In This Issue:

1. September in the Garden
2. Green Beacon Foundation Fall Garden Workshop
3. Gardenerd Tip of the Month: Bed Prep
4. Product of the Month: Fall Heirloom Seed Collection

1. September in the Garden

It's Back to School time, which may or may not be a time of celebration for you.  However, it's also Back to the Garden time, which is definitely cause for celebration as fall garden plans are implemented.  We've been re-conditioning the soil at the community garden (see below for more details on how to do that), and envisioning plump new salad greens in places where bare soil now sits.  Seeds keep arriving in the mail, like Christmas in September, and the potential for a brilliant fall garden is close at hand.     

In our test garden, the quinoa is starting to die back.  Cosmos and sunflowers are sprawling everywhere, and the tomatoes have given up the ghost.  Under grow-lights we have started seeds for broccoli, cabbage, kale, kohlrabi, spinach, lettuce, Brussels sprouts, and parsley.  We'll be direct seeding so much more - like chard, brown mustard seeds, leeks, green onions and all the root veggies.  If you need a quick list of what grows in fall, click here and get growin'! 

Happy Gardening,

Christy

2. Green Beacon Foundation Fall Garden Workshop

If you need help getting your fall garden going this year, Gardenerd has partnered with Green Beacon Foundation to prepare you for planting this season.  In this workshop you will learn how to plant seeds, find out what varieties grow best in fall, learn about heirloom crops, and get the confidence to grow your own food.  To learn more about Green Beacon, and to register for the class, visit the website:

Cool Crops for Fall Gardens

3. Gardenerd Tip of the Month: Bed Prep

Nutrient-rich organic soil is the foundation of a healthy garden. Each season we feed our soil to prepare it for the next season of planting.  As tempting as it is to simply start planting immediately after pulling out those tomatoes, it is essential to revitalize the soil between plantings.  Follow these quick tips to prep your garden beds for fall crops:

• Pull all dead crops (sometimes you have to pull them before they're really finished, but that's part of garden life).  Put diseased plants in your yard can rather than your compost bin.

• Spread 2-3 inches of compost over each bed.

• Spread a handful or two of organic vegetable fertilizer on top of the compost.

• With a shovel or hand trowel, turn the compost and fertilizer into the soil, loosening it to a depth of at least 6 inches. 

• Smooth it all out, and water it gently.

Now you're ready to plant!

4. Product of the Month: 2009 Fall Heirloom Seed Collection

The 2009 Fall Heirloom Seed Collection just arrived in the mail!   Now is your chance to get all your fall seeds in one money-saving collection.  We've put together 12 cool-season veggies from Seeds of Change that will bring your garden to life:  organic lettuces, broccoli, cauliflower, chard, kale, radishes, turnips and herbs.  You'll save 25% off individual seed packet prices.  Order your 2009 Fall Heirloom Seed Collection today.

2009 Fall Heirloom Seed Collection