Peak Season
June Recap
June settled us into the rhythm of the growing season. The days grew longer, the temperatures climbed, and the garden quickly transformed from fresh spring plantings into a sea of green.
Our monthly maintenance event focused on keeping our shared spaces looking their best and tackling the many small jobs that help the garden run smoothly. Thank you to everyone who gave their time, whether you spent an hour pulling weeds, maintaining common areas, or lending a hand wherever it was needed. Those collective efforts make a visible difference.
As we head into July, the garden is entering one of its busiest and most productive times of the year. Here's to healthy plants, abundant harvests, and another month of growing together. Welcome to July!
July Events
July Monthly Maintenance
Saturday, July 18th
9:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Mid Shooks Run Community Garden
Ice Cream Social in the Park
Join the MSRNA and your neighbors for at North Shooks Run Park for an ice cream social!
July Announcements
July 1st Planting Deadline
All garden plot members must have their plots fully planted by July 1st. Unplanted plots may be reassigned to members on the waitlist. If you need help planting or have scheduling challenges, contact the garden immediately to discuss options.
Midseason Reminders
The garden is thriving, and keeping it that way depends on all of us following the Membership Agreement we agreed to at the beginning of the year.
Three reminders deserve special attention:
No dogs in the garden. With the exception of service animals, dogs are not permitted inside the garden. Because of its importance, bringing a dog into the garden may result in immediate termination of membership.
Keep pathways tidy and weed-free. Please take a few extra minutes during each visit to pull weeds from the paths surrounding your plot. Clear pathways make the garden safer, more accessible, and more enjoyable for everyone.
Attend one maintenance event each season. These events focus on shared spaces (not individual plots) and are how we build and maintain the infrastructure that benefits everyone. If you're unable to attend a scheduled event, please reach out in advance to discuss an approved alternative that satisfies your membership requirement.
Thank you for helping make Mid Shooks Run Community Garden a welcoming, safe, and well-maintained place for everyone.
Review the Membership Agreement HERE.
The Dirt on Our Compost Bins
One of our strategic goals is to replace the garden’s compost system by the end of the year. We’re looking for a solution that is no-fuss, economical, and capable of handling the volume generated by our membership. If you have experience with compost setups, equipment recommendations, space-saving designs, cost-effective vendors, or volunteer-friendly processes, please share your suggestions. Practical ideas that minimize maintenance, control pests and odors, and produce usable compost on a reliable schedule are especially welcome.
If you’d like to keep composting until then, it’s ok to create and maintain a compost pile in your own plot. Or snag a #5 pot from the greenhouse and build a compost pile right next to your plot! Whatever 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, 2026. 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.
Every Bucket Counts
Our newest fruit trees and berry bushes need a little extra help this season. During their first year in the ground, they're focused on establishing healthy root systems and can dry out much more quickly than mature plants.
If you're visiting the garden, please take a moment to fill the 5-gallon bucket next to each newly planted tree or shrub. The buckets slowly release water into the soil, giving the roots a deep soak where it's needed most. It's very difficult to overwater these young plants with this system, but it's easy for them to suffer if they don't get enough water.
Every bucket you fill helps give our future food forest the best chance to thrive, so thank you for lending a hand. This simple task makes a tremendous difference.
Water Wisely: Mulch Matters
Our beloved community garden is located in a semi-arid desert and conserving water becomes even more important as the summer heat ramps up. 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 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!
