Turning a New Leaf: September News
August Recap
Our garden community came together for a variety of events that nourished both soil and spirit. We welcomed Brave Irene’s Poetry in the Garden for an intimate evening among the beds. Mid-month, we gathered at Stellina Pizza Café for Community Constellations, enjoying our neighborhood cafe while raising $400+ to support our mission. We closed out the month with our Monthly Maintenance to tidy the space and keep the garden thriving through teamwork and care.
Thank you to everyone who showed up, shared their talents, and supported the garden—together, we make this garden the vibrant community space it is.
September Events
Harvest Brunch
Saturday, September 13th
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Cathy & Kevin’s
Monthly Maintenance - September
Saturday, September 27th
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Mid Shooks Run Community Garden
September Announcements
Don’t Forget: Attend one Maintenance Event to Maintain Good Standing
As part of our 2025 membership agreement, all new gardeners are required to attend at least one maintenance event this year to remain in good standing. With only two maintenance events left in the growing season, now’s the time to mark your calendars! If you aren’t able to attend a scheduled event, please reach out to us—we’re happy to work with you to find an equivalent way to contribute on your own time.
Officer Elections and Opportunities to Serve
Our annual officer elections are just around the corner! At the September maintenance event, members will vote on the following proposed slate of candidates for the 2026 term:
Chair/Treasurer – Amanda Stewart
Vice Chair – Cindy Van Seeters
Secretary – John Kostek
We welcome additional nominations from members prior to the vote - reach out! Serving as an officer is a meaningful way to help guide our garden community and we’re grateful to members who step forward to help lead the way.
Leadership in our garden is bigger than officer roles—it’s a community effort. For 2026, we’re also seeking committee members to support key areas:
Maintenance Committee – Help plan and lead garden maintenance events throughout the growing season.
Membership Committee – Assist with onboarding new members and welcoming gardeners at the start of the season.
Fundraising Committee – Support the garden through grant writing, seeking sponsorships, and organizing fundraising initiatives.
Programming Committee – Plan and coordinate educational and community events that enrich the garden experience.
Serving on a committee is a wonderful way to share your skills, contribute ideas, and help our garden thrive. If you’re interested in joining the leadership team, we’d love to hear from you!
Garden Tip: Stop the Snack Attacks
Ever notice a squash or tomato with just one little bite or two taken out? Often it’s not hunger but thirst driving squirrels and mice to “taste test” your harvest. To help protect your harvest, try giving them a better option: set out a bird bath or shallow dish of water so they can sip instead of snack. The bonus? Birds, butterflies, and other pollinators will appreciate the refreshment too! You can also harvest tomatoes as soon they start to turn and avoid leaving fallen fruit on the ground—both of which cut down on temptation.
In Season at the Perennial Beds: September 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:
Artichokes. In the 2’x6’ experimental beds along the east fence - just south of the entrance to the community garden - you’ll find two Green Globe artichoke plants. Harvest artichokes before the outer leaves start to open, when they are 4 to 6 inches in diameter and feel solid and heavy.
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!
Tomatoes. Six prolific, compact tomato plants are nestled alongside our artichoke plants in the 2’x6’ experimental beds. There are two each of Patio Hybrid (medium-sized, red fruits) , Patio Choice Yellow Hybrid (yellow cherries), and Fantastico Hybrid (mini plum fruits). Enjoy!
Walking Onions. Walking onions can be harvested throughout the season. In August, the bulbets make a great shallot substitute. You can also harvest the bulbets to plant in the fall so that you have your own crop of walking onions next spring.
Winter Squash. Look for spaghetti and acorn squash growing on the garden’s east fence. To tell if they’re ready, press your thumbnail gently into the rind. If it resists puncture and feels hard, it’s mature. If your nail easily makes a dent, it needs more time. The stem should also be dry and starting to shrivel, not green and fleshy.
Happy Gardening!
