August 24, 2010 - McClure Garden Member Update

Workbee

A big thank-you to all the members who came out to last Saturday’s workbee. Thanks also to the three youths from the YMCA’s Y-Map program who came out to help us. We accomplished a lot, and here’s a list to update everyone on what got done.
Composting
- Patrick and his crew built a brand new 3-bin composter. Yay! The funds for the materials were mostly donated by Community Natural Foods and the rest by the Shell Environmental Fund. We will be putting up a sign shortly to acknowledge Community’s contribution. A second new composter is planned for the NE corner. This one will have a lid and will be used to store finished compost. We are looking for volunteers to build this one so please let us know if you or someone you know can help. The remaining funds from the Shell Environmental grant will cover the cost of materials.
- There are bagged leaves beside the new composter and also beside the second composter that you can use to layer with your green materials. Please remember to put all diseased plant material and weeds in the dumpster in the parking lot.
- The middle composter and the black plastic composter that’s beside it was turned and tidied up. The finished compost has been moved to the left side of the two-bin composter and the right side has new and working materials.
- Help yourself to the finished compost and please add some water to the working side when you can to help speed up the decomposition.
Weeding & Seeding
- The raspberry patch has been weeded and a cover crop of White Dutch Clover has been planted in the hopes it will help suppress the quack grass once it’s established. Please help keep the raspberry patch well watered in the next while to help the clover germinate and grow.
- A goodly amount of weeds came out of our orchards – enough to fill the dumpster. Once the weeds are cleared, the long heap of woodchips behind the cherry trees can be spread around the orchard. The mulch needs to be renewed on a regular basis because it does break down over time.
- The perennial flower bed beside the church got weeded and extra edging was added to help keep the weeds at bay.
- The weeds from between the patio stones of the handicap area were removed.
Fence Jumping Deterrent
- Ruth zip tied dead branches to the fence to increase the height at the Northeast corner where kids often scale the fence. She will be building a little bed at the bottom to grow sweet peas that will climb the branches. Better the peas than the kids.
Next Workbee
- Saturday September 18, 2010 from 10-2:00pm