I happened uponn this monarch butterfly feeding. Its too early for the 2021 migration, so this is likely a straggler from 2020. Stay tunned for more about catching, tagging, and raising Monarchs in late July thru October.
Can you take a weekly shift, such as every Thursday night in July, to check on the garden? It takes only 10 minutes, (x 4 weeks) but is crucial for community garden success!
What Do I Need to Do?
We need your eyes on the garden! If you sign up for a morning shift, you will check the soil in the raised beds to make sure it is damp and the irrigation system is working; then use the sprayer to water the containers that are not connected to the irrigation drip hoses. You will look over the general area and report signs of trouble: yellowing diseased-looking plants or new rodent burrows (these look like freshly dug piles of dirt)
On the evening shift, you will check to see that things are copacetic, then spritz the cedar chips on the ground (the smell of cedar keep rats away — they navigate by scent, so if they cannot smell, they can’t find the garden). In either case, if you encounter a problem, let the other volunteers know via group text. See more specific details here.
Why Must I Commit to a Weekly Shift?
For the sake of simplicity, it is best for volunteers to commit to a regular weekly shift for one month, such as Saturday mornings in July, and then ask for coverage if/when you can’t make it. Some 6-7 families communicate via group text and an electronic shared garden journal, and so far, it hasn’t been difficult to get another volunteer to cover a shift. (But it is up to you, the regular shift holder, to find your replacement.)
Believe it or not, the garden plants need to be checked twice a day. This helps us address problems (bug infestation, disease spread, rodents trying to establish a burrow in the beds) at the first sign of trouble. Volunteers don’t have to address the problems themselves, but they should report them to the group ASAP.
My Child Loves to Water, But We’re Too Busy to Sign Up!
We understand that not everyone can give time to work in the garden. We love for kids to water as much as they do! But over the years we have learned that a community garden only works when tasks are shared and committed volunteers can rely on each other to execute crucial tasks. If your child likes to water, try a shift! In both the morning and the evenings there are some light watering duties, and we can arrange for special opportunities if you volunteer for a specific weekly slot or support garden maintenance this season in some way.
What’s the Next Step?
Type your name, email address and cell phone number next to the shift(s) that you are interested in via this shared schedule. If there is already a name next to your preferred day and time, add your name/contact info in the next column.
We will contact you to add you to the group messaging app (group texts are reserved for urgent communications) and grant you access to the shared garden diary document via email. For more information, read more about the tasks, check out the shared garden journal entries or send a question to CVEarthlab@gmail.com. Thank you!
Don’t forget the best perk — sampling the product!
