Stoddart Avenue Community Garden

A vacant lot on Stoddart Avenue provides a place to grow flowers, fruits and vegetables of the gardener's own choice. (The garden is 4 blocks west of Alum Creek Drive/Bexley and 1/4 block north of E. Main St.). All gardeners are encouraged to donate a portion of their produce to a local food pantry. (See 7/7/11 Post: Plant a Row to Feed the Hungry By Donating Garden Produce to Food Pantries). To participate, contact the Garden Manager. Also see the FAQ at the bottom of this site.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Stoddart Garden's Strawberry Expedition Was Moderate Success

Last week, a group of the Stoddart Avenue Community Garden Gardeners gathered early Saturday morning to go pick strawberry at a local U-Pick farm. We had planned to go to Hann Farms, which was the closest and least expensive farm. However, you know what they say about best laid plans. Luckily, I called that morning to confirm that they were still open and, in fact, they had run out of ripe strawberries the day before. So, we went to Schact Farms in Canal Winchester, which had only a few ripe strawberries. As a result, it was fairly difficult and took much longer to find ripe strawberries for our canning and fresh food addiction. While I had anticipated that we would only spend an hour picking, we worked for close to two hours and left when we got hot. Strawberry picking has become very popular this year and we had lots of company at Schact's.

Attached is a post-picking picture of some of our group. Melissa took lots of other great pictures while we were actually picking the strawberries, but I somehow messed up the downloading process and didn't have the patience to work my way through the 700+ pictures on her camera to try again:)

Beth, Melissa and I then went to work that day to making jams and preserves. (I had made raspberry and blueberry jam the night before since the berries were on sale at Kroger's). Note to self: In the future, make only jam. Preserves take a long, long time and none of mine jelled correctly. The jams, however, turned out perfectly. I've attached pictures of my jam/preserve collection and Melissa's 2009 collection. (I LOVE her rounded new jam jars -- she got the last bunch at Riffe's Market in Grandview. If anyone know where else in Columbus I can buy these jars PLEASE EMAIL ME so that I can buy them before I make my fuzzy-naval marmalade in August (during peach season)).

Mitch and I also froze strawberries (to use in smoothies and as ice cubes). This involves washing the berries, removing the stems and leaves, freezing them on cookie sheets and then putting them in freezer bags for storage.

I called Hann's Farm again yesterday and the message says that they still have a few ripe strawberries left. Doran's Farm reported that we can pick strawberries through Father's Day. However, next year, we'll be going the first weekend in June instead of waiting . . . . .

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Thanks To SACG's Supporters

Scotts Miracle-Gro Community Garden Fund of The Columbus Foundation -- The Cougar Group -- The Columbus Public Health Department's Institute for Active Living -- Thrivent for Lutherans -- Oakland Nursery -- Members of Christ Lutheran Church -- Wrights Tree Service -- Bill Griffith -- Rain Brothers -- Kurtz Bros. -- Girl Scout Troop #1661 -- Build The Bridge of Ohio, Org. -- Trudeau's Fence Company -- Bowden Fence Company -- Home Depot at US 33 and Gender Rd. in Canal Winchester -- Jim Zeier -- Livingston Seeds -- Homeless Families Foundation -- Christopher Hogan, Esq. -- U-Haul on East Main Street -- Barb & Frank Carter -- Potsabilities -- Alexander Family -- Growing to Green -- community garden program of Franklin Park Conservatory -- Crimson Cup -- Dwain Penny -- The City of Columbus -- Urban Connections -- Highland Youth Community Garden -- GreenScapes Landscaping Company -- Tree King Services -- Davey Tree Services -- Bexley Pizza Plus -- Lowe's Home Improvement store on East Broad Street -- Artist John Sunami -- McClellan Family -- Kroger's on East Main Street -- Half-Price Books in Upper Arlington -- Barb Neubig -- Penny Miller -- Whole Foods on Lane Avenue -- Emily Spector's Read to Succeed Foundation -- Donley Complete Tree Care -- Joelle Khouzam -- Neal Barkan -- Cathy & Jason Alexander -- Kim Yee -- Keep Columbus Beautiful -- Kennco Properties -- Amy Thompson -- Mid-Ohio Food Bank Urban Agriculture Grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service's People’s Garden Initiative -- First Congregational Church

Food Pantry Donations

For 2019, SACG gardeners collectively donated over 605 pounds pounds of fresh produce. Since breaking ground, we have collectively donated over 5460 pounds of produce -- mostly this year to Faith Mission as well as to the Salvation Army, and Victory Ministries off East Main Street. (This does not include produce provided upon request to people stopping by the SACG). A list identifying the names, addresses and donation hours of some shelters, soup kitchens and food pantries in Central Ohio which accept garden produce for their clients is included on the June 18, 2014, June 27, 2013, June 26, 2012, July 7, 2011, March 2, 2010 and March 20, 2009 postings on this blog. Nearby organizations seeking fresh produce for charitable donations on Saturdays should contact the Garden Manager.

Wish List

If you have extra and wish to help out a good cause, SACG could put your generosity to good use. The SACG is a non-profit corporation organized under Ohio law and is exempt from income tax as a public charity under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations, gifts and contributions to the SACG are tax deductible.

Trowels, hand pruners and watering cans. We never seem to have enough when more than two gardeners are here.

A cordless weed wacker (to keep those edges sharp).

Yard Waste bags We never have enough.

Patio Umbrella to replace the one destroyed by the 2018 tornado.

Bench because our ancient bench donated in 2009 has broken slats and tired & hot gardeners need a place to sit.

Books for our Free Little Library, including children's, chapter books, young adult, cook books, DIY and home improvement, novels, etc.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Stoddart Garden's Strawberry Expedition Was Moderate Success

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