Benson Community GardenBenson, Nebraska

Check out the latest info, events and recipes at UNL’s Extension in the City.

We asked the Douglas County Community Garden Network how they deal with late season frosts. Here are the responses we received (more coming as we get them):

I have always found that row covers help (any old sheet will do).  You can also cut off the bottoms of plastic milk or pop bottles and put those over the seedlings- kind of a terrarium effect.  Hope that helps
Beth Drickey, BS, PHR
OneWorld Community Health Centers

 

The important thing to remember is that certain vegetables can handle frosts and snow just fine.  These would be cool season crops like brussel sprouts, kale, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, and radishes.  For these vegetables, the cold weather actually enhances their flavor.

Lettuce and spinach can handle some cold temperatures—to about 28 degrees F.

Warm season vegetables like tomatoes and peppers will need to be covered.

Kathleen Cue

Please join us on May 4 at 8am for our “Fancy a Fence” work day. We will be staining our wooden fence that surrounds the garden, so please dress accordingly. We welcome any extra brushes you may have and look forward to beautifying our community garden!

BCG and Omaha Organics will be hosting the 2013 Earth Day After-Party Saturday, April 20 from 6-9pm with featured guest speaker Paul Tukey (more info on “the godfather of the natural lawn care movement” below).

We’ll celebrate the Earth with music, a beer tasting contest, gardening give-a-ways and more! Stephen Monroe will be our rockin’ solo performer, sharing the stage with Tukey throughout the night.

For those wanting to participate in the beer tasting contest, your entry fee is your I.D. (must be 21 or older) and you must bring a 6-pack of your favorite beer. All participants will get to sample the beers everyone has brought and then vote on their favorite. And oh, yes–prizes are included for the winner. Yeah, your community garden is cool like that.

Friends are welcome, so ride your bike on over from Elmwood Park and prepare to have a tree-huggin’ good time!

Paul Tukey, bio

Tukey is an American journalist, author, filmmaker, TV host, consultant and motivational public speaker, who has a particular expertise in environmental issues related to landscape management and water quality. He has been featured on Good Morning America and in National Geographic, Readers Digest and the New York Times.

Please plan to join us on Saturday, April 13th at 9 a.m. for a garden walking path workday. We’ll be removing existing ground cover from the pathways, putting down a weed-barrier membrane, and covering the paths with new wood chips. Hope to see you on the 13th!

Because of the cold, snowy weather, we’re moving our annual Introductory Meeting to the Benson Community Center, 6008 Maple Street, in downtown Benson. 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

An opportunity to help a school garden…

Lothrop  School has received funding to improve their school gardening experience for students.  Pam Galus is wondering if there are some more experienced gardeners that would like to work with her to help plan a better program.

Pam says, “During the school day, I can arrange to work with volunteers just about anytime.  I have enrichment camps afterschool for students on Monday and Thursday from 4 pm to 5:15 so we can also work those times.   We need to plant lots of seeds, mixing Omagro into the potting soil would be best and I don’t have a way to move it.  We started planting some things but I need to get a lot more seeds in soil.  The kids are recycling paper and putting seeds in the pulp to hand out to people at Earth Day for butterfly gardens.  I will be at school over Spring Break most days to work on planting.  We have the greenhouse with lots of room.”

So Pam is asking for

1. Expert volunteers to help with planning
2. A truck to bring more Omagrow to the school
3. Maybe even some volunteers to work with the students.  Please remember the district does require a background check on any individual who will be working with kids.

If you can help Pam please call me contact information listed below.  Thanks in advance for your help and consideration.  maryb

__________________________________________

Pamela Galus

Science Specialist,

Lothrop Science, Spanish, Technology Magnet

Omaha Public Schools

pamela.galus@ops.org

(402) 457-5704

On Sunday, March 24th at 1:00 p.m. there will be an introductory meeting for gardeners. This will be a wonderful opportunity to get acquainted with fellow BCG gardeners and find out more about our wonderful community garden. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend this fun and informative introductory meeting.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2012
4:30 P.M. to 11:00 P.M.
1302 NORTH 60TH STREET
ADMISSION: $10.00 per person

Benson Community Garden was featured in today’s Omaha World-Herald. Click HERE to read the article!