So much stuff to tell you about...

Where to begin?  There are just a lot of assorted items to share this month, so we hope you don't mind that this newsletter runs a little long.  Just scroll up and down and check out the topics that catch your interest. But we did put the two most important items right up at the top.  Starting with... 

Item #1: Please save your little plastic yogurt cups.  We're going to need them for Earth Day on April 22

We're pulling together plans to celebrate Earth Day 2017 with a special event to raise awareness for both the occasion and for our community garden (which will also be celebrating it's 11th birthday!).  

One component of this neighborhood gathering will likely be the give-away of free vegetable seedlings to our guests. Re-purposed plastic single-serve yogurt cups make the perfect pots for the seedlings, so please start collecting yours now.  Other similar sized cups will also do.  Save them for us to ensure we'll have lots on hand as the date draws near.  Thanks!

Item #2: Mark your calendar for our next planning meeting, Monday February 20

We'll be talking more about our Earth Day/Birthday event at this meeting, as well as spring planting plans. The planning meeting starts at 6:30 pm at the Seminole Heights Branch Library (SE corner of Central Avenue and Osborne). Please join us!

Item #3: A quick shout-out to our wonderful USF "Stampede of Service" volunteers who helped us out in January

The seven hardworking, enthusiastic students pictured here joined us for a few hours on Saturday morning January 14th, weeding and watering, and pitching in on whatever else needed doing that day. It was part of an annual community volunteer effort hosted by USF all over town, and we can't overstate our gratitude for being made a part of it.  GO BULLS!

Item #4: A reminder to visit our website's "LET'S EAT!" page for some great recipe ideas

Our immediate past-president and current garden master, Denise Moore, is shown here with some fresh picked carrots from the garden and also a jar of homemade carrot-top pesto.  So how do you make pesto?  Start by going to this link from our website's "Let's Eat!" page, where you'll find a pretty good recipe for it (the recipe calls for kale, but substituting carrot tops should work just fine).

You'll find lots of other interesting recipes submitted by garden members too, plus nutritional benefits information on a variety of vegetables and fruits. We also want you to help us grow this page... submit your recipe ideas to Colleen at info.shcg@gmail.com. She'll post them for you, and also credit your contribution by name if you'd like.

Item #5: Denise Moore (again, pictured above) will be performing at the Gasparilla Music Festival, singing in the Steely Dan tribute band, Show Biz Kids

We've told you about Show Biz Kids before.  You really must see this 12-piece band to truly appreciate how impeccably they cover the sublime music of Steely Dan.  Denise is one of two female back-up singers in the group, and the next time you can catch them is on day-two (Sunday, March 12) of the 2017 Gasparilla Music Festival in downtown Tampa. Congratulations to the band for landing another high-profile gig.  More info here... you should try to make it out to the show.

Item #6: And one final thing from Denise...

Here are a couple of links she suggested we share with you. The first one takes you to the website for Growin' Crazy Acres in Spring Hill.  We're not trying to help them sell their wares, but it's an interesting enterprise, and the website shares some good planting tips and recipe ideas. Worth a look... click here.

The second link Denise shared takes you to the latest newsletter from Sweetwater Organic Community Farm in Tampa.  You might already be familiar with this locally renowned organization -- they've been around for over 20 years -- but their endeavors align with many of the interests of our community garden members, and so you might want to check this one out as well... click here.

And finally from all of us at the Garden...

If you're an S.H.C.G. member and haven't visited the garden in awhile, it's high time you popped in again. We've got lots of kale, chard, salad greens, tomatoes and carrots that are either ready to harvest now, or will be ready very soon.  There are herbs too, and probably some other stuff we forgot to list, so bring a bag to take it home fresh-picked for your dinner table.

Please join us if you can next weekend... come with a friend too, who might be interested in becoming a new member.  We gather every Saturday morning 9:00 am to noon, pitching in together to keep our garden going and growing.

Sunscreen and garden hats are recommended, and bring some water to stay hydrated.  

We look forward to seeing you!

All the best,
Your friends from Seminole Heights Community Gardens
www.seminoleheightscommunitygarden.org