The St. Francis Sustainable Garden Project supports the hungry, at-risk children and their families in our area. We use a garden plot in front of the St. Francis rectory where we grow and harvest herbs, vegetables and flowers. In past years each harvest has produced over 180 lbs. of produce- all delivered to the pantry at Foundations Preschool of Ann Arbor, - child care center for at-risk, low-income families.

The St. Francis Grounds & Botanical Gardens: Several gardens surround the St Francis of Assisi campus of buildings, including, but not limited to, the church, school, rectory and/or parish offices. These gardens need to be a beautiful expression of hospitality, in particular, the entrances, to our fellow parishioners and visitors as well as reflect a statement of our appreciation for God's creation and nature.

Questions? Contact: Scott Wright (734-821-2121)

Garden Donors Thank You Notes

We Thank Our Donors:

Turner's Landscaping, Ann Arbor (734) 662-8058

and

Downtown Home & Garden, Ann Arbor  (734) 662-8122


And, we especially thank:

Foundations Preschool, 3770 Packard Road • Ann Arbor
• Phone: (734) 677-8130
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Garden report for Friday

Hi Everyone

Yesterday (Thursday), we planted bush beans in Matthew where the asparagus used to be.
Also, we put some straw in Mark around the squash, but maybe more should be added so that the layer is thicker.
The carrots, onions and beets in Paul were weeded and the beets were thinned out.
We also put twine up to support the cucumber plants as they grow.

Today we harvested 14 oz of kale and 7 oz of peas.

Luke should be weeded more thoroughly among the peas. (currently, under that half of the bean structure, weed anything that doesn't look like a pea plant.)

Thursday Patrick removed three rogue potato plants that were growing in the peas, sneaky, sneaky.

Patrick & Rose

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Harvest information

Harvest information from Sherry family:

Hi Erich,
We saw that the peas looked like they were ready to harvest. These look like the flatter peas and won't bulk out like some sugar snap peas.  We picked the larger ones. Let me know if you think differently. 

There were also two cherry tomatoes (one was split) we harvested those and I let John have them because delivering two seemed lame. 

The kale is looking great!! we started harvesting it this Friday. (I cut them using garden scissors rather than breaking them off) According to Patrick we don't want the leaves too big or they may start turning bitter. I just cut the bigger "first leaves" like I do with the spinach.

In order to keep the kale from wilting at Foundations I dropped off a used coffee can (Folgers plastic) with St. Francis Sustainable Garden written on it. There is another in the bench.

Here's what we did:  I split the kale into bunches there were about 7-8 oz.  I basically visually split the harvest and then weight each bunch to assure evenness.  I then used some twist ties (we could string or rubber bands as well) to secure the bunches. 

I then delivered then in the Folger's container see picture below:  When at Foundations I filled the container with water (they showed me where I could fill it with water there. 

While there, I met Cheryl and the gal (Mary?) who comes to the Christmas Party and let them know that we would leave the kale in these containers in water and that the kale was in bunches so that folks could take them that way.  Then the containers are to remain at Foundations for this purpose. They said that they could/wound be stored in the cabinet below where we leave the produce.  I also left a couple of recipes for kale and (Mary?) said that someone there has a great kale salad recipe.  If this works we may be able to plant more kale in the future.  They both mentioned how they have heard how healthy it is.  They thanked us for what we all do.  




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St Francis Sustainable Garden: Register for Upcoming Events

Dear All,
 
Many thanks to John Schommer, Barbara Campbell, Teresa Casey, Erich and Ann Marie Jensen (see photo) for clearing out the short lived day lilies and flopsy Shasta daisies around 3/4 of the perimeter of the main sustainable garden on Tuesday night (see photo).  These beds await top soil replenishment next and then subsequent planting of natives.  Top soil and mulch was delivered today, Monday May 4 by the custodial staff at St Francis.
 
Another thank you to John Schommer who removed the remaining lilies on the perimeter tonight, May 4, and weeded part of unnamed (What do you think about "Mary"?)bed (for native plants), too. 
 
Big thanks to Tracy Nagy for picking up compost on Saturday, May 2 and the Sherry Family for placing it in the Paul bed.  It was a beautiful day to further prepare this garden bed (for tomatoes and more).  .
 
PLEASE HELP:
 
We still need volunteers for the seed/plant sale on May 10, in particular, for the 11:30-12:30 time slot (immediately following the 10:30 Mass).  Erich or Rose will be there for your support and provide information to you on "how to's". 
 
P.S.  Turner's is donating several flats of plants again for this sale. 
 
Thank you,
Erich Jensen

 
            
           

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St Francis Sustainable Garden: Register for Upcoming Events

Many thanks to Julie Lavender, Frank Fazekas, Rose, Patrick and John Sherry, Erich and Ann Marie Jensen, Katy Derezinski, Susan Bass, and Janice Lacombe for Spring Cleanup on Saturday Apr 25 (see photo here).
 
Future events:
  1. May 10 (Seed and Plant Sale):  1 hour slots for Setup, Sale Table, and Tear Down opportunities
  2. May 16 (Planting): 1-3 hours to Plant Vegetables
  3. Starting week of June 6 through mid Sep (Garden Maintenance): 1 hour per week to Water/Weed/Mulch/Other
  4. Other events will be posted, as needed.
 
To register/volunteer for these events (and several of you already have), please click on Sign-Up Genius link:  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050f4baeaf29ab9-garden1 
 
or contact me or Rose by email or phone (see below).

Check out our webpage and blog (at bottom of page), too: 
 
 
Thank you, 
Erich Jensen 734.771.8511
Rose Sherry 734.657.0197  family@rosendon.com

 
            
           

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Seed and Plant Sale May 10

St Francis Sustainable Garden Ministry:  May 10 Seed and Plant Sale
 
This ministry (1) grows and harvest vegetables  and (2) plants and maintains Michigan natives
 
Do You Like or Want To Garden?
Please consider purchase of seeds and plants for your vegetable and/or native plant gardens or Mother's Day gifts before, during and after the 8:30 and 10:30 masses in front of the PAC.
 
To volunteer for the sale and other garden activities, sign-up at stfrancisa2.com/sign-up-forms or
contact Rose Sherry 734.657.0197 or Erich Jensen 734.771.8511 for details.

 

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Sustainable Garden Saturday, April 25 meet and greet

Do You Like or Want To Garden?

 St Francis Sustainable Garden Ministry seeks additional volunteers this season.
Please join us at 10 am on Saturday, April 25 for meet and greet and spring garden clean up at the garden just on the northside of the rectory (please bring a shovel and/or trowel).   Additional volunteers will help to:

(1) Grow and Harvest Vegetables
(2) Plant and Maintain Michigan Natives
(3) Setup and Sales for the annual seedling/plant sale on May 10
         before, during and after the 8:30 and 10:30 masses only.
         The sale is positioned in front of the PAC.

Contact Rose Sherry 734.657.0197 or Erich Jensen 734.771.8511 for details.
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