“Planting Community Outreach

Through Gardening”

 Speaker: Charlie A. Monroe, Natural Resource Manager

For Cobb County P.A.R.K.S. Department

Join Us Next Wednesday, August 23rd, 2017 at 6:30 p.m.

Charlie will be at Green Meadows CG to talk about

Community Outreach.

 why we should be helping our community

 tips on how to sustain an outreach program

 let’s help our neighbors throughout the county 

Horticulture Day at the Garden

Heading out to walk the Blue Bird Trail

It was a wonderful day at the garden in spite of the humidity. We had lots of visitors and showed the children who visited all kinds of interesting things - like fritillary caterpillars.

There was something for everyone either in the garden or outside the garden.  Approximately 26 people  went on the Blue Bird Trail walk with Jim.




Off to visit the bee yard!

Rita and Mike had a fabulous bee display in the garden. There was a honey extractor to look at and honey to taste which was made by the bees at Green Meadows Preserve. Mmmm.

Thank you to Vann & Dalita for coming out Tuesday morning and talking to our visitors. Especially for spending so much time out in the sun where the plants were!

Many thanks to Heidi for the Herb and Vertical Gardening handouts made available on our table. And to Carol and Vicki for helping during the event.

Just one of the tables full of information visitors could take away.

Fritillary caterpillar. They look vicious
 but this particular caterpillar is
 harmless. The spines are actually soft.

The bee exhibit was fantastic. It
was fascinating learning how
 the honey extractor works.

Special thanks to everyone helping the children with the scavenger hunt. It was a lot of fun for everyone to look for everything.

Rocks were easy to find but where to find the radish pods and tomatillos really stumped the searchers. As did the caterpillar on the list! Luckily for us, they are always on the passion vine (may pop) so are easy to find.

Vicki and Rita 

Definitely thank you to all the gardeners at Green Meadows who worked so hard at getting the garden ready for this event.  The garden looked and still looks fantastic. Special thanks to all the community gardeners who came out and did extra mulching throughout the garden and on the fence line.


Mike, the Bee Man

I heard lots of great comments about the Period Garden that Jack and the Master Gardeners have created around the house and the Native American Garden Tony, Jack and the Master Gardeners have created between the house and the woods.


Jack and Louise

Louise, Amy, Renae, Hope and Neil from Cobb County Extension put together a fun and enjoyable event. Thanks for asking us to participate!

Photos by Renae, Mike and Vicki

Vanilla Bean Mascarpone Ice Cream

Carol's son-in-law Chad made this Ice Cream for the Ice Cream Social. It was soooo good. Surprisingly so since I was mentally going Mascarpone? In the ice cream?

 Vanilla Bean Mascarpone Ice Cream with Biscoff Cookie

4 large egg yolks 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar 
2 cups whole milk
1 cup mascarpone (7 ounces)
1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Pinch of salt
One Vanilla Bean

1. In a large bowl, using a handheld mixer, beat the egg yolks with 3/4 cup of the sugar at medium-high speed until fluffy, 3 minutes. In a saucepan, combine the milk with the remaining 2 tablespoons of the sugar, split length wise the vanilla bean and scrape insides of pod , add both scraped pod and vanilla beans into mixture and bring to a simmer.
2. Strain milk and vanilla mixture.
3. Slowly beat the warm milk into the egg yolks at low speed. Scrape the custard into the saucepan. Cook over moderate heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until thick enough to coat the back of the spoon, about 5 minutes; don't let the custard boil.
4. Pour the custard into a bowl set in a larger bowl of ice water and whisk in the mascarpone, lemon juice and salt. Let stand until chilled, stirring occasionally, 30 minutes.
5. Pour the custard into an ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions. Transfer the mascarpone ice cream to an airtight container and freeze until firm, at least 2 hours.

 Make Ahead  - The ice cream can be frozen for up to 2 days.

Horticulture Week at Green Meadows Preserve Park - July 8th

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Cooperative Extension. To celebrate the 100th anniversary and Horticulture Week, Cobb County Cooperative Extension is holding a series of classes and events the week of July 7 thru July 12th.  Extension Horticulture Week Events

Tuesday July 8th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Green Meadows Community Garden will be featured as well as the Cherokee Garden and the historic Period Gardens around the house. Feel free to come at any point between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm.  There are only 2 events with specific times.

