Sunshine Community Gardens

29 October, 2020

www.sunshinecommunitygardens.org

Gardener's Picture page

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Happy Halloween

Gardeners Donna and Richard Sproles, allowed a couple of Devil's Claw grow in their garden this summer after they came up wild in their garden. Proboscidea louisianica, aka Devil's Claw, is an interesting plant with beautiful orchid-like flowers (see photo below) and strange seed pods. The fruit can be eaten when very young and is much like okra. Donna reports they harvested the seed pods and used them to make this Wicked Halloween Wreath. Happy Halloween!

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Low Country Okra Soup

Gardener Bill Gaventa suggests that Okra growers in the garden make this recipe from the New York Times stating:

"We have made this Low Country Okra Soup twice in the last month. It is delicious, hearty and filling. The only thing we have done differently is use smoked turkey necks as well as drumsticks to make the broth. HEB has them both. And it makes a lot."

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2021 Plant Sale Survey

Attention Garden Members!

Keep an eye out for our Plant Sale Survey in your inbox in the days to come. We want your feedback on the Spring Plant Sale.

Thanks,
SCG Board

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New Cordless String Trimmers and Policy for Using

Have you tried to use one of the string trimmers only to discover it was out of string and then get frustrated trying to restring it. Hopefully, this situation will occur less frequently with the two new cordless string trimmers Sunshine recently purchased and a new policy for use of the new trimmers. To promote proper use and safety, all gardeners using the new trimmers will need to receive an orientation from Steve Camp, cordless tool coordinator. Steve plans to hold orientations on the first and third Saturday in November at 10 am in trailer porch area (social distancing and masks will be required). If neither of these times work for you or you have any questions, contact Steve at stcole431@yahoo.com. To ensure users of the new trimmers have been through the orientation, the trimmers will be secured with a combination lock and the combination shared only with gardeners completing the orientation.

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Making Chile Powder From Garden Peppers

Gardener Charlotte Jernigan submits these simple steps to make chile powder for your gastronomic delight:

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Do You Need Service Hours?

Jim Willmann reports that Zone Coordinators want you to know what tasks are available for you needed Service Hours:

Priority (Tasks specifically needed)

1. Removing grass growing (and debris collected behind) in curb gutter along 49th St. (TSBVI) (Will need flat shovel and wheelbarrow to remove and haul away debris)
2. Weeding paths in TSBVI garden and wood chip area on northwest side. (TSBVI)(Be sure to smooth out paths after weeding to facilitate TSBVI students moving around garden.)
3. Weeding granite paths in raised bed area. (TSBVI) (Please try to get out roots - particularly the Bermuda grass.)
4. Digging up khaki grass. (TSBVI) (Board has authorized to count as TSBVI hours this fall)

TSBVI

1. Removing hackberries growing in cyclone fence around Sunshine. (South fence line between Sunshine and TSBVI has some starting to get big. Please try to dig out as much of the roots as possible.)
2. Mowing between fence and street along 49th St. and Sunshine Dr. along and 10' inside fence. (Frequent mowing will be needed this time of year.)

Regular

1. Mowing (Please check area around trailer and greenhouses. With rain and cooler weather, Frequent mowing will be needed this time of year.)
2. Maintaining common paths
3. Mowing and cleaning up overgrown/messy areas in common areas.

Note: TSBVI hour tasks will count as regular hours.

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Weeder Content

Please email your article or suggestion to Holly Gilman by end of day Wednesday.

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