The Plot
The Plot The Newsletter of the Madison Community Garden Borough of Madison, NJ
Winter 2016 Volume 5, Issue 1
What’s Growing On 2016 is here and as the seed catalogs arrive, gardeners will start planning for the spring growing season. Let’s take a look at our recent activities:
On December 20, 2015 we celebrated the Winter Solstice at the Garden. We had a great time and thank you to all attendees.
The hoop houses are again producing through the colder temperatures. Come check out the hoop houses, they are now re-located to the front of the garden.
We are buzzing with excitement over setting up our apiary. We have started site preparation, and this spring our bees will arrive.
The Master Gardener Demonstration Plot will again be in operation this season. This plot is a tool to educate gardeners and for produce donations and is located at the front of the garden by the hoop houses.
“Come Winter, merry Winter, Rejoice while yet you may, For nearer, ever nearer, Fair Summer draws each day, And soon the tiny snowdrops Shall waken from their sleep, And, mossy banks from under, The modest violets peep. .”
- 'Winter And Summer' by Arthur Weir
In this Issue: What’s Growing On Master Gardener’s Corner
1 2-3
Bees!
4
Winter Solstice Celebration
4
Area Classes
5
Garden Notes
6
The MCG on 1/31/16 1
Photo: ME Kapalo
The Plot - Winter 2016
Master Gardener’s Corner - by Stephan Stocker Go figure, it’s almost February already. The third or fourth catalog has arrived and it is almost too cold to think about seeds and things. As for myself, seeds for spring planting have all ready arrived and my plot layout is complete. Hint: Get cracking. Time is waiting for no one. January – In the month of January, there is not a whole lot to do, but if you are just dying to get started, you can come out to the Community Garden and plant shamrock (white clover) if the ground is not frozen. You will turn this ground cover over two weeks before you plant your first seedlings. It will improve your soil structure and provide nutrients for your garden plot as it breaks down. Some know this as green manure. While you are there, stop by the “Winter Garden Demonstration” Hoop Houses at the front of the Garden and see what is growing. The hoop houses have been relocated and are now more accessible. They are on your right, just after you enter the garden (next to the demonstration plot). Other things to do now would include starting Ageratum, Begonias, and Petunias. Some of you grew strawberries this past season and, if you took any of the junior offshoots home, now is the time to repot them, and the truly brave can try to force rhubarb. For those new gardeners, this is the perfect time to read up about gardening. “Crockett’s Victory Garden” and Shepherd Ogden’s “Step By Step Organic Vegetable Gardening” are two of my favorite books. This month is a great time to get creative: design a lay out for your plot, think vertical, did you grow too much of one vegetable last season, did taller plants shade smaller plants in your plot, maybe you would like to add flowers to the mix. The variety of layouts present in the Garden and the variety of raised bed setups have been very impressive. February – February is seed starting month; it is the official start of vegetable gardening as far as I am concerned. You can order seeds and now you can start flowers, beets, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, chives, celery, leeks, lettuce, turnips, and onions. You can start your seeds in starter trays, yogurt cups, whatever you have at hand. Give them some sunlight and heat, a little moisture and you are on your way. Pot them up once true leaves appear and they will be ready for transplant in March. If you do not have a grow light system, there are seed starter kits designed to sit on windowsills and radiators. For those of you wishing to grow celery be mindful that the plants need a lot of organic matter and very wet soil to do its best. All right, your seeds are on the way, you sketched out your plot, dated the sketch for future reference, and are ready to go. What is next? Glad you asked. It may be tough in a winter with a lot of snow and frigid weather but plan a trip to the garden for a once over. Did the soil in your plot wash away or heave in spots? Your raised bed boards may have come apart. Your tools, if you left them at the garden may be rusty and the edges dull. Take them home; steel wool them, sharpen the edges, and give them a light coat of oil. Take note of what happened over the winter months and make a plan to attend to any problems you see. Make a list of what you will need: boards came apart – use 10D nails or 4” screws. Whatever you think you need – rake, drill bit for pre-drilling holes, top soil, supports for vegetables, etc. Now you are ready for the season & you start the rhythm of visiting your plot at least once a week, though a twice a week visit would be best. Final thought for February – Weeds, Weeds, Weeds. Make note of the pathway around your plot. Garden rules request you keep the paths and your plot weed-free. Hint: small weeds are easier to pull and the chore goes faster. Continued on Page 3 2
The Plot - Winter 2016
