July 2017 E-Newsletter
"I have only to break into the tightness of a strawberry, and I see summer – its dust and lowering skies."
?Toni Morrison, The Bluest Eye
Featured Instagram Photo of the Month: The Children’s Garden in Full Bloom
Upcoming Garden Events:
Jul. 8 - Saturday Workday - 9:00 AM - Noon
Jul. 15 – Board Meeting - 9:30 AM
Jul. 15 – Net Impact - 11:30 AM
Jul. 29 – Tomato Tasting
Jul. 30 - Sunday Workday - 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Useful info:
- Here are some general tips for gardening in July. July is a time of harvest. If you want to plant, try to do it on a cooler day and in the late afternoon, so your plants will have a better chance of recovering from the transplant shock before the next day’s heat. Due to the bagrada bug pest, which thrives in warm weather, we would recommend avoiding the linked article’s advice about planting cole crops like broccoli at the end of the month and wait until the cooler, fall weather has set.
- Hose Winding 101: Did you know how you wind a garden hose can greatly impact its lifespan? Sloppy hose winding not only annoys your neighbor who has to use the hose next but can also lead to kinks, bends and leaks. Help us extend the lives of our garden hoses by winding yours the right way. If you don’t know the correct way to wind a hose, you can read this handy article.
- We’ve seen some beautiful Dahlia flowers around the garden of late. Her are a few ideas of how to decorate with these beauties.
OVF Announcements:
Bylaws Update
The OVF Board of Directors has initiated some proposed changes to the existing Ocean View Farms Bylaws. The major objective of these changes is to update our bylaws for the 21st century. Primarily allowing the board greater use of email and also updating some of the monetary amounts listed in the bylaws, amounts that were originally established using standards from the 1990's, when the bylaws were originally drafted.
As required by the bylaws, these changes must be approved by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of a quorum of members present at a general or special meeting of the membership. An amendment must be brought to the floor, tabled, and then voted upon at the next general or special meeting of members. The motion was brought to the membership during the General Meeting on June 10, 2017 and then tabled, as required. A vote to approve these changes will occur at the next General Meeting on August 12, 2017.
Read a summary of all the proposed changes.
View a complete DRAFT of the PROPOSED Bylaws
View the current bylaws
Tomato Blight
The damp weather means that we’ve been seeing lots of Tomato Blight as predicted. PLEASE make sure not to throw blight covered leaves in the compost pile. Anything that has been exposed to blight needs to go in the dumpster to help prevent spreading blight to even more plants in the garden.
Net Impact // Growing a Better Food System
Join us on Saturday, July 15th at 11:30 for a special panel hosted by Net Impact. Net Impact's Los Angeles chapter is organizing a conversation about our food system; how to make it more accessible, higher quality and with reduced waste. Speakers will include both OVF members and local food system experts. Catering for the event will be provided by Todo Verde.
Fermentation Workshop
Big thanks to Amanda Goodpaster (B21) for facilitating last month's Fermentation Workshop. OVF members were treated more than a dozen tastes of fermented OVF vegetables, and walked away with the knowledge they need to get their own batches started at home. Shout out to the excellent poster design for this event from Shawn Vezinaw (D61).
Don't Waste Water
Just a reminder not to leave hoses unattend in your plot. It's too easy to end up overwatering and causing a flood. Summer is the time when the garden's water bill is the highest. Help us conserve by keeping a close eye on your watering at all times.
Tomato Tasting
OVF's annual tomato tasting is back for its 10th year on July 29th. Tasting and voting will be from noon-1PM. Keep your eyes out for an email with more details in the near future.
Help Wanted
Helped need with hose repair and the plumbing crew – contact Ed Mosman. Tomato Tasting Volunteers needed - contact Andy Morris.
As always: we want to hear from you! Send us an email, reach out on Facebook, or tag us on Instagram @oceanviewfarms.
That’s all for now. Happy gardening!