Wasatch Community Gardens Blog

This past weekend Wasatch Community Gardens held their annual salsa party at the fairpark garden, and what a fun night.  If you were unable to attend, you really missed out; there were 17 fabulous homemade salsas of every variety, a super jive live band that kept the energy high all evening, and really fun activities for the kiddies; like pot painting and flower planting. The turnout was outstanding, at least 150 people were there to eat and judge salsas, see our beautiful gardens in mid-harvest season, and get to know each other in a casual and fun garden setting. Personally, my experience was amazing. Getting to know new people from all areas of town,  local business owners and organization leaders,  local Fairpark area community members, as well as community gardeners from our garden. The energy was so positive, just a bunch of people getting together and supporting our community garden as...

As we get into the month of July, we begin to see the “fruits of our labor,” and start to enjoy vine-ripened tomatoes and many other summer vegetables. Of course, as things begin to get ripe in the garden, we often find problems as well – perhaps your plants aren’t growing as quickly as you’d hoped, or you’re finding that insects are damaging them. In organic gardening, of course, we take the long-term view and forgo the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, knowing that ultimately, we do not want to harm the beneficial insects or the soil in our gardens. But there is still much we can do, so do not get discouraged! If your plants are not growing very vigorously, try side dressing with compost or worm castings. Fish emulsion can be used as a foliar spray to add nitrogen. Visit our Garden Resources page for lots of helpful...

I have to confess that just over three months ago the only thing I could have told you about chickens is that they lay eggs. Then, I came to Wasatch Community Gardens and they gave me my first big project: 4th Annual Tour de Coops. After promising I could make a great event of anything, I googled chickens and hit the ground running. A few of the lovely ladies you'll see on this year's Tour de Coops! I don't know if any of you are chicken newbies but there is an endless amount of resources out there on the greater web.  I was able to learn quickly how the world was allowing their backyards to be invaded and all the benefits of being a part of the Urban Chicken Movement.   Yes, this is a movement! Cities from coast to coast are embracing the idea of not only being local food consumers but also producers. ...

In the last few weeks Urban Chickens have really been making their mark on Salt Lake City. Check out come of the recent articles: Plenty of squawks over Salt Lake County chicken-coop proposal Clearfield Chickens Out A previous hostess of WCG's Tour de Coops. I also want to offer up some of the top reasons I have heard for Urban Chicken keeping:   Local Source of Protein. When it comes to supplying your own source of protein, it's impossible to get your dog to lay breakfast each morning or fit a cow in your backyard. That's why chickens are so wonderful! They are small, easy to care for, and won't take up your entire yard. Chickens provide protein rich eggs!   Better Quality. Fresh foods simply taste better! Also, when you raise your own eggs and meat, you know what the animal ate, its living conditions, and how it was treated....

About five years ago, I'd never tasted an heirloom tomato before. I was living in a small town in New England when I met my friend, Michael. He and his partner ran a small organic farm in the middle of the woods. By saying "the middle of the woods," I mean that it was literally inaccessible by car - you needed a high-clearance vehicle to get down his rutted-out, muddy road. When he invited me over for a "salsa-making party," I really didn't know what to expect. Having only lived on my own for a few months, I wasn't a great cook, and I was a little intimidated - I didn't know anything about making something even as simple as salsa! The evening began with a the farm tour. Michael showed me all of his vegetable fields and introduced me to all of his chickens and Nubian goats. When we sat down...

From “The Hen: An Appreciation” E.B. White, 1944 Chickens do not always enjoy an honorable position among city-bred people, although the egg, I notice, goes on and on. Right now the hen is in favor. The war has deified her and she is the darling of the home front, feted at conference tables, praised in every smoking car, her girlish ways and curious habits the topic of many an excited husbandryman to whom yesterday she was a stranger without honor or allure. Hen with her chicks My own attachment to the hen dates from 1907, and I have been faithful to her in good times and bad. Ours has not always been an easy relationship to maintain. At first, as a boy in a carefully zoned suburb, I had neighbors and the police to recon with; my chickens had to be as closely guarded as an underground newspaper. Later, as a...

WCG is pleased to once again offer you an amazing selection of heirloom tomato seedlings at our annual Plant Sale on May 9, which is held at Rowland Hall Lower School, 720 S Guardsman Way (1580 E), Salt Lake City. We spent the winter months pouring over every seed catalog that we could get our green thumbs on in order to bring you the best of the best! Here is a mere taste of what we will be offering on May 9 - we will have 30,000 plants for sale, including 42 varieties of tomatoes, lots of other vegetables and herbs, as well as water-wise perennials. All of our seedlings and perennial plants are ready to be planted in the garden, at just the right time in the season.   Heirloom tomatoes - tasty and colorful Sneak Preview of Tomatoes by Color Green Green Zebra: This outstanding tomato features 3 oz...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/livinginmonrovia/240967697/ As I mentioned in our most recent newsletter, herbs are not only tasty, aromatic and beautiful, but they’re magical. It’s true. Herbs are not only great at attracting beneficial insects and repelling pests in your garden, but many also have medicinal properties to help keep our bodies healthy. When planted as companion plants to vegetables in your garden, herbs (and flowers) help attract bees which help cross-pollinate crops. They also attract beneficial insects that eat the nasty pests who could feast upon your precious fruits and vegetables. For more information on how to use herbs and flowers in companion planting, check out Plants that Attract Beneficial Insects and the Vegetable Companion Chart from our website. Also check out the resources at the bottom of this post. http://www.flickr.com/photos/29904778@N03/2827663312/ Besides being great for the health of our garden, herbs are wonderful for cooking and most of them also have medicinal properties. Did...

This afternoon I was sitting at my computer doing work and listening to music, when my iTunes player unexpectedly cycled to the KRCL webcast.  Suddenly the air was filled with radio waves beaming from Salt Lake City all the way across the great Nevada desert and into my little house in the Central Valley of California.  Or something like that. It turned out to be a friendly “hello” from the motherland, because this particular hour on RadioActive, they happened to be talking about one of my favorite subjects-urban chickens! Brit Merrill and Celia Bell (both hailing from WCG) were two of the special guests, with a whole bevy of chicken-crazed callers.  Questions included such knuckle-biters as: How can I get my chickens to lay more eggs in the winter? What are my city ordinances for keeping poultry? and If I can’t bring myself to kill my chickens, how long do I...

Now is a great time for a garden spring cleaning! Start by taking the time now to remove those perennial weeds that are already growing so quickly this time of year. Then, get your compost off to an early start by turning it. Finally, sharpen or repair your garden tools, and clean out and organize your garden storage space if needed. You can continue planting radishes and peas directly in the garden. Indoors, this is a good time to start seeds of many herbs such as basil. Remember, although the warm spring weather may tempt you, it is still too early to prepare your garden beds. Before digging in your garden this spring, check whether the soil is ready by grabbing a handful. Squeeze it, then drop it on the ground from a standing position. If the soil still feels sticky and the clump does not easily break apart, it still...