Join FCGA!

Click HERE to sign up!

FC Master Gardening Seminar Series

Check out these great upcoming classes from Frederick Co. Extension Office Master Gardeners:

Master Gardening Seminar Series...

http://www.frederick.umd.edu/files/MGSeminarSpring12.pdf

Free Beginning Gardener's classes....

http://www.frederick.umd.edu/files/GrowItEatItSpring2012BeginnersVegGarden.pdf

Meeting Announcement ( click for full size)

Work Day Recap

Thanks to everyone who came out to our first work day of the year. The weather was gorgeous, and we accomplished quite a lot! Special thanks to Olde Towne Historic Landscape for donating and delivering compost. We also would like to extend many thanks to Alexis, Nick and the Common Market for donating supplies and lending a hand! We still have lots of work to get the garden set for this year, so if you weren't able to make it today, stay tuned for future work dates! Enjoy some pictures from the day!

A great deal on Home Composters! April 17th

The Frederick County Department of Solid Waste Management (DSWM) is hosting a truckload compost bin sale on Saturday, April 17, 2010, 9am-3pm.

The event will be held outdoors, rain or shine.

The bins being sold are Earth Machines, which regularly retail for $100 and will be offered for $40, including tax and a composting handbook. Kitchen compost collectors and compost turners will also be available for purchase.

The sale is being held in the FrederickTowne Mall parking lot. For more information, email acreamer@FrederickCountyMD.gov.

Free Gardening Workshops!

Click on the picture for a better view of the flyer

What are you doing for Earth day?

Spring is quickly approaching which means Earth Day is also coming up soon.

Nowadays one Earth Day just isn't enough, so many organizations are putting on events during that whole week, or even through the whole month of April. Here is a brief list of Earth Day happenings around Frederick.

April 10th: The FCGA and the Common Market are joining forces to work on projects in the Garden. This will take place from 10-2pm.

Our Common Wealth is putting on a series of events that started last week

http://www.friendsoffrederickcounty.org/v2/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/POSTCARD-SPRING-2010.jpg

April 16th: Monocacy Valley Montessori Charter School is Holding an Earth Day fair from 1-4 p.m.

April 24th: EARTH DAY POLLINATOR GARDEN PLANTING AND LAKE CLEAN-UP WITH THE IZAAK WALTON LEAGUE

http://earthday.org/events/earth-day-pollinator-garden-planting-and-lake-clean-izaak-walton-league-0

Talk back! Let us know what your plans are for celebrating Earth Day in the comments section.

Raised Bed Workshop

I will be out in the garden on Saturday, March 20th at 12pm to assist anyone who wants to build a raised bed.

There's lot's of ways to build both, but if you need some guidance, here is a list of materials to purchase for a very simple design.

* please not that some of these items have been updated from the last post

Raised bed:

• two 4' long pieces of 2"x6" 2'x8' or 2"x12" untreated wood. ( treated wood is highly inadvisable because it releases toxic chemicals into the food you are growing)
• two 6' long pieces of 2"x6" 2x 6" or 2"x 12" untreated wood
• four large "L" shaped brackets and screws
• Box of 3-1/8" nails
• Hammer

Mini-Hoop House

• three 6' or 10' long 1/2" PVC pipes
• 12 pipe mounting brackets ( must fit your pvc pipes) and screws
• enough clear plastic drop cloth or hoophouse cover to fit over your hoops( let me know if you are interested on going in on a roll together)
• giant binder clips (not found at hardware stores)
  

Other useful Materials

• a power drill if you have one - I'm bringing one, but it would be nice to have more than one.
• a level

That's it. Easy as pie! If you have any questions about this feel free to email me. If you bring this list to the hardware store they can probably help you pick up everything you need.

Also check out these links for ideas

Hoop Houses:

this one give you a picture of the pipe brackets that I mentioned in the list
http://www.dropstonefarms.com/2009/04/on-hoophouses/

http://www.agrowingtradition.com/2009/10/building-mini-hoop-houses.html

Raised Beds:

http://organicgardening.about.com/od/startinganorganicgarden/a/raisedbed.htm

http://www.thegardenhelper.com/bed~const.html

Bring a Bag For Change

Our wonderful local food co-op, The Common Market, has selected the Frederick Community Garden as a recipient for "Bring a Bag for Change." For every re-usable bag you bring shopping, you get a wooden nickel that counts toward a 5 cent donation to your choice of the selected non-profits.

Bring a bag for the FCGA and feel good about reducing waste and helping out in your community... at no cost to you!

Are you an avid Gardener? A Novice gardener? Just looking to spend more time outdoors?
Learn more about the Frederick Community Garden Association and join us for our Second Growing Season!

WHO: Anyone interested in participating in a community Garden located on East South Street in Downtown Frederick.
Come meet other members, and learn more about joining!
WHEN: January 27th, 2010 6:30 pm
WHERE: Joanie’s Carroll Street Cafe @ 124 South Carroll Street

For more information email frederickgardeners@gmail.com