The Co-op received one of GCMGA’s grants for 2021. According to Jackie Daniell, Master Gardener Extension Volunteer (MGEV) and project leader for the Co-op Garden which produces fruits and vegetables for the Southeastern Gwinnett Cooperative Ministry in Grayson, when you are faced with raised beds and limited space to grow food crops you should be judicious in how you plan, schedule, and allot space in your garden. This is particularly important when you are trying to feed as many people as possible with the resources at hand. In addition to space saving with plants growing closer together, if you know what plants get along together and enhance or antagonize one another’s growth you can increase your food production with intercropping and side crops using companion planting. This goes beyond just the basic rotation of crops and consideration for plant families. For example, everyone’s favorite garden veggie is tomatoes, but if…
October 2021 Monthly Meeting
Our own, Jackie Daniell shared her experiences regarding Vegetable Gardening at the S.E. Gwinnett Co-op Garden. After a 40+ years in banking, Jackie ditched the suit, pearls and briefcase for jeans, tee-shirt, and garden tools. She began volunteering at the S.E. Gwinnett Co-op Garden and completed the MGEV program in the class of 2017. We learned how this special vegetable garden is managed and operates during the year. Her presentation outlined the process of planning, soil, plants and seed quality, research and resources used, timing, preparation of beds and planting, importance of maintenance and sanitation, plant problems and Co-op solutions to Integrated Pest Management (IPM), harvesting, and crop change-over. Related Images:
August 2021 Monthly Meeting
Worms in My Kitchen was Trecia Neal’s topic for our first in-person meeting on August 16th meeting in seventeen months at Bethesda Senior Center in Lawrenceville. Trecia presented a fun and entertaining, yet very informative program about the art of vermicomposting – i.e., using worms (red wigglers) to change food waste into what gardeners refer to as “black gold”. Worm castings are the best fertilizer that you can find for vegetables, perennials, shrubs, trees, and lawns. Step by step instructions were be given during this talk for how to make our own vermicomposting container and transform our food waste to black gold. Trecia is a retired biologist who work at Fernbank Science Center in Atlanta for thirty years and has expertise are ornithology, environmental education, and designing outdoor classrooms and gardens. She now does designs and gardens as “Green Gardens”. Information is at www.greengardensedu.com. Related Images: