Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Nuluv, Sweet Texas & Confituras Just In Time for the Holidays

 Today we received a fresh batch of delicious gluten free bread from Sweet Texas. Come in and pick up a holiday treat! We have the Sunflower Sandwich Bread, Mint Chocolate, Chai Spiced Banana and Pumpkin Cranberry Pecan Bread. Yum!



Thursday we'll be getting in some of our favorite jams from Confituras, including the scrumptious Salted Caramel Pear Butter! Great for a stocking stuffer or a special Christmas breakfast!



And Friday the much awaited shipment from NuLuv will arrive. We'll have your favorite body butters and lotions back in stock just in time to make it into the stockings.

It is also not too late to place a Christmas pie order. Call us at 512.240.4715 by 2pm on Saturday to order a pie for Christmas Eve.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Seed Starting Class & Seed Exchange this Saturday

Believe it or not, with the new year comes the time to start new seeds for your garden. Tomatoes, Peppers and Eggplants can be started in pots indoors to go out when the weather warms in March. Come out this Saturday at 10:30 to learn how!

After class we will have a seed exchange. If there are any seeds that you have saved or have excess of, bring them to share and trade!

See you there!

Friday, December 7, 2012

One Cubic Foot


 Photographer David Liittschwager traveled the world with a cubic foot frame that he staged in an array of ecosystems. Over the course of 24 hours he documented all the the biodiversity that passed through his cubic foot. The result is his new book A World in One Cubic Foot.


photo by David Liittschwager in a public park in Cape Town, South Africa

Science writer Craig Childs was inspired by Liittschwagers journey to set up his own square foot in a cornfield in Iowa to see how this very common US ecosystem compared. NPR science correspondence Robert Krulwich interviewed Childs specifically about what he found, or didn't find, in his article Cornstalks Everywhere But Nothing Else, Not Even a Bee. I didn't expect a conventional corn field to be a boon of biodiversity, but I still found the results rather shocking. How can we be growing our food in a vacuum?

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Square Foot Garden Class This Saturday

This Saturday's garden class is one to be sure not to miss. Williamson County Master Gardener Hank Belopavlovich will be joining us to talk about Square Foot Gardening, a biointensive growing technique that saves space and seed while maximizing the harvest from a small area. Along with being a Certified Square Foot Garden Teacher, Hank is a Master Naturalist and a member of the Georgetown Garden Club, Native Plant Society, and the Liberty Hill Garden Club. Join us Saturday, December 8th at 10:30am for this exciting class!

Square foot raised bed garden built by David Alves

Monday, November 26, 2012

December Garden Classes

December is the month that all the new seed catalogs come out and I feel like a kid in a candy shop. I hope you can join us this month for our free Saturday morning gardening classes at 10:30am to find some inspiration for your spring garden planning!

Here is what we have coming up in December:

December 1st:  December in the Garden 
This is our monthly first Saturday series where we cover the garden "To Do" list for the month. Learn what is in season, what you can plant from seed or transplant and other garden tasks.   

December 8th : Guest Speaker Workshop: Square Foot Gardening with Master Gardener and Certified Square Foot Gardening Teacher Hank Belopavlovich     
Learn how to grow a lot in a small space using the square foot gardening technique!   

December 15th: Starting Vegetables and Herbs from Seed   
Plant a seed and watch it grow! Class on the 15th will be followed by a Seed Swap. Bring extra seeds that you have saved or have surplus of to share and trade!   

We will not be having class on December 22 or the 29th. Happy Holidays! Join us again in the New Year!   

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Garden Class & Cooking Demo this Saturday 11/17

10:30am Garden Class:
Beneficial Insects or "How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bug"

At this Saturday's free gardening class at 10:30 am in the Monument Market we'll be discussing our friends in the garden. Not every bug is bad! Identify, protect, and encourage beneficial insects in your garden and they will help keep pests at bay and pollinate your veggies for increased production.

Lady Bug Larvae munching aphids on Dill in the Monument Garden

12:00pm Cooking Demo: 
Alternative Sides For Thanksgiving or "Green Bean Casserole Deconstructed"

Chef Drew Benham from El Monumento will be joining us again this Saturday to present some ideas for Thanksgiving side dishes utilizing local seasonal produce from the Market and Monument Garden. Join Us!

Friday, November 9, 2012

Garden Guest Speaker, Cooking Demo & Wine Tastings this Saturday at the Market!