9:00 am General Welcome and Thank You for coming

9:30 am  Bluebird Trail walk (2.3 miles) for those who want to take a walk on the trail system and learn more about bluebirds and bird habitat.

9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Tour the gardens and talk to gardeners and Extension staff.

Gardens and Orchard:
Community Garden
Cherokee Garden
Historic Period Garden around the House
Organic Orchard

Additional Activities:
Bee Hive exhibit
Scavenger Hunt for children in the Community Garden
   (no collecting, just marking off the list)
Bug Talks in the garden
Watch the birdfeeders behind the garden

Feel free to bring a picnic lunch to eat under the Pecan Trees behind the house. Port-a-potties will be available for this event.

3780 Dallas Hwy, Powder Springs, 30127 (Intersection of Dallas Hwy and Old Hamilton Road).

Free and open to the public. For information, call 770-528-4070.

Community Education Lecture Series - Saturday June 28

This morning I received a last minute announcement about a Community Education Lecture Series and Garden Open House at Fountain Gate Gardens in Kennesaw.

When:        Saturday June 28th
Where:       Fountain Gate Gardens
Time:         9:00 am to 12:30 pm
Location:   3007 Cherokee Street
                   Kennesaw, GA 31044

During the open house, drop in to tour the gardens and ask any gardening questions you might have. Free Seed packets while supplies last.  Learn more about their Plant A Row program.

Three short classes to be held in the Brown House in front of the gardens

9:30 am - 10:15 am     Planning for a Fall/Winter Garden

10:30 am - 11:15 am   Vegetable Garden Basics  

11:30 am - 12:15 pm   Fundamentals of Organic Gardening

 For more information you can email garden@fountaingate.com

2nd Annual Ice Cream Social - Saturday June 21st

Last year we had such a great time, we decided to make the Ice Cream Social a yearly event. Below are the details for our event this year.

 

When: Saturday, June 21, 2014

 

Time: 11:30 am to 1:30 pm

 

The concept is simple. Bring your frozen home made ice cream  to the garden with a label saying what kind it is. (And an ice chest to keep it cold until the end of the meal!)

 

We will happily supply hot dogs, buns, chips and water. If you want to bring a side dish to round out your hot dog and ice cream, please do.

 

Vote for your favorite flavor to find the best of the garden! Last year we had 10 flavors I think - yum yum.

 

Prizes to be awarded for Best Ice Cream and Most Unusual Ice Cream.

 

 

 

Master Gardener Garden Tour Saturday May 10, 2014

Through the Garden Gate

 

Presented by

Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County

 

Garden Tour

Saturday, May 10, 2014

10 am – 5 pm

Tour Tickets: $15.00 in advance – $20.00 at the gate

Available at Cobb Extension Office: 770-528-4070 or

online at http://www.cobbmastergardeners.com   

Grafting Fruit Trees Class

Are you interested in growing fruit trees but have limited space to raise different cultivars?

Come to the class that Master Gardener Eddie Rhoades will be presenting on Saturday April 12 from 10:30 to 11:30 at the orchard behind the Green Meadows Community Garden.

Eddie is a master at grafting different cultivars on one "parent" tree. Persimmon, pear, peach and apple are just a few of the  fruit trees he has grafted multiple cultivars onto.

Where:
Green Meadows Preserve Community Garden
3780 Dallas Highway
Powder Springs, GA 30127
  (The garden is at the intersection of Old Hamilton and Dallas Highway, near The Avenues of West Cobb. Look for the white house on the corner with a sign out front that says Green Meadows Preserve)

When:
Saturday, April 12, 2014
10:30 to 11:30 am

Additional Gardening Classes to Attend

Direct from the Cobb County Extension Blog,  here are several more classes you might be interested in taking this spring. (Two were in a previous post but this post contains more information).

If you are interested in taking a class be sure and call to preregister! Don't forget, you can also subscribe to the Extension Blog by email.

Home Yard and Garden Equipment: Use and Care

Saturday, March 22, 1:00 p.m. Free and open to the public. Presented by Agriculture Agent Neil Tarver at UGA Extension/Cobb County, in the second floor classroom at 678 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, GA, 30060. Please preregister by calling 770-528-4070.

Evergreen Groundcovers for Sun and Shade

Tuesday, March 25, 7:00-8:00 p.m. Free and open to the public. Presented by Master Gardener Shirley Priest, as part of the ongoing Gardeners Night Out presentation series of the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County, at South Cobb Regional Library, 805 Clay Road, Mableton, 30126.

