DCG Harvest on Sat./ Vigilance Needed

Hello Dundee Community Garden Members and Friends,  

Thanks to everyone who helped plant the sweet potatoes last Saturday.  Not sure how many of them are going to make it... but they're planted!   Also thanks to the people who have been bring grass clippings-- mulching is coming along nicely.  Remember to mulch your own beds so that you'll need to water less!

Saturday Work Day/ Harvest Time Regular weekly Saturday morning work days have started-- come when you can between 9-12.  We've been harvesting quite a bit of greens for the Underwood Tower, and our flower beds need a lot of weeding!  Gift certificate drawings will be held weekly--you must be present win! 

Garden Thieves on the prowl: please be vigilant  As you may have read in the World-Herald, two gardens have had plants stolen in the past week. http://www.omaha.com/article/20120531/NEWS97/120539940#garden-thieves-strike-again   http://www.omaha.com/article/20120529/NEWS97/705299921   From the paper it sounds as if donations have come flooding in to the Sherman Community Garden, and the same will probably happen with City Sprouts, but please feel free to donate to those two gardens if you have extras!  It may be beneficial that our location at the Dundee Community Garden is so public, making us less of an easy target, but please keep an eye out when you're in the neighborhood and be vigilant-- these vegetable thefts could happen to any garden, including ours!

Extra Vegetable Starts needed for Refugee Garden:   Additionally, the Yates Community Center for Refugees is looking for seeds and starter plants for vegetables for their new community garden, which they will be planting next week on June 6.  If you've got extras to pass along, please bring to our work day this Saturday, or contact Mary at megreen4@cox.net

AND SOME REMINDERS:

Ice Cream Social Sat. June 16, 3-5 p.m.  Mark your calendars now-- more information coming!

Grass Clippings Still Needed:  as always, we can use grass clippings throughout the season to mulch our flower and vegetable beds.  

Reminder Note about Squash and Cucumbers:  Last year our squash crop throughout the garden was DECIMATED by the squash bug, and we also had terrible problems with the cucumber beetle.  We're going try to control these pests by restricting the plants they love, so we are recommending that no squash or cucumbers get planted at DCG this year.  If you do choose to plant these crops, please keep a close eye on them and remove right away if the bugs take over-- and if we find infested plants, we'll have to pull them out. 

COMMUNITY EVENTS:

Subject: Beehive Presentation @ Hands To Harvest!

 

Hi! I'm with the Hands to Harvest community garden.

 

As you may not be aware, we have recently begun hosting a beehive in our garden. This is working out really well and has some fantastic benefits.

 

First, according to The Omaha Bee Club, there are beekeepers all over the city who need a location for their hives and what better place for them than a community garden? You get your plots pollinated, you get to help out a local beekeeper, and best of all, you get to purchase local, organic honey that you actually helped create. How often does anybody get to do that?

 

We would like to share this experience with other community gardens, so we are hosting a presentation. Tony Sandoval, President of the Omaha Bee Club, will be talking to us about the benefits of hosting a beehive and answering questions. We are inviting community garden members hoping they will attend this presentation and decide to host a beehive as well.

 

 

Location: Hands to Harvest Community Garden

            1113 S. 31^st St, Omaha

 

Date: Monday, June 11 starting at 5:30 PM

 

Would you please distribute this invitation to the garden networks? No RSVP is necessary.

DCG Sweet Potatoes, Grass Clippings, and Beehives

Hello Dundee Community Garden Members and Friends,

Sweet Potato Planting and Greens Harvest Sat. May 26:  It's time to get those sweet potatoes in the ground!  Last year we grew over 700#s of sweet potatoes.  This is your chance to learn how it's done!  We also have lots of greens, and some giant radishes, to harvest from our food pantry plots to donate to the Underwood Tower across the street.  We'll be there from 9-12-- come when you can.  

Work Days/ Harvest Times are every Saturday morning, 9-12... come when you can.  Our Dundee Merchants have very generously donated gift certificates to our working volunteers-- must be present to be entered in drawings held each work day!

Grass Clippings Still Needed:  and as always, we can use grass clippings throughout the season to mulch our flower and vegetable beds.  Thanks to whoever has mulched the flower beds along Underwood!

Have extra vegetable starts, or seeds?  The Yates Community Center for Refugees is looking for seeds and starter plants for vegetables for their new community garden.  If you've got extras to pass along, please bring to our work day Saturday, or contact Mary at megreen4@cox.net

Reminder Note about Squash and Cucumbers:  Last year our squash crop throughout the garden was DECIMATED by the squash bug, and we also had terrible problems with the cucumber beetle.  We're going try to control these pests by restricting the plants they love, so we are recommending that no squash or cucumbers get planted at DCG this year.  If you do choose to plant these crops, please keep a close eye on them and remove right away if the bugs take over-- and if we find infested plants, we'll have to pull them out.  

Ice Cream Social Sat. June 16, 3-5 p.m.  Mark your calendars now-- more information coming!

COMMUNITY EVENTS:

Subject: Beehive Presentation @ Hands To Harvest!

Hi! I'm with the Hands to Harvest community garden.

As you may not be aware, we have recently begun hosting a beehive in our garden. This is working out really well and has some fantastic benefits.

First, according to The Omaha Bee Club, there are beekeepers all over the city who need a location for their hives and what better place for them than a community garden? You get your plots pollinated, you get to help out a local beekeeper, and best of all, you get to purchase local, organic honey that you actually helped create. How often does anybody get to do that?

