From the hot conditions and limited rain already, we can tell this is going to be the Year of the Mulch, which helps to save water and keep your babies hydrated as you start planting.
All about Mulch
Using bark in vegetable gardens is problematic because it can leach your soil of nutrients by tying up nitrogen as it breaks down, which takes longer than other mulches, leaving less nitrogen for your veggies.
Using hay, leaves and grass cuttings, along with the compost in our compost bins is preferrable to keep water in and enrich your soil as it breaks down.
Here are some interesting tips on using Live Mulch and cover crops.
DUG's Gardening Resources offer some great information on composting and permaculture.
Gardener Updates
The grill is set up with gas. Please remember to turn gas off and clean the grille with the provided brush for the next user. It will be out and available for gardener use all season. Think community socials, family celebrations, gardener gatherings!
The Blue Dumpster is for Gardener use. It will be picked up twice monthly. We encourage that all organic refuse still go in the compost piles.
We now have trash and recycling cans for events, and whenever you see them full, feel free to dump contents of trash bin in the dumpster and take the recycling home if you have space and bring the recycling bin back.
Mark your calendars: Sunday July 10 at 4 pm we will have live music and a potluck bbq for our 10 Year Anniversary Celebration.
Gardener and Community Amenities
Provided by DUG, we have seedlings available for gardeners. They will be given out at this weekend's May 14 Great Day of Gardening Event.
Upcoming Events:
May 14: 9-12 pm at the garden: DUG and Rose Roots pair up to offer workshops taught by Master Gardeners along with a work party, snacks and refreshments. A community volunteer group from the LDS church led by neighbor Liz and former gardener Jason, will be helping with work projects. All are welcome to join!
Schedule:
9:00: Work party projects start
9:15: Denver Urban Gardens (DUG) and Rose Roots Welcome and Introductions
9:30: Workshop 1: 5 Key Tips for Gardening Success
11:00: Workshop 2: Simple Secrets for Gardening Success
11:45: Lunch provided
Things to bring:
Sun hat and sunblock
gloves
knee gardening pads
weeding tools
Work Party projects:
Group A: Pollinator Garden Weeding Group B: Pathway weeding
Group C: Community plot mulching
Group D: Table refinishing
Group E: Mailbox installation
Group F: Westside landscaping project:
Tasks:
-Rototilling with rented large rototiller
-Dirt leveling with hard rakes
-Install weed cloth and metal edging
-Cover with gravel
Come when you can, leave when you must. This is a great way to get your service hours in and meet your garden community!
Mark Your Calendar: Third Thursday coming up!
When: May 19, 2022 6 pm
What: Gardener Market (Have artisan items you'd like to sell? Sign up to be one of our vendors Here)
Events:
Gardener Market: Gardeners and community sharing artisan goods
Workshop "Tips and Tricks with Seasoned Gardener Jim", 6 pm
Work Party
Potluck: 7 pm
Next Steering Committee Meeting: Tues May 17, 6 pm at the garden. All are welcome!
Community Moments
Workshop with Gina "Garden Setup as a Power Workhorse" April 22, 2022
Bees and Cucumbers: A Match Made in Heaven
We are part of a study of pollinators and cucumbers conducted by North Carolina State University, so be sure to plant cucumbers! We have a small weather station in a community plot in the South East corner of our garden and are in our second year of a 3 year study. You can learn more about the study Here.
Gardener Gratitude:
Thank you to Deb Harris for repainting and redesigning our beautiful kiosk.
Thank you to DUG for the seedlings and seed packets for Rose Roots gardeners.
Thank you to the City of Arvada Maintenance Dept for fixing the irrigation leak on the West side.
Thank you to Gina Schley of SHEGROWS for the wonderful informative workshop and for gifting all participants with dahlia bulbs!
Thank you to Rose Roots Garden VP Patty Sacks for securing a power rototiller for grading the Westside Landscaping Project.
Thank you to Temple Smith for designing pages for our website.
Thank you to Karissa Devore for setting up our Evite.
Thank you to Rose Roots Administrator Laura Bennett for coordinating gardener communications.
Thank you to Rose Roots Treasurer John Malito for securing supplies for our work day.
Thank you to Gary Williams and Jim Richards for consulting on building new pathways as well as maintaining all our equipment!
Thank you to all you gardeners for helping weed in community pathways and plots and for all the effort you are putting into setting up beautiful garden plots!