Bluebird Trail Tour

Saturday, March 29, 10:00 a.m. Free and open to the public. Cobb Master Gardener and Bluebird expert Jim Bearden will conduct a guided walk of the Bluebird Trail at Green Meadow Preserve Park, at 3780 Dallas Hwy., Powder Springs, GA, 30127. Follow the Bluebird Trail blog at bluebirdtrail.blogspot.com.

UGA Extension in Cobb County Open House

Tuesday, April 1, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Free and open to the public. Drop in to discover what Extension in Cobb County has to offer! From Horticulture and Natural Resources, to 4-H for youth, to Family and Consumer Sciences, we provide up-to-date, researched information from UGA to the citizens of this county. Open House with displays and snacks at UGA Extension/Cobb County, second floor, 678 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, GA, 30060. For information, call 770-528-4070.

Garden to Table

Thursday, April 3, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Agriculture Agent Neil Tarver and Family and Consumer Sciences Agent Cindee Sweda present a class growing and then using food crops. UGA Extension/Cobb County, second floor, 678 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, GA, 30060. Preregistration is required; $10 fee for class and materials. Call 770-528-4070 for information and to register.

Moving Toward Organics in the Vegetable Garden

Tuesday, April 8, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. Free and open to the public. Learn what organic gardening and farming really means and steps you can take to have a more environmentally friendly garden.  Presented by Amy Whitney, of UGA Extension/Cobb County, as part of the ongoing Gardeners Night Out presentation series of the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County, at Mountain View Regional Library, 3320 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta.

The Beauty of Bulbs! From Amaryllis to Zephranthes

Friday, April 11, noon to 1:00 p.m. Free and open to the public. Presented by Master Gardener Debra Stockton as part of the ongoing Lunch & Learn series of the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County, at the Training Room of the Cobb County Water lab, 662 South Cobb Drive (at the intersection with Atlanta Rd.). Debra will give us the ABCs of bulbs with a focus on Georgia favorites: daffodils, gladioli, and tulips.

Bluebird Trail Walk for Thursday Jan 30 - CANCELLED

Three robins and a red-winged blackbird on the birdbath. A
song sparrow on the ground beneath them.

It isn't often that events are cancelled here because of snow but....the walk scheduled for January 30th at 10:00 am is officially cancelled due to snow. The roads might be semi-passable by Thursday morning but the trails will still be covered in snow.

The next walk will be Monday, Feb 10th at 10:00 am at Green Meadows Preserve on Dallas Highway.

If you have extra time, put out water for the birds. I had lots of visitors all day yesterday during the snow because I had the only unfrozen water around.

Oktoberfest at Green Meadows Today

Green Meadows Community Garden

 is definitely 

having an Oktoberfest today,

Sunday, October 6^th

to celebrate

Our First Annual Oktoberfest

from 4 to 6 p.m.

We’ll have brats, pretzels & pot roast,

plates, utensils and iced tea.

Bring your favorite side dish

or  dessert

and a chair to sit on.

We have door prizes!

You could win a coveted Green Meadows 

Community Garden Water Bottle.

But you have to be here to win.

Tomorrow night, Tuesday the 27th at 6:30 we have another great program planned for our Bed Time Talk/Walk. Denise and Vicki will be telling you all about IPM or Integrated Pest Management.  If you have had problems with insects or disease this year, you will want to hear this program.  They will go over strategies for a successful Fall gardening season as it is time to get your bed ready for Fall. Hope to see at the garden. 

Totally Tomatoes

Hey Everyone,

Next weeks Bed Time Talk, Tuesday, Aug. 6th, is dedicated completely to tomatoes.  Let me be your tour guide as we walk through the garden and learn the proper identification of some of the different strains of blight disease as well as discuss the proper control measures. Working together and adopting better practices in growing tomatoes can go a long way in preventing these blight diseases from taking such a hold. Our walk will begin promptly at 7:00 p.m., with any assistance you may need in your bed immediately thereafter.  This is a wonderful opportunity for us all to learn from each other!

Hope you will come,

Denise, Beds 25 & 29

Bed Time Talk July 2013

Guess the number of Potatoes! Win a Prize!

Mike digging potatoes

The Ice Cream Social on Saturday has many parts to it.

Eating! Socializing & Fun in the shade of the pecan tree!

Homemade Ice Cream Taste Off !

Guess the Number of Potatoes we grew!



