May+Early June

Hello Community Gardeners!

If you are receiving this email then you have either volunteered with us in the past, would like to volunteer in the future, or are just interested in the goings-on at the Ridgewood Community Garden. Either way, welcome to the May/June 2025 RCG newsletter. Below you will find our garden dates for May and early-June, information on volunteering, and some upcoming events.

May and early-June are the time in zone 7b (our growing zone) when we plant our main crops for the season while still getting to enjoy the gorgeous spring weather before the heat of summer. Last month we planted spring greens, kale, carrots, herbs, and lots more. We also transferred our peppers, which were started indoors way back in March, into our raised beds. In our ground plot we sowed a cover crop of buckwheat by making furrows and mulching over them to protect the seeds. The Pawpaw set its blooms two weeks ago ready to be pollinated by flies, and we are still enjoying beautiful spring blooms from our irises, alliums, and columbine. This month, we can expect to harvest radishes, greens, garlic scapes, and strawberries. In June, many of our berry plants will ripen: juneberries, black currants, raspberries, and gooseberries, oh my!

During open hours this month we will focus on planting in our ground plots. We will first prep for our three sisters patch with corn, beans, and squash. Then we will put in our tomatoes and build them a strong trellis. Sunday open hours will start earlier in the day as we adjust to hotter temperatures (don’t forget your water and sunscreen!). We also anticipate the return of weeknight evening hours TBA soon. We welcome you back to the garden and hope to see you on a Sunday morning soon!

Ridgewood Community Garden is open to all levels of gardeners whether you come once a season, once a month, or every week, we welcome you to the garden and to share in our community! There is no need to become a member to participate in what we’re doing at the garden.

UPCOMING GARDENING DATES

Hours TBD. Always check our Instagram or Facebook for weather updates and exact hours.

Sunday May 18th - Tomato Planting: Planting tomatoes in our ground plot and raised beds and building a trellis to support them. We will also plant beans in our Three Sisters plot.

Sunday May 25th - Squash Planting. Planting squash in our Three Sisters plot and doing general garden maintenance ie. weeding, watering, harvesting.

Sunday June 1st - General Weeding/Harvesting. General clean up in the garden for ground plots, flower beds, and misc. tasks. Installation of arch trellis.

Sunday June 8th - TBD.

Last Month at the Garden:

BECOMING A RCG MEMBER

If you are interested in fulfilling the requirements for becoming a member this season, or completed the requirements last season, please let us know via email or at open hours and we can send you the full list of requirements. Please consider that membership requires a minimum commitment of 30 hours a season (March-December), participation in monthly meetings, and yearly dues. If this sounds like too much, all are always welcome as volunteers!

If you would like to be more involved, but can’t become a member, consider joining one of our working groups: the Social Media Team, Watering Team, Compost Crew, Event Planning Group, and Design & Build Team. Joining a committee is a way to get more involved at the garden during and outside of our open hours without necessarily becoming a full member and is something we are trying to get up and running this summer. The best way to get more involved is to come to open hours and learn more, or join our Discord.

LOVE VOLUNTEERING WITH US? JOIN OUR OPEN COLLECTIVE TO BECOME A SUPPORTER!