October 2018 E-Newsletter
"Listen! the wind is rising, and the air is wild with leaves,
We have had our summer evenings, now for October eves!"
- Humbert Wolfe
Featured Instagram Photo of the Month: A Young Red-Tailed Hawk Flies over the Garden
Upcoming Garden Events:
Oct. 6 - Greenhouse Fundraiser - Noon - 1:00 PM
Oct. 13 - Saturday Workday - 9:00 AM – Noon
Oct. 13 - Potluck Lunch - Noon
Oct. 13 - General Meeting - 1:00 PM
Oct. 28 - Sunday Workday - 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Useful info:
- Finally, a break from the heat of July and August! Hopefully, you used the slightly cooler September days to get some work done around your plot as it’s time for some fall planting. We’ll have a greenhouse fundraiser on Oct. 6th. The greenhouse is stuffed full of brassicas and other fall and winter crops (see below for a full preview). Plant and transplant away while there’s still some sun in the sky. The days are getting shorter fast and everything in the garden starts to slow down this time of year. Here are some tips for things to grow in October.
- When was the last time you had a tetanus vaccine booster? Tetanus vaccines need a booster shot every five years. While getting a shot is never fun, it’s way better than getting tetanus. Tetanus is a serious bacterial disease that affects your nervous system, leading to painful muscle contractions, particularly of your jaw and neck muscles. Tetanus can interfere with your ability to breathe and can threaten your life (source: Mayo Clinic). Tetanus is caused by infections from dirty wounds such as dirt or manure. In other words, if you scrape yourself while working at the garden, you’re at risk for developing tetanus. If you do get a deep scrape at the garden and haven’t had a booster in five years, you can still see your doctor within 48 hours of sustaining the injury to get the booster shot.
- The West Basin Metropolitan Water District will be hosting a Water Harvest Festival Block Party on Saturday, October 20th, 2018 from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM. Free lunch and parking are provided. The event is always very busy, but fun.
- On that same day, the Santa Monica Seed Library will be hosting a workshop called “A Green Thumb in Small Spaces.” Sue Michiels of Renee’s Garden will be at the Fairview Branch Library at 2:00 PM to present.
OVF Announcements:
Plot Fee Increases for 2018
As many of you know, OVF is going through a five-year period were the DWP water rates are increasing on an annual basis. 2018 was the fourth of the five-year period. This means, OVF will once again be in the unenviable position of requiring an increase to plot fees in 2019. 2019 OVF plot fees will be $88.00, an increase of $12.00 over 2018. Associate fees will remain at $10.00 per associate, the same as they are now. OVF President Frank Harris has asked the board to explore alternatives to another plot fee increase next year to meet the demand of the final rate increase.
Greenhouse Fundraiser
This Saturday 10/6 from noon- 1:00 PM will mark our fall greenhouse fundraiser. There are some great things growing in the greenhouse right now. There are too many brassica plants to list, salad greens and peas, fava beans and herbs. Here are a few of the stranger plants up for sale that you may not have tried before.
The rat-tail radish is unique in that it is grown for it’s edible seedpods rather than its root. The seedpods are crunchy and similar in flavor to the radish root. You can throw them in a salad, sauté them or even pickle them!
Once kohlrabi are harvested, they look a bit like an alien vegetable or perhaps the Russian satellite Sputnik. The leaves are edible and quite tasty and can be cooked up like collard or any of the other brassica greens. However, most people grow them for their bulb. Once peeled, the inside of the kohlrabi is crisp and slightly sweet with a hint of spice. It’s a bit like a cross between a mild apple and a radish. Raw kohlrabi is great for snacking or throwing in a salad for a bit of crunch. Kohlrabi can also be cooked up in any number of ways.
Graffiti cauliflower is a one of the most beautiful winter crops. It has the deepest shade of purple that retains some color even when cooked. All types of cauliflower are good for you but purple cauliflower has extra anthocyanins, which may help regulate blood lipid and sugar levels and body weight, as well as help to lower your cancer risk. Prepare graffiti cauliflower like you would prepare any other cauliflower but it looks especially lovely cut into florets for a mixed vegetable crudité.
Water Wise Gardening
Save the date! Charming Evelyn of the Sierra Club’s LA Chapter will be at OVF on Saturday, November 3rd from 10:00 AM-11:30 AM to discuss water efficient gardening. This event will be free and open to the public.
Contribute to the E-News
Please contact us if you'd like to write an article for next month's e-newsletter. We're looking for instructional articles, gardener profiles, recipes or any other topics that might be of interest to the OVF Community. Time spent crafting an article counts towards your community service hours.
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!