December Roots Wrap-up Issued: January 1, 2024 |
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| | Check out our NEWOnline Shop! Featuring NEW unique and seasonal products such as our 2024 Knox County Garden Calendar! | | |
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| | Don't miss our winter-themed cone incense! Handmade by us, using our own garden-grown rosemary and sage! Made to create the experience of a smudging bundle, but in the convenience of a cone. ONLY AVAILABLE A SHORT TIME THRU FEBRUARY! | | |
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We have been working away inside our hoophouses!! This is our first year of such serious season extension and we could not be any more excited. Currently we have been collecting cardboard and using it to deep mulch inside of our hoophouses: to kill off the existing grass and weeds to add some much needed texture to our very sandy loam in-situ soils
Cardboard is the first layer in our deep mulching system, that helps our plants in the usual mulching ways (e.g. increases moisture retention, weed control, etc.). The cardboard is one of the easiest ways we know of to create new garden space, killing off the grass below it in a way that is passive for gardeners! You literally lay it down, (if we were not in hoophouses we would also weight it down with paving stones or a layer of leaves and/or straw) and water, and then sit back and wait! In the warmer temps, this process can take about two weeks. For us, however, we will leave it to continue supressing the grass and weeds. When we are ready to plant, we will punch straight through the cardboard and into the ground below, reducing and even eliminating any need for weeding. The cardboard space in between plantings also provides foot paths in an easy identifiable way for our gardeners. Join us! See our currently scheduled volunteer workdays here or message us to let us know when you would like to help! You can also help by dropping off cardboard anytime. You can leave it in our wooden compost bays with the grass clippings , drop it off by our main front door, or just message us for details! CARDBOARD ONLY - NO CHIPBOARD click on the photo below for more info! |
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We are excited to announce that our compost data collection program is now up and running! We have been working hard to get this program off the ground (pun-intended!), and we are grateful for the weekly support of our compost volunteers. They are currently standardizing data collection for the mass of compostable waste we collect from The Happy Bean cafe, in downtown Mount Vernon, as well as the temperature of our compost piles.
Our compost program is a great way to directly reduce food waste and reduce the municipal waste stream. When you compost, you are turning food scraps and other organic materials into a nutrient-rich soil amendment. This soil amendment can be used to improve the quality of your garden soil! Volunteering with us is a great hands-on way to learn more about compost, from practices to applications. If you would like to volunteer with our compost program, we now have more ways than ever before! See our COMPOSTING CALENDAR to see when you can find us working on our program, and message us directly if you need a different day or time to work with us. You can also participate by bringing your food waste down to us! Email, text, or message us on social media to ask how. |
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We want to share our knowledge with you! By scanning the QR code or clicking the LINK, you can take our survey and let us know if you're interested in learning more about reducing waste and supporting sustainable food practices. Together, we can make a positive impact on our planet and the food we consume. |
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Many people ask us what goes on in the gardens during winter, and many folks are surprised to learn how busy we can be, even during the "dormant" seasons! Get a first-hand feel for what it is like to be an Ohio gardener with us, through the online journaling of our Americorps VISTA, Sydney Strite! Sydney is documenting her work this winter through weekly blog posts, sharing her ups & downs, her wins & successes. READ ALONG! Don't miss this exciting personal journey she is sharing with us... |
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We have be so grateful for the dedication of our compost volunteer, Ellie! She has been picking up the Happy Bean compost waste for us each week this semester, despite all she takes on as a very engaged, very well-rounded, and very busy Mount Vernon High School student! We have been able to expand a begin standardizing our compost programs, in large part, due to the regular and steady support Ellie has given us this year. What a way to connect our composting efforts and our Farm to School Program! Thank you, Ellie, for all you have helped us with, and all you have learned about builiding a compost program along with us! |
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Spinach Salad with Warm Maple Dressing Warm Maple Dressing1/3 cup avocado oil 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 1 1/2 tablespoons pure maple syrup 3/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1/2 teaspoon honey 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Salad 1/4 cup sliced almonds 1 (5-ounce) bunch spinach, stemmed and roughly chopped (about 8 cups), or 8 cups baby spinach (5 ounces) 1/2 cup thinly sliced unpeeled Honeycrisp apple (from 1 small [6-ounce] apple) 1/4 cup fresh blueberries 1 ounce feta cheese, crumbled (about 1/4 cup) Kosher salt, to taste Black pepper, to taste
Make the warm maple dressing:Combine oil, vinegar, maple syrup, mustard, honey, paprika, salt, and pepper in a lidded glass jar. Process with an immersion blender until well combined, about 30 seconds, or seal with lid, and shake vigorously.
Make the warm maple dressing:Heat a small skillet over medium-high. Add almonds; cook, stirring often, until toasted and golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat; transfer almonds to a plate, and set aside. Toss together spinach, apple, blueberries, feta, and toasted almonds in a large heatproof bowl. Set aside. Add dressing to skillet; heat over medium until it just begins to simmer, about 1 minute. Pour about 6 tablespoons warm dressing over salad, and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve salad with remaining warm dressing, if desired.
To Make AheadDressing can be made up to 5 days in advance and stored in an airtight container in refrigerator. Heat dressing just before serving. |
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We have been working on our website and obtaining our own vendor's license to be able to sell you our market-ready garden products directly, even outside of farmers market season. Complete with photo submissions from local gardeners & garden dates tailored to Knox County for the entire 2024 calendar year. Never miss when it's time to prune those fruit trees, or divide your peonies. We also added the year's frost & season dates (i.e. Solstice & Equinox). Go through the year inspired by pictures from your local gardening neighbors and friends. |
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Garden maintenance: Currently Wednesdays 2:30pm-4:30pm Workdays and time vary and can be flexible for you! weeding/mowing, planting, organizing greenhouse space |
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Seed Library: Currently Mondays at the Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County 4-5:30pm Times and days are flexible package, sort, and label seeds that are free to the community! |
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Composting: Picking up compost from our local partners, currently on Fridays, but days/times are flexible for you! Wednesdays are currently working on turning of compost piles 2:30-4:30pm Let us know if you need a different day & time! |
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Community engagement: Help market our volunteer opportunities and building community partnerships |
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Special Skilled Volunteers: We are looking for special volunteers with skills including building/construction, plumbing, carpentry, and artistic volunteers to help us with some larger projects! |
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General Cleaning: Help us get our greenhouse organized and ready for our spring season! |
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Interested in volunteering with us? To sign-up, please Click Here, or contact us via email at communityrootsvista@gmail.com |
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COMING THIS WINTER!SOIL 101 WorkshopsSubscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media to stay tuned for our series of soil courses for home gardeners offered by our own resident soil ecologist, Kim Frye. Courses will be offered in a laboratory setting in Downtown Mount Vernon, and for a $15/person request-for-donation. Pay what you can and all are welcome! Courses will be designed to familiarize local gardeners with soil science basics and practices for garden soil health and maintenance. Stay tuned for days and times of workshops coming this month! |
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