Attention Garden members... our next planning meeting is coming up, Monday, September 19

We schedule the evening of the third Monday of each month to discuss all pertinent topics related to keeping our garden bountiful and our organization thriving. Everyone is welcome. Our next meeting starts at 6:30 pm at the Seminole Heights Branch Library (SE corner of Central Avenue and Osborne). Please join us!

One of our "Garden Nanny" volunteers, Lynelle Bonneville,
grew these cucumber seedlings on her porch to be planted at the garden 

Just as our garden grows, so does our club… by four people in just the last month!

First, we welcome a couple of new members who happen to be a couple, Anson Mitchell and Lee Ann Corning. We also say welcome aboard to new member Leah Diaz.  And finally welcome back to returning member Marilyn Whitfield.    

It’s always great to make new friends, one of the best benefits of our community garden.  So think about other people you know who might want to join our ranks, and feel free to invite them to hang around with us some Saturday morning.  Many hands make light work!

Organic eggs for sale at Whitwam Organics

Whitwam Organics is a Florida registered nursery here in our neighborhood, and owner David Whitwam has sometimes partnered with the garden on various projects we’ve taken on.  So we thought we’d help him get out the word that he’s now selling organic eggs every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 am to noon.  

Six bucks a dozen, or half dozen cartons are also available for three dollars. Please call ahead before going to pick up your eggs, to be sure someone’s there to meet you. 813-803-0024.  Whitwam Organics is at 7409 Highland Avenue.

Concerned about clean water? An opportunity for a little activism.

On a few occasions in recent months, we’ve notified our newsletter subscribers about organized efforts to oppose the Tampa Bay Express (TBX), mainly because the proposed project directly impacts our Seminole Heights neighborhood. But otherwise, the Garden has pretty much stayed clear from anything maybe deemed political.  We’re really all about growing organic food.  

But there’s a new issue at hand that might make ‘organic’ in Florida eventually seem moot.  The Environmental Regulation Commission (ERC) in Florida just voted in favor of increasing the amounts of cancer-causing chemicals allowed in the waterways, higher than the limits set for the rest of the United States by the EPA.  One of these chemicals is benzene, no less. 

But before it becomes official, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) still has to sign off on this decision that the ERC made. If you would like to tell the EPA that you want them to reject it, here for you then is a link to an online petition… https://www.change.org/p/keep-the-cancer-causing-chemicals-out-of-our-water.  

Close to 75,000 Florida residents have signed already, and the petition will be delivered to Joel Beauvais at the Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water and Heather McTeer Toney, Regional Administrator at the EPA.  The link also provides much more information to help you decide whether or not you wish to participate.  It’s at least worth a look, because it appears there is much at stake for the quality of our water.

Finally as always, we hope to see you next Saturday at the garden, 9:00 am to noon.  Lend a hand, make some friends, and help our garden grow!

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