Courtney Woods

September 13, 2014September 13, 2014 Courtney Woods Uncategorized

Brr, it’s cold out there! Gardening in autumn

Gardeners,

Wow, the weather has certainly changed quickly this year! I know that some of our members are new to gardening. I thought it might be helpful to share a few tips on how to garden in the Autumn. Please feel free to share with everyone your own tips and tricks on growing during the chilly weather!

1) Know your first frost date! Our average frost date (the first date we get temperatures at night at 32F or lower) is around Oct. 10-15th. You can plant fall crops by subtracting the days to maturity (found on the back of seed packets) from this date. For instance I planted some Swiss Chard at the beginning of September, about six weeks before our frost date. This weekend we will be getting close to have an early frost, keep an eye on the weather.

2) Protect your crops from the first frost. We often have a couple nights in the autumn where it gets really chilly and frosty but warms up during the day to at least the 60s. For those evenings you can cover your crops during the night with old sheets and blankets, remove the sheets during the day, and prolong your veggies a couple weeks.

3) Protect your Perennials. Some of you might have planted things that come back year after year, like strawberries. Do some research on how best to winterize those plants. Usually it means putting some extra straw or mulch around the plant to help it transition from hot to cold and provide extra insulation for super frigid winters.

4) Plant your Winter Crops. Do you dream of your very own garlic next year? I know I do! Now is a great time to start planting your garlic and other crops that need a good long winter to grow through.The garlic you plant now will be ready for harvest next August.

5) Think about Cover Crops. The garden will be discussing what we want to do for the winter. Our goals are to protect the soil against erosion, build the soil health, and keep things pleasant visually through Winter. One of the best ideas is planting a cover crop. If you are interested in deciding how we prepare the garden for the Winter, come to the next Executive Team Meeting September 15 at 7PM at Barriques. All members are welcome!

photo source

August 8, 2014 Courtney Woods Uncategorized

Some local press and upcoming garden events

We’ve been featured in an article on the City of Madison website! Click here to read it. It features interviews with Danni and Danna, from our executive team, and gives a little background on how Crowley Station Garden got started!

We’d also like to share a few local garden resources with our fellow garden enthusiasts:

Dane County Community Gardens For information on Dane County garden events, see this very helpful calendar. The same website also has helpful links on how to plan and maintain a community garden.
The West Madison ARS Display Gardens Open House

On Sat. Aug 9, 2014, from 10am-2pm the UW Display Gardens will be holding their annual summer event in which the public is invited to tour the outstanding collections of flowers, vegetables, and fruit. This year’s trials and demonstrations include nearly 400 cultivars of annual and perennial flowers and nearly 130 different cultivars of vegetables.

University and Extension experts include Jim Nienhuis, UW veggie expert and professor of Horticulture; Brian Hudelson Senior Outreach Specialist and director of the Plant Disease Diagnostics Clinic; Scott Craven, Wildlife Ecology emeritus; Julie Dawson, Urban and Regional Food Systems Specialist from Horticulture; Dick Wiedman, grape expert; P.J. Leisch from the Insect Diagnostic Lab; and, and pollinator experts from USDA-ARS will be on hand to offer samples and answer questions on insects, disease and animals that may affect your garden and lawn.

Master Gardeners and garden staff will also be available to field general garden questions on growing techniques and variety selection.

Enjoy tasting of the gardens’ fresh fruit and vegetables, including roasted chili peppers, activity booklets for the kids, pollinator exhibits, and large farm equipment on display. This event is FREE and open to the public. Visitors are encouraged to bring their cameras and questions.

The open house will be held at University Display Gardens that is located at the West Madison Agricultural Research Station approximately 0.5 miles west of the Hwy 12/14 beltline at 8502 Mineral Point Road, Verona, WI 53593.

