Yesterday’s chilling New York Times op-ed about California’s drought should be required reading for anyone interested in our country’s food security. It’s no longer a safe bet to assume that the Central Valley can keep on producing one-third of the nation’s produce. Whether you do it out of patriotism or common sense, this would be a good year to start a kitchen garden if you haven’t before or expand a garden if you already have one.
“The key to the future of the world is finding the optimistic stories and letting them be known.” Pete Seeger, (May 3, 1919 – January 27, 2014)
Wondering if you can get by using some of last year’s seeds? The short answer is “maybe.” For a more in-depth answer, check out this helpful chart produced by Colorado State University. See the column on the far right for seed longevity. Of all the seeds I’ve planted, I’ve found that parsnip seeds are the least viable after a year or more.
Best wishes from my family to yours!
In case you were wondering just how much time remains to apply for a Sow It Forward food garden grant before the January 5th deadline, here’s your answer down to the second! To learn more and apply online, please see: http://SowItForward.org/
The Sow It Forward food garden grant application clock is ticking with applications due January 5th. Please help us spread the word so that we can reach more worthy groups. To learn more and apply online, please see: http://SowItForward.org/
Got a garden tip, trick or hack to share? I’ll be sending out the KGI newsletter next week and I’d like to include a blog post on our members top 10 tips and I’d love to have your suggestions. I’m thinking of those little time/money/frustration-saving things you know now and wished you had known a few years ago. Pictures are appreciated! This picture, if you’re curious, is from an urban garden I visited in Berlin, Germany where they’re planting crops in bags and milk crates.
PS: Thanks to all who donated to KGI yesterday on GivingTuesday. It all adds up.
KGI’s Sow It Forward garden grants program is now accepting applications here: http://SowItForward.org . Whether you’re interested in planting a school garden, community garden, food bank garden, library garden, homeless shelter garden or some other type of healthy food garden in another creative place, our program might be able to help with seeds, supplies, cash and planning materials thanks to some awesome sponsors. We welcome applications from all corners of the country and planet. Only applications submitted through our website will be considered. Let me know if you have any questions or problems applying ([email protected]) and I’ll be glad to help!
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Who’s ready to volunteer today for the garden cause? All that’s required are 3 mouse-clicks to support our contest entry here: http://tcfcu.meltwaterrise.com/entry/604557
The bigger, better-funded nonprofits in the contest (an animal welfare org and a substance abuse treatment foundation) have really surged over the past two days pushing our entry back into third place, but I know you gardeners are itching to help. Thanks for voting today and every day through October 31st.
If we win, we’ll use the $5000 grant to fund our Sow It Forward program which supports garden projects like the one featured in this photo. This particular garden happens to be in Concrete, Washington. It caught our eye last year and caught itself a grant for being an exemplary community/school collaboration. The garden occupies three previously unused municipal lots and is surrounded by a perimeter fence; it contains a gazebo and 22 raised beds available for rent on an annual basis. The vacant beds are used to grow produce for the Concrete Food Bank and for clients at the East County Resource Center. In addition, the garden contains a Children’s Garden section where youth under age 18 may garden for free, and a Memory Garden area where people may pause to remember loved ones lost.
Thanks, everyone, for voting for, re-voting for and sharing our entry in the Better Neighbor Fund Contest here: http://tcfcu.meltwaterrise.com/entry/604557
We’re up against bigger nonprofits with bigger staffs and budgets so your help is critical:
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