Gardening & Composting
Overview
This week, let’s make a commitment to get to know the earth around us a bit better. From growing plants to composting, we can enjoy how the earth treats us and how we treat the earth. Try the activities and challenges below and then share the joy by emailing your pic(s) and ideas to webmaster@cherryhillna.org
Activities & Challenges
ACTIVITIES
- Grow some food!
a) Examples: tomatoes, herbs, cucumbers, OR
b) Watch YouTube video(s) on growing summer foods: Top 8 Easy To Grow Vegetables For Beginners|SEED TO HARVEST – YouTube - Start composting
a) Watch this video for composting ideas: Composting for Beginners | The Dirt | Better Homes & Gardens – YouTube OR
b) Work with a neighbor to share compost & get composting worms for your garden.
c) Not ready for home composting? Please put food scraps in the YELLOW side of your split cart to keep them out of the landfill https://sswr.com/foodcycle/ - Send a photo of your sustainable garden or compost area to: webmaster@cherryhillna.org with the subject line Garden Gallery.
Use our Gardening/Composting Activities & Challenges Submission form to tell us what you did!
CHALLENGES
- KIDS: Take an adult, go to your favorite garden, nursery or park and take a picture of your favorite flower or plant. Email your photo to webmaster@cherryhillna.org with the subject line Garden Challenge to be entered into this week’s prize drawing. One entry per email address, please. Please tag CCNA if you are in Cherry Chase Neighborhood Association
- Draw or sketch your ideal sustainability garden on an 8”x11” sheet of paper and scan/email it to webmaster@cherryhillna.org. Extra credit for how you would create this ideal garden where you live.
- Take a photo of drought tolerant plants in your garden, send to: webmaster@cherryhillna.org. See below in the Resources Section for links to a list of drought tolerant vegetables and tips on growing them.
Use our Gardening/Composting Activities & Challenges Submission form to tell us what you did!
Need some gardening inspiration?
Ready to start composting?
See what we’re growing!
Other Actions You Can Take
- Visit the free seed library at 1236 Elderberry Drive (right here in our neighborhood)!
- Sign up for UC Master Gardeners, Santa Clara County monthly newsletter: http://mgsantaclara.ucanr.edu/garden-help/monthly-tips/email-sign-up/
- Convert to low water use landscape – rebate info here: https://www.valleywater.org/saving-water/rebates-surveys/saving-water/rebates-surveys/landscape-rebates
- Share extra seeds and garden bounty with friends and neighbors, or at the Cherryhill Harvest Share in September.
Resources & Further Reading
- June 17 – webinar: Human Dimensions of Pollinator Conservation
- Planting and care guides:
https://www.yamagamis.com/garden-guides
Vegetable Planting Chart – UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County - Companion Gardening: https://www.farmersalmanac.com/companion-planting-guide
- Wondering which plants are native to our area? Check out: https://calscape.org/
- Waterwise Gardening Tips: http://mgsantaclara.ucanr.edu/garden-help/water-wise-plants/waterwise-tips/
- Check out UC Master Gardeners Santa Clara County http://mgsantaclara.ucanr.edu/ for gardening tips, classes and Help Desk
- Integrated Pest Management http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/GARDEN/veggies.html
- Composting Workshops: http://cesantaclara.ucanr.edu/Home_Composting_Education/Composting_Workshops/
- Composting resources
https://growhub.subpod.com/feed
https://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home
https://sunnyvale.ca.gov/property/recycling/scrap.htm
https://sswr.com/foodcycle/ - Drought tolerant herbs & vegetables: https://gilmour.com/drought-tolerant-vegetable-garden
- Tips on growing drought tolerant vegetables
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/xeriscape/drought-resistant-vegetables.htm - Tips on watering and low water-use plants: https://www.sanjose.watersavingplants.com/