Master Gardener’s Corner - by Stephan Stocker Continued from Page 2 March – In March, you can continue to start seeds at home. It is a good time to start broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, leeks, and parsley in your trays. At this time, you can also directly sow lettuce, onion sets, peas, radish, turnip, and spinach in your plot. Many newer gardeners may not start from seed. I buy pepper plants every year as I have not been able to start them from seed, but I try every year and am confident I will get them to germinate one day. Try it, not peppers, but the other stuff. I promise you, it is a completely different experience. March is for the hardy! Beginning in March, turn your plot over and incorporate the organic matter from the cover crop you grew or add compost, or peat moss. This will bring earthworms to your plot. Do not ask me how this works. I do not know. Maybe it is the siren call of decaying matter that the worms hear. Maybe it is the smell, some chemical alchemy, or maybe it is a combination of both. It does not matter, just turn everything under, most of it will decompose by May. If the ground is too hard spread a sheet of plastic over it, weigh the edges down and let the sun warm it up for a few days. Then turn it over, rake smooth, add fertilizer and water. This will give you your first crop of weeds from the “seed bank”. Rake them out – see how easy it can be – rake smooth and water again – repeat the process when the second crop of weeds comes in. Now you are ready at the end of March to plant onion sets, snap peas, radish, and spinach. A number of gardeners have experimented with low tunnels. They are hoops covered with plastic about three feet high. There are three of these in use since the fall of 2013. These work well for overwintering crops and early seed starting. If you are inclined to try this start small and plant, lettuce to get your feet wet. At home, in seed trays you can start more of almost everything but wait on eggplant until April. Final thought for March – Weeds, Weeds, Weeds. Once a week from then on you should visit your plot with the sole intention of weeding. A stirrup hoe will enable you to do your entire plot in under a half hour. The advantage to you of this approach is two-fold. You will be nearly weed free in May when you want to plant rather than having to pull out huge root balls and you will have corrected low spots and drainage issues as well. Tending to this chore when the weeds are only 1-3 inches high has one other advantage to you. You will not be throwing away your soil, compost and other amendments to the compost pile that make up the root ball of larger weeds. Finally, your plot will not only look better it will produce better.
3
The Plot - Winter 2016
The Bees are Coming! By Mary Ellen Kapalo An excited group of committee members have been busy planning for our new apiary. Preparation of the site is underway, fencing material, hive boxes and hive equipment are being ordered. Two packages of Italian honeybees are scheduled to arrive on April 15th. By keeping hives just outside of our garden we will increase pollination of our plants, and we will be aiding a dwindling honey bee population. Individuals from the community will be giving an opportunity to become part of the bee “co-op” for an annual fee. We are still ironing out the membership details. Co-op members will work with the bees hands on and learn about bee keeping. Members may keep a portion of the honey, provided there is enough to divide amongst members. First year hives typically need all of the honey they produce, so we wouldn’t anticipate collecting and distributing any this year. If you are interested, keep posted for email communication regarding an upcoming informational meeting.
“Surely as cometh the Winter, I know There are Spring Violets under the snow."
- Edwin Teale
Photo: Stephen McAuliffe
Winter Solstice Celebration By Mary Ellen Kapalo On Sunday December 20, 2015 over 30 Garden members joined in the Winter Solstice Celebration at the MCG. This event was started in 2013 and due to its success we have continued it. This year’s event occurred prior to the actual Solstice which was on Tuesday December 22, as the committee had concerns that there would be less turn out during the work week. Gardeners gathered around 2 fire pits to celebrate the year’s longest night, and shared a jovial community spirit even with growing season being long over. As part of the gathering, gardeners wrote on a piece of paper something in their lives that they wished to let go of, or conversely something they wished to gain in the new year. Then the participants tossed the papers into the fire, and whatever we were looking to be rid of was symbolically set free. Attendees shared treats and hot drinks. Thank you to those who attended. We look forward to future Solstice celebrations! 4
The Plot - Winter 2016
Area Gardening Classes and Workshops Gardening Classes at the Adult School The Adult School of Chatham, Madison & Florham Park offers several gardening classes this spring. Classes of interest to gardeners include: “An Early Start: Sowing Seeds Indoors Workshop” taught by Beth Riley on Wendesday April 6 from 6:30—8:30PM and “The Vegetable Garden” taught by Mark Zukovich on Tuesday May 10 from 6:30—8:30PM. See the catalog or website www.theadultschool.org for more info and registration.
