It is with pride that I tell you about the University of Delaware teaming up with the Food Bank of Delaware to create a "Garden for the Community."
The University of Delaware will devote 16,000 square feet of its Newark farm to a community garden, with the produce donated to the food bank. On May 15 and 16, the college will hold "Plant a Garden for the Community Day," when volunteers can help get the garden into shape. (If I weren't due that weekend I would be there with bells on!)
"Our goal is simple - to help the Food Bank meet their mission - a community without hunger - by providing Delaware families with fresh, local food."
The success of the garden will depend on the generosity of local business donors, community volunteers, and CANR faculty, students and professionals. Please consider helping us establish this garden.
To join as a business partner or volunteer, please contact Alyssa Collins at (302) 831-2882.
With the recession in full swing, many Americans are returning to their roots - literally - cultivating vegetables in their backyards to squeeze every penny out of their food budget.
My husband planted green peppers and tomatoes last year. It was our first garden at the townhouse. It didn't go super well, but it went well. We did get a lot of herbs, but there is a significant amount of shade and water drainage is an issue due to the slope of our tiny yard. But I think he plans on putting more in the garden this year, and I'm happy about this.
Industry surveys show double-digit growth in the number of home gardeners this year and mail-order companies report such a tremendous demand that some have run out of seeds for basic vegetables such as onions, tomatoes and peppers.
"People's home grocery budget got absolutely shredded and now we've seen just this dramatic increase in the demand for our vegetable seeds. We're selling out," said George Ball, CEO of Burpee Seeds, the largest mail-order seed company in the U.S. "I've never seen anything like it."
Gardening advocates, who have long struggled to get America grubby, have dubbed the newly planted tracts "recession gardens" and hope to shape the interest into a movement similar to the victory gardens of World War II.
The National Gardening Association estimates that a well-maintained vegetable garden yields a $500 average return per year. A study by Burpee Seeds claims that $50 spent on gardening supplies can multiply into $1,250 worth of produce annually.
A new report by the National Gardening Association predicts a 19 percent increase in home gardening in 2009, based on spring seed sales data and a telephone survey. One-fifth of respondents said they planned to start a food garden this year and more than half said they already were gardening to save on groceries.
I know we're not in April yet, but keep in mind April is National Garden Month. With a tough economy and concerns about global warming, pollution, and health on the rise, April is the perfect time to kick off some new habits that address these issues, while making your lifestyle healthier and your community stronger.
This is just so cool, I love it, I must own one and display for all to enjoy.
The Solar Insect Theatre attracts bugs by means of a sun-powered light which comes on automatically at dusk. Light-loving creatures will fly in, and though they can leave at any time, many should remain in the morning for your child to study.
There is an access door in the base, where branches or plant material can be added or insects removed to study.
The theatre is designed to be similar to a natural habitat, attractive to insects, though there are holes for them to exit as and when they please.
This beats those mesh bug collectors I had as a kid. My son would absolutely love it!
They also sell other really cool scientific toys for your tots. =o) There is even a child's starter kit for gardening which my little boy would have loved but we had to buy each piece separately when he expressed an interest in helping us out in the garden.
Due to the fact that I kill all plants I try to raise, I have never been much of a gardener. My family has gardened my whole life, we're talking everything from garlic to asparagus and lima beans. Not to mention all the flowers, fruits and yes they even have a walnut tree. Yet somehow the green thumb did not make it into my genetic makeup.
However, this little miniature garden by Pylones is so cute I just might need to give it a try. It was designed by Bernard Vuarnesson and is made in France.
"Sprout the seeds of our easy-to-grow Miniature Garden in just three days. Four reusable felt pads, seed packets and water are all it takes to grow edible clover, cress, lettuce and mustard."
Sounds like it should be pretty easy, I wonder if you can choose something other than edible clover though because I don't fancy myself a rabbit.
