Play Group

This week why don't we meet up at the 5 points pool on Friday for their toddler swim. Here is the info from their website:

Join us for this parent-child program in the leisure pool. Children ages 1-5 enjoy the splash features and play stations with a parent/guardian. There is no charge for adults or infants, but you must be in the water with your child. Fee: $3 (Members- FREE)
Monday, Wednesday and Friday- 10:00-11:30 am

360 N. Wilmor Rd.

Washington, IL 61571

Baptism

Hey Ladies! We just wanted to send out a reminder that there is a baptism this coming Saturday the 14th at 7:30pm at the church for Christy Ortiz. Come support your fellow sister!

Self Reliant Garden Tip 4

Self Reliant Garden

What to start this week and what to direct sow in your garden.

As spring gets underway, the wonderful weather urges us to plant!

It's now time to start these seeds indoors for setting out later:

TOMATO!!!, Eggplant, Fennel, Peppers, Basil, Marjoram, Sage, Thyme.

* If you started tomatoes and other seeds already, check for signs they need replanted like, roots growing out from seed pots, wilting, and yellowing.

Just stick the plant in a larger pot, fill with dirt, and fertilize with a water soluble fertilizer like miracle grow or an organic fish emulsion.

And these you should direct plant in your garden or containers:

Beets,, Broccoli, Carrots, Chard, Endive, Fava Bean, Kale, Kohlrabi, Leek, Pac Choi, Parsnips,

Peas- both shell and snow(edible pod), Potatoes, Radishes, Spinach, Turnips, Chive, Cilantro, Parsley.

Wait until last frost date of May 15th to sow Cucumber, pumpkin, summer squash, winter squash or you may start indoors in a few weeks.

And lastly, buy starts of sets of these and plant out:

Onions, Scallions, Asparagus, Rhubarb.

Top 10 Crops: Central and Midwest Region

1. Slicing tomato
2. Sweet pepper
3. Cherry tomato
4. Onion
5. Bush snap bean
6. Carrot
7. Garlic
8. Paste tomato
9. Snow/snap pea
10. Lettuce

If you any questions or want to chat about your garden call, text, or email me any time! Lisa Jacobsgaard 309-472-0297 and lisaj1121@ymail.com

Spring Break Activities!

Hey Ladies! Spring break is here so here are a few fun ideas for the week

Play group this week on Monday! Monday looks to be the nicest weather so let's meet up at Washington park across the street from Lincoln Elementary at 10am.

ALSO

Cantigny Park in Wheaton, IL on Friday April 6^th. It is a bit of a drive, but a fun place to go. We are planning on leaving Washington at 9am and meeting up at the park between 11:15 and 11:30. There is a $5 per car entrance fee. Bring lunch and come join the fun! There are tanks for the kids to climb on and a really neat war museum (First Division Museum). The address for the park is 1S151 Winfield Road Wheaton, IL 60189 phone # 630-668-5161. Here is the link for the park website http://www.cantigny.org/ Plan on meeting in the parking lot closest to the First Division Museum. Please call, text or email Amber Mickelson if you are planning on going so we will know who we are meeting up with.

The Self Reliant Garden - Tip 3

The Right Tools for the Job!

We often read about what to put into our gardens but not too much about the tools we use. I have given it some thought and come up with a list if the five things I couldn't garden with out! Here they are:

1. Gloves- This is the basic of every day gardening whether you container garden, vertical garden, or garden garden. A good pair of gloves will protect your hands from bacteria and objects in the ground, thorns and splinters, dirt, and insects. I once pulled some old day lily foliage out with my hands and got stung by a bumble bee I didn't even see! Gloves should be strong and made of good material like leather or canvas, and fit fairly tight.

2. Long Handled Tall Spaded Shovel- A tall spade has a long narrow shovel blade and comes to a point. Where a regular spades blade is wide and short. The tall spade allows you to chop and pry at roots, remove sod, and dig large planting holes with relative ease. A regular shovel will work, but as a female I find the tall spade much less work and easier to handle.

3. Rake- A Spring rake, one that the long thin tines spring back, or a Garden rake, the kind with short thick tines, are needed to rake out beds of debris or smooth clods of dirt. If I had to only pick one rake( I have 9! ), I would choose an adjustable rake. The handle adjusts from a long rake into a short hand rake, and the tines lengthen into a spring rake for leaves or shorten into a garden rake for clod busting in the garden.

4. Hand Trowel- This is great for removing soil from pots, digging small planting holes, transplanting, as a scoop, and as a mini hoe ( I turn it on its side to scratch out weeds.) This is a must for the container and vertical gardener! Choose one that fits your hand and is very sturdy. I have found that the better made ones cost more but are worth it as I have broken many cheap ones very easily!

5. Bucket- You could do without a bucket, but mixing soils, moving plants, watering, weeding, and a host of other duties are much easier with one! Just about any Wal-mart bakery will give you a free bucket, you just have to clean out the frosting, or you can purchase them relatively cheap at hardware stores. Be creative and recycle things! The pails that scoop-able cat litter come in work well for example.

Keep watering you seedlings and rotate them in your windows or under grow lights. The first week of April is a good time to start tomatoes!!! Mmmm I can't wait for tomatoes!

If you any questions or want to chat about your garden call, text, or email me any time! Lisa Jacobsgaard 309-472-0297 and lisaj1121@ymail.com

Upcoming Relief Society Activity

Come Learn About Gardening!

Date: Thursday the 5th of April
Time: 6:30 pm... in the cultural hall.
Activity: Vertical Gardening taught by our own Lisa Jacobsguard.
Taster's Table: Sisters are invited to bring items for the Tasters Table that either came from their garden or could have come from their garden.
Those Invited: All sisters and their female friends.... interested in learning how to make their own vertical garden.
Child care will be provided...just contact Sister Harston. (309) 923-7333