The full pdf copy of this edition is available here. PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE By John Atkinson Y’ALL COME OUT TO McDANIEL FARM! The Master Gardener Program is about learning and giving back to our community and this is a fun way to get involved. Most of our planting, cultivating, and harvesting times are Wednesday mornings. Watch for Kathy Parent’s weekly announcement about working as a volunteer at the park. We usually have a halfdozen Master Gardeners (McDaniel Mulchers) turn out which helps make the project work less strenuous. It’s easy to find McDaniel Farm Park. Go to Old Norcross Road and Pleasant Hill and turn left at the second intersection on Old Norcross Road (McDaniel Road). Proceed about a half a mile to the Farm. The address is 3251 McDaniel Road, Duluth. It is behind the Gwinnett Place Mall. We planted row crops to demonstrate a garden from the 1930’s. Last…
An Edible Landscape: Wild Mustard
For many years I have had fun surprising my gardening friends by inter-planting my shrubs and flowers with vegetables such as tomatoes, sweet peppers, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and others. That is until I moved to a house located in a heavily wooded area where sun was a valuable commodity. That’s when I discovered that many wild edible plants, like mayapples and fiddlehead ferns, happily grow in partial shade. Since some “noxious weeds” also like the same habitat, I thought it might be interesting to attempt growing some edible “weeds” in my garden. My maternal grandmother would always gather wild greens in the spring from farm fields and woodlots. She made them into a “spring tonic” and, as I recall, they had the same effect as a good dose of castor oil. She did teach me, however, to appreciate the value of these wayside plants both from an edibility and medicinal…
Benefits of a Rain Barrel
Rainwater harvesting is always beneficial, whether the water is used to water one houseplant or an entire garden. Also, the act of collecting rainwater can be an inspiration to other water conservation activities around the house. When deciding on a rainwater harvesting system, you will want it to be as large as you can afford and your location will allow. Most homeowners use 55-gallon rain barrels. There are containers that are 300 gallons or less that are affordable and small enough to fit on most residential or commercial lots. The photograph shows Gwinnett Master Gardener Sue Shaw’s 55-gallon rain barrel that she installed at her home. Although one 55-gallon rain barrel may not provide all the water needed to sustain your plant material, it can certainly supplement any rain we may or may not receive. Planter beds, vegetable or flower gardens and potted plants can easily be irrigated with the…