Growing plants is a mystery to some. Good gardeners learn to separate fact from fiction and quickly learn that gardening is both art and science. They spend time with their plants, learning to determine their needs and growing conditions. For them, gardening offers tasty rewards.
Plants have several basic needs. They need light, the proper growing temperatures, nutrients and water. Plants make their own food, hormones and vitamins. As a gardener, your task is to provide for the needs of your plants to help them grow well.
Light is critical to carry on growth through photosynthesis. Most vegetables need at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. If your growing area does not provide this light, move the garden or grow leafy vegetables, such as lettuce, that do not produce a fruit.
Vegetables are divided into two groups — cool-season and warm-season types. Cool-season plants will tolerate a light frost; warm-season types will not take freezing temperatures. Always plant the seeds or transplants according to what they will tolerate.
Although plants make their own food, they must have the right nutrients. Understanding what nutrients a plant needs and how best to apply them is essential to growing a good garden.
Water is critical for all plants, especially in our high mountain deserts. Water is a critical component to make plant food and also provides the needed internal support, cooling, and movement of nutrients throughout the plants.
About Me
Join our 2010 Garden Group - Only $50/household for the entire 2010 season!
Sign up now to become a member of our 3rd Annual Garden Group! The more you work in our gardens, the more you receive plenty of fresh, local, organic produce all year long. There are NO required hours in the garden this year.
Receive weekly emails which include 7-day schedule, type of work we'll be doing that week, featured Garden demonstration, what food is ready to harvest, etc.
Click here to JOIN NOW!
Receive weekly emails which include 7-day schedule, type of work we'll be doing that week, featured Garden demonstration, what food is ready to harvest, etc.
Click here to JOIN NOW!
Receive info on a variety of groups I offer...
Check out the rest of my groups at:
www.liveandthrive.com
Contact Info:
Email: sheryl@liveandthrive.com
Cell phone: 801-278-5313
www.liveandthrive.com
Contact Info:
Email: sheryl@liveandthrive.com
Cell phone: 801-278-5313
Garden Schedule
WHAT TO BRING:
Food Storage 5 Gal Bucket - to keep your stuff in. We use buckets a LOT. Bring them each time you come. Keep them in your car until you come and check in to see what you need for the day. The heavy duty plastic storage food buckets are the best.
Clean plastic grocery bags. Save them! Keep them in your car trunk and bring them every time. As we have food/produce items available, you'll need some bags.
Empty gallon or 64 oz plastic containers. Fill them with water. Put them under my Maple Tree in the backyard. Since our outside water lines are not turned on until mid May, on occasion we may need to water some plants by hand from these 64 oz plastic containers. Help us keep these in stock, ready to use AND also to wash our hands outdoors.
Gallon Milk Containers: These containers can work as a mini GREENHOUSE for individual plants on cold nights. We cut the container in half and put over the plants.
Water bottle and snack. Bring a Peanut Butter and Jam Sandwich and a water bottle to keep you energized! Gardening can be a good workout and burn plenty of calories.
Dryer Lint: We always look for things to recycle. Dryer Lint is just ONE of many great items that generally gets thrown away that is actually VERY useful to keep!
I use this a lot as a fire starter in my backyard pit for Dutch Oven parties and campfires. Teach your family how to recycle something as simple as dryer lint.
Save it in a plastic bag. Keep it for yourself or bring it to me in a bag if you don't want it.
Good Work gloves: Needed every time you come.
Footwear - Do not wear open toed shoes when working with tillers, chainsaws, mowers, shredders, wood chippers, etc. If you are planting, weeding, or watering, open toed shoes/sandals are fine.
Hand garden tools - You are not required to buy hand tools but if you have them, bring them. If you have any extra to donate for those who don't have them, it would be appreciated. Keep your eyes open at thrift stores, yard sales, garage sales, etc. for garden tools. We can always use more.
Garden Punchcard - When you join our Garden Group, you'll receive a Green "Business Card" size punchcard. Bring it with you every time you come. It needs to last all year since this is your ID card if anyway questions why you are on one of our Garden properties. It also helps you track your hours in the garden.
NOTE: You don't have the right to come on any of our garden properties whenever you want to. If you can't attend during set hours, talk to Sheryl about your schedule.
Notebook and pen/pencil. This comes in handy often.
Clothing: Wear clothes and shoes that can get dirty. On cooler days, dress in layers.
Long pants are recommended to avoid sunburn and getting scratched up when pruning, etc.
Label your tools: Put your name on ALL of your tools that you bring.
Garden Blog - check it often - learn all about gardening, receive recipes, info, the latest news, photos of the garden, etc. Even when you don't work in the gardens, you can watch it progress, which is very exciting!
Read the weekly emails I send out: I'll tell you what is needed most for working in the garden for the current week. It helps you prepare and know what to bring.
Food Storage 5 Gal Bucket - to keep your stuff in. We use buckets a LOT. Bring them each time you come. Keep them in your car until you come and check in to see what you need for the day. The heavy duty plastic storage food buckets are the best.
Clean plastic grocery bags. Save them! Keep them in your car trunk and bring them every time. As we have food/produce items available, you'll need some bags.
