THE GARDEN BUZZ |
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The DIGS Plant to Plate program empowers Richmond High School students with mentoring and training in organic gardening and culinary arts. Ms. Maggie, our graduate intern, helped us create this video tribute to honor our intern's accomplishments this year. For more information about next year’s program contact kellibarram@gmail.com.
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 This delightfully refreshing summer salsa recipe is featured in the DIGS cookbook. It can be served with chips on a hot summer day as a tasty appetizer.
Ingredients you will need: 4 Cups finely chopped citrus 3/4 Cups finely chopped onion 3/4 Cup loosely packed chopped cilantro 4 Cloves minced garlic 1 Jalapeno, chopped small 1/2 Cup lemon juice 1 Teaspoon salt A sprig of mint (optional) Mix together in a bowl!  Believe it or not, washing your car, changing your oil, spraying with pesticides can all pollute our Bay Area waters. When pesticides and other pollutants are washed into storm drains by rain or over-watering they wind up in our creeks and Bay. You can help to keep our watershed from contamination by using these garden tips.
1. Limit your use of insecticides, herbicides, fertilizers and other garden chemicals. 2. Use less toxic products like oil sprays and biological pesticides. 3. Encourage natural pests predators such as birds, ladybugs, lacewings, toads and garter snakes. 4. Grow flowering plants to provide beneficial insects with nectar year round. 5. Put up traps, barriers, and snail baits. 6. Remove ivy, rotting fruit, and other pest attracters. 7. Choose plants that require less water and fewer chemicals, particularly native plants. 8. Pull or hoe weeds before they flower and leave seeds. 9. Compost garden trimmings to make a natural fertilizer. 10. Pick the right spot for your plants. Healthier plants are more pest resistant. Watch this tutorial on how to start a home compost bin!A slideshow showing so many years of meaningful, joyful, hands on education in the garden. Let's keep it up!Watch this simple tutorial on how to plant and harvest a butternut squash! When to Plant Butternut Squash Butternut squash is a pear shaped fruit with high amounts of vitamins and minerals and other essential nutrients. The best time to plant a squash is in the summer. The soil needs to be a temperate of 60-65 degrees Fahrenheit and it needs to be placed 4 inches deep in the soil. When to Harvest Butternut Squash: Squash is ready to be harvested in autumn. An indication that your squash is ready to be picked is when the stem turns from green to brown, it is a pale yellow or brown color, and the squash is about 8-12 inches long. When the squash stops growing that is another sign that it is ready to be picked. Another tip is if the squash resists being punctured by your fingernail. Cut the squash on the vine and leave an inch of vine left on the squash. Storing Butternut Squash: Squashes can be stored for up to 2-3 months in a cool, dark place like a basement or wine cellar. They last 14 days at room temperature.  In this fun, short tutorial learn how to make cards and bookmarks out of leaves and flowers from your yard! Materials: -flowers and leaves -glue stick -scissors -for card: card stock cut and folded into a card and clear contact paper -for bookmarks: card stock cut the length of a bookmark and the width of a piece of packing tape. Instructions: 1.Cut cardstock 6” x 2” for a bookmark and 10” x 10” for a card. Fold the cardstock into a card. 2.Make a design out of your flowers on the cardstock. Glue the flowers onto the cardstock with glue dot runner or a glue stick. 3.Cover the flowers with laminator or contact paper or simply use tape. 4.Trim off the excess tape or contact paper from edges of the cardstock. 5.If you like you can use a hole punch to poke a hole on top of the bookmark and tie a ribbon or twine through the hole. Another option is to press the flowers prior to taping them down. The cards will last longer this way but it works perfectly fine using fresh flowers. How to Press Flowers: Head into your backyard or take a nature walk to pick some small flowers and leaves. Collect them on a sunny day when they’re not wet. Place a piece of parchment paper in a heavy book and arrange the flowers on the paper. Close the book and add a couple heavy books on top to weigh it down. Check the flowers in 7-10 days to make sure they’re dry and papery and no moisture is remaining.    |
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