Welcome to WFA Community Garden Orientation Program March 8, 2015
Agenda Introduction Jonathan Jeans Organic Gardening Jonathan Jeans Garden Managers Paths Laura Neff Planting & Cultivation - John DeLello Fall Clean-up - Vivian Van Blarcom Service/Support & Vacations - Anna Murphy Operating Details - Mary DeLello Meet your Garden Manager
Organic Gardening Definition Why one would do it Soil preparation Vegetable gardening Pest control Jonathan Jeans
Gardener Workshops 10:00 am Gazebo 3/7 4/18 5/16 6/20 7/25 8/22 9/19 Raising vegetables from seed Summer planting Now planted, then what? Enjoy early veggies Tomatoes and peppers Keeping ahead of summer crops Prep next year Jonathan Jeans
Paths 4/26 Path Maintenance Weed Barrier Mulching Weeding Responsible for 2 sides Mountain Avenue & Silo Main Paths and Fence Rows A & B 3 feet into main path Row F up to fence Laura Neff
Spring Cultivation 4/26 The plot(s) are to be actively tended and maintained between April 26 th and October 18 th. Actively tended 70% - 100% of plot area is actively used for live plant materials. Maintained weeded, ripe produce removed and dead or diseased plant material removed John DeLello
Spring Planting 5/17 Deadline for garden plots to be planted. Suspect plants, contact garden managers. John DeLello
Fall Season Ends 10/19 As plants stop producing, pull them out roots & all. Decaying plants attract pests. Remove weeds also. Composting leave tomato & pepper plants out of compost pile Record which plants did well or not so well Restore soil Test every 2 3 years Apply lime if needed Apply organic matter Vivian Van Blarcom
Fall Clean-up 11/1 Remove supports. Take home or anchor well. Covering Soil Plant winter cover crops Cover with light layer of seedless straw or chopped leaves Cover with cloth or plastic Winter Crops Cold tolerant varieties (kale, carrots, lettuce, parsnips, spinach) Read package directions when to start Vivian Van Blarcom
Additional Resources Cornell University vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu Rutgers University Fact Sheets njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs University of Maryland extension.umd.edu Vivian Van Blarcom
Vacation Coverage Make vacation coverage plan now Meet your neighbors 2 weeks no weeding too long Consider time of year Notify Garden Manager if unable to maintain plot Non WFA members complete volunteer form Anna Murphy
Service/Support Hours WFA Community Garden is a volunteer nonprofit organization Minimum of 8 hours per plot 4 hours various garden activities volunteering for an event/sharing your talent in support of WFA. 4 hours at Brite Nites 2015 Gardener responsibility to sign-up and complete volunteer activities Anna Murphy
Service/Support & Committee Needs WFA Events Green Fair Saturday, 4/25 Gardeners of WFA Plant Sale Thursday, 5/7 Saturday, 5/9 Festival of Butterflies - July 5k Run - September Brite Nites Wednesday, 10/7 School Night Friday, 10/9 Sunday, 10/11 Friday, 10/16 - Sunday, 10/18 Friday, 10/23 - Sunday, 10/25 Holiday Event - December Committee Needs Children s Garden Giving Garden Growing to Give Farmer s Market Newsletter Articles Summer Picnic 8/9 Chairperson needed Monthly Garden Meetings Perennial Garden Chairperson Needed Water system maintenance Buildings and Grounds Anna Murphy
Operating Details Hoses Community Garden Equipment and Giving Garden Equipment Pre- approval permanent structures & structure height 6 Porta John 3/13 11/1 Green Dumpster -? 11/1 Water - 4/19 Picnic - Saturday, 8/8 Membership and plot fees WFA Website www.wfafnj.org Membership Agreement Organic Gardening Service/ Support Opportunities Community Garden Orientation Slides Gate Combination for 2015 Mary DeLello
Garden Managers Vivian Van Blarcom Plots 0 4 Anna Murphy Plots 5 8 Mary DeLello Plots 9 12 Laura Neff Plots 13-16 John DeLello Plots 17-21
Thank You! If you should have any questions, please email us at gardenmanager@wfafnj.org