Seed Saving Workshop

Sat, August 23, 2pm – 4pm

Where: Madison Public Library: Goodman South Madison Branch, 2222 S. Park St. (map)

Description: Join us for a seed saving workshop with UW Extension Master Gardener Volunteers. Learn how to dry and harvest seeds to save for next year, and how to return seeds to the seed library! We will meet in Meeting Room 115. Space is limited, please register at http://host.evanced.info/madison/evanced/eventsignup.asp?ID=36426

July 18, 2014July 28, 2014 Courtney Woods Featured Gardener

Featured gardener: Danni Niles

We’re continuing our Featured Gardener series, in which we interview our community gardeners to learn a little bit about them and why they chose to be part of Crowley Station Community Garden. Today’s interview features Danni Niles, who has been with the garden since the beginning! Here she is…

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do here in Madison. Include your garden experiences, if any!

I grew up on a vegetable farm. In our rural town I was heavily involved in youth agricultural programs like 4-H and FFA. I still go back about once a month to help my parents. I’d love to be making a living on the farm, but it just isn’t feasible right now with school loans. So, I’m working at the WI State Law Library. I get to meet a lot of really talented and interesting people at work.

2. What do you plan to grow in your garden plot?

This year I’ve planted a lot of green beans because they can be a fast growing summer plant. I’ve also planted a lot of herbs and marigolds for color and as an insect repellent. There are some hot peppers planted from seeds, but I don’t think there is enough time for them to be productive. It’s all a big experiment planting this late and after such heavy spring rains!

3. What made you decide to rent a plot in the Crowley Station Community Garden?

A regular patron at the library is Jane Anne Morris. She is the co-founder of the Downtown Community Garden Group. When I was discussing gardening with her one day, she mentioned that her group was working with First Settlement Neighborhood to start a new community garden only a few blocks from my house. I volunteered my time to help submit the final proposal and work on the planning details. It’s exciting to be a part of something right from the beginning.

4. What is your favorite vegetable to eat?

My favorite vegetable would be green beans. My favorite garden produce, though, are tomatoes. There is nothing better than a tomato right off the vine. I love to stuff them with cottage cheese as a summer treat.

5. Anything else you’d like to share with fellow gardeners and readers of this blog?

When I’m not helping out with the garden I love to do calligraphy. I’m also an avid reader.

July 14, 2014July 28, 2014 Courtney Woods Featured Gardener

Featured gardener: Joy Hinds

We’re excited to kick off our Featured Gardener series, in which we interview our community gardeners to learn a little bit about them and why they chose to be part of Crowley Station Community Garden. Today’s interview features Joy Hinds, who incidentally was the first person to plant when the garden opened! Here she is…Take note of her request to meet at the garden and eat some sweet treats!

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do here in Madison. Include your garden experiences, if any!

I have a farm 22 miles west of Mad City where we have weddings every weekend….It’s called Sugarland after Big Daddy (my husband, Bobby, of pugilistic fame) and a beautiful place. A creek runs through it, Mounds Creek. It had a grist mill my twin sister, Polly, and I frequented as children. My gardening experience in Madison started at Quann Park.

2. What do you plan to grow in your garden plot?

Tomatoes, peppers, basil, hen and chicks, thyme, etc.

3. What made you decide to rent a plot in the Crowley Station Community Garden?

I’m a Crowley from way back in Cobh, County Cork, Ireland in 1800’s.

4. What is your favorite vegetable to eat?

Baked Potato oozing with butter, sour cream, scallions and pepper.

5. Anything else you’d like to share with fellow gardeners and readers of this blog?

I LOVE sweets so when we all get together down there some time, let’s have goodies, too.

July 6, 2014 Courtney Woods Uncategorized

Surprising ways gardening can make your life better

The Crowley Station Community Garden is officially open! Our gardeners have started to plant lots of summer vegetables and herbs, everything from tomatoes and peppers to sage and basil. Over the next several months, this blog will feature short interviews with many of our gardeners, who will give us insight as to why they joined our community garden. We’ll also post gardening tips, plus links and events related to gardening and community health. If you have any resources to share, please feel free to email us!

Today we’ll share some surprising ways gardening can make your life better. Scroll down to see an infographic from The Pond Blog. Did you know that 45 minutes of digging in the dirt can burn 200 calories? Or peruse this article from Mother Nature Network, which tells us that gardening lowers your risk of osteoporosis and diabetes. Last, learn from the National Gardening Association how much money a large food garden can save you each year (hint: it’s more than $500!). Here’s to gardening making our city a healthier and wealthier place to be!