Join us in the Market for a day of exciting events this Saturday!

The morning starts off at 10:30am with our weekly free gardening class. This week we are hosting  Leslie Keller who will be presenting his Big Bag of Tips & Tricks to Save Time & Money in your Garden. Leslie is an engineer who was convinced into starting a garden by his vegetable loving wife.  He will share a variety of techniques he has learned through trial and error which will help you build a vibrant garden without breaking the bank or your back!

Chef Drew after last month's cooking demo - Pesto Turkey Burgers
The garden class will be followed by a Cooking Demo at 11:45. Chef Drew Benham from El Monumento will be showing us how to make Sage Chicken - a great dish for a cool fall night!

Starting at 11am, Monument's resident Sommelier Jeremy Corn will be in the Market sampling a selection of the Texas made wines that we feature in the Market. Find out what wines go with Chef Drew's Sage Chicken and your upcoming holiday dinners!

Monday, October 29, 2012

November Garden Classes

Don't miss the Sage Chicken cooking demo on November 10th!
I can't believe it is almost November! We are lucky in Texas that the next couple months are really some of the most delicious of the year. Fall tomatoes, peppers and eggplants, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, beet and lettuce are just a few of the yummy veggies in season! It is a great time to plant perennial plants, trees and cool weather loving roots and greens. Come out to our free weekly gardening classes to find out more! All Classes are Saturdays at 10:30am and are free with no registration required.

November 3rd - November in the Garden: Our monthly First Saturday series where we cover the garden To Do list for the month. Learn what is in season, what you can plant from seed or transplant, and other garden tasks for the month.

November 10th - Guest Speaker Workshop: Leslie Keller will be presenting his Bag of Tips & Tricks to Save Time & Money in your Garden. Learn how to reuse and re-purpose a number of common items to help build a vibrant garden without breaking the bank or your back!
This class will be followed by a Cooking Demo at 11:45. Chef Drew Benham from El Monumento will be showing us how to make Sage Chicken - a great dish for a cool fall night! The market will also be featuring tastings and a gift basket drawing throughout the afternoon.

November 17th - Beneficial Insects - Learn how to ID and encourage the "good guys" in your garden.

There will be no class on November 24th due to Thanksgiving. Have a Happy Holiday!




Wednesday, October 17, 2012

All About Weeds Class this Saturday, 10/20

Nutsedge. Boo.
With lovely Fall weather brings a flush of new green weeds.... Join us this Saturday in the Monument Market at 10:30am for a free class about organic weed control. We will ID common fall weeds, discuss their possible uses, and talk about tools and techniques to keep them from eating your garden.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Medicinal Herb Class and More at the Market this Saturday!

I am very proud to be hosting Grace Bryce of Gracies Garden LLC at this Saturday's Monument Garden Class at 10:30am  to talk about the medicinal uses of culinary herbs!.  Grace is a Nemenhah Medicine Woman & Traditional Leader, a Master Herbalist, and a Certified Natural Health Professional. www.gracebrycemh.com

Grace's class will be the kick off to a whole day of events at the market:

Super Sensational Saturday at the Monument Market
What:  Fun day of garden classes, cooking demonstrations, garden tours, tastings and a Scavenger Hunt—oh yeah, and great prizes!!

When:  Saturday, October 13th beginning at 10:30 a.m. and lasting until 1:30 p.m.

Where:  Classes and tastings will be in the Market…tours in the garden.

Why:  We love our loyal customers and Facebook followers and want to provide you with a fun and FREE way to find out more about our fresh, organic concepts and try some really great foods!

Details:   ‘Like’ us on Facebook where we will be posting daily updates about our fun day!!
                          

Look forward to seeing you there!!

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Local Food Unites Republicans & Democrats

Especially in campaign season, any news about bipartisanship is refreshing. Leave it to food to be able to bridge the political gap!

Texas is the first state in the union to create a Farm to Table Caucus to focus on developing and supporting the local food movement. Find out more here: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/16/us/championing-a-farm-to-table-movement-in-texas.html?_r=1

Monday, September 10, 2012

Growing Brassicas Class this Saturday, 9/15

This Saturday at 10:30am in the Monument Market we'll be taking a close look at some of the fall garden favorites including broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and kale. All of these crops are in the genus Brassica and are also often referred to as Cole crops. Brassicas grow well in the Texas fall and grow sweeter as the days get cooler. Not only are they some of the most nutritious veggies you can eat, but many of them are also attractive plants that can be worked into your landscape as your warm season annuals wane in the cooler days ahead. I hope you will join us Saturday to learn more!

