Events: Upcoming Events, Workshops, Classes & Volunteer Opps

I love that there are so many workshops, community events and seminars happening around Boston. Many events are free, so tune in to your town or even search boston.com. I tried to put together a list of a few that I found. I will definitely will not be able to catch all events, but will try to keep this list as comprehensive as possible!

• BNAN Seed, Sow & Grow Program Series (events now through October), free
  
• Every Saturday (April-October) - 11am-3pm: Lessons at the FVG Teaching Gardens, free
  
• NEW - May 14, 2011 - 12-6pm: Bikeride and screening of "Greenhorns;" Somerville; bikeride-free, movie screening $5
  
• May 14-15, 2011: The Gardener's Weekend; An overnight gardening experience at the MIT Endicott House; $199 per person.
  
• May 22, 2011 - 9am-noon: FVG Community Participation Day, volunteer opportunity
• May 22, 2011 - 9am-4pm: 27th Annual MA Horticultural Society Plant Sale & Tomatomania
• June 25, 3011 - 9am-noon: FVG Community Participation Day, volunteer opportunity
• June 28, 2011 - 9am: Help the Somerville Growing Center; volunteer opportunity
• June 1, 2011 - 6:30pm: Nibbling on Natives in Your Backyard and Beyond, Cambridge Public Library; Free.
• September 10, 2011: FVG Fensfest, Boston, free
  
• September 24, 2011 - 9am-noon: FVG Community Participation Day, volunteer opportunity
• October 23, 2011 - 9am-noon: FVG Community Participation Day, volunteer opportunity

Sprouting peas

Sugar Snap Peas are sprouting!

So far about 14/18 seeds planted have broken through the soil. Planted on 4/3, they took exactly two weeks to sprout.

On Sunday I planted the following:
Lettuce - Boston (plants)
Lettuce - Salad Bowl (plants)
Onion - Red (plants) - total experiment; I am not really sure what to do with them
Marigold - Crackerjack (seed) - seeds were free, but I worry that this variety will be too big
Carrot - Short n' Sweet (seed) - half of one square
Carrot - Little Finger (seed) - half of one square
Strawberry - June-bearing (plant) - I couldn't resist increasing my changes for strawberries this year

Earlier in the week I planted a thyme and rosemary bush. I already experienced the convenience of having the herbs outside my door. While grilling Sunday night I was able to add some fresh thyme to my basket of onions, potatoes and peppers. Yum!

Here are some updated box shots - now that there something growing in each one.

Box 1
(Currently growing: marigold, thyme, rosemary)

Box 2
(Currently growing: marigold, sugar snap pea, strawberry, lettuce, carrot)

Box 3
(Currently growing: marigold, lavender, red onion)

Hello Neighbor!

My backyard is now home to two gardeners! A friend has joined me with her 3'x6' SFG bed. It will be great to have the company, with even more things growing.

Once everything has been planted & starts growing, I hope that sitting at the bistro table will become an even better urban sanctuary - 'hidden' from the hustle and bustle of the neighborhood.

First seeds in the ground

My Super Sugar Snap Pea (Burpee) seeds have been planted. While I try to locate my stone marker, I decided to use one of those cute markers, which also accurately describes their progress. Last year, my first pea harvest was in the first week of June - so I expect peas in about two months!

Plant Markers

A simple google image search for "plant markers" will bring up practically an infinite number of store bought, home-made, wood, metal, simple, extravagant, cheap, or expensive ideas to choose from. It doesn't matter what you decide to use, as long as you are keeping track of what you plant where!

Here are some cute "un-traditional" markers that a friend found:

I am going to continue using the stone markers that I have made for any veggie that I continue to plant, but also anticipate using a combination of other markers - some I have been given, some that I may make, or some that I may buy.

I like this simple, natural twig marker idea from Martha Stewart.

No Joke

It was not fun waking up to this garden scene.

Fortunately, I do not have much to be worried about, but I rescued the pansies just in case. I am still not sure if the strawberry & lavender plants survived the winter; hopefully this storm won't kill them. It is supposed to "warm up" this weekend, so I plan to get my peas in the ground.