A small group of CACG participants went on a field trip to the California Rare Fruit Growers (CRFG) Scion Exchange in Oakland on January 21st. We took Sun Choke tubers from CACG and came away with various fruit tree scions.
CACG receives a See Saw
Many thanks to Rebecca for donatiing a see saw to the garden. It is such a well constructed and robust item and is receiving lots of attention. It is clearly doing its part in building community.
Thank you Rebecca for your generosity.
Thanks also to Ron for donationg the 1/2 wine barrel that is now home to the Spearmint plant closest to Center Ave. This rambunctious mint did really well in its first year. The bees loved it! Like all mints it wants to spread and the barrel will keep it contained.
We are harvesting:
Lettuce, Kale, White Turnips and Carrots. Many of the harvestable carrots are the Solar Yellow variety which were grown from our own seed saved last summer and planted in September.
The flow of Snap Peas has stopped because the sharp frosts of mid January halted the flowering. I do notice a few flowers this week so we will be enjoying the deliciously sweet pods again soon. We have still not staked the peas because the ground has been so hard. Tuesdays Rain is much welcomed by the garden.
Last week we transplanted Romane Lettuce from the greenhouse. The variety is Rouge d' Hiver.
We also sowed seeds for White Turnip, Mustard Greens and Scarlet Nantes Carrot in the raised beds plus various other seeds in the greenhouse.
We have planted our first Potato Tower with Yukon Gold seed Potatoes. The wire mesh frame is recycled from a pallet of rock. The straw lining helps to keep the soil contained.
At MPC this week
David cleaned and adjusted the mulch basins on the laundry to landscape greywater system. If there are no problems evident then this is an annual check up.
Our seven hens are providing us with 1-3 eggs per day.
The Chimney Bees, and now the Juniper Bees, have left home.Gone! No dead bees remaining. Plenty of honey and pollen stored but no sign of brood. Part of the honey was harvested and the rest given to another top bar hive that could use a boost in food supply. Meanwhile the hives known as The Kitchen Bees, The Spa Bees and Queen Jaci are all doing very well. The Eucalyptus, Flowering Pear and Almond trees are flowering now. I do notice that many bees are taking a drink in the garden, I've actually set water out for them. Bees need water in February more than ever to dilute the stored honey supplies. The growing population relies on last years reserves and the cold weather make the honey thick.
The fruit trees have been pruned. Grafts added to the established apple trees this year were Elstar and Cox's Orange Pippin. We also found space for one more bare root apple tree, a Ashmead's Kernel, which is an old English russet variety. We also planted stem cuttings of Black Monukka and Pierce table grapes.
Happy Valentine's Day to you all.
 |
| Emily and Jaunita visiting the garden |
CACG receives a See Saw
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| Lilly supervising her adults at play |
Thank you Rebecca for your generosity.
Thanks also to Ron for donationg the 1/2 wine barrel that is now home to the Spearmint plant closest to Center Ave. This rambunctious mint did really well in its first year. The bees loved it! Like all mints it wants to spread and the barrel will keep it contained.
We are harvesting:
Lettuce, Kale, White Turnips and Carrots. Many of the harvestable carrots are the Solar Yellow variety which were grown from our own seed saved last summer and planted in September.
The flow of Snap Peas has stopped because the sharp frosts of mid January halted the flowering. I do notice a few flowers this week so we will be enjoying the deliciously sweet pods again soon. We have still not staked the peas because the ground has been so hard. Tuesdays Rain is much welcomed by the garden.
.JPG) |
| Ron and Renee transplanting out Lettuce from the greenhouse |
We also sowed seeds for White Turnip, Mustard Greens and Scarlet Nantes Carrot in the raised beds plus various other seeds in the greenhouse.
.JPG) |
| Ron, Jennifer and Mike with the completed tower |
.JPG) |
| Building Potato Tower #1 |
We have planted our first Potato Tower with Yukon Gold seed Potatoes. The wire mesh frame is recycled from a pallet of rock. The straw lining helps to keep the soil contained.
At MPC this week
David cleaned and adjusted the mulch basins on the laundry to landscape greywater system. If there are no problems evident then this is an annual check up.
Our seven hens are providing us with 1-3 eggs per day.
The Chimney Bees, and now the Juniper Bees, have left home.Gone! No dead bees remaining. Plenty of honey and pollen stored but no sign of brood. Part of the honey was harvested and the rest given to another top bar hive that could use a boost in food supply. Meanwhile the hives known as The Kitchen Bees, The Spa Bees and Queen Jaci are all doing very well. The Eucalyptus, Flowering Pear and Almond trees are flowering now. I do notice that many bees are taking a drink in the garden, I've actually set water out for them. Bees need water in February more than ever to dilute the stored honey supplies. The growing population relies on last years reserves and the cold weather make the honey thick.
The fruit trees have been pruned. Grafts added to the established apple trees this year were Elstar and Cox's Orange Pippin. We also found space for one more bare root apple tree, a Ashmead's Kernel, which is an old English russet variety. We also planted stem cuttings of Black Monukka and Pierce table grapes.
Happy Valentine's Day to you all.
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