We would like to share this experience with other community gardens, so we are hosting a presentation. Tony Sandoval, President of the Omaha Bee Club, will be talking to us about the benefits of hosting a beehive and answering questions. We are inviting community garden members hoping they will attend this presentation and decide to host a beehive as well.

Location: Hands to Harvest Community Garden

            1113 S. 31^st St, Omaha

Date: Monday, June 11 starting at 5:30 PM

Would you please distribute this invitation to the garden networks? No RSVP is necessary.

DCG May Work Days/ Spring Fling

Hello Dundee Community Garden Members and Friends,  

Thanks to everyone who helped out at our work day last Sat.  Check out the new stone "retaining edging" along the 49th St. sidewalk.  The flower beds are looking great!

Work Days May 12 and 26:  Our next DCG Work Days will be Sat. May 12 and May 26, 9-12 both days (come when you can).  We'll be planting the remaining two community beds, the bean teepee, and some flowers and perennials along the north (alley) side of the garden.  We'll also be planting the sweet potatoes!  Please mark your calendars and come when you can.  Must be present to be entered in gift certificate drawings held at each work day!

A Note about Squash and Cucumbers:  Last year our squash crop throughout the garden was DECIMATED by the squash bug, and we also had terrible problems with the cucumber beetle.  We're going try to control these pests by restricting the plants they love, so we are recommending that no squash or cucumbers get planted at DCG this year.  If you do choose to plant these crops, please keep a close eye on them and remove right away if the bugs take over-- and if we find infested plants, we'll have to pull them out.

and Aphids:  Our hollyhocks have been attacked by aphids this spring.  We're trying to keep them under control with this organic mixture:

If aphids are observed on plants a natural spray to kill them can be made from 1 cup of vegetable oil, 1 1/2 cups of water and 2 teaspoons of dish soap. Sprayed on the aphids, the insects suffocate and die. Two or three applications may be necessary over the course of a few days and the plants should be shaded from direct sunlight while they are still wet.Read more at  

http://linnea-heinrichs.suite101.com/control-aphids-and-cucumber-beetles-in-the-vegetable-garden-a236316#ixzz1tw3lgnjL

So far, it seems to be pretty effective, but if you see aphids making a come-back, try it out!

Tomato Cages and Mesh Produce Bags for Sale at Spring Fling on Sat. May 19:   The Dundee Merchants Assoc. is cutting way back on Spring Fling, but there will be sidewalk sales and smaller events for Spring Fling on Sat. May 19.  Dundee Community Garden will be selling our wonderful tomato cages ($15 for one, or $25 for two) as well as re-usable mesh produce bags ($5 for a set of three-- these are great-- I already own a dozen of them-- you won't have to use plastic produce bags ever again!)  Please stop by our table on May 19th-- we'll be set up on the sidewalk in front of the Denim Saloon/ Dundee Gallery area.

(If you can't make it on May 19, we'll also be selling these items at our Ice Cream Social on June 16.)

Weeds and Planting Your Plot:  All members are responsible for keeping weeds out of their plots.  Some plots are full of weeds, which then spread to others in the garden.  Plots must be weeded by May 15.  All plots must be planted by June 1.  If you are having a situation that makes it difficult for you to care for your plot, please let us know and we'll try to help you out.  If you are no longer interested in caring for a plot, let us know and we can re-assign your plot-- we've got a long waiting list!  

Bring Perennials:  As always, we can use more perennials for flower beds, and along the alley.

And Bring Grass Clippings:  and as always, we can use grass clippings throughout the season to mulch our flower and vegetable beds.

Have extra vegetable starts, or seeds?  The Yates Community Center for Refugees is looking for seeds and starter plants for vegetables for their new community garden.  If you've got extras to pass along, contact Mary at megreen4@cox.net

Help Mulch New Dundee Berry Patch on Sunday:  Some of you are familiar with the "Food Community in Dundee" concept.  As part of this, avid gardener Sarah Newman was able to get a mayor's grant last year to start a Community Berry Patch.  The berry patch is located along Happy Hollow Blvd. by the entrance to Brownell-Talbot School (just south of Underwood.)   Please see Sarah's call for help below:

"Mulching of the newly planted Dundee Berry Patch will begin at 10 am this Sunday, May 6, weather permitting.  Please bring equipment if you have it.  Wheelbarrows and shovels are needed."

No need to RSVP, but if you'd like more information, contact Sarah at  sarahnewman@cox.net 

COMMUNITY EVENTS:

Men's Garden Club Plant Sale  

TODAY-- Fri. May 4, 5:30-8 p.m.

Sat May 5, 9-2

Extension Bldg. 8015 W. Center Road, Omaha

This is a great opportunity to get all kinds of heirloom tomatoes and other vegetables and flowers!  Go early for best selection.

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Urban Farming – A Panel Presentation
Sponsored by the Green Neighborhood Council
Thursday, May 10th from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Neighborhood Center, 115 S 49th Avenue
All GNC workshops are free and open to the public.

As everyone involved in the local urban farming movement knows, the number of backyard and community gardens in the Omaha area continues to increase each year. People of all ages are finding they can grow food for themselves, either learning on their own or from the many teachers and mentors who don’t just tell but show them how to garden, digging in the dirt along with them. Four of those teachers will discuss their work and suggest ways audience members can get involved. Please plan to join us for this informal roundtable presentation and discussion.

