Fountain Hills Community Garden
December Newsletter

 
 Garden Tips for the Month
Many of our gardeners have planted for the fall and winter season. They have made the commitment to continue their garden rental for another year. If you do not plan to continue, please follow our rules of removing all personal items and clean out the remaining plants, to ready for our next garden rental. Your Garden Managers greatly appreciated  your assistance.
Please check out our garden website: www.fountainhillscommunitygarden.com- On the website you will see plants that do well in the fall and winter months in Arizona. 

Help Needed 

Coffee Grounds Pick Up -Volunteers are needed to pick up coffee grounds from Starbucks. Please sign up here on Sign Up Genius. We have depleted our coffee grounds. It is time to replenish. The garden can use your help. Thank you to all that have signed up thus far! 

VIDEOGRAPHER NEEDED -A volunteer is needed to help film our cooking classes. We don't need an expert, but would like someone with experience. Please let one of the garden managers know if you are interested.

Garden Docents -Volunteers are needed to assist with events at the garden. Please let one of the garden managers know if you are interested. 
 

Compost Reminders - Please see below on tips for the compost bins. 

This is that flat, wide spreading weed that is like a ground cover and found around most of the garden beds.  PLEASE DO NOT PUT THIS WEED INTO THE COMPOST bins because it is loaded with seeds on the bottom of the leaves.  It will leave lasting problems in garden beds.

PLEASE, DO NOT PUT ANYTHING INTO THE COMPOST THAT IS OVER ONE INCH THICK.  In this case, you are looking at a stump of Swiss Chard that is at least 10 inches across (yes chard can get enormous if left to grow).  Put stumps like this into the Green Waste Trash Bin.  Otherwise, this will take several years to break down into useable compost.
DO NOT PUT LARGE ITEMS INTO THE COMPOST BINS

Corn cobs and Avocado pits in the compost do not mix.  In 4 years these cobs and pits will still be in the compost being recycled from batch to batch.  PLEASE, DO NOT PUT CORN COBS (or) AVOCADO PITS INTO THE COMPOST.

ONLY COMPOST BIN #1 IS OPEN FOR DEPOSITS.  PLEASE USE THE SHREDDER TO CHOP DOWN ITEMS OVER 1 INCH IN DIAMETER.  CHOP VINES DOWN INTO SMALLER SECTIONS, DO NOT RUN VINES THROUGH THE SHREDDER BECAUSE THE VINES WILL WRAP AROUND THE BLADE AND JAM THE EQUIPMENT.  To use:

1. Flip on the switch

2. Lift up the paddle

3. Insert vegetation

4. Use paddle to push it through

5. DO NOT FORCE (OR) OVER LOAD THE VEGATATION. TAKE YOUR TIME AND FEED SLOWLY.

6. If you jam the shredder, call me

602-692-1183 Joy

Vegetation breaks down best if it is chopped down into one to two inch pieces.  Please be mindful of what you are depositing into the compost bins and take a moment to chop it down.  We are all responsible for taking care of the compost.  Please don’t dump a bunch of stuff and walk away.---- “DUMP IT AND CHOP IT.” 

Last but not least, we have the hand chopper – I brought it home to get it really sharp, so, be careful.  This is an alternative to the shredder above.  If you are adding large items to the compost, i.e. vines or thick items, take a moment to break it down into smaller pieces. This will be your aerobic workout…..  and aggression therapy tool.  If you can’t chop it don’t leave it.

Thank you for reading this important message
Also --- I am so very proud of all the hardy souls who persevered through the summer. You have grown some amazing crops.
From Garden Board Manager - Joy Hubbard

                                                                                   
                               Garden Appreciation

Thank you volunteers on our desert landscaping team and TEAM VEGGIE and volunteers on Sign-Up Genius for weeding, raking, taking out the trash bins, and always being willing to help keep our garden neat and tidy. You are all greatly appreciated by your Garden Managers and fellow garden members!
 

Extended Hands Food Bank

The food bank truly appreciates our fresh vegetables, please don't let your food go to waste. Support our local food bank instead!  
 

Custom-made Garden Tool Boxes

Scott Hill, one of the garden's board members is building garden tool boxes for beds as well as other garden products and coffee. If you would like to purchase a box, please visit his website. The boxes that should be purchased for the community garden are made of redwood. All plant beds should be sealed with a clear poly sealer by their owner. Please see Rita or Scott if you have any questions.

Signup Genius 

We always have volunteer opportunities at the garden. Click on the links below --- You will be able to see information related to upcoming volunteer needs. You may review the schedule, then signup for the slots that work for you; or you may exit at anytime.

If you are interested in helping out or have more questions, contact Joy via email at joyanneh@cox.net.

 3 Sign UP Genius Campaigns for Garden Volunteers:
1. Compost- Garden Membership 2021: Garden Compost Helpers (signupgenius.com)
2. Trash- Garden Membership 2021: TAKE OUT THE TRASH (signupgenius.com)
3. Coffee Ground Pick-up - Garden Membership 2021: Coffee Grounds Pick Up Team (signupgenius.com)
3. Garden Maintenance - email joy at joyanneh@cox.net



Garden Managers Contact Information
Rita Applegate: (816) 896-8507
Joy Hubbard: (602) 692-1183
Mark D: (480) 3907255

If you need to speak to a garden manager, please use the contact information above. Thank you.