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Growing Herbs with Cathy Slaughter this Saturday

I am so excited to host Cathy Slaughter this Saturday, September 8th at 10:30am to teach us about growing herbs. Cathy and her husband Sam own and operate Gabriel Valley Farms, a wholesale nursery in Jonah that specilizes in certified organic vegetable and herbs. Cathy will be focusing on culinary herbs to grow in the fall garden. I hope you can join us for this free class!

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

September Garden Classes

September marks the beginning of the fall planting season here in Central Texas. Many growers (including me) consider this to be the best growing season as there are many delicious veggies that can handle the occasional cold snap much better that surviving the heat of a Texas summer. Fall favorites include broccoli, spinach, lettuce, beets, carrots, chard, and kale. Join us each Saturday at 10:30 in the Monument Market to learn about the joys of growing food without chemicals! Classes are free and no registration is required.

We'll be going in depth this coming month about some of the cool season favorites. Here is the line up of classes we have coming in September:

September 1st - This Month in the Garden - This is our monthly first Saturday series where we cover the garden "To Do" list for the month. Learn what is in season, what you can plant from seed or transplant and other garden tasks.

The Herb Garden at Gabriel Valley Farms
September 8th - Guest Speaker Garden Workshop: Growing Herbs with Cathy Slaughter from Gabriel Valley Farms. For over 20 years, Cathy and her husband Sam have owned and operated a wholesale nursery specializing in certified organic vegetable and herbs in Jonah, TX.

September 15th - Growing Brassicas Organically - Brassicas include broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, collards, brussels sprouts as well as mustard greens and arugula.

September 22nd - Growing Strawberries. In Central Texas, October is the best time to plant strawberries to harvest in the spring!

September 29th - Growing Garlic. Garlic and onions should be planted in October too. Come to class and be prepared!

Friday, August 24, 2012

Preparing the Soil for a New Garden

This weekend is our 1 year anniversary (more or less) of the Monument Garden Classes. In celebration we'll be getting back to basics and discussing methods for preparing new garden beds, including how to break ground and how to prepare the soil for a vibrant, healthy garden. I hope you can join us Saturday at 10:30am for this free class!

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Compost!

Every time you throw food scraps in the trash or rake up your leaves and set them on the curb for the garbage collector, you are loosing a valuable soil building resource and sending away free nutrients for your garden. Instead, harness the alchemy of compost making and turn this "waste" into black gold. Learn how this Saturday at 10:30am in the Market. Class is free and open to the public. We'll be discussing backyard piles as well as vermicompost (a.k.a. worm composting) and bokashi composting systems. See you there!

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Save Your Own Seeds

Dill seeds are easy to save!

I am so excited to have Heather Kasper from Kasper Farm coming in on Saturday at 10:30am to talk to us about saving our own seeds. By saving the seeds from the most successful and delicious veggies in your garden you are adapting plants for your specific micro-climate and soil, preserving genetic diversity, and saving money. Not to mention that learning the art of saving seeds will bring you even more intimately in touch with the rhythm of your garden. And it is fun!

We would also like to invite y'all to participate in a mini seed exchange. If you already have some seeds that you've saved in the past, bring them to trade with others. In December we are planning to have a larger seed exchange so we can all share the seed harvest from the skills we learn this weekend!

Join us for this free class!

Friday, August 3, 2012

August Gardening Classes


Last year's fall garden at the Monument

Despite the Heat, August is the perfect time to plan and prepare for your fall garden! Here in Central Texas, fall is almost like another spring, and the fall garden can be just as productive as a spring garden. Come out to the Market every Saturday at 10:30 am for our free gardening classes for guidance and inspiration for your home garden. Here is our schedule for this month:
 
August 4th – “This Month in the Garden” - Our monthly first Saturday class where we go over the garden To-Do list for the coming weeks.
 
August  11th – “Seed Saving” with Guest Speaker Heather Kasper. Learn how to harvest your own seed to plant next year!
 
August 18th – “Backyard Composting”-  Learn how to transform your food and yard waste into nutrient rich organic fertilizer.
 
August 25th – “Preparing the Soil for a New Garden” - Now is the time to get your yard ready for a fall garden!
 
