Garden News
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Volunteers needed to put the garden to bed
In order to prepare the garden for plowing on Oct. 21 and closing down for the winter there are many jobs which need to be done. Here's a chance to make your five hours of volunteer time. We will be working Sunday, Oct. 16 and several days after. (A few tasks can even be done before we close). Email Carol at carolstadden@gmail.com, if you are able to help, stating the day and times you are available.
Please consider volunteering to help complete these tasks: Clean and add stabilizer to lawnmower, tillers, weed whacker, chainsaw; Wash--wheelbarrows + carts, bathrooms, refrigerator, garbage barrel; Wash and inventory tools; Cover the "Welcome" sign; Clean the tarp; Wash and grease clippers; Remove water faucet attachments; Dismantle abandoned plots; Remove all stakes/name boards to wash and put in storage.
Also, if, after you have been checked out, you wish to help by removing the stakes outlining your plot, please scrape off any dirt into your plot and place them on the wooden picnic table at the front of the garden.
Garden Closing - Checkout procedure
Things are winding down at the garden and it's time for a reminder about the proper checkout procedure. A week before the garden officially closes on October 15th gardeners should prepare their plots for a checkout inspection. These inspections are done by the Garden Coordinator or a member of the Garden Committee. There are several things they will be looking for:
- all raised beds have been leveled;
- any materials used to form walkways (woodchips, newspaper, straw) have been distributed throughout the plot;
- all man-made materials have been removed (fabric, stakes, PVC pipe);
- all vegetation left standing is less than 2ft. tall;
- all vegetation left on the ground (such as vines) or vegetation pulled out (such as tomato or pepper plants) have been chopped into pieces not longer than 2ft.;
- bales of straw should be removed or broken up and distributed throughout the plot evenly.
When your plot is ready for inspection just ask an authorized person to do it or make an appointment with the Garden Coordinator. If everything is in order, the checkout slip will be signed by the person doing the checkout inspection and yourself. If you do not make arrangements for an inspection, it could jeopardize your status as a gardener in 'good standing' and possibly cause you to not be invited back next season. If you choose to vacate your plot before the official closing date, please keep in mind that you are still responsible for preparing your plot for the checkout process during the week just prior to closing. We need to have the plots in order (all vegetation under 2 ft.) so the tilling, which is done the week after closing, will go smoothly.
First place at the Cuyahoga County Fair
The garden is wearing another ribbon and it is BLUE.
For the FOURTH year in a row the Ben Franklin Community Garden has been awarded first place at the Cuyahoga County Fair – Community Garden division. 22 gardeners donated their vegetables for the display which also included pictures of the garden grounds. The display also featured pictures of the many institutions who are the recipients of the surplus vegetables donated by the gardeners. A few scarecrows, a miniature bicycle and water spigot rounded out the display.
The display was designed by four committee members: Lisa Young, Jeff Kostura, Mike Theus and Kim Repinski.
The fair ran from August 8th thru the 14th. Check out pictures of the display.
The garden produce was donated by the following gardeners:
Phyllis Crespo, Linda Dole, Hallie Forcinio, Kim Hageman, John Jenkins, Jim Kasper, Jeff Kostura, Daria Kuichytsky, Sharon McKanze, Tracey Nichols, George Oryshkewych, TJ Oryshkewych Jan Papez, Evelyn Protiva, Kim Repinski, Tom Sargent, Christina Seabold, Don Shaffer, Mark Tapajna, Mike Theus, Bill Wallace, Lisa Young
Individual gardeners take honors
Individual winners include:
Josh Henry: 1st-place white potato; 1st-place paste tomato; 2nd-place red potato; 3rd-place any kind of potato; 2nd-place green snap bean; 2nd-place charcoal drawing; 3rd-place scarecrow; 3rd-place antique lunch box
Bill Wallace: two Best-of-Show ribbons; seven First-Premium ribbons; 31 1st-place ribbons; 19 2nd-place ribbons; five 3rd-place ribbons
Kim Hageman: Best-of-Show for vegetable - acorn squash; three First-Premium ribbons for largest watermelon and largest tomato; five 1st-place ribbons; 5 2nd-place ribbons; one 3rd-place ribbon
Jeff Kostura: two 1st-place for broccoli; 2nd-place red hot pepper; 3rd-place small tomato; 3rd-place cucumber
Neal Wild and Theresa: 2nd-place beans; 2nd-place okra; 3rd-place zucchini; 3rd-place beets; 2nd-place potato; 2nd-place garden display; honorable mention for aloe plant
Ken/Jim Lewendowski: 1st-place for flower and beans
Soil Study
Jenifer Reeves (reeves.199@osu.edu), a student from Ohio State is conducting a soil study at BFC Garden. She is using soil samples in order to find what type and how many bacteria, fungi, and nematodes are in the soil in several different areas of the garden. She sought information about types of amendments and pesticides used and also sought a few gardeners willing to weigh their tomatoes each time they are harvested to get an idea of the correlation between certain soil types and tomato production.
Garden Opening
The 2011 Garden opened on Friday, May 13, 2011. Download a chart of the garden plot assignments.
2011 Fundraiser
Ben Franklin Garden sponsored another successful fundraiser. Once again gardeners, friends and supporters gathered at Cleats Club Seats Grille on Jennings Road to partake of good food, drink and camaraderie.
Almost 150 tickets were sold to the event which ran on Saturday March 26th from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Fund raising included a 50/50 raffle, sideboards and a Chinese Basket Raffle. Prizes were donated by many local businesses and dedicated individuals. The Garden thanks them for their support and encourages you to support them.
The money raised will help support the daily operation of the garden.
Thanks go out to the many committee members who helped make the night the success it was. Special thanks to Vice-Chairman Jeff Kostura who worked hard to solicit donations, sell tickets and do all the legwork necessary to ensure the event went off without a hitch.
Ben Franklin Community Garden T-shirts
In 2010 the Ben Franklin Garden introduced two t-shirt designs. A limited number of each design are still available for purchase. T-shirts are sold at garden events – Kickoff Meeting, Ice Cream Social, etc. T-shirts can also be purchased by contacting members of the operating committee. Proceeds from the sales benefit the garden operating fund.
T-shirts in sizes Small, Medium, Large and X-Large are $13.00 each.
T-Shirts in 2XLarge are $15.00 each.
Special Women’s sizes are available in the red “Ben Franklin” design only.
Wear your heart on your sleeve
and your garden over your heart…
Colors – Camel and Pistachio
Please Note – scarecrow not included!
Show your garden pride wherever you "hang out"…
Move your cursor over the red/blue T-shirts photo for a larger view of the image.
Colors – Red and Blue