Download - NCG Newsletter - Issue 5
Lorem Ipsum Dolor Issue #, Date
Niles C
ommun
ity Garde
ns
Great Success For The First Annual “Run to Grow 5K!” Over $2000 raised for the Niles
Community Gardens! Despite the chilly wind, the Niles Community Gardens “Run to Grow 5K” had a great turnout, with over 90 runners and walkers! Thank you to all of the runners, walkers and volunteers who helped make this event possible! We also want to
give a huge shout out to Cathie Yoder and Lauren Thurston for coordinating this event! To see the results of the race, visit www.timetorun.net. We look forward for the 2nd annual “Run to Grow 5k” next spring!
Issue 5 May 2012
Helping others produce their own fruits and vegetables while learning how to live more sustainably in Southwest Michigan
Niles Community Gardens needs your votes to win the DeLoach Community Garden Grant! Vote every day at
www.deloachcommunitygardens.com!
Lorem Ipsum Dolor Issue #, Date
2
The Niles Community Garden’s first annual Run to Grow 5K took place Saturday, April 21st without a hitch due to the marvelous organizational skills of Cathie Yoder and Lauren Thurston. My hat is off to these ladies for the many, many hours they spent in planning this event; they didn’t miss a thing and that made it fun for everyone. Great job!! I look forward to doing this again next year. I also want to thank the many volunteers who graciously weathered the cold winds to do their assigned tasks and guide about 95 runners and
walkers through the finish line. And of course, the Niles Community Gardens gives a very special thanks to the sponsors of this event: Chemical Bank, Lakeland Health Care, Niles Vikings, Southwestern Medical Clinic, Road ID, Wonderland Cinema, the YMCA, Tyler Automotive, the UPS Store and Campbell Ford Lincoln! Once again we see our community joining hands to support our efforts and reach our goals. We can all be proud to live in such a place. Thanks again.
Keep on Growing,
Mark Van Til
A Bit of Humor . . .
The only difference between the tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin.”
-‐Mark Twain
Letter from the Director
Thank You! The Niles Community Gardens is so grateful to Jeff and Sarah Saylor (Saylor’s Pizza) for the use of their tractor/tiller whenever we need it to till up the
gardens. We couldn’t get the job done without them. By the way, I think they have the best sandwich in town -‐ their Italian beef with sauce is the best!!!
Lorem Ipsum Dolor Issue #, Date
3
All About Spinach Nutritious and Delicious!
Remember Popeye? That was good TV, wasn’t it? It was not like today’s television, with all of the violence. And Popeye was right, you know, about the ‘spinach thing.’ It is packed with power!
Spinach is high in nutritional value. It is rich in antioxidants and in vitamins A, C, E, K and many, many others!
It ranks as one of my favorite veggies, hot or cold. It is incredibly versatile for cooking. You can steam, boil, use in a salad or soup, over potatoes, stuff it in pork tenderloin with cheese, roll it in a flat steak or mix it in a dip. Use your imagination. The possibilities are endless!
Spinach is a cool weather crop and will often
winter over. Plant it now and have a spring crop, and then plant in late summer and have a fall crop. Harvest by pinching off the large outer leaves, leaving the center to continue growing. If you leave the plants in the ground in the fall, they usually produce a very early spring crop. Make sure to plant a lot because a bag full will only boil down to enough for four people. Spinach can also grow well in containers on the porch or patio. When spinach begins to bolt (sends up a center stalk to produce flowers and seeds, usually because of heat), pinch off this stalk right away and you will extend production of leaves for a while. Keep spinach well weeded and watered and it will reward you with taste and nutrition. Your body will thank you. Warning: don’t plant too deep.
“Why try to explain miracles to your kids when you can just have them plant a garden.”
-‐Robert Brault
Lorem Ipsum Dolor Issue #, Date
4
Spinach Pest Control Because spinach is a cool weather crop, it has very few bug problems. Watch for slugs in late spring to early summer, when the weather gets warmer. Rabbits can be an issue, but usually very small -‐ just share. If they overtake your garden, consider putting up chicken wire or an
electric fence, both work well. For slugs, surround your plants with coffee grounds, planks of wood (they’ll crawl under the wood at night and you can catch them the next day) or shallow containers of cheap beer set into the soil (they will drown themselves). There are also a few organic pellets available. Written by Mark Van Til
12 ounces bacon, cut into 1/4-inch cubes 1 garlic clove, minced 1 small shallot, minced The juice of 1/2 lemon 1-1/2 Tablespoon sherry vinegar 1/4 cup olive oil 1 Tablespoon chopped parsley 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper 2 pounds spinach, washed 4 large hard-boiled eggs, chopped
1. Cook the bacon in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat until golden brown and crisp. Transfer the bacon to a pan lined with paper towels. Reserve 1 teaspoon of bacon fat, and discard the rest.
2. Meanwhile, combine the garlic, shallot, lemon juice, and sherry vinegar in a small bowl. Whisk in the olive oil and add parsley and salt and pepper.
3. In a large bowl, toss together the spinach, cooked bacon, reserved bacon fat, the vinaigrette, and the chopped egg. Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately.
Spinach, Egg and Bacon Salad
Kid’s Corner - Rock Coloring! By Sarah Markley
Warning: due to hot temperatures, an adult MUST facilitate this activity!!! As a child, this was one of my favorite activities!
Materials: box of crayons, rocks, cookie sheet, oven mitts, newspaper
Find a variety of small to medium-‐sized rocks (the smoother the better). Wash thoroughly and dry. Place on a cookie sheet in the oven and heat to 200 degrees for 15 minutes. Remove with hot pads.
Make sure your surface if covered with newspaper before you start. Have your children wear oven mitts as they handle the rocks. Begin to draw on the rocks. The wax should melt as you draw. If the wax melts too fast, let the rocks cool for a bit before continuing. Let the rocks cool after you
are content with your design. These decorative rocks look great in the garden or as a paperweight!
Lorem Ipsum Dolor Issue #, Date
5
-‐ Ipsum
Voting for the Deloach Community Garden Grant Voting started March 6th and continues until August 6th 2012.
Go to http://deloachcommunitygardens.com/ and click on the Niles Community Garden video. Type in your email address and name to vote!
Remember, you can vote every day!
Find Niles Community Gardens on Facebook!
Share with us! If you have any stories, jokes, poems, recipes or anecdotes you would like to share in our
monthly newsletter, please send them to Sarah Markley via email at [email protected]
or via U.S.P.S. at 2625 Holland St, South Bend, IN 46619
If you are not on our email mailing list and would like to receive our newsletter, please send your email address to Sarah Markley via email or U.S.P.S. (address above).
If you do not have email, you can get a copy of our newsletter at the Niles Public Library, City
Hall or the Ferry Street Resource Center.
Garden with us!
If you would like to volunteer in the gardens or on special projects, or if you haven’t gardened with us but would like to, please email Mark Van Til at [email protected] or call
at 269-‐815-‐5034.
There is still garden space available for the 2012 growing season! We have space at these gardens: Northside, Arbor Trails, Ring Lardner School and Ballard School.
Support us!
To make a monetary donation, please make checks payable to Niles Community Gardens and mail to:
Niles Community Gardens PO Box 304
Niles, MI 49120