Dates and Updates

Mark your calendars

Sunday, October 16, 1:00                               Sunday, evening, November 13

Fall Work Day in the garden                           Annual Meeting, Lake Park Lodge

Fall Work Day--

      Compost will be the main focus of the day. Plant material in the south bin needs to be chopped, stomped and turned to make room for more. Plant material in the north bin needs to be moved to the south bin. Underneath, there should be beautiful finished compost. We can distribute this, along with what remains of the compost pile by the road, to all the plots in the garden.

      If there is time and energy left, we can repair some of the paths with newspaper and chips.

      So--polish up your wheelbarrows and shovels and choppers and mark your calendar for October 16

      A note about the compost bins: Wayne has stapled hail cloth around the bottom edge of both compost bins to keep out voles (It actually worked pretty well). He has cut one end of each bin to allow access into the bins. Instructions for moving one side are posted on each bin. 

      Please continue to use restraint on filling the bins. After the work day we should have one whole empty one to use. 

Water-

      You have probably noticed that the city has begun working on the new water line. There is supposed to be a hydrant on the line that runs along the north side of the garden. This should make hooking onto the garden easy for next season. I'll keep people posted as I get more information. 

      The City will pull our connection, read the meter, and bill us sometime in mid-October. Last year the bill was about $135 and it should be close to that this year. 

      Next year rates are going up. I can't remember exactly how much, but a lot.

Garden Notecards--

      Cards go to the printer the first week of November. Order forms are in the shed,or contact Jan for an email copy. Return orders, along with payment, to Sue Burnett (address is on the form) or bring it to the Fall Work Day.

      Orders by October 31 will be much appreciated. That will give us some idea of how many to print. 

Annual Meeting of the Community Garden--Plans are still forming, but the major topic of discussion will be about finances. We are operating in the red at the present and need to figure out how to make ourselves, first solvent, then sustainable. The board has discussed raising the annual plot rental or assessing an upfront contribution to be repaid when volunteer hours are completed. We don't want to become prohibitively costly, but we need to be able to cover expenses. Input from everyone on this subject is encouraged.  Come to the meeting and share your ideas. We will also be electing new board members. If you are interested in becoming involved, let us know.

The Winona Post-had a lovely article about the garden last Sunday. I will put up a copy on the shed bulletin board.

Cover cropping--Oat seeds are available in the shed for cover cropping. Sprinkle some on your plot when when you have cleared a section for the season. Some may sprout this fall, some in the spring. Fall-sprouted oats will die and make lovely compost for you plot. Spring-sprouted seeds will suppress the weeds until you get something planted, then make lovely mulch around your new plants. Isn't nature wonderful?

Community Garden Note Cards-Pollinator Series

Here is a great gift idea for the holiday season__AND a way to help the Garden:

A set of six note cards, with beautiful photographs taken by Wapahasa Community Garden members.

The back of the cards include information about pollinator plants and the inside is blank.

The sets are wrapped in ecofriendly clear packaging and may also be purchased singly. 

Graphic design is professionally done by Jaron Theye, son of our own Wayne Theye.

Consider purchasing these cards for yourself, for holiday or birthday gifts, or just to have on hand.

And talk with your friends about ordering sets for themselves.

How to order:

 Order forms are in the garden shed. 

Use this form to keep track of the number of sets or singles you want to purchase. 

Boxed sets of 6 are $15 apiece; single cards are $3 apiece.

Send your order, along with full payment to:

Sue Burnett

P.O. Box 403

Winona, MN 55987

(or hand deliver it at the next work day, TBA)

Orders by October 31 would be appreciated

Pick up date will be posted

Bonus: For every box of 6 that you purchase, you will be credited with 1 hour of volunteer work. 

Why we need to have fundraisers:

The community garden operates on a shoestring, and often in the red. Yearly fees for the plots do not cover all our expenses. Recurring expenses include water bill, liability insurance, garden coordinator position, consumable supplies such as compost, straw, rye seed and repair parts. 

Please help us continue to be able to harvest healthy local food in our community. 

Questions or comments? Reply to this message or contact any of the committee members.

Thank you,

The Wapahasa Prairie Community Garden Fundraising Committee

Jennie, Joyce, Liz and Hisayo

Green Tomato Recipes

FRIED GREEN TOMATOES

2 green tomatoes ½ cup flour or cornmeal salt and pepper butter

Slice tomatoes thickly. Combine flour, salt and pepper. Coat tomatoes with flour. Heat butter in skillet and fry tomatoes on both sides until golden brown.

GREEN TOMATO SALSA

3 green tomatoes, coarsely chopped 2 jalapenos, seeded and minced 1 clove garlic, minced ¼ cup cilantro, chopped ¼ cup parsley, chopped ½ red bell pepper, seeded & chopped 3T lime juice 1½ tsp sugar ½ tsp salt

Blend all ingredients in food processor to a coarse puree. Or leave it chunky. Salsa gives off liquid and thins after it sits a while.

GREEN TOMATO AND CORN PICALILLI

3 medium green tomatoes, thinly sliced 1½ tsp salt 2 ears corn 1 cup white vinegar 1 cup sugar ¼ tsp cloves ¼ tsp cinnamon 1/8 tsp cayenne ¼ cup minced red onion 1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced

Salt tomatoes and refrigerate overnight. Pour off liquid, then dry tomatoes between paper towels. Boil corn in a pan of boiling water for 3 minutes. Drain and cut kernels from cob. In a medium saucepan combine vinegar, sugar, cloves, cinnamon and cayenne. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Combine tomatoes, corn, red onion and bell pepper. Pour the hot syrup over the vegetables; mix well. Let cool, then refrigerate until ready to serve.

GREEN TOMATO CHUTNEY (Joy of Cooking)

1 seeded, chopped lemon with rind 1 clove garlic, chopped 5 cups green tomatoes 2¼ cup brown sugar 1½ cup raisins 3 oz. chopped crystalized ginger or ¾ cup fresh ginger 1½ tsp salt ¼ tsp cayenne 2 cup cider vinegar 2 cup chopped red bell peppers

Combine and simmer until the vegetables are tender.

STEWED GREEN TOMATOES (Joy of Cooking)

2 tbsp minced onion 2 tbsp butter 2 cups sliced green tomatoes ¾ tsp salt ¼ tsp paprika ½ tsp curry powder

Saute onions in butter until brown. Add tomatoes. Stir and cook slowly until tender. Add seasonings.

GREEN TOMATO AND EGG GRATIN (Madison CSA cookbook)

1½ cup chopped green tomatoes 6 hard boiled eggs, sliced 5 tbsp butter ¾ cup soft bread crumbs 3 tbsp flour 1½ cup milk

Alternate layers of egg and tomatoes in a shallow baking dish. Melt 2 tbsp butter; add bread crumbs and stir well. Melt remaining butter in another saucepan. Stir in flour and cook, stirring often, 3-4 minutes. Whisk in milk and cook, stirring constantly until thickened. Pour milk mixture over tomato/egg layers. Top with bread crumbs. Bake 35-40 minutes in 350 degree oven. Can be assembled the night before and baked in the morning.

Also, I have a vague memory of baking a green tomato pie, but I can't find the recipe. I think you just bake it like an apple pie. If anyone tries this, let me know.