Hello Sarasota gardeners!

Another week and the applications just keep pouring in. We're up to twenty-five plus plots reserved and it's barely been a month! Have you signed up for your plot yet?

Our latest project in Mission: Build Culverhouse Garden is applying for a County Neighborhood Grant to cover the cost of fencing. And we need you help to do it! We get the grant if we can raise matching funds through labor pledges by volunteers. Here's how it works:

( 1 ) We need volunteers willing to pledge an amount of hours towards helping the garden. The types of jobs you could pledge for are:

• Rake up debris from first tilling of the soil

• Go to garage sales to find garden tools and 2 children's wagons

• Mulch the 2 main paths and install edging to them.

• Help measure off the individual plots

• Help remove weeds in common areas before and after planting trees and shrubs

• Plant shrubs and plants

• Help install Founders Bricks to form a path

• Organize the tool shed, installing hooks, racks, etc. for tools.

• Help hang sponsor signage on chain link garden fence

• Help make 2 gardening tables with wire mesh bottom surface.

• Help build an arbor

Each hour pledged equals $15 towards the matching grant which will be used to build our fence.

( 2 ) Gather up signatures from friends, family, neighbors on a volunteer pledge sheet and mail it by the deadline September 24, 2010 to:

Marcia Freeman

4668 Sweetmeadow Circle

Sarasota FL 34238

Just fill in the first FIVE (5) columns of the attached Volunteer Labor Worksheet. You just need to sign up for hours right now. The actual work won't begin until we get our grant (in December once we raise enough hours!) and it won't include work on your own plot.

Any questions go to Marcia by email at otherstuff5@verizon.net

With just a little help from everyone we'll have our garden up and running in no time!

Here's the pledge sheet:

Explore Sleeping Turtles Preserve North with Sarasota County Volunteers Al Squires and Denny Girard on Wednesday, August 11, 2010 from 9 – 11 AM. Enjoy the preserve’s meandering trails canopied by old live oaks and pines. Along the way, Al and Denny share their boundless knowledge of botany, not just identification, but lore of the plants as well. Take in the scenery and information about the natural lands and the plants they support.
 
This preserve is one of many that are available to the public through the Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program. In addition to the numerous subtropical plants, visitors may observe eagles or osprey hunting over the river corridor.
 
Participants should bring binoculars, sun screen, insect repellent, drinking water and camera (optional), wear comfortable walking shoes and a hat.
 
Participants can reach the Sleeping Turtles Preserve North, 3462 Border Road, Venice from northbound I-75, by taking exit 193 and then turning right on to Jacaranda Boulevard. From southbound I-75, take exit 193 and turn left on to Jacaranda Boulevard. Proceed north approximately 0.7 miles on Jacaranda Blvd. to the stop sign and turn right onto Border Road. Proceed approximately 2 miles east on Border Road to the bridge over the Myakka River. As you approach the bridge, the Sleeping Turtles Preserve North parking lot will be on the left (north side), immediately before the bridge.
 
Register on-line at www.scgov.net. Click Calendar of Events on the left. Click the 'All Events' drop down list, choose 'Nature Walks'. Look for the area on the bottom of the nature walk information to click to register. Space for this walk is limited to 20.