Ali Clark works with the Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society as the organization’s Urban Agriculture Specialist.  With other community gardening enthusiasts, she recently helped launch a new Community Supported Agriculture farm, the Big Muddy Urban Farm:www.bigmuddyfarm.blogspot.com/ 

Chris Foster is the Director of Gifford Park’s Youth Garden Program. He’ll present a short power point slideshow, highlighting the variety of available activities in Gifford Park’s Youth Garden Program and Community Garden:
www.giffordparkomaha.org/Community_Garden.html 

Dana Freeman has been the School Garden Coordinator with Douglas County Health Department for the CPPW grant and was the Gifford Park Youth Garden Director for 5 years. By May 10th, she will no longer be with the Douglas County Health Department, but she remains a school and community garden advocate and has recently started her own small business called Growing Gardeners, Inc.

Dan Susman travelled across the country last summer with his friend, Andrew Monbouquette to film a documentary about urban farming, called Growing Cities: www.growingcitiesmovie.com. His latest endeavor, the Truck Farm is an edible education project that will provide farm experiences to Omaha area youth.

A free book on gardening or another green topic will be given to each attendee, or while quantities last. 

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Check out this Great Article on Rain Gardens by former DCG member Helen Deffenbacher:

http://sierranebraska.org/2012/04/30/lets-plant-a-rain-garden/

This article is written for kids and families, but is full of good information and lists local resources.

DCG Work Party Saturday/ Yates Build Tonight

Hello Dundee Community Garden Members and Friends,

Work Party this Saturday April 28, 9-12.  Come when you can to help plant the bedding plants in the flower beds, and we'll plant more vegetables in the community plots.  BRING PERENNIALS to donate if you have them.  Also we could use a couple more rhubarb plants.   

Volunteer Hours: as a reminder, members are asked to volunteer 8 hours over the season towards work in the community beds.  We'll have a drawing for a Dundee merchant's gift certificate for all volunteers at our work days!   If you can't come during scheduled work times, there's a list of chores on the dry erase board that you can work on any time you're up at the garden.  

Members:  Please turn over your plots if you haven't planted yet-- just to keep the weeds down!

Workshop Ideas:  Have ideas for workshops?  Send them to the info@dundeegarden.org account!  Or if you know of people who could lead workshops, let us know!  (Anyone know someone who can teach a "raw foods" workshop?)

Next DCG Board Meeting:  Thurs. May 3, 7 p.m. at Dundee Presbyterian Church, dining room.  All members welcome!  

*************COMMUNITY EVENTS:***********************************************************

Yates Garden Build Tonight April 24, 6-8 p.m.

We are having a garden work party at Yates Community Center (3260 Davenport St.) community garden on this Tuesday April 24^th from 6:00-8:00 PM.  Last November and December volunteers constructed 18 raised garden beds and partially filled with dirt, now we can use a little help weeding and preparing the beds for planting (by families attending Yates and involved in their programs).

We will provide shovels, rakes, wheelbarrows, yard tools, and yard waste bags (you can certainly bring your own yard tools if you like).  A load of dirt has been dropped off for us to fill the raised beds. 

Please stop by if are able to help-- hope to see you there! 

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Men's Garden Club Plant Sale  

Fri. May 4, 5:30-8 p.m.

Sat May 5, 9-2

Extension Bldg. 8015 W. Center Road

This is a great opportunity to get all kinds of heirloom tomatoes and other vegetables and flowers!  Go early for best selection.

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Urban Farming – A Panel Presentation
Sponsored by the Green Neighborhood Council
Thursday, May 10th from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Neighborhood Center, 115 S 49th Avenue
All GNC workshops are free and open to the public.

As everyone involved in the local urban farming movement knows, the number of backyard and community gardens in the Omaha area continues to increase each year. People of all ages are finding they can grow food for themselves, either learning on their own or from the many teachers and mentors who don't just tell but show them how to garden, digging in the dirt along with them. Four of those teachers will discuss their work and suggest ways audience members can get involved. Please plan to join us for this informal roundtable presentation and discussion. 

Ali Clark works with the Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society as the organization's Urban Agriculture Specialist.  With other community gardening enthusiasts, she recently helped launch a new Community Supported Agriculture farm, the Big Muddy Urban Farm:www.bigmuddyfarm.blogspot.com/  

Chris Foster is the Director of Gifford Park's Youth Garden Program. He'll present a short power point slideshow, highlighting the variety of available activities in Gifford Park's Youth Garden Program and Community Garden:
www.giffordparkomaha.org/Community_Garden.html  

Dana Freeman has been the School Garden Coordinator with Douglas County Health Department for the CPPW grant and was the Gifford Park Youth Garden Director for 5 years. By May 10th, she will no longer be with the Douglas County Health Department, but she remains a school and community garden advocate and has recently started her own small business called Growing Gardeners, Inc.

Dan Susman travelled across the country last summer with his friend, Andrew Monbouquette to film a documentary about urban farming, called Growing Cities: http://www.growingcitiesmovie.com/. His latest endeavor, the Truck Farm is an edible education project that will provide farm experiences to Omaha area youth.  

A free book on gardening or another green topic will be given to each attendee, or while quantities last. 

DCG Saturday Workshop/ Spring Groundbreaking

Hello Dundee Community Gardeners and Friends,

Our official gardening season starts this Saturday!  Please plan to join us if you can!

SATURDAY MARCH 31

9:30 a.m. NEW MEMBER REGISTRATION AND ORIENTATION at A.V. Sorenson Center, 48th & Cass.  All new members, please plan on attending!  

10 a.m. INTRODUCTION TO GARDENING WORKSHOP  at A.V. Sorenson:  How to Grow Your Soil; and What to Grow and When.  Garden members Lori Huebert and Tancy Ellis will give an overview for new and experienced gardeners.  This one-hour workshop is FREE and open to the public.  Special bonus: our sponsors The Bread Oven and Blue Line Coffee are providing treats and coffee for our workshops!  Thank you to our sponsors!  Please bring your own re-usable mug!

