Calling ALL MOWERS! & Workparty Sat @ 3pm & Thanks to You the Sale was a Success!!FW: Press Release: Free Raised Bed Vegetable Gardening Class‏

Hello Friends of the Gainesville Organic Blueberry Farm,
 
THANK YOU WONDERFUL FRIENDS! Last Sunday’s Big Barnyard Benefit Sale for Haiti was a success because of all the great stuff, and delicious food that you donated for the sale, and all of you who stopped by to shop. We made $503.25 and thanks to some wonderful folks who work at CH2MHill, they will match it 100%, for a total of $1,000 going to the Red Cross Haiti relief fund as a result! This could not have happened without every one of you who gave your time, stuff and cash to the effort – SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU & YEAH, WE DID IT!
 
Now back to the berry bushes! I will be in the barnyard gardens at 3 on Saturday with plenty of tools and the will to work! You bring gloves, long sleeves and plenty of water, and snacks if you bring kids. Kids are very welcome, but please leave pet friends at home.  We will be going out to the 2 bridges patch to cut vines and weedy trees.  It is also still the perfect time to dig blueberry suckers (the ones that sprout between the rows from underground runners) so if you want some free bushes of your own bring a plastic bag to keep the roots moist and a shovel to dig them.
 
And all you fabulous mowers – what would you think about participating in a big MOWER RACE, PARADE AND PAGEANT! That’s right! Show off that mowing monster while helping the farm by mowing the roads and rows. We could have prizes for best costume, and best decorated mower as well as ugliest and cleanest exhaust and races and maybe a pulling contest. This idea was dreamed up by Mary and Christian and I think it is a great one! We will be working on this concept and welcome any other ideas – different contests for different sized mowers, etc., so start oiling up those yard machines and tractors and get ready to show them off! Let me know if you are interested in doing this, so I can know if it is feasible. 
 
Finally, check out the forwarded community bulletin below for details about free raised bed gardening classes, and other classes coming up!
 
Hope to see you Saturday down on the farm!

maureen
www.GvilleBlueberryFarmFriends.org

Communications Office – Press Release CONTACT: Mark Sexton, Communications Coordinator PHONE: (352) 374-5204; CELL (352) 283-2317 EMAIL: msexton@alachuacounty.us  …stay engaged For Immediate Release   Free Raised Bed Vegetable Gardening Class January 27, 2010 10:15 a.m. The Alachua County Extension Office is pleased to offer the following free Gardening Program. This class will be presented by Wendy Wilber, Environmental Horticulture Agent, at the Alachua County Extension Office (2800 NE 39th Ave., in Gainesville).  Raised Bed Vegetable Gardening – February 3rd, 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.  Learn about an innovative way to grow vegetables. You will learn how to grow your own produce within limited space. A demonstration garden is located on site. The class will cover vegetable gardening basics and teach how to use raised beds for increased efficiency.  Pre-register by leaving voicemail at 352-337-6209.   For information on upcoming gardening programs, click here.   For more information contact Wendy Wilber, Environmental Horticulture Agent, at 352-955-2402 or wlw@alachuacounty.us.   For persons requiring special accommodations, please contact Wendy Wilber at 352-955-2402 (voice) or TDD/TYY 352-955-2406. Please contact the Extension Office at least five working days prior to the program so that proper consideration may be given to the request.