A Year in the Life of One Organic Gardener
Today Tracy Flowers took us on a journey in a year in her life as an organic gardener. She shared inspiration, tips, innovation, success as well as a few learning experiences along the way. We at Gardeners Connect are ready to get out into the garden and get started.
You can reach Tracy Flowers at kctracyflowers@gmail.com. She is a Gardeners Connect business member and does horticulture consulting with non-profits growing organically for both food and beauty.
We thought we would share a few highlights of the program as well as the links she shared for more information or places you might be interested in volunteering with.
Insect netting properly secured can exclude unwanted insect pests from your crops without the addition of any pesticides. Make sure that it is securely fastened to the ground with landscape staples, boards or even rocks. Photo by Tracy Flowers
Lasagna mulching where a layer of heavy paper or cardboard is put down under the mulch, making sure to overlap the edges to exclude both perennial and germinating weed seeds in your soil. Make sure to remove any plastic box tape or labels as these will not decompose before putting it down. Also, steer clear of any boxing which has a shiny plastic coating on it. If in doubt test with a spot of water. If it soaks in within a few seconds then it is fine to use. Photo by Tracy Flowers
A fruit tree with leaves skeletonized by Japanese beetles. At this point the best option is to add some soapy water to a plastic container with a wide mouth and a lid. Then you can hold the container under the offending beetles and touch them with your finger or a stick. The beetle will drop from its perch and take a swim in your pool. It can take a bit of practice but everyone you catch is one less to reproduce. Photo by Tracy Flowers
Fruit tree with leaves previously skeletonized by Japanese beetles newly leafed out and showing little sign of previous damage. Most Japanese beetle damage is merely cosmetic and health plants usually recover. Photo by Tracy Flowers
Volunteer
North Kansas City YMCA garden and food pantry - email Tracy Flowers at tracyflowers@kansascityymca.org
Splitlog Farm - email volunteer coordinator LaCherish Thompson at lthompson@chwckck.org
Kansas City East High School - email Tracy Flowers at kctracyflowers@gmail.com
Kansas City Parks Ambassadors - email Kelly Jander at kelly.jander@kcmo.org
Sustainable and Organic Growing Resources
Cultivate KC - https://www.cultivatekc.org/get-involved/volunteer/
KC Farm School at Gibbs Road - https://www.kcfarmschool.org/volunteer-with-us
JOCO Center for Sustainability - https://www.jccc.edu/about/sustainability/sustainability-staff.html
Kansas Permaculture Institute- https://www.kansaspermaculture.org
Mark Manning KCK Organic Teaching Gardens - https://www.facebook.com/KCKOrganicTeachingGardens
Kansas City Community Garden - https://kccg.org