Sunshine Weekly Weeder

04.02.10
www.sunshinecommunitygardens.org

WORKDAYS IN APRIL

Two Workdays are scheduled this month for working your service hours at the garden. Plan your spring scheule and get your hours in early before the summer heat arrives.

Saturday, April 10 - morning
Saturday, April 24 - morning

Tomato Planting Time

Get those tomato plants into the ground by mid-April so that you will have a good crop before the central Texas summer heat shuts them down and the flowers will not set fruit.

Three reasons to eat tomatoes from Dr. Andrew Weil.

Tomatoes are:
1. Low in calories.
2. Excellent sources of vitamin C, and provide vitamins A and K, potassium, manganese and fiber.
3. A source of lycopene. Lycopene, a carotenoid that gives tomatoes their color, has been linked to a lowered risk of heart disease and cancer and to lowering high cholesterol. Remember that carotenoids are fat-soluble. To get the full health benefit of tomatoes, eat them lightly cooked and paired with healthy, monounsaturated fats like extra-virgin olive oil.

VEGETABLES TO PLANT - early to mid April

Amaranth - Snap Beans - Lima Beans
Beets - Cantaloupe - Chard - Sweet Corn
Cucumbers - Eggplant - Okra - Peanuts
Black-eye Peas - Pepper Plants - Pumpkin
Radishes - New Zealand Spinach - Summer Squash
Sweet Potato - Tomato - Tomatillo - Watermelon

HERBS TO PLANT IN APRIL

Anise ~ Basil ~ Borage ~ Chives
Comfry ~ Cumin ~ Fennel ~ Lavender
Lemon Grass ~ Lemon Verbena ~ Mexican Mint Marigold
Oregano ~ Rosemary ~ Sage ~ Sorrel
Summer Savory ~ Tansy ~ Thyme ~ Yarrow

CACTUS & SUCCULENT SHOW
April 10-11, 10 am - 5 pm
Zilker Botanical Garden, 2220 Barton Springs Drive

Austin Cactus and Succulent Society hosts its Spring Show and Sale, free and open to the general public. The show offers visitors a chance to see rare and beautiful cacti and succulent species from around the world. Vendors from Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico will sell native and exotic cacti and succulents, and hand-made pottery. Educational information, literature, and expert advice will be available.

GARDENING SEMINARS
Travis County Master Gardeners Association & Travis County AgriLife Extension

Cool Plants for the Shade Garden
Friday, April 9, 9-11 am
Demonstration Garden, AgriLife Extension Office, 1600-B Smith Road, Austin

A free in-the-garden discussion. See some of the shade loving plants growing and learn about other perennials and annuals which require limited sun.

Plant Propagation
April 17, 2010 9-11 am
AgriLife Extension Office, 1600-B Smith Road, Austin

Covers various propagation methods including cuttings, layering, and division. Class size is limited to 30 participants so call the Master Gardener Help Desk at 512-854-9600 to reserve your place. Participants must bring scissors and an empty, clear plastic, 2 liter soda bottle with lid for a hands-on project.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Contact Information

Janet Adams, President - president@sunshinecommunitygarden.org
Mary Gifford, Vice President - vice-pres@sunshinecommunitygarden.org
Carol Limaye, Treasurer - caroline.limaye@sbcglobal.net
Sue Brownlee, Secretary - scgsecretary@gmail.com
Norman Boyd, Director - norman@sunshinecommunitygarden.org
Ila Falvey, Director - ila.falvey@gmail.com
Nancy Seibert, Director - nancyrseibert@yahoo.com

Coordinators & Chairs

Zone 1, Patsy Painter - patsy_painter@yahoo.com
Zone 2, Katy Davis - katydavis@austin.rr.com
Zone 3, Daniel Moise - daniel.b.moise@gmail.com
Zone 4, Alan Marburger - alanmarburger@gmail.com
Zone 5, Mary Gifford - mgifford@austin.rr.com

Zone 6, Sharon Flournoy - saflournoy@att.net
Zone 7, Diana Dworaczyk - dianadworaczyk@aol.com
Zone 8, Nancy Seibert - nancyrseibert@yahoo.com
Zone 9, Cheryl Hazeltine - cph@austin.rr.com
Zone 10, Sue Mennicke - sue_scg@fastmail.fm

Plant Sale - Nancy Seibert - nancyrseibert@yahoo.com
Carpentry & Repairs - Robert Jarry - r.jarry@sbcglobal.net
Compost - Steve Uecker - steven_uecker@hotmail.com
Tools & Wheelbarrows - Bob Easter - beaster1@austin.rr.com
Maintenance Coordinator - Ila Falvey - ila.falvey@gmail.com
Website Coordinators - Kathleen Neville and Larry Olsen - lolsen@suddenlink.net

Record Service Hours Online - the Virtual Green Binder

To unsubcribe send a message to:scgsecretary@gmail.com

Sunshine Community Gardens
http://www.sunshinecommunitygardens.org