The City of Arlington Master Composter volunteers hold composting classes the second Saturday of every month at the composting display in the Science Center's parking lot area. The class includes demonstrations of proper pile building, and a worm compost bin. Attendees will receive a free book. No need to register, just show up. Dress for the weather. For more information, call 817.459.6778 or visit www.arlingtontx.gov. FREE.
The City of Arlington Master Composter volunteers hold composting classes the second Saturday of every month at the composting display in the Science Center's parking lot area. The class includes demonstrations of proper pile building, and a worm compost bin. Attendees will receive a free book. No need to register, just show up. Dress for the weather. For more information, call 817.459.6778 or visit www.arlingtontx.gov. Free.
Visitors welcome. Free. July Speaker TBA.
Dallas Organic Gardening Club Monthly Meeting:
Our next program topic is SEX IN THE GARDEN presented by Dallas Master Gardener Janet Smith. The most synergistic relationship in nature!
Dallas Wildlife Hiking Group presents:
Join us for blueberry picking at Texas largest blueberry farm with over 50 acres of land fed by a maze of underground springs. This commercial operation is the most economical You-Pick farm in the area. It is open to the public for pick-your-own and offers tours by appointment. Today, we will just picking blueberries for fun! Pre-picked and packaged Blackberries are available.
Farm Hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Our group starts picking at 9a although you are welcome to arrive earlier to beat the heat.
ABOUT: Blueberry and Blackberry season lasts for only 8 weeks. We will visit a different farm every 2 weeks to take advantage of the great diversity in farms and produce offerings.
WEATHER - In the case of rain, this event will be rescheduled to the following weekend.
OFFERINGS: Blueberries & Blackberries
COST:
I recently installed a 500 gallon, 80 sq ft super-efficient aquaponic unit at Paul Quinn College (pics to be posted soon). This Meetup will be used to go over the design and construction of that unit, with hands-on training on the various steps in building it out. The same basic design (with minor changes) can be built using one, two, three or four totes depending on the size unit you wish to build, your energy budget, etc. These designs will be discussed and the differences will be explained in full. The unit at Paul Quinn utilizes four 275 gallon IBC totes, and has four gravel grow beds and two raft sections. The unit is simple enough to be built in a day using readily available, low cost components.
Although the temperatures are anything but "Fall-like" right now, we will actually be able to start planting a limited selection of Fall veggies later this month into early August. The majority will not be planted until September-October, but it doesn't hurt to start preparing now.
Urgent notice: If you are tomato fans (and who isn't), now until mid July is the time to put in your transplants.
Topics for discussion will include:
1. Discussing what's working or not in your gardens right now
2. Pest and disease control
3. Fall bed preparation
4. Planting schedules and crop selection
We will also be exchanging seeds, so bring your stash to share with others, and get some in return. Only if you have extra you haven't used or want to exchange for something you don't already have! We can share!
Oh, the rewards of having a Texas-sized growing season! (with an oppressive heat and dry spell in the middle, of course)
“It's good for businesses, consumers, neighborhood, and our environment.”
This meeting's speaker will be Jackie Peal, Master Gardener from Calloway's nursery, and will be speaking on the topics of landscaping with native species and the organic/natural fertilizers. Come out to meet one of the most influential residential landscape design companies, learn something new and meet other folks in the Sustainable culture that can help your business to grow!
Free.
“DFW Greenweavers is a power group of local, sustainable businesses that have been operating in the Metroplex as experts in their given Green fields.”
We will be following our synergizing format that we did last time. When people arrive you will be broken into three groups:
1) Home and Buildings
2) Food and Gardening
3) Health and Lifestyle
The first part of the meeting will be spent socializing with the people in your industry. There has been a great response from people spending time with others that are in their given fields.
After that you will draw a business card from the hat. You will then have a 5 minute 1-1 with that person and you will be giving their 30 second commercial! This was a HUGE success last time. Lots of FUN!
Each meeting will be sponsored by a different business every month. The sponsor will have 10 minutes to talk to the group about what they do. There will be several other perks that go along with sponsorship. The sponsor is paying the $75 room fee so that we can have our own private room that's quiet. Finally!
Elizabeth is putting together an educational program to teach young children about plants, based on the book "Tops & Bottoms". She needs a little help building a 4' x 20' raised bed in the very front of the garden, right next to the street.
I'll bring in 2 yards of new soil. We will spread it out to make the new bed. I don't think it will take longer than an hour with a handful of people helping. If you want to spend some 'quality time' with some experienced gardeners, this is a great opportunity, and it's a good time to checkout the wonderful community garden facilities at POP.
Please bring your work gloves and maybe a shovel or rake if you can easily transport it.
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