Sunshine Weekly Weeder

08.05.10
 www.sunshinecommunitygardens.org

Sunshine Community Gardens & the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired

from Linda Booker, Chairperson of Liaison Committee to Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI)

The Board of Directors for Sunshine Community Gardens (SCG) recently met with Bill Daugherty the director of TSBVI to discuss the relationship between SCG and TSBVI, our sponsor. Bill Daugherty is committed to maintaining SCG and would like to build a closer relationship between the school and the gardens.

However, there are new initiatives afoot to reallocate the valuable parcel of land where we garden to other purposes. To counter them, it is in our interest to enhance our volunteer efforts with the TSBVI Horticulture Program. Plans are underway to create a more visible, effective, and beneficial connection between TSBVI horticulture students and SCG volunteers to justify our continued existence on the campus and to preserve our garden space.

The Sunshine Community Gardens Liaison Committee to TSBVI has been formed, and the Board of Directors has voted to approve a proposal to make it mandatory for each gardener to contribute one hour of service per season for TSBVI projects and activities. The committee is making a list of opportunities for gardeners to choose from to complete their hour of support. Currently, the range of opportunities are limited to basic gardening tasks, but once TSBVI’s horticulture program is more fully implemented, a wide variety of tasks will be available.

In addition to supporting the horticulture program, we can show that we are good neighbors and valuable tenants by keeping our plots and the perimeter of the garden clean, tidy, and productive. Well-maintained gardens make a good impression on all our visitors, from state officials to casual, drop-in guests.

TSBVI intends to show they consider Sunshine Gardens to be part of the school by replacing the garden fence with fencing that matches their own. When their construction project is finished, a new fence will be put up around the entire campus, including Sunshine Gardens. Also, there are plans for a large marquee on the corner of Lamar and 45th, which will include landscaping maintained by Sunshine volunteers (another opportunity for that 1 hour of service).

Please contact the committee to find out about jobs to be done that will count toward your 1 hour of TSBVI service. Also, if you are interested in serving on the committee, contact us. The committee will focus on building our relationship with TSBVI and exploring projects for volunteer efforts.

Thank you for your cooperation and support.

Linda Booker, Committee Chairperson lindaruthbooker@gmail.com
Janet Adams, Committee Member president@sunshinecommuntiygarden.org
Sue Brownlee, Committee Member scgsecretary@gmail.com

REMINDERS

Speed Limit The Speed Limit at the garden in 3 mph. That is very, very slow. It's not a random rule but one we have for safety, dust and consideration of each other.

Mosquitoes Drain standing water ANYWHERE it may occur in your garden such as flowerpots, watering cans, storage containers. Empty and refill birdbaths at least every 2-3 days. Mosquitoes can only develop in standing water. See City of Austin HHSD - Mosquito Resources.

Common Areas Common areas are every gardener's responsibility. If the area around the plot you are assigned is overgrown, you are out of compliance with the site rules. If you have questions about please ask your Zone Coordinator. Their contact information is at the end of every newsletter.

SEMINAR: Fall Vegetable Gardening
Sponsored by Travis County Master Gardeners
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. Join Master Gardener Vegetable Specialist Patty Leander to learn the fall gardening basics.

Free and open to the public.

SEMINAR: How to Manage Garden Insects
Sponsored by Travis County Master Gardeners
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) shows how to protect your garden without harming the environment or your plants. Learn to distinguish beneficial insects in your backyard from harmful insects. Basic 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