Sunshine Weekly Weeder

07.29.10
www.sunshinecommunitygardens.org

SOLARIZE - MAKE THE AUGUST HEAT WORK FOR YOU

Soil solarization is a way to reduce harmful weeds, nematodes, insects, and soil-borne diseases. Research has shown that solarization consistently results in increased production, and beneficial soil organisms can be favored by solarization. The process traps the heat of the sun under clear plastic to pasteurize the upper layer of the soil.

To solarize:

Eliminate weeds and old plants from the bed, and till the soil.

Water the area well before covering it. The soil needs to be kept moist for solarization to work. Putting in drip irrigation under the plastic is an excellent way to keep the soil damp.

Cover the area with 1 to 6 mil, clear plastic which lets light energy pass through and then traps it, like a greenhouse. The plastic should be pulled tight and the edges covered with soil or weighted with rocks to keep the moisture in.

Keep the plastic in place for at least a month or longer, up to two or three months. The soil should heat almost to 150 degrees F, hot enough to pasteurize the soil and kill those bugs, weeds, and diseases.
FALL PLOT FEES

The bills have been mailed out for Fall Season Plot Fees and payments owed for unworked service hours.

Payments are due by July 31.

Carole Limaye, SCG Treasurer, will be available in the garden office on Saturday, July 31 9:00 AM - 12:00 AM, if you have any questions about your bill. She can also meet with gardeners at other times, by appointment.
Audit Committee Volunteers

This is a call for volunteers for the Audit Committee, a committee required by the garden by-laws.

Experience in accounting and auditing is preferable, but not absolutely necessary.

The job would require 3-4 hours per season to review the books, bank accounts and financial statements to ensure they are fairly presented. The time spent can be counted towards garden service hours.
HERBS TO PLANT IN AUGUST

Mexican mint marigold, mints, oregano, rosemary, sage, wormwood (artemesia)
SEMINAR: Fall Vegetable Gardening

Travis County Master Gardeners and Travis County Extension
Saturday, August 7, 10am-Noon
Southwest Hills Community Church, 7416 W. Hwy 71, Austin

It's time to prepare your vegetable garden for the fall and winter season. Master Gardener Vegetable Specialist Patty Leander to learn the basics of vegetable gardening in the fall and winter months. Free and open to the public.
SEMINAR: How to Manage Garden Insects

Travis County Master Gardeners and Travis County Extension
Saturday, August 21, 10am - Noon
LCRA Redbud Center, Rm 108N, 3601 Lake Austin Blvd

You can deal with pests effectively without spraying general insecticides all over your plants. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) can teach you how to protect your garden without harming the environment or your plants. Learn to distinguish beneficial insects in your backyard from harmful insects. Basic IPM strategies will be described that can help manage insect pests in vegetable gardens and in the home. Free and open to the public.
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
Linda Booker, Director - lindaruthbooker@gmail.com
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