’s, 1020 24th Street, West Des Moines, IA, 50266. Please note Faith & Grace Garden in the memo line.

Here are harvest and donation results through October 14
Tim Goldman 515-745-9842 timothyjgoldman@gmail.com
Mark Marshall -988-5381 – wdmmarshall@msn.com

Blueberry picking is now in full swing in the garden! Help is needed harvesting as well as watering. Come out and help for an hour. Volunteer times are available by appointment, call text or Mark at 515-988-5381 to arrange a convenient time.

We ask that volunteers coming to the garden observe the CDC’s guidelines,  Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

including frequent hand-washing, and avoiding direct physical exchanges with other gardeners. Most importantly, if you are feeling ill, have family members or friends who are ill, have been to a location where COVID-19 is prevalent, or are at-risk or immunocompromised, please refrain from volunteering in the garden.

As always, volunteers should dress for the weather, wear hard soled shoes, and bring garden gloves if you have them. Gloves are also available at the garden if you do not have them.

If you cannot volunteer your time, consider a financial donation to continue this important work. Send your check to St. Timothy’s, 1020 24th Street, West Des Moines, IA, 50266. Please note Faith & Grace Garden in the memo line.

The Goaillos family have volunteered in the garden for many years. Sophia started volunteering when she was 5. Now 10, Sophia and father Sergio were planting peppers in the garden on Saturday.
We know of a gentleman with 20 years of experience in ag/greenhouse research and production. For the past nine years though, he drove a courtesy shuttle/checking in cars/performing dealer trades for a local Des Moines dealership. While at the dealership he continued his interest in container gardening, food security (food packaging, IA Hunger Summit), etc. He is currently seeking new employment in the ag/horticulture areas or in the area of local food. Please contact Tim Goldman for details and resume.

Here are harvest and donation results through June 10th

Here are seedlings donated from the Faith & Grace Garden Greenhouse:

Tim Goldman 515-745-9842 timothyjgoldman@gmail.com

Mark Marshall 515-988-5381 wdmmarshall@msn.com

2020 – Celebrating 20 Years of Feeding the Hungry

Greenhouse Update: Since February over 20,000 vegetable plant sets were started or housed in the greenhouse. Now they are being distributed at no charge to feed the local hungry. Below is the distribution list.  In addition, some 2,300 plant sets started in the greenhouse are growing in the Faith & Grace Garden.  If your nonprofit organization or garden would like to receive vegetable plant sets to feed the hungry, please contact Mark Marshall at 515-988-5381.

What’s next for vegetable plant distribution? Sweet potato starts! Around Memorial Day, we have sweet potato starts ready to plant in the Faith & Grace Garden as well as give at no charge to local donation gardens.

Contact Mark Marshall at 515-988-5381 soon for details.

Garden Update: We are now finishing up planting 620 tomato plants in the Faith & Grace Garden. Next we will be planting peppers and eggplant, and planting more melons and  squash.

 Soon we will be harvesting peas, lettuce and spinach. In June, we will start harvesting blueberries and garlic.

Volunteering at Faith & Grace Garden – Sunshine, Fresh Air & Social Distance 

Now is a great time to be a garden volunteer….but, in keeping with the concerns of not contributing to the spread of COVID 19 we are limiting volunteer opportunities in the garden.

If you would like to volunteer, please contact Mark Marshall at wdmmarshall@msn.com or by calling or texting him at 988-5381 to arrange a convenient day and time. This will allow us to plan a safe volunteer experience for you.

We ask that volunteers coming to the garden observe the CDC’s guidelines,  Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) including frequent handwashing, and avoiding direct physical exchanges with other gardeners. Most importantly, if you are feeling ill, have family members or friends who are ill, have been to a location where COVID-19 is prevalent, or are at-risk or immunocompromised, please refrain from volunteering in the garden.

As always, volunteers should dress for the weather, wear hard soled shoes, and bring garden gloves if you have them. Gloves are also available at the garden if you do not have them.

If you cannot volunteer your time, consider a financial donation to continue this important work. Send your check to St. Timothy’s, 1020 24th Street, West Des Moines, IA, 50266. Please note Faith & Grace Garden in the memo line.

See you in the Garden!

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