Empty gallon or 64 oz plastic containers. Fill them with water. Put them under my Maple Tree in the backyard. Since our outside water lines are not turned on until mid May, on occasion we may need to water some plants by hand from these 64 oz plastic containers. Help us keep these in stock, ready to use AND also to wash our hands outdoors.
Gallon Milk Containers: These containers can work as a mini GREENHOUSE for individual plants on cold nights. We cut the container in half and put over the plants.
Water bottle and snack. Bring a Peanut Butter and Jam Sandwich and a water bottle to keep you energized! Gardening can be a good workout and burn plenty of calories.
Dryer Lint: We always look for things to recycle. Dryer Lint is just ONE of many great items that generally gets thrown away that is actually VERY useful to keep!
I use this a lot as a fire starter in my backyard pit for Dutch Oven parties and campfires. Teach your family how to recycle something as simple as dryer lint.
Save it in a plastic bag. Keep it for yourself or bring it to me in a bag if you don't want it.
Good Work gloves: Needed every time you come.
Footwear - Do not wear open toed shoes when working with tillers, chainsaws, mowers, shredders, wood chippers, etc. If you are planting, weeding, or watering, open toed shoes/sandals are fine.
Hand garden tools - You are not required to buy hand tools but if you have them, bring them. If you have any extra to donate for those who don't have them, it would be appreciated. Keep your eyes open at thrift stores, yard sales, garage sales, etc. for garden tools. We can always use more.
Garden Punchcard - When you join our Garden Group, you'll receive a Green "Business Card" size punchcard. Bring it with you every time you come. It needs to last all year since this is your ID card if anyway questions why you are on one of our Garden properties. It also helps you track your hours in the garden.
NOTE: You don't have the right to come on any of our garden properties whenever you want to. If you can't attend during set hours, talk to Sheryl about your schedule.
Notebook and pen/pencil. This comes in handy often.
Clothing: Wear clothes and shoes that can get dirty. On cooler days, dress in layers.
Long pants are recommended to avoid sunburn and getting scratched up when pruning, etc.
Label your tools: Put your name on ALL of your tools that you bring.
Garden Blog - check it often - learn all about gardening, receive recipes, info, the latest news, photos of the garden, etc. Even when you don't work in the gardens, you can watch it progress, which is very exciting!
Read the weekly emails I send out: I'll tell you what is needed most for working in the garden for the current week. It helps you prepare and know what to bring.
Welcome to Sheryl's Garden Group - Promoting Self Reliance
Learn more about all that I have to offer at: www.liveandthrive.com
Best way to contact me: Sheryl@liveandthrive.com
Cell phone - 801.278.5313
This blog is designed for our garden members or potential garden members.
2010 Garden Group: $50/household - for the 7 month season and to work a minimum of 25 hours in the garden during the year.
No garden experience is required, just a good attitude and a willingness to work hard, do whatever you're asked to do and a desire to learn valuable gardening skills.
If you are afraid to get dirty, you may not want to work in the garden. Come often and you will learn a lot, not to mention getting lots of food and meeting many great "like-minded" people!
If you have skills, knowledge, resources, tools, equipment, etc. that you would be willing to share with us, please let me know. It will be greatly appreciated!
If you have suggestions on what you would like to see planted or have skills in planting a particular type of plant, please let me know! We are always interested in hearing what you have to say!
If you have young children, there are many times when you can bring them and have them help us in the garden. Also, you can help us search for garden tools at yard/garage sales and thrift stores. We ALWAYS need more garden tools that don't cost much money! Help us out if you can!
We always have a variety of jobs to do. Pruning, tilling, holding garbage bags, climbing trees, cutting down branches, breaking up branches, picking fruit, watering, planting, weeding, cleaning, shredding the branches and wood, gathering rocks, stacking wood, splitting wood, raking, etc.
You will never be required to do anything that you don't feel comfortable doing. Just let us know what your limitations are.
Best way to contact me: Sheryl@liveandthrive.com
Cell phone - 801.278.5313
This blog is designed for our garden members or potential garden members.
2010 Garden Group: $50/household - for the 7 month season and to work a minimum of 25 hours in the garden during the year.
No garden experience is required, just a good attitude and a willingness to work hard, do whatever you're asked to do and a desire to learn valuable gardening skills.
If you are afraid to get dirty, you may not want to work in the garden. Come often and you will learn a lot, not to mention getting lots of food and meeting many great "like-minded" people!
If you have skills, knowledge, resources, tools, equipment, etc. that you would be willing to share with us, please let me know. It will be greatly appreciated!
If you have suggestions on what you would like to see planted or have skills in planting a particular type of plant, please let me know! We are always interested in hearing what you have to say!
If you have young children, there are many times when you can bring them and have them help us in the garden. Also, you can help us search for garden tools at yard/garage sales and thrift stores. We ALWAYS need more garden tools that don't cost much money! Help us out if you can!
We always have a variety of jobs to do. Pruning, tilling, holding garbage bags, climbing trees, cutting down branches, breaking up branches, picking fruit, watering, planting, weeding, cleaning, shredding the branches and wood, gathering rocks, stacking wood, splitting wood, raking, etc.
You will never be required to do anything that you don't feel comfortable doing. Just let us know what your limitations are.