News from the Skagway Garden Club
[Updated 04/27/09]
We had a meeting on April 19th with 2 people attending besides me. Charlotte Jewell and Dawn Adams were present and Charlotte suggested we order some Josta berry bushes.They are a cross between a currant and a gooseberry and seem to repel those army worms that have been devastating those bushes for that past few years. I see they are available in Raintree Nursery’s catalog and will look into purchasing some for the community garden.
Also,we decided to purchase a solar fence charger and wire to go around the compost bins,to keep the bears at bay.
There are still two pre-dug garden beds available for $35 each. Megan now has her own spot in town and Laura,Cat and Daniel will work on the big beds to the East. These kids are incredible workers (human Backhoes),and even made a soil sifter to get the rocks out. Thanks too for getting the flyers up about the comm. Garden info and location.
Daniel and Laura helped me erect the garden sign on Sunday.They did such a nice job painting it.Laura did the trees and community garden lettering and Daniel did the silhoulette on the other side.Thank You both!
I would like to introduce a new garden enthusiast,Jessica. She has an interest in digging out a new bed in the next seven beds we are planning to the East.Thank You Jessica!
Sunday,April 26, I had Dawn come and learn how to build a cold frame for her garden.It was fun and great to finally BUILD SOMETHING instead of demolishing it!!
I also need to draft a letter to the school board (meeting May 28) asking for an extension on our yearly lease and to ask permission to build a garden shed on skids.
Next meeting,Sunday May 10th.We will meet at the community garden and work on the new beds and removing rocks from around the vicinity.The plan is to get the ground level (with a piece of equipment) so we can mow around the premises. Also need to stake out the area for a few berry bushes to go along the perimeter of the garden.
[Updated 04/24/09]
Happy Easter all! We have been busy at the Brady Garage teaching seed starting,flat building and hopefully there are those who will be building cold frames.Cold frames are an important component in the Alaska garden as they can be a boost in the early start of those fresh greens and cold crops we sooo desire after a long winter. Please feel free to come into the yard and see my cold frames to get a look at their construction. I do have scrap lumber if you need it.
Incidentally,there is spinach and rocket (a green) up in the cold frame. They have germinated outside. The broccoli and onions, (transplants) are out there also,but it was 29 degrees this a.m. so even with Reemay cloth covering them for protection,I am not sure about their survival. But the old garden saying goes “there’s always next time-- or year”.
I am looking for a grant to purchase a community greenhouse and also for funding the remainder of the growlight stand for the kids at the school.
The kindergarden,1st and 2nd grades came with me to the community garden on Friday.It was chilly,but we planted garden peas in the school beds.We will be planting some flower seeds in the classroom next week and also picking up trash at the garden for clean sweep on Friday,April 24.
If you have framing skills,there will be a garden shed building party in May. I have been salvaging 2X4’s and plywood from the hovel on the hill (the old house). I do not know how to frame,just demolish so any help will be greatly appreciated.
Next meeting is April 19 at Dorothy Bradys.See you there!
[Updated 04/05/09]
Did you know that you can help fund a grow light stand for the elementary school children? So far the Skagway Garden Club has received $300 toward the $1,100 cost. This is so The Garden Club can provide the school with a “Grow Light to Garden” program. Thanks to those who have helped to make this possible and thanks to future philanthropists!
On Thursday, April 2, there was an impromptu “flat” building party. It was a first for some to hammer a nail and saw a slat (recycled). The flats were for transplanting seedlings into cold frames. Information was exchanged, laughs were had and great grilled cheese sandwiches were provided. Let’s do it again for the construction of cold frames and more flats on April 26. The transplants will be moving up to the Community Garden at a later date.
The next Garden Club meeting will be at 1pm on April 19th at Dorothy Brady’s house on 7th Ave and Alaska.
-Dorothy Brady