11 a.m.  Spring Clean-Up and Groundbreaking:  bring work gloves and tools such as shovels.  We'll have a big load of Oma-grow at the garden, ready for you to dig into your plots.  It's time to plant cool-season greens, so bring seeds if you have them-- and there will probably be some seeds available for sharing.  Also, we want to dig out our "food pantry" plots and get them ready for planting, and we'll be planting spring greens in some of those plots. 

BONUS:  We've been receiving gift cards from neighborhood businesses to use as incentives for our members, so make sure to enter your name in the drawings-- we'll have one at our workshop and another one at our Spring Clean-Up!   This is a great way to support our neighborhood businesses!

(NOTE:  We could use more shovels at the garden, if anyone has extras they could donate!)

NEXT BOARD MEETING (Open to all Members):  Thurs. April 5, 7 p.m. at Dundee Presbyterian Church.

 

A BIG THANK YOU to the UNO STUDENTS who helped out for UNO's Day of Service last Saturday March 24.  The students sanded and stained the picnic tables, stained the bulletin board, weeded out the east-side flower beds, and built raised beds for our food pantry plots!  Thanks for all their hard work.  (Note:  the students ran out of time before they had a chance to drop off OmaGrow to those plots who had made requests-- sorry about that!)

 

WORKSHOP SUGGESTIONS:  If you have ideas/suggestions for future workshops, please send them via e-mail  to info@dundeegarden.org 

Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DundeeGarden

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COMMUNITY EVENT:

Food Safety Begins in the Garden:  Free Training for Community Gardeners from UNL Douglas/Sarpy Extension.  Mon. April 2, 6-7:30 p.m.  Registration closes March 30.  Call to register at 402-444-7804.   

This is a program designed to provide education to individuals involved in community gardening projects to reduce the risks of bacterial contamination of their produce.  This means keeping bacteria, viruses and parasites that cause human illness off  of produce.  Produce is grown in soil, and exposed to a variety of organisms, including animals, insects, microbes, and people.  Any of these can introduce contamination.  Controlling every source of contamination is impossible, but there are many things that can be done to reduce them to safe levels.  Food safety can also help with the nutrient content of produce.  No registrations will be taken at the door.

Unsubscribe:  If you no longer wish to receive e-mails from the Dundee Community Garden, please let us know by sending an e-mail to the info@dundeegarden.org address with "unsubscribe" in the subject line.

DCG: Intro to Gardening Workshop /Spring Groundbrea​king / Oma-Grow Dates/ Food Safety Workshop

Hello Dundee Community Garden Members and Friends,


The daffodils are already opening up and it's time to start planning your garden! We'd like to welcome the nine new garden members who will be joining us this summer.

Our Spring Groundbreaking is just around the corner! We'll be kicking off the season with a New Member Orientation, followed by an Introductory Gardening Workshop that is free and open to the community-- you don't have to be a member to attend. Please put this date on your calendar:

Sat. March 31 Spring New Member Orientation, Introduction to Gardening Workshop, (both at AV Sorenson Center, 48th and Cass) and Spring Groundbreaking at the Dundee Community Garden

9:30 a.m. New Member Orientation We'll be going over some basics about the garden, and members will be able to sign up for a plot in the order of their spot on the waitlist. At AV Sorenson.

10 a.m. Introduction to Gardening Workshop: "How to Grow Your Soil; and What to Grow and When Free and open to the public. At AV Sorenson.

11 a.m. Spring Groundbreaking (weather permitting). At the Dundee Community Garden

Note: We'll be serving complimentary Blue Line Coffee and Bread Oven Pastries at our New Member Orientation and our Gardening Workshop. Thanks to these neighborhood sponsors!


NEW THIS YEAR: We have been collecting gift certificates from our local Dundee merchants to distribute at our events. Everyone who helps out on the workdays will be eligible for the drawings! First drawing will be held at our Spring Groundbreaking.


Note to our Continuing Garden Members who already have plots:

We're getting our first load of Oma-Grow dropped off at the garden TOMORROW, March 16. Yes, it's early to start planting and there's a risk of a freeze-- usually the early cool-season crops can go in around April 1-- but garden member and Master Gardener Rebecca Reagan says:

I think most greens ( lettuce, spinach, collards...) can be started. Peas , onion sets, radish.....would do well now. People should check their seed packets (zone 5) and follow what is recommended. As long as the soil is dry, workable, and warm enough for germination, it should not be a problem. After planting, watering will be the concern--for good germination. These plants will tolerate cold weather once they are up and growing.

Our last frost date is in early/mid May--warm season crops go in after that.

Great publication on what to grow and when from the Iowa State Extension (and their dates apply to us in Omaha): http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM534.pdf

Board Meetings: All DCG Members are invited to attend our monthly board meetings, held the first Thursday of the month at Dundee Presbyterian Church, in the basement dining room. Next Board Meeting: Thurs. April 5.

Community Events:Food Safety Begins in the Garden: Free Training for Community Gardeners from UNL Douglas/Sarpy Extension. Mon. April 2, 6-7:30.

Great Pub by Summer Miller at The Reader

http://www.thereader.com/comments/Growing_a_Community_Garden/

Thank you all who made the Dundee Community Garden a success!

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What a Trowel Can Do

Growing a Community Garden

by Summer Miller

A trowel doesn’t mean much to most people. A rather ordinary garden tool, it’s used to dig a small hole in already tended soil. It’s the final resource needed for growing to begin, with a quick stab of the soil and downward pull of dirt particles from their neighboring companions, in goes the plant – tomato, broccoli, melon. For many a trowel is a tool used for growing food, but for people like Eric Williams and Kurt Goetzinger, it’s for growing communities.

