Do the Rain Dance

Farmer Paul asked if I would post the water guidelines on the blog:

• The Community Garden is following the Chatham Borough odd/even water restrictions since we have a Chatham water meter.  
• You already know all plots to the right as you walk in are ODD and all plots to the left are EVEN.  
• The only hours watering is allowed is from 6 to 9 in the morning and 6 to 9 in the evening. 

The Star Ledger reports that this may be the hottest July in New Jersey's meteorological history:

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/07/climatologist_says_july_has_po.html

and we have had a scant two inches of rain.

New Jersey is showing abnormally dry to drought conditions according to the USDA:

http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/DM_state.htm?NJ,NE

Silver lining:  According to Pete Nitzsche, the Morris County Agricultural Extension Agent, the hot, dry weather is keeping fungal problems at bay.  And I must say that the tomatoes seem to like it, as long as you keep up with (legal) watering.

The Chatham Community Garden Hits the Streets

As the Community Garden is the new kid on the block, we wanted to participate in two popular Chatham events:  the Farmers' Market and the Independence Day Parade.

The Community Garden had a booth at the opening day of the Farmers' Market.  Fresh herbs for sale!  We sold herbs from the perimeter beds ($22 in pure profit for the Garden).  Thanks to Janice Piccolo for putting us in the shade.

We also gave out applications (for next year's waiting list) and information about our endeavors.

On July 3rd, we lined up on Hillside Avenue, waiting for the parade to begin:

Sarah brought her truck, a 1931 Model A Ford named Emma.

 

The marchers got prepared with costumes and candy.  (Well, actually Marta rode in the truck.)  Whole Foods in Madison graciously donated salt water taffy (yum!) and coupons for free bottles of barbecue sauce.  

By the way, Yolanda Fundora has added children's sizes and other goodies to the site with the Chatham Community Garden tee shirts.  I may have to get a hoodie for the fall, but I can't think of long sleeves right now.  Here's the link to the online store:

http://www.cafepress.com/gardenalphabet/7040581  

And our best gardeners sat in the back of the truck.

It was exciting to be in the parade, and it was over before we knew it.

If anyone has other pictures of the parade, please send them to me.

I hope you saw the Madison-Chatham This Week article about the garden.  They had great pictures of the gang.  The test is posted at http://madison.injersey.com/2010/07/07/digging-the-dirt-at-chatham-community-garden/