Tuesday and Wednesday Whirlwind

Tuesday night consisted of more cultivation, but the reason most people showed up (I think) was for the tomatoes. We picked the few remaining yellow pear, salvaged a poor few romas with rot on the very bottom tip, and accidentally made off with a couple of green beefsteak whose vine broke off amidst the bustle. Hopefully the sun will lovingly continue to ripen them, even if they're now sitting on the ledge of someone's porch or on a windowsill. However, for the most part we tried to keep the numbers of sellable cherry tomatoes up by carefully picking the green stem with the tomato to prevent splitting of the delicate skins. There were so many people picking in the main garden as well as so many orange-to-red cherry tomatoes, it was hard to keep track of which sections had been picked, as some people picked only the very reddest while others preferred to pick the orangy-red as well to make for a colorful--if not completely ripened--harvest.
We had a new member, Scott, come and generously take over care of the herbs for the evening as well. He met the community gardeners at the Parade of Community Gardens, which happened Saturday from 10-2.
As far as the Wednesday morning Farmers Market, proceeds from farmer’s market sales were $133 that went to Keystone Community Center’s Midway Food shelf. There was additionally a donation of 5# Heirloom yellow pear and cherry tomatoes, 3# Swiss Chard and 3# Red Russian Kale.
Have a good week!
Stasia

Trotter's Growers Market and Tuesday "Cultivation"

With much faith in the unknown, Esther has graciously passed the blogging onto me (Stasia) for at least a few weeks. I'm already trying to keep up with all that's happening! A large portion of my first day at work this Monday for the St. Joseph Worker program with Celeste's Dream was spent in the garden. We rolled up our sleeves and Jennifer, Jill, Lylee and I harvested for the one-time Trotter's Café Community Growers Market, put on to celebrate their 20-year anniversary (http://www.trotterscafe.com/ at Cleveland and Marshall in St. Paul)!

We cut broccoli and broccolets and picked the ready tomatoes, both orange and cherry. Next came cold-soaking and bundling of sage, basil, two kinds of cale, and the beautiful multi-colored chard. Cut sunflowers, calendula, and other bright and petaled flora seemed to be necessary beauty to have on hand as well. All in all, the few dollars made will be able to go back into the garden fund, and being able to meet growers and vendors was a valuable part of the experience. Castle Rock Organic Dairy provided free ice cream and cheese tasting, and others such as Blackberry Hills Farm and a honey and soap producer from Wisconsin also were present--and very sociable!

Tuesday evening brought yet more to do in the gardens, especially since many of the regular gardeners went to listen to a speaker, (which I have yet to hear about but am assuming was a positive event). Quickly did I realize that "cultivating" is simply a term for weeding and beyond (aerating the soil and making it ready for what has been quite the timely and continual rain from last night through today). Jill, Valerie and I happened to have a intellectually stimulating conversation to match the highly physical exertion we were putting out. We discussed possibilities for another part of Celeste's Dream which is to be a speaker and salon series called "Wonderment". (Please let us know of any ideas or interests you may have, for while the season's speakers are set, it yet has flexibility).

We made sure the beans and beets were happy with a few cans of water and then headed down to the other garden to thoroughly soak the newly-transplanted and slightly sad-looking asparagus. By the time we headed back toward the Carondelet Center, admiring the bur oaks above our heads as we walked, the asparagus was already perking up. (And now I know what asparagus looks like before coming out of the ground!! Isn't that what this community garden is about--connection and knowledge through experience, among other things...)
Hope to see you next Tuesday!
Stasia Verdoljak
St. Joseph Worker 09-10

ComGar Potluck and a New Home for Asparagus!

Greetings!
Last Tuesday, August 11th, Celeste Dream community gardeners gathered for a potluck before our usual gardening hours. Around 20 people, including some regulars and new friends, came by to share a delicious meal. We ate watermelon, Vietnamese pork noodle salad, chips and salsa, homemade pineapple ice cream, and pesto pasta - just to name a few!
After the potluck, we went to work on our gardens. Some of us tried our hand at transplanting our year-old asparagus seedlings from the greenhouse garden to the Simple Garden. All agreed that the transplant was a success (although no one asked the asparagus how they felt). We also took out more creeping charlie and clover that continue to dominate the south end of the Simple Garden. Hopefully the asparagus will soon overpower any potential weeds!
In the back gardens we harvested cherry tomatoes (so good--they're like gum drops we decided!), kale, chard, beets... We dead-headed calendula flowers, and pulled up the peas. Broccoli and peppers were also harvested from arbor garden.
All in all, a satisfying night!
If you can, stop by our little table this Monday at Trotter's Cafe growers market beginning at 5 pm. Come early because our early season harvests tend to go fast! Trotters is located on Cleveland Ave just south of Marshall Ave in St. Paul.
Peace to all and love especially to our asparagus enjoying their new moist, compost-filled homes.
-Esther

Yellow pear tomatoes!

A bit of color and a bee haven next to the Administration Center

All things green and beautiful

Hello!
We welcome August with an abundant garden. Last Tuesday, groups of gardeners worked in all three of our plots. In the arbor garden, we harvested broccoli, dead-headed chrysanthemums and calendula, and watered. In the largest garden space behind the Carondelet Center, we harvested chard and kale, watered, and cultivated. In the new Simple Garden plot we recultivated a section and broadcasted red clover seed to be used as a ground cover and nitrogen fixer. Clover grows well and will keep down weeds until we can plant more there. We also created one more raised bed and planted beets.
See you tomorrow (Tues, Aug 11) at 5:30 for our community garden potluck with harvesting, watering, cultivating, planting to follow!
Peace,
Esther