Four years ago Williams stood up in a Green Omaha Coalition meeting and said, “I live in Dundee, is anyone else interested in starting a garden.” At the time he was an apartment dweller in the area and wanted an opportunity to grow his own food. Four years later, he is a homeowner and founding board member of the Dundee Community Garden. He credits the garden with deepening his commitment to the people, places and businesses within Dundee.

“We are planting vegetables, but we are growing a community,” Williams explained.
Community garden bylaws can vary by site, but for many starting one is easier than you might think. Such gardens are about bringing people together, strengthening the network of a neighborhood and providing opportunities for healthy food and family connectivity.

The Dundee garden rents 44 plots to individuals and has four plots solely for the purpose of donating food. Williams said there is a 20-30 person waiting list every year for the Dundee garden and they donated 750 pounds of food last year alone.

The Benson Communty Garden started in 2011 when Kurt Goetzinger purchased the empty lot next to his home. He could’ve simply expanded his backyard, but instead he established a place for people to come together.

“I had thought about a few different things I could do with the property, but then I thought, ‘Why not open it up so more people could enjoy it.’ I had an exploratory meeting about starting a community garden and people just loved it,” Goetzinger said.

Although the Dundee Garden is full, Goetzinger is still accepting applications for plots at the Benson Garden, which will be available for planting in April. It costs $30 or $40 per year depending upon the size of the plot. Starting a garden has great rewards, but it also comes with its share of challenges. Sometimes people rent their plot, plant it then let it turn to weeds and other times people simply don’t understand how a community garden works.

“One thing we realized last year,” explained Goetzinger, “is that some people thought, ‘Oh, community garden, I can just walk in a pick whatever I want.’ Of course, that’s not how it works, so to help with that this year and to make the garden more accessible we are planting tomatoes, zucchini and a few other things on the outside of the fence so those who might need something healthy to eat can feel free to take it. All we ask is that they only take what they need and leave some for the next person.”

Patty Falcone, community health educator for Douglas County, facilitates meetings to help those who have taken up the trowel address gardening conundrums. Meetings are usually held at the Douglas and Sarpy County Extension Office, 8015 West Center Rd., in Omaha, once per month during the offseason.

“We host Community Garden Network meetings to provide an opportunity for community gardeners to connect, share ideas and problem solve,” Falcone said.

Those inspired to start or join a garden can log onto www.douglascounty-ne.gov/gardens/community-garden-info to find a host of information. Search the site to find a garden or farmer’s market in your neighborhood, access toolkits and checklists to start your own garden or search an address to see who owns the land and if it has been tested for lead.
Falcone said interest in gardening, community or otherwise, has grown considerably over the years. She used a recent seed swap as an example where nearly 300 people attended.

“Three years ago, when I first started there were 11 gardens. Now there are around 50 registered on the site and I know there are more out there,” Falcone said.

Most people probably wouldn’t say that picking up a trowel is a political act, but it’s safe to say it is a civil act intended to create, grow and nourish not only a plant but also a community.
To contact this writer, email miller.summer@gmail.com

Omaha Seed Share Sat. Jan. 28

Hello Community Gardeners,

The last Saturday in Jan. is "National Seed Swap Day"

Please see the attached flyer for the Omaha Seed Share

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Douglas County Extension Office, 8015 West Center Road

1-3 pm

Open to anyone who wants to grow their own food in the Omaha metro. Meet and

visit with other local gardeners, sharing their excess seeds. You'll find common

seeds as well as organic, heritage or heirloom plant varieties.

• Seed Sharing & Swapping (Bring seeds if you have extras)

• Free Seeds

• Food growing advice and local information

• Meet community gardeners & local farmers

• Free coffee & refreshments

FREE Admission!

Invite your friends & neighbors • Children welcome

DCG Needs Treasurer

Dear Dundee Community Gardeners and Friends,

Thank you to Rose Edzie for volunteering to be our new membership chair.

We are still looking for a new treasurer.   If you are interested, please contact us!  Or if you know of someone who might be willing to take on this task, please pass along their name so we can contact them.  We really need a new treasurer in place before we start collecting membership dues in 2012.

Treasurer Position:  pay bills including annual insurance and reimbursements for garden supplies.  Prepare basic budget for board meetings showing monthly income and expenses.  Annual budget is under $2,500. 

As mentioned before, we are working on getting our NE non-profit status, and would also like to get 501(c)3 tax exempt status, with a long-term goal of buying the property.

Additionally, if you know of someone who might be willing to offer pro bono legal assistance in helping us with the federal non-profit filing,  please let us know that as well.  

Thank you,

DCG Board

Volunteers Needed for Yates Community Garden Build

Hello Dundee Community Garden members and friends,

 

 

I invite you to join in helping Omaha's newest mid-town community garden get it's winter jump-start for spring!  This new garden will be at the Yates Community Center for refugees and immigrants, at 3260 Davenport St. 

This Saturday, DECEMBER 10, we will be assembling and situating 19 garden beds. We would LOVE volunteers and friends from the Dundee Community Garden assist with this project and help the work go faster. There will be two shifts: 8 am - 12 at Lowes, 76th and Dodge, to construct the raised beds, and 12 pm - 3 at Yates, 3620 Davenport, to situate the beds and fill with soil.

 

 

Volunteer for one or both shifts!  FYI, we'll have hot beverages and snacks for everyone and expect the building to be open for periodic warming rests.

