Who’s Gardening This Year? Please Let Us Know.

Posted on June 9, 2016 by Jenny

How many community gardens are really in use this year? How many gardeners are there? How many people do our gardens feed? Our continued funding really depends on trying to answer these questions! To do that, we need your help.

Please take a few minutes to tell us about yourself and your garden with these annual forms.

You have an individual plot at a community garden:
We ask all individual gardeners to fill out this form (1 per household) each year.

If you help run a school or youth garden:
We have had especially poor luck finding out what’s happening this year at all the wonderful school member gardens. If you are helping run a youth garden that’s part of the CGC, please fill out this form.

And, finally, if you are part of a specialized group garden, you can report to us via our general contact form, leave us a voicemail, or email CGC president Dan Cullimore.

Thank you for your time and your effort in your garden.

Warm Season Plants Saturday & Sunday

Posted on May 11, 2016 by Jenny

Warm season plants and sweet potato slips will be offered to gardeners from member gardens THIS WEEKEND!!

CGC will distribute tomatoes, peppers (hot and sweet), eggplant and sweet potato slips this weekend. We also still have some seeds, row cover and hoops available.

Come pick up some plants at the Claudell Lane Garden:
Saturday, May 14 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. or Sunday, May 15 from 12-2 p.m.

Payment is not required, but we encourage voluntary donations (25 to 50¢ per plant and 25¢ per row cover would help a lot). This helps offset our costs and allows us to continue to serve even those who cannot afford to donate.

Cool Weather Transplants This Weekend

Posted on March 28, 2016 by Jenny

cabbage-1064621_1280 This weekend, April 2 & 3, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday and Noon-2 p.m. on Sunday, the CGC will have broccoli and cabbage, kale, lettuce and chard seedlings available for those gardening at our member gardens. Plants will be distributed at the Claudell Garden, 711 Claudell Lane.

We are requesting a donation of 25-50¢ per plant to offset our costs of buying and transporting them. We ask that you give what you can, but you will not be refused for lack of a donation.

Also: row cover! This lightweight material can help protect young plants from chewing insects while still letting light and water through. We will have some available, along with metal hoops to hold it up in your garden. We ask a donation of 25¢ per linear foot.

Please note: we can only offer this service to those gardening in our member gardens, not the public at large.

Community Gardening Kick-Off This Saturday

Posted on February 15, 2016 by Jenny

Ready for a SPRING THAW?
February 20, 2016
Noon – 2 p.m.
at the ARC, 1701 W. Ash Street

Representatives from our member gardens will all be gathered in one place to get organized and sign up new gardeners.

This is an informal event where new or returning gardeners can drop in to meet garden leaders and fellow gardeners can talk about plans for the new gardening season.

Seeds will be distributed free of charge and we’ll have a few snacks and drinks available. There is no cost for this event, but donations are accepted.

Free Fruit Tree Workshop

Posted on February 9, 2016 by Jenny

apple tree You are invited to a FREE fruit tree pruning workshop at Bethel Church Community Garden (201 E Old Plank Rd.) February 19 at 4 pm. Come learn from Jim Quinn, MU Extension horticulturist about how to get the most out of your fruit trees with pruning.

No RSVP or registration required. In case of bad weather, the back-up date is Feb 22.

Spring Thaw Is Feb. 20

Posted on February 7, 2016 by Jenny

Announcing the Community Gardening Kick-Off for 2016:

Spring Thaw

February 20, 2016
in the afternoon, time TBA
at the ARC, 1701 W. Ash Street

Representatives from Columbia’s various community gardens will all be gathered in one place to get organized and sign up new gardeners. We’ll have some free seeds and a few refreshments. More details coming soon!

Free Gardening Forum

Posted on January 25, 2016 by Jenny

Here’s another great, free opportunity to expand your gardening knowledge in the off-season. The local Discovery Garden Club and the Columbia Public Library are sponsoring a forum with Alice Longfellow and Ann Wakeman.

Winter Garden Forum
Sunday, January 31 › 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Columbia Public Library, Friends Room

You’ll learn about mixing edible plants with ornamentals and about Missouri native wildflowers. Light refreshments served.

Act Fast: Master Gardener Class Registration Ends Jan. 19

Posted on January 18, 2016 by Jenny

If you’ve thought of becoming certified as a Master Gardener, now’s your chance to register for this spring’s sessions, but act quickly because they’d like all registrations in by Tuesday, January 19. Classes start Jan. 26 and go through April. Learn more at this link.

Who are Master Gardeners? Here’s what they have to say about themselves:

Master Gardeners are adults of all ages who love to garden. They are members of the community who are interested in lawns, trees, shrubs, flowers, gardens & the environment.

You don’t need to know everything about gardening; this program is all about learning and then sharing your knowledge with others through volunteer service. Check it out!

Help Save a Unique Local Tomato Variety

Posted on November 29, 2015 by Jenny

Check out this great project from some local Mid-Missouri folks:

The Ivan Tomato Rescue Project is dedicated to saving the Ivan Tomato, the healing power of gardening and preserving food diversity. The Ivan Tomato is a fantastic, resilient, delicious, high yield Missouri Heritage Heirloom Tomato that is on the brink of extinction. Our goal is to get the Ivan tomato back into the gardens, on the plates and into the marketplaces of our communities. Our campaign supports the power of gardening by dedicating 10% of proceeds to programs that incorporate Agricultural Therapy in the treatment of people with PTSD, including veterans returning from service. Your help is appreciated. Check out our IndieGoGo.

Hootenanny Time at the Urban Farm

Posted on September 8, 2015 by Jenny

Our friends at the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture are having their annual fundraising party and meal this weekend. It’s always a good time, so we highly suggest you stop by!