EECO Farm – JULY 2026 Newsletter for Gardeners

"We go in withering July

To ply the hard incessant hoe;

Panting beneath the brazen sky

We sweat and grumble, but we go."


       The Diehards - Ruth Pitter (1897 – 1992)

         Share the Harvest will hold its annual benefit on Sunday, August 2^nd

 In case you were wondering why you see so many of our local farmers and plant nurseries shooting out water from those huge water cannons or rain gun sprinklers it is because both Nassau and Suffolk counties have been placed on a “drought warning” by the NYS Bureau of Water Management, acting under the auspices of the Department of Environmental Protection. 

A drought "warning" is the second of four levels of state drought advisories that can be declared ("watch," "warning," "emergency" and "disaster"). Although there are no current statewide mandatory water use restrictions in place, all Long Island residents are strongly encouraged to voluntarily conserve water. Last month we had less than a half-inch of rain at EECO Farm --- when 3.5 inches of rainfall in June is normal.

While EECO Farm does have its own deep water well, we draw from the same Upper Glacial aquifer as everyone else and the Suffolk County Water Authority has already issued a cautionary but voluntary (not yet mandatory) warning about wasting water. Please bear that request in mind both here at EECO Farm and at your own home.

       What this moderate, but still worrisome, drought really means is that you will need to water your garden at EECO Farm at least once a week for a full 45 minutes (in total) in order to produce about an inch of water covering your entire 20’ by 20’ patch.  Most gardeners do at least that much watering, but usually in two or three 20-minute sessions.

Remember: The more robust plantings that you have now growing in your garden will need the deepest and longest watering! 

It is also wise to avoid “top watering” your EECO garden patch (only wetting the first 2 inches or so of your garden’s dirt).  This is because the weather conditions of sun and wind will combine together and harden the top layer of soil at EECO making it so compact that water just runs off. Therefore, you really should aerate your soil before (or while) watering. Use a hand trowel or a broad-blade garden knife to punch holes 4 to 6 inches deep about a foot away from your plant’s base. Pour water heavily into that hole!

If you are planning a vacation, remember that, with no shade to speak of, it can get super-hot at EECO Farm really quick. It’s smart to arrange for a surrogate waterer. Heat waves or a local severe drought --- even a short one --- can literally be killers. 

EECO Farm does not give out specific “helper recommendations” for watering your patch simply because we cannot be held accountable for poor quality of service. However, if you inform us by email that you need this watering service on your EECO garden, we may be able to hook you up with a better arrangement in exchange for a donation. Please give us a decent amount of lead time in order to set it all up. 

Summer is now in fully swing at EECO Farm so as your tomatoes, eggplants and peppers start to set fruit you may want to give them one more small shot of a light, balanced fertilizer (5-10-5) now and, of course, make sure it is certified organic and OMRI approved.

NOTE: The use of any non-organic products on EECO Farm is a big no-no! You will be warned --- once. 
If you are a repeat offender, your garden will not be renewed next year. 

For your bigger vine fruit (acorn or butternut squash, pumpkins, watermelon, cantaloupe, etc.) pick off all but one or two flowers from each plant, then gently fertilize organically once a week. You will get less final product but it will be bigger and healthier.

If you want larger blooms on stalk flowers (dahlias, sunflower, gladiola, etc.) remove any side shoots or so-called “suckers” from the main stem.  Cutting off the main stem’s side shoots also works well with tomatoes and cucumbers. 

Divide your iris or spent day lily now. Harvest your green beans and peas daily: the more you pick the more the plant will produce. Cut off one-third to a half of your lettuce for your salad. Not to worry --- it will grow back enough for a second or third picking.

        In the empty space left behind in your garden by the removal of your mature garlic or lettuce heads you can once again directly sow seeds for cabbage, spinach, more lettuce, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, radishes and the like for a later fall crop. Use greenhouse transplants if you want to harvest by mid-to-late August.

NOTE: EECO FARM’S WANING CRESENT MOON

POT LUCK DINNER IS ON AUGUST 8TH!

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       This year’s WCMPLD event will be held on August 8^th at 6 pm so mark your calendars and --- yes --- you may come earlier if you wish to help out! Also, remember, you are allowed to attend the WCMPLD without bringing any food or drink, however, we do ask that you make a monetary donation in lieu of that effort to help defray the common costs.


FINAL NOTE: Kindly do not violate EECO garden rule number ten (#10) by attaching a timer and sprinkler to any water spigot! And, no, you may not add a splitter to any of the faucets.

All of our faucets are meant to serve up to 8 tenant gardens and any such device attached to a faucet will be immediately removed by the EECO Farm Board.         

         Happy Gardening!

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PLEASE DO NOT TAKE ANY FRUITS, FLOWERS OR VEGETABLES FROM ANY OTHER GARDEN WITHOUT EXPRESSED PERMISSION FROM THE ORIGINAL RENTER TO DO SO! 

HELPING YOURSELF TO ANOTHER TENANT’S GARDEN WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.

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         IF YOU HAVE BORROWED ANY OF EECO’S TOOLS AND TAKEN THEM HOME --- KINDLY RETURN THEM ASAP.

AND DON’T DO THAT AGAIN! Thanks.