 

 

For more detailed information please click HERE!

 

 

Thanks for helping make Omaha a welcoming place for the newest members of our community!

Mary

Dundee Community Garden This Week

Hello Dundee Community Gardeners and Friends,

Thanks to everyone who helped with the Fall Clean-Up on Sunday. We dug up approximately 700 pounds of sweet potatoes!!! We donated two loaded grocery carts to the folks at the Underwood Tower across the street, another 25 pounds or so to the immigrants at the Yates Community Center, and of course our members who helped with the fall clean-up all got a good supply to take home. 

Every year we've increased our food donations-- this year, 750 pounds total over the course of the summer!  Congratulations and thank you to everyone who helped us with these "community plots!"

PLOT CLEAN-UP  All gardeners are responsible for cleaning up their individual plots.  You must clean out your plot in order to get a plot  next year.  You will need to bring a yard waste bag for cleaning out your plot-- out compost bins don't have enough space for the plant materials from 44 plots!  Please set the yard waste bags out with your city yard waste pick-up-- or set out with a neighbors if you live in an apartment and don't have yard waste pick-up.  (The city does not pick up at our garden site.)  

Please have all plots cleaned out by Nov. 1.

END OF YEAR SURVEY:  We are again asking our members to complete the brief survey (attached) to give us your feedback on our garden's third season.  Please take a couple minutes and fill out.  Return to Mary at megreen4@cox.net, or if you wish to be anonymous, you can mail it to our treasurer Deb Hickman at 1227 N. 53rd St., Omaha, 68132.

Dundee Community Garden This Week

Hello DCG Members and Friends,

LAST HARVEST NIGHT THIS WED. AT 6:00 p.m.  Please join us if you can help pick produce for the Underwood Tower.  We'll pick everything we can  before cleaning out the plots this weekend.  

FALL CLEAN-UP   Sun. Oct. 16,  1-4 p.m.  We will need lots of help digging up the sweet potatoes and cleaning out the community beds, so bring shovels and garden tools for the fall clean-up.  You'll also want to bring a yard waste bag for cleaning out your own plot.  We plan to have a trailer there to collect the yard waste bags.  

Note: if you clean out your own plot before Oct. 16, leave the yard waste bag in your plot and we'll load it on the trailer on Oct. 16.  If you clean out your plot after Oct. 16, you will need to dispose of your own yard waste bag.

We will also have surveys at the garden so you can give us your feedback on how this season went for you.

Please have all plots cleaned out by Nov. 1.

CANNA BULBS:  We will also need volunteers to help store the canna bulbs over the winter.  

MAYOR MAKING DUNDEE AWARD PRESENTATION WED. 10:30 a.m.    Mayor Jim Suttle and Bruce Knight of the national American Planning Association will be giving neighborhood representatives the official award for "Great Places in American Neighborhoods" on Wednesday, October 12th at 10:30 a.m. in front of the Dundee Clock at 50th & Underwood.  Our Dundee Community Garden is a part of the reason our neighborhood is getting this award!

DUNDEE GARDEN PAINTING   Check out this link to a painting by Bill Hoover titled "Dundee Garden Project" that will be in the Bemis Art Auction this weekend. (Thank you to Sandy D. for pointing this out!)

 http://bcartsales.org/Artist-Detail.cfm?ArtistsID=2054&NewID=5411&CC=AUCTION

Dundee Community Garden This Week

Hello DCG Members and Friends,

DUNDEE COMMUNITY GARDEN CONTRIBUTES TO MAKING THE DUNDEE-MEMORIAL PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ONE OF THE NATIONS'S 10 BEST NEIGHBORHOODS!    Check out the article in today's Omaha World-Herald at: http://www.omaha.com/article/20111004/NEWS01/710049946#dundee-rated-among-the-best

Full article copied at end of this e-mail.

LAST TWO WEDNESDAY NIGHT HARVEST NIGHTS, 6:00 p.m.  For these last two weeks we'll continue harvesting at 6 p.m. Please join us if you can help pick produce for the Underwood Tower.  And let us know if we can pick extra produce from your plot to donate!

FALL CLEAN-UP   Sun. Oct. 16,  1-4 p.m.  We will need lots of help digging up the sweet potatoes and cleaning out the community beds, so bring shovels and garden tools for the fall clean-up.  You'll also want to bring a yard waste bag for cleaning out your own plot.  We plan to have a trailer there to collect the yard waste bags.  

Note: if you clean out your own plot before Oct. 16, leave the yard waste bag in your plot and we'll load it on the trailer on Oct. 16.  If you clean out your plot after Oct. 16, you will need to dispose of your own yard waste bag.

Please have all plots cleaned out by Nov. 1.

CANNA BULBS:  We will also need volunteers to help store the canna bulbs over the winter.  

*  !  *  !  *  !  *  !  *  !  *  !  *  !  *  !  *  !  *  !  *  !  *  !  *  !  *  !  *  !  *  !  *  !  *  !  *  !  *  !  *  !  *  !  *  !  *  ! 

Dundee Neighborhood Rated Among the Best  (article from today's Omaha  World-Herald)

Omaha's Dundee-Memorial Park neighborhood is one of the nation's 10 best, according to annual rankings published by a nonprofit community development group.

The American Planning Association cited the midtown neighborhood for its "varied residential architecture, strong sense of community and ongoing commitment of residents to care for and beautify the neighborhood."

Association officials also pointed to the neighborhood's inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places and its amenities: public spaces, parks, shopping and upscale homes.

Dundee was an early Omaha suburb, built at the end of a streetcar line.

