Garden Workshops – Good Cheer Harvest Party and Music Fest

Aug 312011
 
 August 31, 2011  Posted by Mark Clawson 1 Response »

The Good Cheer Garden will be turned into a garden of knowledge on the day of the Harvest Party and Music Fest. You’ll be able to learn all about worms, composting, cover crops and how they can help your garden.

The theme of the day is “Cultivating Community” and from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. we will keep you busy. Local musicians will provide a backdrop to the Harvest Party where children will find games and adults can learn about tending their gardens. We will also continue our tradition of the Chef Cook-Off, pitting local non-profits against each other in a battle to win your votes.

We have had a number of raffles and this is the day to let you know who won. I’m sure that someone is going to be very happy to take home the garden shed built by Bob Bowling. Here is a link to the story behind the garden shed and Bob Bowling, make sure to get your raffle ticket!

There will be a number of presentations and workshops throughout the day. Graham Kerr, the Galloping Gourmet, will share the experiences of his kitchen garden and pass along some tips.  He will be on the main stage at noon and then in the garden for a more specific workshop and conversation. His new book “Growing at the Speed of Life”  is a story about a year in the life of his first kitchen garden. Graham will have a book signing right next to the Good Cheer Garden!

Growing Groceries will of course be a part of the Good Cheer Harvest Party and Music Fest, and the classes will be in the Good Cheer Garden:

9 a.m. - 10 a.m. Top Tips of the Month

Cary Peterson, the Good Cheer Garden Coordinator, will begin the day helping you to prepare your gardens for next years harvest with a discussion of cover crops. This is all about what to do in your gardens in September, so bring your questions.

Cover crops are important in many ways:

Improve yield potential over time

Improve weed control of winter annuals

Reduce erosion

Increase earthworm populations

Improve soil microbiology

Build soil tilth

10 – 11 am: Composting Basics

Composting made fun; Janet Hall will be sharing her knowledge about reducing waste. Janet, the WSU Extension Waste-wise Coordinator, has a passion for educating the public on ways to reduce waste; she concentrates on composting, recycling, sustainable living and septic systems. This will be an entertaining and interactive experience that we can all learn from.

11 am – 12 noon: The Wonders of Worms!

This is where you’ll learn about the benefits of worms, perhaps you may be able to touch a few. Todd Spratt, father of JaNoah Spratt, will show you how in-ground cedar worm boxes can convert garbage into “black gold” soil.

No need to register, just come and learn, enjoy the celebration, have fun and eat good food!

There is still a week left, so be sure to purchase your raffle tickets. This is a great way to benefit the food bank and you might bring home a surprise.

Good Luck and Good Cheer…….Let the Garden Grow!

Apples and Root Cellars – A Challenge

Jun 132011
 
 June 13, 2011  Posted by Mark Clawson No Responses »

In 2010 Good Cheer’s Gleeful Gleaners harvested more than 2100 pounds of apples, pears, plums and Asian pears in their first season. There were 51 harvest volunteers who picked the extra fruit offered by 23 generous tree owners. A total of 27 harvests boosted the food bank’s supply of fresh, organically managed local fruit that found it’s way into the homes of our clients.

The Gleeful Gleaners have a wish list going into the 2011 harvest season. They would welcome a volunteer willing to spend the three-and-a-half month season handling their database, matching harvest teams with trees needing picking. This individual needs to be available from mid-July through October and should be comfortable with email and word processing. They need someone who is good at getting information to the right person at the right time and keeping track of data. Last year, this job involved about 10 hours per week. If this appeals to you please call Nancy Hepp at 221-8664 or send a message to gleefulgleaners@goodcheer.org to explore this opportunity.

A root cellar.

Good Cheer could really use a root cellar to handle the storage of fruits and vegetables. A root cellar is simply a cold place to store vegetables and fruit for the winter months. It’s a way to store crops without using energy. A traditional root cellar is an underground structure built into the side of a hill.

The need for a root cellar is becoming more evident. We are finding that fruits don’t winter well in our storage facility. The potential of losing 50% of what we get to temperature forces us to make cider or applesauce so that the fruit doesn’t get thrown out.

Damien Cortez, food bank coordinator, indicated that if we had a root cellar we wouldn’t have to be buying apples now. The success of the Gleeful Gleaners will mean more product coming to the food bank which is great, however, we need to address the storage issue. Damien is putting together a task force to explore the idea of a root cellar. Anyone that has any knowledge about root cellars please call Damien at the food bank (360-221-6454 option 1).

Good Cheer is also looking for apple experts who can help us with the many different varieties that we receive at the food bank. The more that we know the better we can store them.

Good Cheer!

Spring in the Garden at Good Cheer

Apr 262011
 
 April 26, 2011  Posted by Mark Clawson No Responses »

Late February Snow, Kasprisin Ridge, near Langley.

The rain and cool weather has been repeating itself like Groundhog Day for most of these last couple of months here on Whidbey. I guess we just have to wait and hope that La Nina winds down and more normal weather prevails. On the positive side the snow pack in the Olympic Mountains was deemed 190 percent of normal late last week by the the Federal Natural Resources Conservation Service.

