Meeting on August 27 and UPDATE!

Peggy, Timothy, and Ann wrestle the fast-growing pumpkin vines

We at the Pine Valley Community Gardens are reluctantly bidding our dear friend Miss Peggy adieu as she moves across the country in early September. Peggy has been the get-up-and-go-girl of this organization, keeping everyone on task and organized. She will be greatly missed.

We'll be saying our goodbyes and celebrating her achievements at our monthly meeting this Saturday, August 27 at 9:30 (please note time change!) in the Community Room of the Pine Valley Library. So come bid our Peggy a fond farewell and give her the hugs she so richly deserves!!

Many thanks also go to Peggy's generous landlady, Kathy, who allowed the Community Garden on her property in the first place. Although Peggy and Kathy are both moving to warm Southern climes, the new owner is thrilled about our little garden and pledges to allow us to soldier ever onward, growing community spirit as well as delectable organic veggies!

The co-directors of the PVCG are now Judith Dupree and Ann Larkin, the latter of whom has kindly stepped in to assist with finances and organization; plus, she has a strong back and much gardening know-how. Although we'll greatly miss Peggy, we're happy that we have such a capable gardener and organizer in Ann to step into some pretty hard-to-fill shoes (muddy though they may be from much gardening!).

We also extend our love and gratitude to the lovely Karen Butchko, who because of family matters, is stepping aside as Treasurer; Ann Larkin will take over the finances of this little organization, with our thanks.

As Judith writes about our upcoming meeting:

This will be an unusual and nostalgic gathering, and we hope those of you who have been in any way involved, if only at the very first, will join us to send our dear Peggy off to FLORIDA! Yes! Kathy has, hopefully, sold the property (it's in escrow), and they (or P. at least) will leave the first of October. Peggy has turned over all PVCG files and duties to Ann Larkin and me, and we will carry on with great hope. Among other tasks, Ann will handle finances, thank God! She is skilled at this, and you may be sure of our standing with Chase et al. I will address other essential duties. Prepare to hear from me whenever a new 'mater ripens. (Nah, just kidding!) BTW, our young Timothy has been irreplaceable, and will fill in gaps in various ways. What an enormous work it was, the first year +. Now it is at a stage when we are thrilled to see the "fruit" of our labor, enjoying beautiful ripe veggies almost daily.

All this to assure you of the continuity -- and now I want to encourage you again: Join us Saturday for a little tribute and fellowship in honor of Peggy and Kathy and their invaluable, ongoing, and considerable efforts to make this project viable!

Come and find out where our gals are going. Toast them with a cuppa fine java or home-squeezed lemonade . . . and munch a hunkin' cookie. We want every one of you to join in simply to rejoice together over two special people who made this special garden come alive. See you Saturday!

Think dirt!
Judith

So please do come and join us in saying farewell to Peggy and Kathy this Saturday, August 27 at 9:30 (not 9:00 as usual!)

And keep gathering in the harvest with us!!

A Successful Sale at Pine Valley Days

Peggy chats with a Pine Valley resident about the PVCG

Despite the hot, muggy weather this year at Pine Valley Days 2011, the friends of Pine Valley Community Gardens gathered an impressive selection of edible and growable items for sale. All proceeds go to benefit the garden and continuing education programs for local school children.

Freshly picked organic greens and various plants grown in organic soil were also available, in addition to a bevy of delectable baked goods!

With edibles ranging from chocolate chip and cranberry oatmeal cookies to morning glory muffins and fruited oatmeal cookies to carrot cake "ice cream cones" and pecan pralines, plus freshly picked organic greens, Peggy, Karen and her grandkids, Judith and her family, another Karen and her grandkids, and Susanne and her four kids, did brisk business all day long.

Also for sale were heirloom bean seeds, dried Italian herbs, and various gallon and three-gallon plants: butternut squash, green pumpkins, various heirloom tomatoes, sage, basil, and rosemary all sold very well.

By selling baked goods and organic plants, the PVCG brought in $225!

Over the course of the day, which was cut short by a violent thundershower with driving, drenching rain, PVCG brought in $225!! We thank all who baked goods to sell and provided greens and plants. These funds will help continue our gardening efforts and allow us to continue to educate our community about the benefits of gardening together!

And the PVCG offers many thanks to Renee's Garden who donated many of the seeds that made this year's Community Garden and sale at Pine Valley Days possible!!

Also take a peek at our new photo album above, with photos from this past month: Garden Photo Album 2011.

Come grow community spirit as well as fresh organic vegetables by joining Pine Valley Community Gardens! Come to our next meeting (August 27--see post below this one) or contact one of the e-mail addresses in the sidebar of this site.

Happy Growing, Everyone!!