Sunshine Community Gardens

21 August, 2020

www.sunshinecommunitygardens.org

Gardener's Picture page

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Sunshine's Naked Chick

The Chicken Coop Co-op at Sunshine

The coop at Sunshine came into existence in 1997. The original members (of which there are still four) had a meeting, selected at spot in a shaded south west portion of Sunshine unsuitable for garden plots because of tree roots, and built a coop using recycled material. The coop was neither attractive nor secure.

The present coop was constructed in 2005 by coop members. It was designed by then Sunshine Gardener, Andrew Dalgreen. The flock consists of many different breeds and usually has about 45 chickens. To maintain this flock size, we buy new chicks ordering only females. But mistakes are made and that is why we have two beautiful roosters. Currently we have twenty of the cutest chicks. We raise them to provide eggs. Our chickens live out their lives in the coop.

The chickens love special treats-melon rind and seeds are their favorites. If you want you can leave treats in the bucket outside the coop.

There is fee to join the coop. The fee covers feed, repairs, supplies, and rent (two plots). There are openings periodically and we have a short waitlist. if you would like to be placed on the waitlist or would like additional information, please let me know. Ila.falvey@gmail.com

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The Compost Chronicles

Randy Thompson reminds us to be careful of what we send to the compost.

Randy writes: "Just a reminder to be careful what you take to the compost. The metal bracket with screws was part of 4 buckets of debris from the compost this weekend. Plastic plant tags and plant ties led numerically but bamboo, plastic sheeting, and rocks were well represented."

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Meet the Tool and Mower Guys

Bob, Ray & Steve are Sunshine's Tool and Mower Guys - Thank them when you see them.

Jim Willmann submits the following tribute to Sunshine's Tool Guys

Sunshine gardeners are fortunate to have tools and mowers conveniently available on site. Those tools and mowers are kept in good working shape by three of your fellow gardeners who devote considerable time and expertise to the task. If you have any questions or know of a tool or mower needing repair, please let them know.

Wheelbarrows and Hand Tools. Bob Easter (Bob@easterandeaster.com). Bob has been taking care of the wheelbarrows and tools for eight years. You may have seen Bob in the tool shed sharpening and repairing tools and fixing wheelbarrows.

Gas Mowers. Ray Porter (rayporter725@icloud.com). Ray took on maintenance of the gas mowers about two years ago. Sunshine used to have to send broken mowers out to be repaired. Ray now does most of the repairs himself including sharpening and replacing the blades.

Cordless Mower, String Trimmers, and Power Tools. Steve Camp (stcole431@yahoo.com). Steve just took over his responsibilities a couple of months ago. He maintains the cordless mower, string trimmers and the cordless power tools - sharpening blades and restringing trimmers. He also assists Ray with maintenance of the gas mowers.

What Can Gardeners Do To Help The Tool Guys? There are several things Sunshine gardeners can do to make things easier for the Tool Guys.

1. Notify the appropriate Tool Guy if notice a tool is broken or dull; mower not running right or trimmer out of string. Don't just put away and get another tool.
2. Use the right tool for job; Do not use tool for job not designed so. A pitchfork is great for putting leaves in a wheelbarrow; it breaks if used as a spading fork. A spading fork is great for turning soil; it breaks if used to pry out roots and rocks.
3. Return tools to their proper location in tool shed. Bob has organized shed and put up signs for where each tool goes.
4. Clean under the mower deck to remove grass before putting away. Before beginning to mow check under deck to see if grass removed.
5. Don't set mower height so low that scrapes the ground, Watch out for rocks. Setting mower too low and hitting rocks ruins the blade.
6. If string trimmer runs out of string, replace or notify Steve. Don't just put away.
7. Put battery on battery charger after using mower or trimmers.

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Weeder Content

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