Garden Closing for the Season

The Coupeville Community Garden will close for the season on November 1.  All gardeners are asked to have your gardens cleaned up by October 31 in preparation for the winter. 

Happy Winter and see you in the Spring. 

Vegetable Field Day

Gardeners and farmers are invited to join Organic Seed Alliance on November 1 for a vegetable field day that includes tastings.  Participants will learn about the Northern Organic Vegetable Improvement Collaborative (NOVIC) – an exciting project that joins researchers and organic farmers in northern states to address seed and plant breeding needs – and evaluate carrot and beet variety trials at Nash’s Organic Produce, a participating farm.

The field day is free and open to the public and runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on November 1 at Nash’s Organic Produce, 1865 East Anderson Road in Sequim, WA.   Participants are encouraged to bring raincoats and boots. 

Please register by contacting Cathleen McCluskey at (360) 385-7192 or cathleen@seedalliance.org.

For more information, visit http://www.seedalliance.org/.

Readying Your Garden for Next Year



Source:  Growing Groceries

Getting Your Garden Ready for Next Season
Saturday, October 9
9:00 - 11:00 am

Growing Groceries will host this final class of the season, focusing on building healthy soil and sharing tips about what worked and what didn't work in gardens this season.  For more information click here.

Seed Saving Workshop

Wednesday, September 29, 2010 (9:00 - 3:00)

Greenbank Farm, Whidbey Island

Learn to grow seed, steward heirlooms and create new varieties at this class for Pacific Northwest gardeners and farmers. Whether you have saved seeds before or are a complete beginner, this is a great chance to learn about seed and connect with other seed savers in your region. We will cover basic seed concepts including timing of planting, ideal population sizes, preventing cross-pollination, selecting for improved varieties, seed maturation and harvest, and seed cleaning techniques.

Registration fee - $100.00.  Course cost includes fresh organic farm lunch.  To register call 360-385-7192 or email cathleen@seedalliance.org.  Registration deadline is Monday September 20, 2010 and space is limited.

For more information:  Organic Seed Alliance

More recipes using our garden bounty

Our neighbors to the South at the South Whidbey Good Cheer Garden share some great recipes using the fresh summer ingredients.  Here's the link for some tasty, fresh meals using the bounty we're growing here in our community garden.  Enjoy!

August Growing Groceries Class

photo: So Whidbey Good Cheer Garden

Interested in canning, freezing or dehydrating some of your Summer bounty to eat from your garden year round? Or, want to learn about seed saving?

Check out the August Growing Groceries class on August 14, 9:00 - noon.

The class will also touch on the best veggies to plant in August for an extended harvest into Fall.

The Colors of Our Garden

And who said growing veg was just for food?  Spotted a lot of beautiful veggies and flowers in our garden last week. 

Recipes for our Newly-Harvested Veggies

Finally summer is here and we're actually beginning to harvest from our community garden! 

Here's a great recipe via Puget Sound Fresh from The Northwest Vegetarian Cookbook by Debra Daniels-Zeller:

Grilled Zucchini with Lemon-Garlic Butter

• 8 medium zucchini (about 8 inches long), ends removed and cut in half lengthwise. You can also use any variety of summer squash for this recipe.
• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped lemon zest
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• Pinch of salt
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

1. Preheat a grill. Score the zucchini halves with a sharp knife, making diagonal cuts about 1/4 inch deep at 1-inch intervals all the way down.

2. Combine the butter with the lemon juice, zest, pepper, garlic powder, oregano, and salt. Brush the zucchini halves with the mixture, and then grill them until the sides become charred, 10 to 12 minutes.

3. Sprinkle the zucchini with the Parmesan cheese if desired, close the lid of the barbecue, and heat until the cheese softens, about 1 minute.

Serves 6 to 8

Any fresh veg recipes you'd like to share with fellow gardeners?

Crop Sharing

Crop Sharing Program
Tuesday, July 13
5:30-6:30 pm
Oak Harbor City Hall

Do you have a glut of garden produce?  Are you wondering what you’re going to do with it all?  Cary Peterson, community gardener and coordinator of Bayview’s Good Cheer Food Bank Community Garden, will make a presentation on growing food for the hungry.  She’ll note efforts all over Whidbey Island where schools, churches and private gardens are contributing fresh produce to those in need.

Learn how you can contribute, what types of produce are best and where you can take them.  Join Cary and other community gardeners at Oak Harbor City Hall, Tuesday, 5:30 - 6:30 pm on July 13.

Inspiration

As we're out there weeding, weeding, weeding after the late May showers, just remember - our bounty is on the way.  Happy gardening everyone. 

Ask a Farmer CANCELLED

June 1, 5:30 - 6:30 pm  Instead, check with our farmers each Saturday at the Coupeville Farmers Market - they're happy to answer questions and share advice. 

Thanks so much to Rosehip Farm & Garden and the Smith-Case Farm for sharing advice all Spring at the garden's "Ask a Farmer" evenings.  We appreciate your advice and on-site plant sales.  You helped us all get our gardens off to a great start.

 

May 4 Compost Workshop

Compost Bin Workshop & Construction
May 4, 5:30 - 7:30 pm

Local farmer Janet Hall will teach this workshop on composting and will lead volunteers in construction of our garden's compost bin.

