We've added Wreath making in the Garden this Saturday, 12/11, around 12:30pm..Right after our Compost Demonstration with Master Composter Debbie - which starts inside the Gilroy Arts Alliance (adjacent corner -7th & Monterey st) @ 10am. After the slide show, we'll walk back to the garden where there'll be demonstrations on preparation for healthy compost. Be sure to bring your pruners.. oh, & your Christmas accessories for the fun Wreath making get together ;)

Thanks John for your question regarding buttoning up the garden!
The garden is currently transitioning from summer to winter. We are cleaning out old beds, letting some rest for winter, while planting up others for our new crops. We are preparing the compost pile in preparation for healthy compost in the spring. We are currently harvesting pac choy, herbs, onions, salad mix and kale. Newly planted are; broccoli, swiss chard, onion, garlic, spinach, potato, chinese cabbage, carrots and radishes.
The winter months are a great time to plant up all your green leafy vegetables, don't forget to drink your oj to absorb your iron from these veges, and to help keep the winter colds away!

Our farm stand is still open on Saturday mornings, and our compost class with Master Composter Debbie, will be a great class to participate in. We will meet Saturday Morning, December 11, from 10-12, please let us know if you are able to attend this informative class, please bring your pruners! Debbie will teach us about compost piles as well as sheet composting.
Additionally, if you would like to volunteer, gardening or construction, please contact us at friendsofthegarden@yahoo.com.

While replenishing our Organic Herbs for stocking stuffers in downtown, we found out Gilroy Visitors Bureau has residents' coupon for $9.99/ ticket entrance fee to Gilroy Gardens! Net Fitness Gilroy started New Year's resolution of $10/month memberships. Santa's helper arrived at Nimble Thimble to help with gift ideas for your quilter or garlic lover. Leedo Art & Frame is giving 15% discount off their custom framing and Mango Street Kids has strollers for 1/2 off. Wow! .. not bad for just once around a couple of blocks. What good holiday cheers we have in our downtown:)

We've invited a master composter to lead a class on composting this Saturday, 12/11. With winter right around the corner, we want to button up the garden and thought Debbie will be such a joy to help share/remind us on what to do for a winter garden. The composting demonstration will be from 10am - 12noon this Saturday..
along with our Organic Farm Stand - where you can choose the organic produce right from the Garden.

We're also thinking of having a wreath making demonstration right after the composting class.. do you think that might be something fun to do in the Garden?

We had a fun filled Holiday Craft Day! We imagined and created ornaments during the day and became colorful vegetables for the Christmas parade at night.

Come join us in the garden for our First Annual Holiday Garden Craft Fair. We will make holiday crafts and ornaments using recycled materials.. some thing for everyone, ALL AGES WELCOME! No charge to make crafts, we ask that you bring a non perishable item for St. Joseph's Family Center. Drop in anytime between 1pm and... 4pm this Saturday, 12/ 4. We're at Eigleberry between 6th and 7th Streets.
The folks from the Gilroy Senior Center will be selling hand made goods
and quilts!.. and Patti Tartaglia, owner of "The Food Fixx L.L.C.",
will be serving a fabulous "Curried Pumpkin and Apple Soup" made from
the organic pumpkins grown in the garden.
Please stop by and try this great holiday recipe!
Looking forward to seeing you in the garden!

Visits from the Girl Scouts & Boy Scouts

In November, we were honored by visits from the Boy Scouts, as well as, the Girl Scouts. We enjoyed giving them individual tours around the garden, having them pick and sample some fava beans, having them join in and pull some weeds and planting some California Poppies in our drought tolerant beds. Hanna (a boy scout's sister) was glad to learn about the fava beans, that when her girl scout troop came the following week she shared the beans with them. The garden is contagious!

Seems our organic herbs are getting pretty popular.. Thanks everyone:)
By special requests, we're adding Thanksgiving hours at the Garden.
This week only (weather permitting), we'll be open Mon - Wed 9am - 12noon for you to get fresh, or dry, herbs to marinade/add to your dishes.. or olive oil + herb dips. We also have lots of organic lettuce!

Oh, & in case you haven't heard.. we now have ORGANIC SATURDAYS! GDG Farm Stand 10am - 1:30pm.. here in downtown Gilroy.. help spread the word.

Tom & Judy planting young grape plants for our grapevine fence, while our 1st Saturday Organic Farm Stand had butternut squash, eggplants, beets, celery, large variety of lettuce, zucchini, pumpkins, green & red peppers, parsley, sage, rosemary &... ALL organic.. woo hoo!!

Our Saturday Farm Stand Song

Parsley, sage, rosemary & thyme - our saturday Farm Stand song!
Yep.. we're gonna have a farm stand starting this Saturday from 10 - 1pm. There's lots of fresh organic herbs for your holiday needs + organic seasonal produce. Let's start gearing up for our Farmers' Market coming this summer!.. YEP! We're SO excited!!...

We're also excited about our Saturday workdays - are now Potluck workdays. 10 - 1 garden.. 1 - 2 Potluck..

Come by any.. rosemary and thyme..!

Imagine creating angels with corn husks, bird feeders with pine cones.. or.. making your own stationery with garlic skins.. that's what we'll be demonstrating before the downtown Christmas parade on Sat, 12/4.

Wander in & join us between 1 - 4pm .. We'd love to break pumpkin bread with you at our Garden Holiday Craft party:)

BTW... here's the link to our Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gilroy-Demonstration-Garden/161038493917945

Hit the "LIKE" button (after you sign in) and we can tell you more about our upcoming potluck workdays, summer farmers' market, recipe book...

Holiday Craft Day in the Garden

We're gonna have our first Holiday Craft Day on Sat., 12/4!
We're thinking that we have pine cones we can decorate.. lots of egg cartons that can make nice ornaments.. maybe make paper mache ornaments or small pinatas.. Nora's making paper stationery with what's in the garden and we could make a garlic doll or corn husk dolls or angels. We'll have apple cider & pumpkin bread.. come create with us before walking to the downtown Christmas Parade.

Healthy Harvest Festival 10/23/10

It was a wonderful day with music, laughter and lots of healthy and fun exhibits.
Here are some photos of our 1st annual Healthy Harvest Festival.