Such an amazing year!
Read about it here.
Make it stand out.
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March 2022
It's a beautiful spring day and plants and animals alike are thriving on the slice of land which, thanks to all of you, is now known as Turlock Community Gardens. It's already been an exciting spring, with the urban agriculture conference funded by CSU Stanislaus and organized by Julia Sankey, Melissa Been, and Alex Tagge. Gardeners have been harvesting winter vegetables like cauliflower and kale, and enjoying the first blooms of the native plant area. New gardeners are settling in, thanks to some great volunteer helpers aiding in bermuda grass abatement, and with a few workshops already planned for spring, it's looking like we have a great year ahead.
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November 2021
Gardeners and volunteers get together to work on garden projects on these monthly work days: pulling weeds, painting picnic tables, weed-wacking, working on the compost. We announce these via email and FaceBook. The next one is next Saturday November 6th, 8:30-11 AM to remove as much bermuda grass as possible from some beds and from the walkways. This will be led by Hector Vera (below, right), compost guru, local farmer, CSUS Bio alumn, Gallo lab technicial, new TCG board member, and all round great guy. Come join the fun! All welcome! Gloves, water bottle, towel to wipe off sweat!
Turlock Community Gardens
501(c)(3) Nonprofit
March 2021
To reduce water use, a drip irrigation system was implemented and set on an automatic timer. Central Valley Sustainability dug several hundred feet of trenches to provide each garden bed with direct access to water. Anna Hazen and Melissa Been installed the pipes, spigots and tubes.
April 2021
Solar panel is installed to irrigation timer. International Rescue Committee families begin planting in their plots. UCCE Stanislaus County Master Gardeners teach members of the community, about spring vegetable gardening, during a class hosted at the TCG. Surprise delivery donation of several dozen tomato/pepper plants during a Saturday garden workday. Tee shirts designed & made available to gardeners and supporters through Bonfire.com. Volunteer, Art Madrid Sr, helps deliver a donated picnic table.
May 2021
Cardboard is recycled to sheet mulch around redwood trees. Compost bin is created and designed by TCG gardeners & volunteers.
Goals:
- Build a Shade Structure
- Construct a Fence
- Gather Picnic Tables & Chairs
- Sheet Mulching Around Trees
- Bulletin Board Information
February 2021
Metal signs were designed, built & donated by Brad Bates, Jim Burden and Jack Wilkey (Wilkey Sheet Metal).
A special thank you goes to TCG CFO Anna Hazen, who designed and assembled the irrigation system.
CSU Stanislaus Art Professor Jake Weigel and Abbey Miller designed & installed a beautiful wooden sign to welcome visitors.
Here We Grow…
Calling All Gardeners
Forty-five garden beds are now rented. Plot rental fees cover water, insurance, maintenance and other expenses. Several plots are donated to organizations/entities. Those include CSU Stanislaus students, the neighboring nonprofit Jessica’s House, and the International Rescue Committee (IRC).
December 2020
Modesto Composting and Turlock Scavenger delivered additional compost. Community garden workdays were organized, and volunteers relocated compost to garden beds and spread walnut shells along the paths. Dr. Sankey offered presentations to educate others about the benefits of community gardens, TCG’s mission and ways folks can get involved.
January 2021
Turlock Irrigation District (TID) generously donated $3,000. In combination with donations received by community members, TCG was able to purchase irrigation equipment to bring water to the gardeners. The first “wave” of gardeners received introductions to their compost-filled beds, seeds were sown, and the garden began to grow!
THE START…
May 19, 2020
Dr. Julia Sankey of CSU Stanislaus announced her desire to start a community garden during a virtual meeting run by the Turlock Community Collaborative, a group of local nonprofits, government agencies, businesses, and individuals who seek to resolve issues within the Turlock community. Julia connected with Jonathan Partridge of the International Rescue Committee, who shared a desire to start a community garden as a means of supporting local refugees.
June - Sept 2020
The summer was dedicated to researching other community gardens, locating land available for lease, creating garden rules and bylaws, and organizing volunteers who shared a vision for establishing a community garden. By September, Turlock Community Gardens established itself as a nonprofit organization.
Oct - Nov 2020
Turlock Community Gardens gratefully received the support of Cornerstone Covenant Church for its first garden site. Special thanks to Justin Marty of the church council, whose time and efforts were monumental in the progress and success of TCG. In November, 0.6 acres of land was leased behind the church at 4105 Crowell Rd. Funds were successfully raised to pay for a deposit and insurance. Wheelbarrows and tools were donated, Macedo’s Mini Acre Farm delivered gifts of alpaca manure by the truckload, and gardening commenced!