I hope you will join us!

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Starting Veggies and Herbs from Seed

This Saturday is one of my favorite classes, starting veggies and herbs from seed. Starting your own garden from seed rather than buying transplants can save a lot of money and open up whole new worlds of varieties to try that you'll never find already started for you. Believe it or not, the time to start broccoli and cauliflower from seed for the fall is in August! Then they can be transplanted out in mid -September when the nights cool down again. I hope you can make it out to the Market on Saturday at 10:30am to learn an essential skill for the home garden!

Thursday, July 19, 2012

This Saturday's Garden Class

Lettuce growing in July with no irrigation!
A couple weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending a Water Conservation Workshop at Millberg Farm in Kyle. Tim Miller has been growing certified organic vegetables and trees for 23 years relying only on rainwater for irrigation. He was kind enough to invite people out to his farm to share his techniques with us. At Monument Garden Class this Saturday I'll share with you some of the things I learned at this workshop. I hope you'll join us at 10:30 am in the Market!

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Rainwater Harvesting Class this Saturday 7/14

Rain water is one of most precious resources here in Central Texas. Last summer's drought convinced many that in order to move towards a more sustainable future we need to rethink how we use water. This Saturday, July 14th,  Bill Marsh will be joining us as a guest teacher for the Monument Garden Class to go over the basics of designing and installing a rainwater harvesting system for your home. Class is at 10:30am and is free. Join us!

Thursday, July 5, 2012

July Gardening Classes

The heat is here and rain is sparse. It is the perfect time of year to focus on water wise gardening. This Saturday we will not be having gardening class because I'll be taking a class myself. Tim Miller of Millburg Farm in Kyle is hosting a Water Conservation Workshop this Saturday. Tim is a Certified Organic grower who has been growing vegetables and trees without well or city water for 23 years. I can't wait to get a chance to pick his brain. Later in the month I'll be passing on what I learn at this workshop to you at Monument Garden Class. Here is the full schedule for July:

July 7th - No class to allow Michelle to attend the Water Conservation Workshop at Millburg Farm in Kyle.
July 14th - Rainwater Harvesting with Bill Marsh - Learn how to build a rainwater catchment system at home!
July 21st - Lessons from the Water Conservation Workshop at Millburg Farm
July 28th - Starting Veggies and Herbs from Seed

All classes are Saturdays at 10:30 in the Market and are free. See you there!

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Companion Planting Class this Saturday 6/30

plant marigolds near your tomatoes to dispel pests
Most home gardeners are trying to grow a lot in a small space. Knowing what plants to keep close and what to separate can increase the health and vigor of a biodiverse garden. Based both in folk wisdom and science, the art of companion planting is a valuable skill for the experienced and novice gardener alike. Join us this Saturday, 6/30 in the Market at 10:30 to learn more!

Friday, June 22, 2012

Beneficial Insect Class this Saturday

Lady Bug Nymphs keeping aphids in check on dill in the Monument Garden
Knowing how to identify, encourage, and care for beneficial insects is one of the keys to successful organic pest control. Saturday, June 23rd at 10:30am we'll be talking about the good guys in your garden. Monument Market Garden Classes are free and open to the public. Hope to see you there!

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

All About Weeds

Weeding can be one of the most time consuming projects in an organic garden or landscape. This Saturday, June 16th at 10:30am we'll be discussing how to manage common weeds, what they say about your soil, and talk about potential uses for them. Remember a weed is just a flower out of place! Many of them are edible, medicinal, or useful in some way. Hopefully this class will help shine a bit more of a positive light on some of our uninvited garden guests.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Tomato Time!

Salad Tomato Medley from the Monument Garden
Tomatoes are in season and we are bursting at the seams with homegrown deliciousness from all around Georgetown. I don't think we've gotten in a tomato from further than 10 miles away. Come enjoy the fruits of your neighbors' labors!

Here is one of my favorite ways to enjoy tomato season...

Skillet Tomatoes & Summer Squash
Ingredients:
1 lb homegrown tomatoes, chopped
1 lb summer squash, chopped into 1/2 inch pieces
2 cloves garlic, chopped or put through a garlic press
1 small onion, coarsely chopped
1 tbs olive oil
Instructions:
I make this in my cast iron skillet, but you could use a frying pan if needed. Saute the onion in olive oil until soft, turn the heat up and cook the squash, stirring frequently until it browns a bit. Reduce heat to medium & add the garlic for a minute or so. Add the tomatoes and cook on medium heat until the tomatoes reduce and the squash is soft. I love to serve this with polenta or over cheese grits. You can also substitute okra or eggplant for the squash. Yum!

