MULCH YOUR (DROUGHT) WORRIES AWAY

This growing season, 2014 is shaping up to be very challenging in several ways.  The long dry and cold winter has left many of our perennial trees and shrubs in a delicate state.  The fact that we are going into a very long and dry summer only underscores the need for extra plant care this spring.  Deep watering will bring the majority of plants back to life, since we did not get that type of rainfall.  Deep watering also trains the roots to go deeper into the soil which is good in a drought too. 
The next step is to mulch, mulch, mulch.  There are so many great materials for mulching, and its not too early to get started.  Straw, wood shavings, leaves, cardboard, newspaper, compost, even pine needles in some cases can all be used for mulch.  Placing a thick layer of mulch around all perennials, between garden beds and anywhere you don't want weeds is a simple process.  Mulch will protect plants from drying out, heat fluxuations and the cold nights we still have in store.  And of course it saves water by reducing evaporation from the soil surface, leaving more moisture for the plants and soil life forms.  If you have questions or want to see some of these mulch types stop by our garden and see how we do it. 

Wood shavings over cardboard

Dry soil can be a weed barrier (think fallow) too 

Compost - always a good choice

Leaf mulch before planting

Straw mulch - overwinter soil protection

Cardboard keeps the weeds down

                

Leaf it to Me or Turn Don't Burn

Amy Tamm is showing the way with her personal leave collection efforts.  She has been helping her neighbors by taking their fall leaves and using them make compost in her garden for 3 years.
Air quality and soil health can be vastly improved by proper utilization of our existing green matter. Burning leaves contributes to poor air quality and wastes a valuable resource.

Sponsored by the Siskiyou Gardens, Parks and Greenway Association (SGPGA), this is the 3rd year of our leaf collection effort. We are expanding this year to several sites in an attempt to share the green gold and spread the benefits to several locations.

Leaf collection is a high priority and relatively easy to implement for our community. It is a part of a local solution to a larger regional solid waste effort. Siskiyou County can be a leader in local reduction of our waste stream, which at this time is all hauled out of the county. Being more self contained and independent is all part of living in the State of Jefferson. Any green waste or leaves that are mixed with garbage goes into the waste stream is contaminated and cannot be used for composting.

If you don’t want to compost your leaves, please consider bringing your clean leaves to one of the leaf collection events. Leaves on the sidewalks should be bagged and not blown into the street. Leaves left in gutters can clog the storm drains and cause flooding. We are working with the City of Yreka to lessen the impacts to our lovely town by educating citizens to the best way to dispose of leaves.

Leaves can be dropped off this month at several locations. Please be respectful of public property and do not leave anything at these sites except during the leaf collection event.  Problems with garbage and mixed loads will cause these sites to close. Every load and bag will be inspected to insure that compost can be made from these leaves. There is no charge for this community service.

November 22-23, Friday and Saturday 9-1 at the Siskiyou County Adult Probation Center, 805 Juvenile Lane (behind the old hospital).
December 6- 7, Friday and Saturday at the Yreka Community Gardens at the corner of Knapp and North Oregon Street.

Sponsored by the SGPGA, Shasta Valley Rotary, Siskiyou Golden Fair, Cal-Recycle and Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Department.

Share Your Plenty

At the garden, we make a big deal about harvesting for the community.  We ask each gardener to share 10% of their bounty with others.  We harvest each week during the season and we hope you will too. 
Here are the 8 locations where we take our veggies. 
Yreka Senior Center
Coordinated Services Food Bank
Yreka Resource Center
Lane Street Men's Halfway House
Siskiyou Domestic Violence and Crisis Center
St. Joseph's Saturday Meal
Greenhorn Grange Hot Meals
Madrone Hospice

PLANT YREKA

Thanks to everyone who supports our garden.  We especially say thank you at this time of year to those who purchase flower and vegetable plant starts at our sales.  We will be open for business the next 3 Saturdays at the greenhouse.  Hours are 9-1, Location is behind the YHS big gym near the corner of Knapp and North Oregon.  Our theme this year is PLANT YREKA.  These sales are a cooperative effort of the Yreka Community Gardens and the Yreka Garden Club.

Meet and Greet

Calling all gardeners.  We will be hosting an informational open house at Shoppe Serendipity, 213 S. Broadway on February 15th from 4:30 to 7pm.  Come by and see what we are all about, sign up for a plot or to volunteer at our garden.  For more information call Rachel at 941-1502.

Bring Us Your Leaves

Yreka Community Gardens, on Knapp Street next to the high school gym, will be collecting leaves for its 2nd annual leaf collection drive. This event aims to reduce leaf burning and offers an alternative to taking leaves to the transfer station. The garden will be composting all donated leaves for use on-site.  This year we will be collecting leaves from 11-2 on November 10th and 17th, plus a date in December to be decided. Clean loads only please. No walnut leaves, pine needles, brush, garbage or other yard debris will be accepted. All donations will be inspected and any mixed bags or loads will be turned away. Email any questions or comments to yrekacommunitygardens@gmail.com or call Rachel Jereb at 842-3408.

Summer Salad Recipe

Kale, Peach, Corn And Feta Salad

 While lettuce-based salads turn sadder and soggier the longer they sit in dressing, the sturdier leaves of kale just get nicer. This particular combination, inspired by a salad served at Brooklyn's Diner, matches kale with juicy peaches, briny feta and corn shaved right off the cob.

Makes 6 servings

1/4 cup olive oil
Juice of 1 lime
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
Dollop honey
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 small red onion, sliced into thin half-moons
1 bunch kale (red Russian is especially nice), washed and torn into small pieces
1/2 bunch cilantro, washed and coarsely chopped
2 ears corn, cut off the cob
3 peaches, cut into slim wedges
1/4 cup feta (preferably a moist, mild feta, like French or Israeli), crumbled

In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, sherry vinegar and honey. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add the onion, and let sit for a few minutes to mellow.

Add the kale and cilantro, and mix well to coat with the dressing. I like to sandwich two aluminum bowls together and shake, shake, shake until it's coated. Let sit for an hour, refrigerated or at room temperature, for the kale to absorb the dressing and soften. Scatter the corn, peaches and feta over the top and serve (or pack in containers for your picnic).

thanks to Jerry Jereb for this one.