Community Garden Coalition

Snowbells bloom on January 15, 2010.

The snowbells have already started to bloom and we are already getting inquiries from eager gardeners. So, I guess it’s time to shake off the winter stupor and get ready for spring.

If your mind has already turned to the garden, check out our gardening resources page while you wait for the seasons to catch up.

Also, I just happened to hear the Governer say this in his State of the State address:

“…every Missouri family should be able to share the bounty of the land, including fresh, healthy produce. That’s why my budget will help promote local farmers markets, and encourage more folks to start community gardens in their neighborhoods.”

Way to go, Jay!

Want to grow your own food in your own yard? Adam Saunders, Director of The Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture, will discuss urban gardening on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 7:30 p.m. at Hillel Center, 1107 University Avenue.   Everyone is invited to this free meeting.  Refreshments and socializing.   Presented by Osage Group, Sierra Club. More information at ColumbiaUrbanAg.org or call 573-356-9392.

The 2009 Sustainable Living Fair is coming up:
Saturday Oct. 17, 10 am to 6 pm
Columbia College, Student Commons, 1001 Rogers Street

The CGC will have a booth there and you can find out about a lot of other topics that complement gardening like water conservation and energy efficiency.

Join fellow community gardeners, families and friends for a potluck Sunday, October 4, from 4 to 7 pm, at the Happy Hollow Shelter at Stephens Lake Park.  This is the shelter off of Broadway, across from Eastgate grocery store, at the top of the hill, end of the parking lot.

Please bring a dish to share, your own tableware and cup, a beverage of your choice, and entertainment or games.  Water and apple cider will be provided.

Everyone across our community of gardeners and other interested friends is welcome. Please come relax, share some tasty fall food, and meet some fellow gardeners.

Click here to read the full press release and learn more about the “People’s Garden” at USDA headquarters in Washington D.C.

Last weekend a few CGC gardeners headed west to tour the urban farms and gardens of Kansas City. The event was hosted by the Kansas City Center for Urban Agriculture and featured small farms, community gardens, youth gardens, and homesteads throughout the KC metro area.  Live music, cooking demonstrations, and childrens activities were sprinkled throughout the tour and farmers and gardeners were eager show off their efforts.  The tour was preceded by a week and half of events, films, and discussions about growing, selling, preparing, and eating locally grown food.

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We are putting the finishing touches on organizing a Community Garden Bike Tour with PedNet and GetAbout Columbia. The tour will take place on Saturday, June 20, from 9 to 11am and will begin at the Ash Street garden (201 W Ash, behind the brown apartment and wooden fence). The tour will then proceed to the Circus-Lyon garden, St. Joseph Street garden, Sustain MIzzou Research Farm, Benton-Stephens Neighborhood garden, and finish at the Westwinds Court garden. Plans are to spend about 10 to 15 minutes at each garden. Gardeners and garden leaders will be on hand to provide information and answer questions. For more information, check out the listing on the GetAbout Columbia events calendar, http://www.getaboutcolumbia.com/calendar.

Register by calling GetAbout Columbia at (573) 442-7189, ext. 29. Be sure to bring your helmet.

Warm season transplants are ready for community gardeners to pick up starting Friday. Contact your garden leader for details.

I thought it was high time to thank some people for these plants, too. While the CGC paid for the seeds, the generosity of many people was necessary to raise them. Jenny Grabner ordered materials, seeds, and donated her time to grow the plants for us. Jerry and Janice Schuerenburg, owners of Heartland Family Nursery, donated space and heat for Jenny to raise the plants in their green house. Becky Whitworth, daughter of Jerry and Janice, delivered plants and donated some miscellaneous herbs and flowers. Thanks also to the Columbia Farmers Market for donating a few flats for tomatoes and hot peppers.
Please thank these kind folks if you run into them at the farmer’s market or around town.

This Missourian article is all about a new affiliate garden being started at the Salvation Army Harbor House.

Sarah Linsenmeyer and daughter Pearl Zwingle, 4, work at Westwinds Court, a neighborhood garden in Columbia, Mo. Credit: University of Missouri Cooperative Media Group

The link below takes you to a MU Extension print and video media piece featuring Westwinds community gardeners and CGC president and gardener, Bill McKelvey.

Save money by planting a vegetable garden