Worm Composting!

One of the best ways to make high quality compost is to use worms. The worms in a vermicomposting bin can eat their weight in organic matter every day. What goes in, must come out, and their castings (a.k.a. poo) contain high levels of nitrogen and potassium and about twice as much phosphorous as any other composted manure. Full of microbial life, worm compost is especially good for potted plants or plant starts, topdressing your garden, or for making compost tea.

This Saturday, June 9th at 10:30am Debbie Keller will be taking her worms for a little field trip to the Monument Market to show us how easy it is to make amazing vermicompost ourselves! I hope you can join us for this free class.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

June Garden Classes

Summertime is here along with the most delicious time of year. Tomatoes, peppers, squash, beans, peaches and more - yum! Join us every Saturday at 10:30am for our free weekly gardening classes to learn how to grow all these veggies yourself!

Here is what we are going to talk about in this month's gardening classes....

June 2nd - June in the Garden. Our monthly first Saturday series where we discuss the garden "To-Do List" for the month.

June 9th- Guest Speaker Debbie Keller will be teaching us about Vermicomposting a.k.a. how to make amazing compost with worms!

June 16th - All about Weeds. We'll talk about common garden weeds, how to control them organically, and potential uses for them.

June 23rd - Beneficial Insects. Learn how to identify and encourage good bugs in your garden.

June 30th - Companion Planting. Learn what plants grow well together, and which to keep apart.

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Edible Landscaping Class this Saturday

Monument Cafe Herb Garden
This Saturday, May 26th at 10:30am we'll be looking at growing edible plants as a part of your landscaping. Many edible plants are just a beautiful as common landscaping plants, and much more delicious! Break out of that raised bed and join us in rethinking landscape design with your taste buds in mind.

All Monument Market gardening classes are free and open to the public. Join us!

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Georgtown Grand Bike Race This Weekend - Please Note Road Closures

http://news.georgetown.org/files/2012/01/Grant-crit-map-1-17-12.gif
The Georgetown Grand is this weekend. The bike races will be going right past the Monument on Austin Ave between 5th & 6th streets, so please note the road closures and give your self extra time if you are coming to garden class, shopping in the Market, or dining in the Cafe or Biergarten.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Organic Pest Control Class 5/19

Good Bugs - Ladybug larva on a dill plant in the Monument Garden

Come out to the Market this Saturday at 10:30am for a free class about managing pests in your garden using organic methods. E-mail me at michelle@themonumentcafe.com if you have specific pest problems you would like to have addressed in the class.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Aquaponics Class 4/12

This Saturday's Garden Class is one not to miss. Arturo from Aqauponic Austin and the Texas Aquaponic and Transfarming Meetup Group will be our guest speaker for an Introduction to Aquaponics class. Aquaponics combines the techniques of aquaculture - raising aquatic animals such as fish & snails, and hydroponics - raising vegetables & herbs in nutrient enriched water. This system uses the waste from the fish to feed the veggies in an extremely energy, water, and input efficient loop. Arturo will give us an overview on how the system works and how you can build one in your backyard!

Join us at 10:30 in the Market this Saturday, May 12th for this exciting free class!


Peaches!!!!

We just received the first of this years peaches from Lynn Huck in Liberty Hill!

A member of the rose family, the peach originated in China as far back as 1000 B.C. where it is prized as a symbol of longevity, immortality and unity. Chinese brides often carry blossoms from this "tree of life".

From there, the love of peaches traveled west to Persia and on to Europe, where they were known by the Romans as Persian Apples. European settlers brought peaches to the US, but it was the Native Americans who spread them across the continent.

Peaches are lovely fresh, in desserts, salads or even with savory meat dishes. The following recipe was adapted from inmamaskitchen.com.

