June Recap

In June, we welcomed the first day of summer and about the same time quickly transitioned from daily rain/hair to full sun and 90-degree weather. After enduring weeks of turbulent weather, our heat-loving crops are thriving.

We raised over $650 with our Pop-Up Nursery and put it away for another year.

At our June maintenance event, we continued the everlasting task of weeding, mulching, and nurturing: we mulched an additional 250 square feet of the garden footprint, tended to our field bindweed mite colony and perennial beds, and planted a community strawberry patch. THANK YOU to all the gardening enthusiasts who stepped up to invest in their community last Saturday.

Welcome to July!

July Events

**July Monthly Maintenance**

Saturday, June 28th
10:00 AM 1:00 PM
Mid Shooks Run Community Garden

Visit the Event Page

**Summerfest 2025**

Join the MSRNA at their 4th annual summer neighborhood festival: Summerfest 2025!

Visit the Event Page

July Announcements

Thank you to everyone who makes our garden grow — literally and figuratively.

Whether you’ve watered a fruit tree, tended neighbor’s plot while they were away, hauled mulch at a maintenance event, or planted a seedling from the Pop-Up nursery, you made a real difference.

Thanks for showing up, pitching in, and being part of what makes Mid Shooks Run Community Garden a vibrant place.

The Dirt on Our Compost Bins

Our temporary compost bins have been hard at work this season — and they’re very close to full! Until we establish a more permanent compost system, you might not be able to add additional materials in our shared piles.

If you’d like to keep composting, don’t forget: you’re welcome to create and maintain a compost pile in your own plot. Alternatively, snag a #5 pot from the greenhouse and build a compost pile right next to your plot! If placing a pot for compost in a walkway, be kind to your plot neighbors and let them use the compost system too. Wherever solution you employ, just be sure it 1) stays tidy, 2) doesn’t attract pests (think fruit and veg scraps, not fat or protein), and 3) gets taken down before October 31st, 2025. Hint: an easy way to take your compost pile down at the end of the gardening season is to turn it back into your soil.

Project Highlight: Herb Garden Perennial Bed Enhancements

This year, we’ve dedicated the south-west corner of our perennial beds to consolidate and grow a variety of herbs for our members. Be on the lookout for Basil, Chives, Marjoram, Oregano, Rosemary, Sage, Tarragon, Thyme, and Walking Onions.

Water Wisely: Mulch Matters

Our beloved community garden is located in a semi-arid desert. As the summer heat ramps up, conserving water becomes even more important. One of the easiest ways to keep your soil moist (and your plants happy) is to apply a layer of straw mulch on top of the soil in your plot. We’ve got bales of straw available for gardeners to use — help yourself! Just remember: straw is for your garden beds only. If you’re mulching pathways, please use the wood mulch, which is better suited for walking areas and won’t break down as quickly. A little mulch goes a long way toward healthier plants and fewer watering sessions!

In Season at the Perennial Beds: July Edition

At Mid Shooks Run Community Garden, you can find an abundance of vibrant blooms and foliage that thrive year after year. Here’s what you’ll find ready to harvest in July in our perennial beds:

Asparabroc. This unique hybrid combines the flavors and textures of asparagus and broccoli. It features thick, tender shoots similar to asparagus with small, broccoli-like florets at the tips. Find it in the stainless steel planters along the west-facing perennial bed.
A variety of flowers. These hardy perennials provide a colorful display while attracting beneficial pollinators to the garden.
Herbs like thyme, marjoram, lavender, lemon balm, tarragon, and sage are flourishing, ready to be harvested for culinary and aromatic purposes. Check out the south-west corner of our perennial beds, which community gardeners can help themselves to!
Raspberries. There are several raspberry patches along the south and west sides of the perennial beds.
Walking Onions. Walking onions can be harvested throughout the season. In July, the bulbets make a great shallot substitute.
Cherries. Hold the cherry and gently pull the fruit. If it is ripe, it will come off easily in your hand with the stem still attached. If it doesn’t pull away easily, leave this cherry to ripen for a bit longer. Cherries will not ripen once picked from the tree, so be patient!

Happy Gardening!