Community Gardening Conference at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum On Saturday March 5, the Community Gardening Conference will be held at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum. from 9:00AM to 4:30PM, cost $60 (after Feb 1). Choose from a selection of classes and meet gardeners from other community gardens to share experiences. Note: this popular event has sold out ahead of time in recent years. For more info and for registration see www.arboretumfriends.org or call (973) 326-7603.
Duke Farms Duke Farms offers a large array of gardening classes. For example on March , from 6:30—8:30 PM is “Starting Your Own Veggie Seeds”. Cost $10. Other Duke Farms classes include: “Square Foot Organic Gardening”, “The Dirt on Soil” and “Organic Control of Vegetable Pests and Disease”. For more information: www.dukefarms.org
Snow covering the MCG
Photo: ME Kapalo 5
The Plot - Winter 2016
Garden Notes Local Discount Coviello Brothers offers gardeners a 10% discount on most purchases such as seeds, soil amendments and garden plants. The discount does not include florist items or landscaping/landscaping materials. Gardeners will need to give their plot number and name associated with their plot. Covielllo Brothers’ address is 245 Main St, Madison.
Gardening Classes at the Adult School The Adult School of Chatham, Madison & Florham Park offers gardening classes this spring. See the catalog or website www.theadultschool.org for more info.
How to Reach Us If you would like to email the garden committee for information, suggestions, or concerns, the email address is: [email protected]
“Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.” -
-Frank Lloyd Wright
Our website: http://www.rosenet.org/365/Community-Garden-AdvisoryCommittee We are on Facebook! On Facebook.com search for “Madison NJ Community Garden”. Please “Like” us! About the Madison Community Garden The Community Garden is part of the Madison Recreation Center, a 49-acre site off Ridgedale Avenue adjacent to Madison High School where the municipality & booster groups plan active and passive recreation. The Community Garden is divided into over 70 10-foot by 20-foot plots, which are being assigned on a first-come basis to Madison residents.
6
Winter 2016 Volume 5, Issue 1
What’s Growing On 2016 is here and as the seed catalogs arrive, gardeners will start planning for the spring growing season. Let’s take a look at our recent activities:
On December 20, 2015 we celebrated the Winter Solstice at the Garden. We had a great time and thank you to all attendees.
The hoop houses are again producing through the colder temperatures. Come check out the hoop houses, they are now re-located to the front of the garden.
We are buzzing with excitement over setting up our apiary. We have started site preparation, and this spring our bees will arrive.
The Master Gardener Demonstration Plot will again be in operation this season. This plot is a tool to educate gardeners and for produce donations and is located at the front of the garden by the hoop houses.
“Come Winter, merry Winter, Rejoice while yet you may, For nearer, ever nearer, Fair Summer draws each day, And soon the tiny snowdrops Shall waken from their sleep, And, mossy banks from under, The modest violets peep. .”
- 'Winter And Summer' by Arthur Weir
In this Issue: What’s Growing On Master Gardener’s Corner
1 2-3
Bees!
