Getting Ready for Fall

This has been a difficult summer for white fly.  Despite this there have been a lot of tomatoes, cukes, peppers (especially hot peppers) and melons.  There is basil for the picking for anyone who likes to make pesto.  we are working on cleaning up the greenhouse for fall planting.  Betsy planted some kale but unfortunately the white cabbage butterfly found them an attractive place to lay eggs!  Now they are chewed to stubs.  We will try starting them outside under reemay.  We are collecting ideas for Living Local Harvest Festival which is taking place very soon.  Talk to Betsy if you can help or have ideas.

David Crohan Concert

Volunteers are busy organizing the upcoming concert.  For tickets or information    The David Crohan Concert has been an annual fund raiser for many years.  This year the greenhouse desperately needs a new top.  The members have decided to collect the proceeds from the concert for this purpose and it is called the Top Hat Fund. 
In the greenhouse, we have red, ripe tomatoes!! Also in the garden we have cutting flowers for bouquets.   Also the peppers, eggplants, and melons are taking off.

Don't forget the up coming workshops.

Living Raw on MV

Raw Food Workshops 

Levels I, II, & III

Level I

Raw on the Run

Quick & Simple

Nutritious & Delicious Recipes

Sunday July 17th

3:30-5:30
Registration deadline Wednesday July 13th

Level  I & II

Raw on the Run  & Living Raw

Quick, Simple & Sprouting Recipes

 Sunday August 14th

3:30-5:30
Registration deadline Wednesday August 10th

Level III

Real Raw

Fermenting & Dehydrating Recipes
 TBA Fall 2011

_*_

Cost $65 for 1, $125 for 2, and $185 for 3
$20 non-refundable registration deposit required before deadline date

~ Raw Food picnics also available ~

Contact 

Cindy Fitzgerald 

for Information & Registration: 

774-242-3699/508-696-7806

livingrawonmv@gmail.com

~*~

Sponsored by 

The Community Solar Greenhouse (COMSOG)

114 New York Avenue, O.B.      508 693-2019     www.comsog.org

Peppers, Tomatoes and Squash, Oh My!

This year we completely sold out of peppers!  Luckily, we planted some inside the greenhouse. They love the heat and so do the eggplant.  We are getting blooms already.  The greenhouse tomatoes are just beginning to ripen.  We still have lettuce to pick.  We are experimenting with melons.  We have Charentais, Amish Muskmelon and Blacktail Mountain.  These last two should have a shorter growing season.  I always have the problem deciding when the melons are ripe.  I usually pick them too early but one time left it on the vine until it  exploded.  If anyone has expertise let me know.                  

We are planting the outside gardens.  We have squash, tomatoes, tomatillos, cukes and beds of flowers.  We still need help with tying up the tomatoes.  On Monday we are planting the  last tomato bed, please come if you can.  We aslo have leeks and winter squash to plant.

Thalia, Diane and Alicia potted up tomatoes for the Down Island Farmer's Market on the harbor.  It begins June 28th.

The David Crohan Concert is August 7th and we are looking for volunteers.  The theme will be the Top Hat Fund to raise money for the new cover for the greenhouse.    Call Thalia if you can help. 

Raw Food Workshops:  

Level I -  Raw On The Run – Introduction to raw foods – Quick & simple recipes 

(similar to the past 2 introductory classes)

Sunday June 26^th – 3:30-5:30

 

Level  II - Living Raw – Sprouting & Germinating Recipes

Sunday July 17^th  – 3:30-5:30

 

Level  III - Real Raw – Fermenting & Dehydrating Recipes 

Sunday August 14th – 3:30-5:30

 

The food prepared in each particular level will be based on the crops of the season.

