Vegetable Garden Ministry

• If it's not raining Saturday morning, plan to join us for some gardening! The weeds won't take the day off. Wear your mudders if it rains Friday night.
• If you can water on Tuesday or Thursday morning, please contact Ofel 817-691-6026 or Chris 817-925-4542. It is suggested that we not water the other weekdays or Sunday as it encourages the weeds to grow.
• If a box garden has a blue pipe, the box gardener would appreciate your help with watering their box. :) (Boxes that do not have a blue pipe, please do not water.)
• If you can pull weeds: Focus areas include: the main garden around the onions, cucumbers, peppers, etc. Some areas are accessible to hoe where as some ares around plants will need small tool weeding. We look forward to sharing a plentiful harvest but need to be sure our crop has room to grow without the weeds!

Please consider dedicating an hour of your time to help us pull weeds this week and get the garden looking great!

Our cucumbers need to be trained onto the fences & tied.

• Box gardens are private plots. Please do not pick any produce unless you have permission from the box owner.
• Please turn the water off at the main turn off AND on the hose to ensure it is completely shut off.
• Also, please be mindful of the plants and planter boxes when using the hose. Avoid dragging the hose over plants & boxes.

Thank you!

• Shout out to Danielle (pictured) for tackling a ton of weeds on Saturday, May 2nd!! Thank you!! -->
• Saturday, May 9: Thanks to Marco for tilling & Mark, Mary, Chris, & Ofel for watering & weeding. Mike, thank you for putting in the drain and all of your handiwork!
• Helen- thank you for weeding the dill! A very tedious task for sure.
• A big THANK YOU to ALL who weeded this past week: Bill, Phyllis and Caroline, John, Mark, Chris, Ofel, & Mary.

Did we miss you?! Please let us know so we can include you in our shout outs! Thank you for putting your time & talent to use at the Vegetable Garden.

Figure 1: Main Garden Map

Figure 2: Side/ Un-fenced Garden Map

This area has almost doubled in size!! Ofel has taken on the lion's share of work in this part of the garden. Please lend your time to this area as well for watering & weeding. We have quite a bit of produce planted in this area for everyone's benefit.

The Vegetable Garden is currently donating some produce to The Awareness Project. The Awareness Project provides food for the homeless in our area.

Elizabeth Chanoine (pictured)- St. Michael's Director of Social Outreach will accept donated produce. Please call the church to arrange drop off: 817-510-2734.

For more info on The Awareness Project, click here -->https://www.theawarenessprojectdfw.org/

Fun experiment!

Cut off the bottom of your lettuce or celery that you purchased at the grocery store. I leave about 2 inches. Soak it in water for 3-5 days (change water each day) until new shoots are about 2 inches. Then plant outside.

Below are pictures of the celery that I grew from store bought celery. My lettuce came out the same. I am making chicken soup with the home grown celery. Try it, it's fun! -Chris

Responses to this newsletter will be delivered to stmvgm@gmail.com. Email and newsletter managed by Katharine Norman 817-360-5856.

Please contact one of the Board Members listed below for current garden "to-dos", questions, comments, suggestions, etc.

Vegetable Garden Ministry Board Members

• Chris Delmolino 817-925-4542
• Ofel Cordero 817-691-6026
• Mike Piske 817-905-0437
• Mary Baxter 817-685-7799

Additional positions

• Historian: Helen Bradley
• Tractor Operator: Mike Piske
• Treasurer: Mary Baxter
• Newsletter: Katharine Norman
• Membership Team: Jennifer Patel & Bernadette Norman

Send us your guesses! The answer will be included in next week's newsletter.