Pork Chops with Peaches

  • 2 pork chops, lightly dredged in
  • 1 tablespoon flour seasoned with salt & pepper and a pinch of dried rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon shallots, finely chopped
  • 2 medium sized ripe peaches, peeled and sliced in half inch wedges
  • 1/2 cup of dry white wine
  • 1 teaspoon unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary leaves, chopped fine
  • Dash cayenne pepper (optional)
  • Salt & pepper to taste

 METHOD

Coat pork chops with seasoned flour. Heat oil in a skillet till barely smoking and cook pork chops to desired doneness.
Remove pork chops to a plate and keep warm.
Add shallots and peach slices to hot oil and cook 1 minute, turning once till slightly browned and barely tender.
Take care not to overcook peaches. They should remain firm, with slightly soft edges. Remove peaches and keep warm.
Deglaze pan with wine, and boil down till reduced by half. 
Swirl in butter, rosemary and cayenne if using. 
Return peaches to glaze, gently tossing just long enough to coat with glaze. Do not let the peaches overcook!
Season with salt and pepper to taste.Spoon peaches and glaze over pork chops and serve.


 

Friday, May 4, 2012

May Garden Classes


We've got a great line up of garden classes for you this month. I am especially excited about out guest speaker, Arturo from Austin Aquaponic and the Texas Aquaponic and Trasfarming Meetup Group. He'll be giving us an introduction to an innovative, efficient way to grow food called aquaponics, a mash up of aquaculture (raising fish) and hydroponics (growing food in nutrient rich water). Essentially, the fish water feeds the plants and the plants clean the water for the fish, creating an almost closed loop system that is highly energy efficient as well as water efficient. I am so excited to learn more and to find out how I can have a system like this in my backyard. 


Here is the complete list of classes for May. All classes are at 10:30 in the Market, last about an hour, and are free.

May 5th: May in the Garden: A to do list of this month's garden tasks

May 12th: Guest Speaker Garden Workshop: Aquaponics with Arturo from Aquaponic Austin!

May 19th: Organic Pest Control for the Home Garden

May 26th: Edible Landscaping


I hope you can join us!

Friday, April 27, 2012

Growing Cucurbits Class Saturday 4/28

Did you know that the inside temperature of a cucumber can be as much as 20 degrees cooler than the outside air? What better plant for a Texas garden than a cool cucumber! Not to mention the juicy sweetness of a homegrown melon or the prolific nature of a summer squash plant. All these heat loving vines are in the Cucurbit family and will be our subject of study at this week's garden class. Saturday at 10:30am we'll go over soil prep, varieties that do well in Central Texas, planting, pest control, and harvest.

Please be aware that the Red Poppy Fest is this weekend. See our website at themonumentmarket.com for parking and detour info.

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Preparing the Soil for a New Garden

We are going back to basics this week at the Monument Garden Class where we'll be going over a variety of methods to start a new garden. We'll discuss site selection, different ways to break ground, and the all important soil preparation. This is the perfect class for those of you who have been thinking about starting a garden, but haven't know where to begin!


Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Raised Beds and Irrigation Systems for the Home Garden

David Alves from Vegetables in a Box will be joining us in the Market this Saturday for this month's Guest Speaker Garden Workshop. He'll guide us through basics of building a raised bed garden box and talk about some options you have for irrigating your garden, focusing mostly on drip irrigation. Class starts at 10:30am on Saturday and is free! See you there!



Wednesday, April 4, 2012

April Garden Classes

The warm days are back and gardens are flourishing in the longer days and frequent showers. It has been a great spring for growing things so far. Let us hope that the rain stays with us this year!

This month's gardening classes have topics for both the novice and experienced green thumb. All classes are Saturdays at 10:30 in the Market and are free.

We'll start of the month on April 7th with our usual first Saturday "This Month in the Garden" class where we'll go over the to-do list for the month.  We'll talk about what you can plant from seed and from transplant as well as other timely garden tasks.

For our second Saturday Guest Speaker Workshop on April 14th, David Alves from "Vegetables in a Box" will be joining us to go over raised beds and irrigation systems for the home garden. The two raised beds on the north side of the Monument Garden are his work. Davis will be discussing the pros and cons of raised beds as well as the basics of drip irrigation. He'll show us a way to put liquid fertilizer, like compost tea or fish emulsion, directly into your irrigation system so that every time you water you are also feeding your plants.

On April 21st we'll go back to basics and talk about how to prepare your soil for a new garden.

On April 28th we'll get specific and talk about growing cucurbits which include cucumbers, squash & melons.

I hope to see you there!

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Monument Market & Cafe on TV!

This Monday evening, April 2nd, at 9pm the Monument Cafe & Market will be featured on "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" on the Food Network. Tune in to tour the kitchen, market & garden with Guy Fieri and special surprise guest!