Citizen Gardener Celebratory Potluck Brunch

Posted on May 28, 2013 by Brian Gallimore

celebrateAll past students, teachers, assistants, and hosts of the Citizen Gardener program are invited to to come help celebrate and reconnect at our 1st annual Potluck Brunch and graduation ceremony.

SAVE THE DATE:  Saturday June 29, 2013 – 10:30am to 12:30pm.

Hopefully you remember for class that one of the goals of the Citizen Gardener program is to promote building community!  At this brunch we will share good food, get back in touch with your class-mates, meet new people who share your passion for growing fresh, healthy food in their backyard, and congratulate those who have completed the requirements and have become certified Citizen Gardeners!  We have more details to share, so please RSVP if you are a past student and would like to come.  Send an email to citizen citizengardener@northtexasvegetablegardeners.com to let us know you want to be a part and we will let you know more about it.

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What to Plant and When in North Texas

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Mary Potter

The Texas seasons are great, but it can cause gardening to get overwhelming trying to keep straight what can be planted and when. The unique seasons cause the time for gardening to differ from that of other areas. Keeping track gets even more complicated, due to the fact that many plants will have two growing seasons. Use this seasonal guide to follow what to plant and when in the Texas seasons.

Fall:

This shorter season has optimal temperatures for producing results in the garden. The fall season brings slightly cooler weather but still enough warmth for growing plants and vegetables. The key to successful growth in the fall season is time. It can take longer for crops to grow in this season, and it is best to get them planted in July/August meaning you have to get the crops to overcome the heat to enjoy them in fall. Until seedlings are established, lots of water is crucial to crop survival. Broccoli and cabbage are two of the most successful fall crops. Green beans, carrots, and squash are also ideal for Texas fall. This will be the second growing season for cucumbers, beans, peas and corn.

Winter:

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Herbicides and Insecticides: What, When, Why, and the Alternatives

Posted on April 30, 2013 by admin

Herbicides and Insecticides: What, When, Why, and the Alternatives

by Carrie Stark

When you spend hours on your hands and knees toiling in the dirt to produce crop, you don’t want the aggravation of watching your plants wilt away or be eaten by other creatures. There are various methods to deal with both problems. The most popular method is to treat soil or plants with herbicides and insecticides. The key to solving any problem is to research possible solutions and to determine the best one.

What are Herbicides and Insecticides?

One common solution is to purchase an herbicides and insecticides from the local grocery store. Herbicides and insecticides are part of a larger group called pesticides. According to the Washington State Department of Agriculture a pesticide is a substance that is used to “prevent, destroy, control, repel or mitigate any insect, rodent, snail, slug, fungus, [and] weed.” Some pesticides are specifically designed to eliminate a certain species.

Herbicide is a pesticide that is designed to target weeds that are growing in your yard or garden.

Insecticides are pesticides that are designed to kill, suppress or stupefy insects. They are meant to prevent the insects from eating or destroying plants.

Why Use Them?

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Citizen Gardener Announcements – Spring 2013

Posted on March 24, 2013 by Brian Gallimore

Two more Citizen Gardener events for the spring 2013 season:

1- Teacher Training Class

WHEN: Friday March 29 – 1:00pm to 4:30pm

WHERE: Ft Worth (email for details)

COST: free

PREREQUISITE: Citizen Gardener class completion

RSPV to citizengardener@northtexasvegetablegardeners.com

2- Citizen Gardener Class #10

WHEN: April 6, 2013 (8:30am to 5pm)

WHERE: S Hulen St & Altamesa Blvd – Ft Worth

TEACHER: Carolyn Trimmer

COST : $35 Class limited to 25 people

sign up at http://northtexasvegetablegardeners.com/index.php/citizen-gardener/classes

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Citizen Gardener – Dallas – Feb 16 & 23, 2013

Posted on February 5, 2013 by Brian Gallimore

Announcing the first Citizen Gardener class in the DFW area for 2013.  Just in time for the local planting season.  Learn about the unique growing seasons and how to be successful in backyard vegetable gardening your first year.

CG_Flyer_Class8

sign up for the class is open now and available at http://northtexasvegetablegardeners.com/index.php/citizen-gardener/classes

For more information, read the intro to Citizen Gardener Page, the Goals of Citizen Gardener, and the Citizen Gardener Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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