February 2022 E-Newsletter
The shortest day has passed, and whatever nastiness of weather we may look forward to in January and February, at least we notice that the days are getting longer. Minute by minute they lengthen out. It takes some weeks before we become aware of the change. It is imperceptible even as the growth of a child, as you watch it day by day, until the moment comes when with a start of delighted surprise we realize that we can stay out of doors in a twilight lasting for another quarter of a precious hour. ~V. Sackville-West
Featured Instagram Photo of the Month: OVF at Sunset
First and foremost, Happy Lunar New Year! May this year bring you (and your plots) luck and prosperity. It’s time to start planning for spring! Now is a good time to start adding compost and manure to your soil. This is the best time to build up depleted soil in preparation for the heavy feeders of summer. Some gardeners amend their soil by digging in compost while other gardeners prefer to layer it on with the lasagna method. You can start summer seedlings indoors at the end of the month, though many gardeners will wait until later in March. It’s also not too late to put in a second crop of winter crops. The longer days mean that they will grow and produce much quicker than the plants sewn in the fall. A dry January and some warmer weather means that aphids are already out in force. Here are a few ways to organically slow their spread. Lastly, here are the February tips from Gardening in LA.
Upcoming Garden Events:
Feb. 6 - Christy Wilhelmi's Book Tour for "Garden Variety" - 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Feb. 12 - Saturday Workday - 9:00 AM - Noon
Feb. 12 - Lunch (Bring Your Own) - Noon
Feb. 12 - General Meeting - 1:00 PM
Feb. 27 - Sunday Workday - 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
OVF Announcements:
Garden Variety Book Launch Party
Join OVF member, author and Gardenerd found Christy Wilhelmi as she celebrates her debut novel Garden Variety on Sun, Feb. 6, 2022 at 1:30 PM. Excerpts from the book will be read in two segments in radio play fashion by actors! More details and event RSVP can be found here.
How to Handle Situations of Non-Garden Members in the Garden
As many have probably heard, there have been a number of recent incidents involving non-garden members or unhoused individuals trying to enter the garden, and some destruction or theft of property. If you witness such an incident, please keep in mind the following:
It’s well within a member’s right to ask if someone inside the garden is a member, maybe asking what plot they’re from. We just ask that this be done in a kind / non-accusatory way.
Vegetables and flowers are not worth getting hurt over. If someone in or around the garden is visibly upset, causing destruction, yelling, etc, please do not approach them. Maintain a safe distance, call 911 and notify your phase rep as soon as possible.
If you need a wall built, contact your phase rep
The infrastructure bill may have passed Congress, but that money doesn’t trickle down to OVF! So if you need a wall built around your plot and don’t want to tackle that work yourself, reach out to your phase rep who can direct you to one of the skilled (and affordable!) wall builders in our community. The process is super easy and can be completed in a matter of weeks.
A Poem
OVF Gardener Gholem Fatemi submitted this poem for your enjoyment. I thought it would be a nice way to end the newsletter:
The Gardener of the Mansion
The gardener
Enjoyed his work silently
Like when you
Drink a bowl of soup
Without slurping
But with internal
Pleasure.
And when he went
To his hut
By the gates
Of the big mansion
He ate his raw eggplant
With bread and cheese
And smoked his pipe
Moving his eyebrows
Up and down
As he puffed.
He grew yellow roses
By the big stream
For the big China vases
That sat
On the big mantle
In the big room.
And when he went
To his hut
By the big gates
He ate his raw eggplant
With bread and cheese.
He grew saffron
In patches
And women came
With China saucers
To harvest The stigma
Of the crocus
For the big kitchen
In the big house.
And the lady
Of the house
Cooked saffron rice pudding
For the new year
And sent it to relatives
In China bowls.
But the gardener
Ate his herbs
With bread and cheese
In his hut
By the gates
Of the big mansion.
He grew cherries
And barberries
For the big kitchen
To make sweet
Rice pilaf
With saffron chicken.
The gardener
Enjoyed his work silently
And when he went
To his hut
He ate some grapes
With his bread and cheese
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!