April 2023

What was the "Community Harvest Garden Newsletter" is now the "Creation Care News". Why the change? Because we want to share not only the exciting work being done in our community garden, but other ways in which we are caring for the world around us. YOU are invited to join us! Keep reading to learn what's happening around the property at Christ the King Lutheran Church in the coming weeks and how you can get involved.

Community Harvest Garden

There is always something to do in the Shared Harvest Bed! This is where together we grow produce for local food pantries. From pulling weeds, to moving mulch for walkways, and planting cool weather veggies - there's a place for you to get involved this month regardless of your age or experience. We look forward to warmer weather and watching the young plants grow. (See below for the April Volunteer Days.)

We are excited to welcome 16 guest gardeners to the Community Harvest Garden this year. They are all eager to start working in their own garden space. The finishing touches are being placed on several newly created adopted beds, and everyone will soon be able to start planting for the coming growing season.

An enthusiastic group gathered in mid March to sow seeds for the Shared Harvest bed and their own adopted beds. These seeds are sprouting in a green house and will be transplanted to beds in early May, once the danger of frost has past.

Forest Restoration

We are transforming Christ the King's 2-acre forest from a honeysuckle covered mess to a healthy, diverse forest with native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers. You're invited to join the group which gathers regularly on Wednesdays from 1-3 pm to remove invasive honeysuckle. Bring sturdy work boots/shoes and gloves. If you have your own pruners, bring them, too.

Tree Planting Days

Saturday, April 29 @ 10:00 am

Sunday, May 7 @ 1:00 pm

In the spirit of Arbor Day, we will be planting new trees and shrubs in the forest. Come join us to get a great forest-endorphin “fix!” Learn more and RSVP for the Tree Planting Days at the link below.

Prairie Garden

The tall grasses of our prairie provide an important shelter during the winter for small mammals, and the seed heads of the flowers are a critical source of food for the birds. As we transition to spring the grasses are cut down for use as straw elsewhere on the property, and the flower stalks are cut to 2 feet high, where the hollow stems are the perfect home for our emerging solitary queen bees. In all times of the year, the prairie is an important resource for wildlife and an asset to the church property. Learn more about the biodiversity at Christ the King by following observations on iNaturalist.org. We encourage your participation in this citizen science project.

Food Forest

This spring we are enjoying watching our young plants emerge from their winter sleep in our Native Food Forest. In spite of the many challenges faced in last year’s growing season including a wet spring, late freezes, prolonged drought, and hungry forest critters, we are happy to report that we are seeing very few losses. Ohio’s native plants are tough! We look forward to watching the plants grow and spread this year, and we invite you to walk through and learn with us about growing edible perennials and their companion plants.

April Volunteer Days

If you would like to get outside, have fun in the dirt, and build friendships (weather permitting), come to any of the following volunteer days. All ages and abilities are welcome and no experience is needed. Invite your friends to join you!

Contact us for more information.

Food Forest

Tuesdays @ 1:00-3:00 pm

Expanding mulched areas

Community Harvest Garden

Saturdays, April 8 & 22 @ 8:00 - 11:00 am

Wednesdays, April 12 & 26 @ 8:00 - 11:00 am

Prepping garden beds, moving wood mulch for walkways, and sowing cool-weather crops

Forest Restoration

Wednesdays @ 10:30 am - 12:00 pm

Removing invasive honeysuckle

Ramona's Vegetable Garden Tips

April showers seem to have started in March this year! 

• Now is a good time to top-dress your garden with an inch or two of compost after weeding and raking it, if you did not at the end of fall last year. Your vegetables will thank you with improved health and production.
• Cool weather vegetables can be sown directly. Peas, leaf lettuces, radishes, onions, carrots and kale will give you an early harvest which can then be followed up with your heat loving summer vegetables. Now is also the time to plant live plants like cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprouts and cauliflower. Garden centers as well as big box stores will have them in stock any day now.
• Once seedlings are a few inches tall, mulch the garden with clean straw to greatly reduce weeds in your garden. Apply a 3 to 4 inch layer over the entire growing area, You will be pleasantly surprised how well it works. 
• If past years are any indication, you will need to be ready to water your garden if there is less than one inch of rainfall each week. Try not to walk in amongst your vegetable plants. Soil compaction is terrible for the plants and the soil. Having designated pathways is always best. Mulch pathways with straw, wood chips or shredded mulch. Healthy soil makes for healthier plants.

Gardening is very healthy for us in so many ways, including exercise and healthy vegetables that you grow and harvest yourself. Get out there and enjoy gardening!