4
Winter Solstice Celebration
4
Area Classes
5
Garden Notes
6
The MCG on 1/31/16 1
Photo: ME Kapalo
The Plot - Winter 2016
Master Gardener’s Corner - by Stephan Stocker Go figure, it’s almost February already. The third or fourth catalog has arrived and it is almost too cold to think about seeds and things. As for myself, seeds for spring planting have all ready arrived and my plot layout is complete. Hint: Get cracking. Time is waiting for no one. January – In the month of January, there is not a whole lot to do, but if you are just dying to get started, you can come out to the Community Garden and plant shamrock (white clover) if the ground is not frozen. You will turn this ground cover over two weeks before you plant your first seedlings. It will improve your soil structure and provide nutrients for your garden plot as it breaks down. Some know this as green manure. While you are there, stop by the “Winter Garden Demonstration” Hoop Houses at the front of the Garden and see what is growing. The hoop houses have been relocated and are now more accessible. They are on your right, just after you enter the garden (next to the demonstration plot). Other things to do now would include starting Ageratum, Begonias, and Petunias. Some of you grew strawberries this past season and, if you took any of the junior offshoots home, now is the time to repot them, and the truly brave can try to force rhubarb. For those new gardeners, this is the perfect time to read up about gardening. “Crockett’s Victory Garden” and Shepherd Ogden’s “Step By Step Organic Vegetable Gardening” are two of my favorite books. This month is a great time to get creative: design a lay out for your plot, think vertical, did you grow too much of one vegetable last season, did taller plants shade smaller plants in your plot, maybe you would like to add flowers to the mix. The variety of layouts present in the Garden and the variety of raised bed setups have been very impressive. February – February is seed starting month; it is the official start of vegetable gardening as far as I am concerned. You can order seeds and now you can start flowers, beets, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, chives, celery, leeks, lettuce, turnips, and onions. You can start your seeds in starter trays, yogurt cups, whatever you have at hand. Give them some sunlight and heat, a little moisture and you are on your way. Pot them up once true leaves appear and they will be ready for transplant in March. If you do not have a grow light system, there are seed starter kits designed to sit on windowsills and radiators. For those of you wishing to grow celery be mindful that the plants need a lot of organic matter and very wet soil to do its best. All right, your seeds are on the way, you sketched out your plot, dated the sketch for future reference, and are ready to go. What is next? Glad you asked. It may be tough in a winter with a lot of snow and frigid weather but plan a trip to the garden for a once over. Did the soil in your plot wash away or heave in spots? Your raised bed boards may have come apart. Your tools, if you left them at the garden may be rusty and the edges dull. Take them home; steel wool them, sharpen the edges, and give them a light coat of oil. Take note of what happened over the winter months and make a plan to attend to any problems you see. Make a list of what you will need: boards came apart – use 10D nails or 4” screws. Whatever you think you need – rake, drill bit for pre-drilling holes, top soil, supports for vegetables, etc. Now you are ready for the season & you start the rhythm of visiting your plot at least once a week, though a twice a week visit would be best. Final thought for February – Weeds, Weeds, Weeds. Make note of the pathway around your plot. Garden rules request you keep the paths and your plot weed-free. Hint: small weeds are easier to pull and the chore goes faster. Continued on Page 3 2
The Plot - Winter 2016
Master Gardener’s Corner - by Stephan Stocker Continued from Page 2 March – In March, you can continue to start seeds at home. It is a good time to start broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, leeks, and parsley in your trays. At this time, you can also directly sow lettuce, onion sets, peas, radish, turnip, and spinach in your plot. Many newer gardeners may not start from seed. I buy pepper plants every year as I have not been able to start them from seed, but I try every year and am confident I will get them to germinate one day. Try it, not peppers, but the other stuff. I promise you, it is a completely different experience. March is for the hardy! Beginning in March, turn your plot over and incorporate the organic matter from the cover crop you grew or add compost, or peat moss. This will bring earthworms to your plot. Do not ask me how this works. I do not know. Maybe it is the siren call of decaying matter that the worms hear. Maybe it is the smell, some chemical alchemy, or maybe it is a combination of both. It does not matter, just turn everything under, most of it will decompose by May. If the ground is too hard spread a sheet of plastic over it, weigh the edges down and let the sun warm it up for a few days. Then turn it over, rake smooth, add fertilizer and water. This will give you your first crop of weeds from the “seed bank”. Rake them out – see how easy it can be – rake smooth and water again – repeat the process when the second crop of weeds comes in. Now you are ready at the end of March to plant onion sets, snap peas, radish, and spinach. A number of gardeners have experimented with low tunnels. They are hoops covered with plastic about three feet high. There are three of these in use since the fall of 2013. These work well for overwintering crops and early seed starting. If you are inclined to try this start small and plant, lettuce to get your feet wet. At home, in seed trays you can start more of almost everything but wait on eggplant until April. Final thought for March – Weeds, Weeds, Weeds. Once a week from then on you should visit your plot with the sole intention of weeding. A stirrup hoe will enable you to do your entire plot in under a half hour. The advantage to you of this approach is two-fold. You will be nearly weed free in May when you want to plant rather than having to pull out huge root balls and you will have corrected low spots and drainage issues as well. Tending to this chore when the weeds are only 1-3 inches high has one other advantage to you. You will not be throwing away your soil, compost and other amendments to the compost pile that make up the root ball of larger weeds. Finally, your plot will not only look better it will produce better.