The planning group noted the hundreds of flower baskets that hang from restored historic street lamps, thanks to residents' efforts; the waiting list for the neighborhood garden; and plans for a community orchard. Volunteers tend street island gardens and staff special events.

The honor for Dundee "just gives more reinforcement to what we already know, but it certainly tells everybody else the great things that we're doing here," said Dave Schinzel, president of the Dundee-Memorial Park Neighborhood Association. "It's the people living here who are responsible for the things we are doing."

The organization's nine other "great neighborhoods" for 2011 are: Gold Coast and Hamburg Historic District, Davenport, Iowa; Swan Lake, Tulsa, Okla.; Highland Park, Birmingham, Ala.; Northbrae, Berkeley, Calif.; Ansley Park, Atlanta, Ga.; the Pullman Neighborhood, Chicago; Hattiesburg Historic Neighborhood, Hattiesburg, Miss.; German Village, Columbus, Ohio; and College Hill, Providence, R.I.

Contact the writer: 402-444-1068, johnny.perez@owh.com, twitter.com/PerezJr

Dundee Community Garden This Week

Hello DCG Members and Friends,

WEDNESDAY WORK NIGHT/ HARVEST NIGHTS CONTINUE AT 6:30   We'll continue picking at 6:30 for the next two weeks-- then we'll start picking at 6 p.m. the last week of Sept.  The neighbors at the Underwood Tower are very appreciative!

FALL CLEAN-UP AND MEMORIAL PARK FRUIT TREE PLANTING coming in October-- more information coming soon.

Check us out on Facebook at Facebook.com/DundeeGarden-- we've got some great photos!

********COMMUNITY EVENTS: Seed Saving; Urban Food Deserts; Slow Food Pizza and Beer Dinner with Local Foods

Green Neighborhood Council Green Lunch Workshop: Fall Seed Saving and Planting -- And a Seed Exchange

When: Wed. Sept. 21, 12 to 1 p.m.
Speaker:  Kathy Jeffers, Master Gardener
Where: Neighborhood Center, 115 S 49th Avenue

Celebrate the beginning of fall by participating in a workshop on seed saving, planting, and exchanging. Kathy Jeffers, Master Gardener of UNL Omaha Extension will discuss how to save and plant native seeds in the fall to create beautiful low-maintenance gardens in the spring that will attract wildlife to your backyard. Whether you're planning a new project or additions to your existing gardens, Kathy will help you get started. A seed exchange will follow the discussion.

The Green Neighborhood Council invites you to bring a lunch and some native wildflower or grass seeds to exchange, but both are optional. The seeds can be ones you've saved from your garden or commercial seeds leftover from your spring planting.

Sierra Club September Program:  "Local Foods: Bridging Urban Sustainability and Rural Renewal" with No More Empty Pots leaders Susan Whitfield and Nancy Williams

Thursday Sept. 22, 7 p.m.
First United Methodist Church, 7020 Cass St., Omaha
(Enter north door education wing)

'Food deserts,' or places in the industrialized world where healthy, affordable food is hard to obtain, exist in Nebraska, in both urban and rural areas. No More Empty Pots is an organization that began for the purpose of connecting individuals and groups to promote local businesses that improve self-sufficiency, and food security, of local urban and rural communities.

NMEP has organized several initiatives, including launching a Community Market Basket project in June, 2011, to distribute fresh local farm produce weekly in North Omaha at the Charles Drew Health Center.

Join the Sierra Club to find out more about local food sustainability issues, and what the group No More Empty Pots is doing to improve food security and self-sufficiency in our region.  Sierra Club programs are free and open to the public.  More information at sierranebraska.org

'The Food Localmotion' Green Pizza and Beer Local Foods Dinner

A dinner with Chef Nick Strawhecker (Dante Pizzeria) featuring pizza with veggies from Rhizosphere Farm (Waterloo, NE), cheese from Branched Oak Farm (Raymond, NE), and Lucky Bucket Beer.

Meet the growers, chef, and food artisans!
$20 per person.  Space is limited and reservations are REQUIRED!

Event will be held at Lucky Bucket Brewery, 11941 Centennial Rd, La Vista, NE, 68128, and includes a tour of the brewery and a 12-oz glass of beer.

For tickets or more information: kdeffenbacher@cox.net, or slowfoodomaha@gmail.com

Sponsored by Slow Food Omaha, Green Omaha Coalition, and the Omaha Sierra Club.

Fwd: Dundee Community Garden This Week

Hello DCG Members and Friends,

Thanks to our members who staffed the garden last weekend for the Omaha Agri-Fair Community Gardens Tour!

WEDNESDAY WORK NIGHT/ HARVEST NIGHTS NOW AT 6:30   We're starting a little earlier with our weekly harvest nights as it is getting dark so early!   Just a few more weeks of harvest nights left for the season!

NEXT DCG BOARD MEETING:  Tues. Sept. 13, 7 p.m. at Dundee Presbyterian Church, dining room.  All members welcome!

FREE CANNING JARS   Look for some used canning jars that need a new home-- they're being left at the garden by a neighbor... help yourself if you can use them!  Also look for some new Ball canning brochures.

COMMUNITY EVENTS:

Green Neighborhood Council Green Lunch Workshop: Fall Seed Saving and Planting -- And a Seed Exchange 

When: Wed. Sept. 21, 12 to 1 p.m.
Speaker:  Kathy Jeffers, Master GardenerWhere: Neighborhood Center, 115 S 49th Avenue

Celebrate the beginning of fall by participating in a workshop on seed saving, planting, and exchanging. Kathy Jeffers, Master Gardener of UNL Omaha Extension will discuss how to save and plant native seeds in the fall to create beautiful low-maintenance gardens in the spring that will attract wildlife to your backyard. Whether you're planning a new project or additions to your existing gardens, Kathy will help you get started. A seed exchange will follow the discussion.