Also, local farmers from Rosehip Farm & Garden and the Smith-Case Farm will be at the garden to answer your gardening questions. Plus, they'll have veggie starts for sale right at the garden.

And... wondering if it's too soon to plant tomatoes?  Growing Groceries' next class is "May - is it warm enough yet? " on Saturday, May 8, 9 - noon at Bayview School.  Click here for more information. 

Happy planting & composting.

Coupeville Garden Club Plant Sale

Coupeville Garden Club Plant Sale

April 24, 10:00 - 4:00

April 25, 10:00 - 2:00 pm (or until sold out)

Coupeville Rec Hall

It's a great place to get your herbs, veggies, and annuals starts for your community garden plot.  Get there early to buy plants and support our very own Coupeville Garden Club.

Ask a Farmer & Plant Sale

Today at the Garden unless it's raining

Ask a Farmer & On-Site Plant Sale
April 20, 5:30 - 6:30 pm

Farmers from Rosehip Farm & Garden and the Smith-Case Farm will be at the garden to answer your questions, provide planting advice and sell veggie starts.  Please note:  event will be cancelled if it's raining but you can visit both farmers at the Coupeville Farmer's Market on Saturday.

Organic Gardening Resources

The Coupeville Community Garden is all organic.  All pest and disease management must be done with only organic methods and compounds.  Here are some resources to help:

Articles and booklets:

• Introduction to Organic Gardening [pdf], compiled by Ray Schutte
• Organic Gardening Resources and Tips [pdf] from Seattle P-Patch Community Gardening Program

A few books on the topic:

• WSU Island County Cooperative Extension Service publications
• Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades:  A Complete Guide to Natural Gardening by Steve Soloman Maritime Northwest Garden Guide - order from Seattle Tilth Association
• Rodale's All-New Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening:  The Indispensable Resource for Every Gardener

Found a resource you really like?  Share it by posting a comment here.

Garden Party Heralds our Season Opening

Garden Opening
April 1, 5:30 pm

The Coupeville Community Garden will officially open on Thursday, April 1 with a small ceremony and refreshments at 5:30 pm. 

Come celebrate the new gardening season and pick up a few plant starts which will be available for purchase from local farmers.

A reminder that there are still plots available on a first come first served basis while they last.  For more information on how to apply click here.

Plots Still Available - Pass the Word

There are still plots available in the garden after 2010 plot assignments have now been made in response to the March 12 Application Deadline.  If you want a second plot, please fill out a second application. 

Help spread the word to others that the Town is still accepting applications.  Plot assignments will be made on a first come first served basis.  How to apply.

Planning your garden: some tips for seed selection

Whidbey Island gardener and Seattle Times writer, Valerie Easton, included a few tips on what thrives right here: proven varieties for our climate in her January 31 Pacific Northwest Magazine article. The piece also includes links to several sources for seeds known to thrive in our Pacific Northwest climate. 

And speaking of local seeds, join fellow gardeners at the Coupeville Community Garden on March 22, 5:30 pm for a Seed Swap.  Trade seeds, help stake the plots and receive your 2010 plot assignment.  Get those seeds now - gardening season is just around the corner!

Plan, Plot and Swap at the Garden

On Monday, March 22 at 5:30 pm, 2010 gardeners will receive plot assignments at the garden.  We'll also have a Seed Swap & Plot Staking. 

Please bring seeds (none older than 3 years) that you have too many of or are no longer planting. We'll trade with each other. 

Plan your garden, plot your plot and join in the Seed Swap.  Spring is here!

Friday Deadline for Plot Applications

A reminder that applications for 2010 plots are due on Friday, March 12.  Applications must be postmarked or delivered to Town Hall (4 NE 7th St) by March 12 to be considered for a 2010 garden plot.

Anyone interested in a plot, including returning gardeners, must submit an application.  Click here for a downloadable application or pick one up at Town Hall. 

And once you get that application in...

You can start learning more about working the soil at this month's Growing Groceries class on March 13 in Bayview. 

2010 Applications Now Available

Kicking off our 2010 garden

Application forms are now available for 2010 community garden plots. Applications must be postmarked or delivered to Town Hall (4 NE 7th St) by March 12, 2010 to be considered for a 2010 garden plot.

Anyone interested in a plot, including returning gardeners, must submit an application.

New in 2010
This year, organizers may consider assigning plots for year round gardening, depending on the amount of interest.  Year round plots would be clustered together in one section of the garden.  Year round gardeners would be responsible for cleaning up and preparing their plots and planting each year.  The Town of Coupeville would not do any work on year round garden sites.  If allowed, year round gardens will be for planting winter crops, not perennials. 

Growing Groceries Classes Begin

Growing Groceries - practical information and skills for growing food on Whidbey Island - is sponsoring a series of ten monthly classes providing seasonal, practical information and skills to help you successfully grow your own food. 

Classes will be held on the 2nd Saturday of each month from February through November 2010.  All classes are from 9 am - noon (with occasional afternoons) at Bayview High School (located at Bayview Corner).  $15/class (scholarships available).  List of classes and further information.