3
The Plot - Winter 2016
The Bees are Coming! By Mary Ellen Kapalo An excited group of committee members have been busy planning for our new apiary. Preparation of the site is underway, fencing material, hive boxes and hive equipment are being ordered. Two packages of Italian honeybees are scheduled to arrive on April 15th. By keeping hives just outside of our garden we will increase pollination of our plants, and we will be aiding a dwindling honey bee population. Individuals from the community will be giving an opportunity to become part of the bee “co-op” for an annual fee. We are still ironing out the membership details. Co-op members will work with the bees hands on and learn about bee keeping. Members may keep a portion of the honey, provided there is enough to divide amongst members. First year hives typically need all of the honey they produce, so we wouldn’t anticipate collecting and distributing any this year. If you are interested, keep posted for email communication regarding an upcoming informational meeting.
“Surely as cometh the Winter, I know There are Spring Violets under the snow."
- Edwin Teale
Photo: Stephen McAuliffe
Winter Solstice Celebration By Mary Ellen Kapalo On Sunday December 20, 2015 over 30 Garden members joined in the Winter Solstice Celebration at the MCG. This event was started in 2013 and due to its success we have continued it. This year’s event occurred prior to the actual Solstice which was on Tuesday December 22, as the committee had concerns that there would be less turn out during the work week. Gardeners gathered around 2 fire pits to celebrate the year’s longest night, and shared a jovial community spirit even with growing season being long over. As part of the gathering, gardeners wrote on a piece of paper something in their lives that they wished to let go of, or conversely something they wished to gain in the new year. Then the participants tossed the papers into the fire, and whatever we were looking to be rid of was symbolically set free. Attendees shared treats and hot drinks. Thank you to those who attended. We look forward to future Solstice celebrations! 4
The Plot - Winter 2016
Area Gardening Classes and Workshops Gardening Classes at the Adult School The Adult School of Chatham, Madison & Florham Park offers several gardening classes this spring. Classes of interest to gardeners include: “An Early Start: Sowing Seeds Indoors Workshop” taught by Beth Riley on Wendesday April 6 from 6:30—8:30PM and “The Vegetable Garden” taught by Mark Zukovich on Tuesday May 10 from 6:30—8:30PM. See the catalog or website www.theadultschool.org for more info and registration.
Community Gardening Conference at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum On Saturday March 5, the Community Gardening Conference will be held at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum. from 9:00AM to 4:30PM, cost $60 (after Feb 1). Choose from a selection of classes and meet gardeners from other community gardens to share experiences. Note: this popular event has sold out ahead of time in recent years. For more info and for registration see www.arboretumfriends.org or call (973) 326-7603.
Duke Farms Duke Farms offers a large array of gardening classes. For example on March , from 6:30—8:30 PM is “Starting Your Own Veggie Seeds”. Cost $10. Other Duke Farms classes include: “Square Foot Organic Gardening”, “The Dirt on Soil” and “Organic Control of Vegetable Pests and Disease”. For more information: www.dukefarms.org
Snow covering the MCG
Photo: ME Kapalo 5
The Plot - Winter 2016
Garden Notes Local Discount Coviello Brothers offers gardeners a 10% discount on most purchases such as seeds, soil amendments and garden plants. The discount does not include florist items or landscaping/landscaping materials. Gardeners will need to give their plot number and name associated with their plot. Covielllo Brothers’ address is 245 Main St, Madison.
Gardening Classes at the Adult School The Adult School of Chatham, Madison & Florham Park offers gardening classes this spring. See the catalog or website www.theadultschool.org for more info.
How to Reach Us If you would like to email the garden committee for information, suggestions, or concerns, the email address is: [email protected]
“Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.” -
-Frank Lloyd Wright
Our website: http://www.rosenet.org/365/Community-Garden-AdvisoryCommittee We are on Facebook! On Facebook.com search for “Madison NJ Community Garden”. Please “Like” us! About the Madison Community Garden The Community Garden is part of the Madison Recreation Center, a 49-acre site off Ridgedale Avenue adjacent to Madison High School where the municipality & booster groups plan active and passive recreation. The Community Garden is divided into over 70 10-foot by 20-foot plots, which are being assigned on a first-come basis to Madison residents.
6
