Victory Garden - Learning about, weeding, followed up by picnic

The July 2015 meeting was held at the Victory Garden, Newtown, CT.  Tamarra has  been doing a great job growing veggies, her helper's Richard and Brendon were there working away when we arrived.  Joan arranged for the group to visit  our adopted row. We all helped weed the garden at the gathering followed by a delicious potluck picnic.  It didn't rain!!!!
PS Tamarra will  demo how to make jelly this fall at our meeting.  Yum.... (My grapes are turning black anyone know what to do contact Cindy )

Welcome to the garden

Our row

Well let's get weeding, where is the corn?

Hey you can't eat yet more weeding to do

Finger licking good blueberry tart, can you make another one please!!!

There is the corn

Amazing blueberry tart

Zuchinni with bisquit

Cole slaw from Tammara's garden delicious

Growing Mushrooms

Alrich Man was the speaker at our June meeting "Growing Mushrooms", Alrich specializes in shitake mushrooms.  What a great discussion on techniques and how to grow mushrooms.
Here are a few notes:
Read Roger Phillips "North American Mushrooms"
Sugar maple, oak trees are the best to use.
Trees with good bark on them.
Harvest trees before they leaf.
Holes are drilled 4" on center
Inoculate and fill with bee wax.
Where to buy supplies:

Everything Mushrooms – everythingmushrooms. com, 865-329-7566

• Field and Forest Products – www.fieldforest.net, 800-792-6220

• Fungi Perfecti – www.fungi.com, 800-780-9126

• Mushroom Mountain – www.mushroommountain. com, 864-855-2469

• Mushroom People – www.mushroompeople.com, 931-964-4400

• Northwest Mycological Consultants – www. nwmycol.com, 541-753-8198

• Sharondale Farm, Keswick, Va. – www. sharondalefarm.com, 434-296-3301

Place in a shady location.
Alrich stacks on pallets.
Deer love mushrooms.
So does Alrich!
Fascinating! Thank you Alrich!

Spawn for mushrooms

Alrick Man speaking on mushrooms

Wine cap

Basket of shitakes we got one to bring home, can't wait to sample

Plants from Holly and Tamarra were shared with group

Annual - Newtown Horticulture Club and Gardening Gurus Trade and Swap

We combined our trade and swap and oh what a night!  So much great stuff was shared.  We also learned why each person brought what they did, great storytelling.  I know we are all looking forward to planting our new items or reading those great gardening books.

Enjoy!

African safari presentation - (March 2015) by Frank and Bob

Amazing photos and video of Africa.  The views of the nature and people of Africa were just like National Geographic.  Thank you Frank and Bob for such a wonderful presentation.  I would love to go there!

Dottie made delicious Irish soda bread, I could have eaten the whole loaf.

John Passander brought this amazing plant, look at the buds.

Joan made a nesting ball for birds.  I can't wait to make one.
A great evening!

I wish I had John Passander's green thumb.....

Frank's photos, more to come hopefully

Joan's nesting ball