June 2010 – Good Cheer Garden

I was reading Cary Peterson’s Growing Groceries blog and found some information that I would like to pass along.

On May 14th, from 9 am – 12 noon, at the Good Cheer Garden, you can learn about:

What makes the warm weather crops happy –  tomatoes, beans, squash, basil and cucumbers
Making compost in your garden –  adding organic matter is key to healthy soil
Best veggies to plant in May
Irrigation – what are good strategies, and how to install a simple system.

Presenters: Janet Hall, WSU Waste Wise Coordinator

Cary Peterson, Growing Groceries Coordinator

Class fee is $15, scholarships available.

You can call the Whidbey Institute for information and registration (360) 341-1884.

The following is an excerpt from the Good Cheer Garden blog:

The only way we’re going to grow anything this cold spring is with the help of floating row covers, and lots of them! The starts we planted are growing, with kale, lettuce, bok choi, spinach and chard doing their best under the conditions.

For the complete story you can just click here.

Good Cheer and pray for some warmth for our crops!

Good Cheer Garden – Getting Ready for Spring

Jan 282011
 
 January 28, 2011  Posted by Kathy McLaughlin No Responses »

It’s still a ways away, but the Good Cheer Garden is getting ready for spring. Here is an excerpt from Cary Peterson’s Garden Blog on what is happening at the Good Cheer Garden .

We were thrilled to be awarded a $1250 grant from the Whidbey Island Garden Tour to build a retaining wall, and purchase supplies for growing seed starts, and tools for the garden. The Garden Tour’s grant to Good Cheer helped launch the garden in 2009 and we are so appreciative of their continuing support! Save the date of this year’s tour: Saturday, June 25th.

With this funding, Eagle Scout Tommy Mozingo is going to build a retaining wall to hold up the steep southeast slope of the garden. It will replace the temporary wall of plywood and pallets, and then extend to the fence line. He will be coordinating a work party of Boy Scouts, so the project combines building skills with leadership skills. Stay tuned, and thank you, Tommy!

To read the full article click here.

Good Cheer!

The Good Cheer Food Bank Garden

Jun 292010
 
 June 29, 2010  Posted by Kathy McLaughlin No Responses »

I wanted to show you some photos of the Good Cheer Garden. This is the time of year when we are able to bring fresh and healthy vegetables into the food bank.

Cary Peterson, Good Cheer Garden Coordinator, picking fresh broccoli in the garden.

Americorp volunteer Molly Zeigler; this is fresh!

Straight from our garden to You:)

Summer Squash

Chard and Bright Lights Chard

Kale

Lettuce

Leeks, Lettuce and Summer Squash

Broccoli and Chard

Peas

Beets

Two varieties of Kale

Peas on the Vine

Chard

Strawberries

What else is growing in the garden?

Basil, Beans, Blueberries, Bok Choi, Carrots, Cauliflower, Chives, Collards, Cilantro, Cucumbers, Herbs, Onions, Parsley, Parsnips, Pears, Plums, Pumpkins, Radishes, Respberries, Spinach, Tomatoes, Tulips and Zucchini!

Good Cheer or perhaps I should say Good Eats!

Good Cheer Harvest Party and Music Fest 2010 Poster Submissions

May 232010
 
 May 23, 2010  Posted by Kathy McLaughlin 1 Response »

This  is a call for Art Entries for Good Cheer’s Harvest Party & Music Fest 2010 Poster.

Local artists are encouraged to submit entries for poster artwork for Good Cheer Food Bank’s second annual Harvest Party & Music Fest to be held September 11.

The winning design (as selected by the festival steering committee) will be reproduced on the event’s promotional poster, website, blog, ads, and other materials distributed throughout the area. The chosen artist will receive a $250 check and will be an honored guest at the festival. The artwork will become the property of Good Cheer.

Last years winning entry from Kathy Marshall.

The framed original artwork will be auctioned off at the event, and posters will be for sale as a fundraiser for Good Cheer’s on-site garden. In addition, all submitted artwork will be on display during the day of the festival. Last year the event drew more than 300 people to our Bayview facility.

Our theme this year is “Cultivate Community” which is appropriate since all funds raised during the Harvest Party & Music Fest will go to supporting Good Cheer’s garden. Last year our garden produced more than 5,800 pounds of fresh vegetables for our Food Bank clients. This is an opportunity for artists to use their talents to help create a hunger-free community!

Specifications for artwork and an entry form can be found on Good Cheer’s website or by clicking here. Deadline for submissions is June 11.

I have created a slideshow of last years event so that you can get a  feel for the atmosphere and perhaps assist you in developing a winning poster. Just click on the above photo to see the slideshow. For full screen viewing just click on the icon for full screen viewing in the lower right hand corner.

Everyone involved in this project is a winner; even though a selection must be made.

Thanks for your participation!

Good cheer!