The Fabulous Prize for the Guess the Number of Potatoes Contest

Today and Friday the potatoes are being dug up. During the Ice Cream Social on Saturday you will be given the opportunity to guess how many were produced. There will, of course, be a fabulous prize for the person who comes closest to the correct number.

There will also be a prize for the best tasting ice cream. Be sure and have your ice cream at the garden, ready for tasting by the Judge by 12:30 pm. Also be sure to bring an ice cream scoop or other big spoon to dip it out with.


Weekly Calendar June 26 - July 3

Thursday June 27
8:30 am - 9:30 am
Master Gardeners in the Garden

Saturday June 29
11:30 am - 2:00 pm
Ice Cream Social
Come one! Come All!
Ice Cream Social - Details

Ice Cream Social

We have been thinking. I know - beginners luck.
How about a Green Meadows Ice Cream Social gathering?

When: Saturday, June 29, 2013
Time: 11:30am to 2:00pm

The concept is simple. Bring your ice cream churn to the garden and your favorite recipe. We will happily supply hot dogs, buns, chips and water.

We will have a special guest to sample your churned ice cream and declare the best of the garden. Prizes to be handed out for best ice cream and most unusual ice cream.

If you want, you can churn your ice cream the night before and bring it to the party.

We hope to see all of our fellow Bedbugs that want to have a little garden fun before the holiday.

Also, the bed checkers will be looking at the four quads of the garden and declaring garden beds of the spring/summer. Four Best of show ribbons will be handed out to the garden beds that have the following:  Best looking over all, pest free, and full of garden whimsy.

Weekly Calendar May 31 - June 8

Saturday June 1st
Garden Party to Celebrate our 1st Year
6:00pm - 8:00 pm
Bring a chair and a dish to share!
Enjoy the beautiful garden.

Tuesday June 4
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Gardeners on Duty

Saturday June 8
9:00 am to 11:00 am
Saturday workday
We are almost done but there are a few more things to do to be all set for the summer.

How to keep your Veggies Happy, Healthy and Productive

Tuesday March 12, 2013
6:30 - 7:30 pm
Lost Mountain Park
Western District Operations Building

You are invited to attend a free gardening class sponsored by The Green Meadows Preserve Community Garden.

How to Keep your Vegetable plants Happy, Healthy and Productive

Come learn more about the Three Bears Scale -
       Too Much,  Not Enough and Just Right

See how it applies to:

• Fertilization
• Watering
• Mulching

Please RSVP to greenmeadowscg@gmail.com
We want to make sure we have enough handouts for everyone.

Directions From the Community Garden:
Take Dallas Hwy West 2.0 miles (to the 2nd traffic light from the garden.)
Turn left at the traffic light into Lost Mountain Park . 
Take the first left.
Once you turn, go straight and the road dead ends into a parking lot between Boots Ward Recreation Building and the Western District Operations Building. If the parking lot is full, park in the parking lot in front of the ball fields.

Lost Mountain Park
Western District Operations Building
4845 Dallas Highway
Powder Springs, GA 30127

Potato Totes & Bags

The Potato Planting Demonstration on Saturday Feb 23rd was a great success.  Everyone got to participate in cutting the potatoes and planting them.

 Mike had a very intent audience as he showed examples of good potatoes and bad potatoes.

What are they looking so hard at?  Maybe the potatoes were escaping - that might explain all the laughter in this picture.

Two methods (bag & tote) were extremely easy and fast to do. The bag came from Gardener Supply as a Potato Bag Kit  which contains a potato bag, 3 bags of soil mix and fertilizer. (You have to buy your own potatoes.)                       

The basics were the same for using the potato bag and the tote. Put a 2-3 inch layer of organic material in the bottom, put in the seed potatoes, cover with another 2 inches or so of organic matter, fertilize and water in well.

Wait until the potatoes begin growing and when the sprouts are 4 inches or so tall, put dirt around the stems (but leave some green leaves sticking out), water and wait some more.

Repeat this procedure until the top of the container is reached. Potatoes will form all along the stem that is buried in dirt. If you want to read more about  Growing potatoes in containers, this is a good link.

The tote is a super size plastic bin (18 gallons or more). Because it is solid plastic, you need to punch lots of holes in the bottom and along the outside edge to provide drainage.  Once the holes are punched, fill with soil and potatoes.














It will be interesting to see which produces the most potatoes - the tote or the bag.

We also constructed a potato tower but that will have to be in a separate post!