 

Cost: $65 each, 2/$125,  3/$185  

For More Information call Cindy 508 696-7806 livingrawonmv@gmail.com

Sponsored by The Community Solar Green House (COMSOG) www.comsog.org

Spring Plant Sale

The Spring Plant Sale is a Blooming Success

    The Volunteers have been very busy this year and the green house is spectacular. We still have lots of tomatoes ready to go and the cukes and zuchini will be ready by May 21st.  We have some herb boxes.  These are a really nice collection with calendula, chervil, lemon balm, thyme and garlic chives. There is also basil, dill, oregano, and cilantro available in 4" pots. A new addition is cutting celery.  This is a pungent spice and only a few sprigs can substitute for the flavor of a whole stalk.
    Calendula is also know as pot marigold and is one of the plants that is found in colonial gardens.  The flowers are good to eat and can be dried for tea.  But they are also a good addition for a flower bed.  They are long blooming and will reseed.  Lemon balm can also be used for tea and has a calming effect.  This year at Comsog you will find many of your favorite herbs.

   
     Happy shoppers have found many flowers.  We have portulaca, gazania, and geraniums.  These are great flowers for the Island's sandy soil as they are drought resistant.  We also have petunias, zinnias and cosmos.

     Volunteers are busy tending plants and helping shoppers find their plants.  If you have gardening questions please ask and if we have the answer we will be happy to share it with you.

          

Raw Food Workshops at Comsog

What? Raw Breakfast! Lunch! and dinner! No Cooking!

Yes… and Raw Food Chef Cindy FitzGerald showed us HOW during her Introduction To Raw Foods Workshop.  The well-attended class consisted of demonstrations, and samplings of 6 extraordinary and jaw-dropping recipes using fresh organic fruits & vegetables, nuts, seeds and wholesome oils (no sugar, flour, dairy, eggs, meat, fish):

                                  

Breakfast: Fresh Strawberry, Almond Milk Shake

                      Pecan Porridge w/ fresh Almond milk

Lunch:   Mock Salmon Pate

                 Stuffed Portabella Mushroom Caps

Dinner: Fettuccine Alfredo (remember no flour!) w/Mock Parmesan Cheese (no dairy)

                 Chocolate Mousse     

By request another Introductory Raw Foods Workshop will be held on May 15th

Cost $15 non-refundable deposit + donation.

Look for more Living Raw on MV Workshops

     - Sponsored by COMSOG New York Ave, O.B.

Cindy’s next workshops will be taught on 3 progressively advancing levels (3 Classes each): 

Level I    -   Raw On The Run - Quick & Simple

Level II.  -  Living Raw - Sprouting & Germinating Recipes

Level III. -  Real Raw – Fermenting & Dehydrating Recipes    

For more information:

Contact Cindy FitzGerald – livingrawonmv@gmail.com  508 696-7806

Spring!

I only found out that I was a good part Irish a few years ago, but St. Patrick's Day has always been one of my favorite celebrations.  It is the time to plant peas on Martha's Vineyard.  It is also the time to start seedlings at the greenhouse.  In the germination box we have tomatoes, letttuce, basil and lobelia sprouting. Peppers have been planted and herb boxes are started.  I'm sure that it is no coincidence that the color of Saint Patrick's Day is green.  Soon the shelves in the greenhouse will be a river of green.

Planting Parties

       When you enter the greenhouse this Wednesday, you will hear a lively chatter. You will also smell the delicious odor of Thalia's homemade soup.  We are planting geranium plugs for our Spring Sale.  We have red, pink, orange and purple geraniums that need to be put in 4" pots.  We also need to start our herb boxes.  We have been collecting clementine boxes that we will fill with herbs.  We have thyme, sage, garlic chives and greek oregano planted.  Basil needs to be seeded.  Bring any other ideas to the planting party.
      Soon to follow will be heirloom tomatoes.  I met with Chuck and Thalia to discuss the varieties and my mouth couldn't stop watering from the descriptions Thalia gave us.  We truly have a spectacular selection coming and I can't wait to start planting.
     Speaking of planting, Thalia started the greenhouse tomatoes.  We have Arbason and Trust and the little babies are coming up nicely.  I transplanted some into 4" pots today.  It was so warm in the greenhouse that I was in a tank top.  If you need a taste of sunshine and warmth as well as home made soup come to the greenhouse.  There is still a lot of lettuce and the nasturtiums are going crazy.
      Only 11 days to pea planting!  Has anyone tried to turn the soil yet?