The Green Neighborhood Council invites you to bring a lunch and some native wildflower or grass seeds to exchange, but both are optional. The seeds can be ones you've saved from your garden or commercial seeds leftover from your spring planting. 

Sierra Club September Program:  "Local Foods: Bridging Urban Sustainability and Rural Renewal" with No More Empty Pots leaders Susan Whitfield and Nancy Williams

Thursday Sept. 22, 7 p.m.

First United Methodist Church, 7020 Cass St., Omaha

(Enter north door education wing)

'Food deserts,' or places in the industrialized world where healthy, affordable food is hard to obtain, exist in Nebraska, in both urban and rural areas. No More Empty Pots is an organization that began for the purpose of connecting individuals and groups to promote local businesses that improve self-sufficiency, and food security, of local urban and rural communities.

NMEP has organized several initiatives, including launching a Community Market Basket project in June, 2011, to distribute fresh local farm produce weekly in North Omaha at the Charles Drew Health Center.  

Join the Sierra Club to find out more about local food sustainability issues, and what the group No More Empty Pots is doing to improve food security and self-sufficiency in our region.  Sierra Club programs are free and open to the public.  More information at sierranebraska.org

'The Food Localmotion' Green Pizza and Beer Local Foods Dinner

A dinner with Chef Nick Strawhecker (Dante Pizzeria) featuring pizza with veggies from Rhizosphere Farm (Waterloo, NE), cheese from Branched Oak Farm (Raymond, NE), and Lucky Bucket Beer.

Meet the growers, chef, and food artisans!

$20 per person 

Event will be held at Lucky Bucket Brewery, 11941 Centennial Rd, La Vista, NE, 68128, and includes a tour of the brewery and a 12-oz glass of beer.

For tickets or more information: kdeffenbacher@cox.net, or slowfoodomaha@gmail.com

Sponsored by Slow Food Omaha, Green Omaha Coalition, and the Omaha Sierra Club.

10 Reasons to Say NO to GMOs

http://www.responsibletechnology.org/newsletters/09012011spillingthebeans.html

Dundee Community Garden This Week

Hello DCG Members and Friends,

Thanks to everyone who walked with us in the Dundee Day Parade last weekend, and helped at our booth!  It was a beautiful day and we had a great time!  Pictures coming soon on our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/DundeeGarden

WEEKLY WORK NIGHT/ HARVEST NIGHT TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) AT 7 P.M.    The residents of the Underwood Tower have really appreciated the weekly grocery cart we bring over that is full of fresh veggies.  Come help harvest!  And we need to spruce up the garden to make it look its best for tours this weekend! (see below)

NEIGHBORHOOD FOOD SWAP TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) AT 7 P.M.   Now is peak picking and swapping season! We had two people from the neighborhood (non-garden members ) show up last week wanting to trade produce, and it's kind of fun to go home with something new, that you didn't grow!  Come join us!

OMAHA AGRI-FAIR COMMUNITY GARDENS TOUR SEPT. 3 & 4 (LABOR DAY WEEKEND)  Celebrate urban agriculture by touring local community gardens.  Our garden will be one of the stops on the tour.   Other gardens include Gifford Park, City Sprouts, NorthStar, and more.  Gardens will have volunteers to give free tours on Saturday from 10-4, or Sunday 12-4, or both days.  (Dundee Community Garden will have volunteers Sunday only.)  More information at bensonplantrescue.org/  (Note: tours are now free!) 

PLEASE CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN YOUR PLOT   Be considerate of other plot owners and keep the weed seeds down-- just toss the weeds in the compost bins.  Let's keep the plots looking good!

FREE OMA-GROW  We have some Oma-Grow in the NE corner of the garden-- help yourself if you can use any extra!

Dundee Community Garden This Week

Hello DCG Members and Friends,

NO WORK NIGHT THIS WEDNESDAY!   We're canceling Wednesday's work night so we can pick produce on FRIDAY to sell at our Dundee Day table.  

HARVEST EVENING THIS FRI. AUG. 26, 4:30-5:30.  If you're available to help pick, please join us!  And let us know if we can pick produce from your plot to sell on Saturday!

DUNDEE DAY SAT. AUG. 27:

PARADE :  We'd love to have a big group walk with us, and our giant carrot, in the Dundee Day Parade!  Meet at the Brownell-Talbot parking lot on Underwood Ave. between 10 and 10:15 a.m.  The parade starts at 10:30, and ends up at 50th & Underwood.  Sign up here at  sign up form,   or on the sheet at the garden.

TABLE: We'll have a table at Dundee Day from 9-2 selling garden produce and flowers.  If you can help staff our table with a one-hour shift, sign up here at  sign up form,  or on the sheet at the garden.  BAGS NEEDED:  please bring plastic bags, or re-usable cloth bags that you no longer want, for using at our table.  Muffins provided to all volunteers!

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK at http://www.facebook.com/DundeeGarden

OTHER INFORMATION/ COMMUNITY EVENTS: 

Composting workshop 

Thurs. Sept. 8, 7-8 p.m. 

$5

It is an hour that evening and will introduce how to get started with composting.  I'll attach the flyer for the class.   
Bobbi Holm
Extension Educator-Urban Environment 
UNL Extension in Douglas and Sarpy Counties
8015 W. Center Road
Omaha, NE 68124
Phone: (402) 444-7875
bholm2@unl.edu