New for 2011 at Potawatomi Conservatories!
Fun and informative classes for the whole family!
All classes begin at 10:00 a.m. at Potawatomi Conservatories, 2105 Mishawaka Ave., South Bend. Parking available at the River Park Library.
5-Week Series: How to Grow a Vegetable Garden
Leader: Mitch Yaciw, Unity Gardens
Jan 29 Planning Your Vegetable Garden
Plan ahead: avoid problems in your vegetable garden
Feb 5 The Dirt on Soil
Good soil preparation makes your vegetable garden grow
Feb 12 Indoor Seed Starting
Get a jump start on your vegetable garden
Feb 26 Garden Pests
Protect your vegetable plants from insect pests, molds, and weeds
Mar 5 Maintaining Your Vegetable Garden
Keep your garden in shape
This special series of classes is free to all participants! We encourage you to bring the whole family!
For more information: 574-904-3491 (Unity Gardens) or 574-235-9442 (Potawatomi Conservatories)
E-mail: growunitygardens@yahoo.com http://theunitygardens.blogspot.com/
Botanical Society Monthly Classes
Feb 19 Orchid Basics, Don Keim, Botanical Society
A hands-on workshop for all ages. This workshop introduces participants to orchid growing and care including information about dividing and repotting.
March 19 Rain Barrels, Vicky Rydzynski, Master Gardener
Rain barrels save water and save you money. Learn how to build a rain barrel using supplies you have at home. All participants are eligible for a door prize of a free rain barrel!
April 9 Plant and Grow 4H Victory Vegetables, Diana Mendelsohn, Botanical Society
Seed, plants, and fertilizer samples to be given away. Bring your best to the 4H Fair in July.
Cost per class is the price of admission to the Conservatories ($3/adult; $2/child over 5 years). For more information: 574-235-9442; E-mail: BSSB2105@gmail.com
Purchase a Membership to The Botanical Society and get in free all year Long
Individual $25
Family of 4 $ 50
The Unity Gardens are 501(c)3 Non-profit. Initiated in the South Bend area with a goal of community building through a framework of Gardens. The gardens not only provide healthy food for anyone, but also educate the community on how to grow, and eat healthy food. Checkout our new website at www.theunitygardens.org
Friday, January 28, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Master Gardener
I am now a master gardener intern. On one year of service before I become a Master Gardener. So I was able to attend my first St Joe Valley Master Gardeners meeting of the Year. Heidi from The Botanical Society spoke to the group about the new plans for the Potawatomi Greenhouse, and Conservatories. A new heating system in , and plans for a parking lot, and maybe even a new energy efficient greenhouse. Next it was MG business upcoming events, fundraisers, Volunteer Opportunities. Phil Sutton with Purdue Extension spoke about the mission statement of the extension. A big goal for them is fact based education on growing , and better nutrition . It fits well with the Unity Gardens mission statement with is to not only help feed people, but also teach them how to grow, prepare healthy food.
Also Don Keim brought in his Blue ribbon water color. Great Night !
Lots of good folks.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Earth Friendly Eating
While I was at the Growing a Garden class Sara set up a Unity Gardens booth at the Earth Friendly Eating Conference at the downtown library. Its the 4th year for the 
conference put on by Judith Rubleske. Judith is an RN working for W.I.C. Judith started 1 Unity Garden in 2009 and in 2010 had 2 Unity Gardens. In 2011 she is starting her own group of community gardens called The Westside Community Gardens. Judith is a promoter of growing and eating healthy food grown locally.
The focus of the conference went in a few directions .
Judith spoke about building community through gardening
The keynote speaker Tim Bayer spoke about living simple in order to be kinder to our environment.
The Cities Dave Thomas spoke about city land use for community gardens.
It was a great event. The Unity Gardens Booth was pretty busy . We had a chance to promote our new free community plots at the LaSalle Square Unity Garden. We had many inquries about the gardens.
conference put on by Judith Rubleske. Judith is an RN working for W.I.C. Judith started 1 Unity Garden in 2009 and in 2010 had 2 Unity Gardens. In 2011 she is starting her own group of community gardens called The Westside Community Gardens. Judith is a promoter of growing and eating healthy food grown locally.The focus of the conference went in a few directions .
Judith spoke about building community through gardening
The keynote speaker Tim Bayer spoke about living simple in order to be kinder to our environment.
The Cities Dave Thomas spoke about city land use for community gardens.
It was a great event. The Unity Gardens Booth was pretty busy . We had a chance to promote our new free community plots at the LaSalle Square Unity Garden. We had many inquries about the gardens.
Class at the Conservatory
I had my first class at the Conservatory 
The class on plants went fairly well . The attendance was great. About 40 people. I am new to this teaching, and went through my powerpoint pretty quick, but lucky for me we had a great Q&A session after the presentation. Andy & Don with the Botanical Society help Field all sorts of questions. I learned that making classes more interactive is something we should do. Some classes will be very interactive , like the class on seed starting where we will be starting plants inside so they can be transplanted into the participants garden later in the spring . I look forward to expanding our classes we offer. Some ideas are bee keeping, Container gardening, and composting. Look for more info on our events page.
The class on plants went fairly well . The attendance was great. About 40 people. I am new to this teaching, and went through my powerpoint pretty quick, but lucky for me we had a great Q&A session after the presentation. Andy & Don with the Botanical Society help Field all sorts of questions. I learned that making classes more interactive is something we should do. Some classes will be very interactive , like the class on seed starting where we will be starting plants inside so they can be transplanted into the participants garden later in the spring . I look forward to expanding our classes we offer. Some ideas are bee keeping, Container gardening, and composting. Look for more info on our events page.
McKinley School
Friday we helped Mckinley School in the Kick off their Garden program. They did a wonderful job of planning and organizing a veggie tasting. Deb Martin is the Schools Principal , and the Unity Garden leader at the school. She, and her team have put together a program that will teach the students all about growing vegetables, and eating healthy. They managed to get every student k to 4th ( 400 + ) through what I can only call a production line for vegetable tasting. With the help of the 4th graders they set up tables of over 25 different veggies. The 4th graders handed out the raw samples, and then collected data on how the other students liked the samples. Then they went through the line themselves. Later they can use the data to help plan their garden.
Purdue extension is teaching the 4th grade students a Junior Master Gardening course. They in turn will help the younger students in the garden.
Big plans a McKinley School for a great garden
Thursday, January 20, 2011
This week
This week Sara met with a couple Garden Leaders this week.
Carol with the South Paw Garden . They have been part of the Unity Gardens for two years , and planning 2011 to be thier third . Look for the story on South Paw soon on our blog .
A new garden this year is Mckinley School . Deb is the Garden Leader . This should be an exciting garden. Teaching Healthy eating habits, and growing healthy food.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Learning & Planning
Today started with Sara & I attending a Plant propagation class at the Potawatomi Conservatories. The class was very informative. Andy an IUSB biology professor , and president of the botanical Society of South Bend . We both learned alot about plant structure, and growth. An added bonus was we propagated plants off plants in the Greenhouse. Later we can come back, an see them grow until they are ready to take home . Next Saturday Unity Gardens starts its series on growing a vegetable
Later in the day we met with some folks on the West side from the Lincoln Way Gateway Association. We updated them on the LaSalle Square Unity Garden. We let them know about future plans at the garden. We answered questions, and ask for input on the gardens future.
Just for fun we drove by the Memorial Hospital Unity Garden . Not ready to plant yet !!
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