Sunday, October 28, 2007

Upcoming Events at OTCG

Hi Everyone -

Here is the upcoming calendar of events for November at the OTCG:

  • Saturday, November 3 at 8:00am
    -- the frames for the raised beds will be built by the gardeners
  • Saturday, November 10 at 9:00am
    -- the dirt for the raised beds will be spread by the gardeners and volunteers
  • Tuesday, November 13 at 6:30pm
    -- ALL GARDENERS meeting at the CCA

See you in the garden!

Friday, October 19, 2007

OTCG: In the News...

Watch for the Saturday, October 27 of NeighborsGo! (Southern Denton County) for an OTCG End-of-Season article.

Thanks everyone--it's been a great first season!

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Community Garden Celebrates Inaugural Year!

In less than 12 months, community volunteers, came together to turn an old, rugged parking lot into a community garden. Strangers became friends as the shared passion for the outdoors, gardening, and making a positive impact on the community brought a diverse group of individuals together. More than 290 pounds of vegetables were donated to Christian Community Action.

"CCA operates a medium-sized grocery store for poor families in our community," says Maureen Cummings, CCA Garden Liaison. "The pantry assists over 550 families each week. 30% of the people served by the CCA’s food pantry are diabetic. Many times the food available at the pantry is not always the best choices for diabetics. The surplus portion of the produce grown was donated to the food pantry to provide the much needed fresh vegetables for our families."

A brief look back...

Transforming an old parking lot...


A name is selected and a logo created



Developing garden plots.


Adding Irrigation




Creating Walkways




Gardeners Purchase Plots


A boy scout in pursuit of the rank of Eagle Scout designs and builds a compost bin


The Garden Blessing
















Adding Beauty


An Arbor is Added


Amazing Grace Chimes Donated


Grand Opening






Gardener T-Shirts




The First Donation


Compost Education Session


Compost Heats Up


The Garden Grows








End of Season Soil Prep




Thanks for a great inaugural season everyone!

Saturday, October 13, 2007

October 6 End of Season Garden Party

Look for an article to appear in an upcoming issue NeighborsGo! (Southern Denton County edition). The story covers our End of Season Garden Party and Work Day.



















Sunday, October 7, 2007

Lazara Arriola's Salsa!

Fellow Gardener Lazara Arriola and her husband enjoyed the inaugural year in the Old Town Community Garden! They grew tomatoes and jalapeno peppers for homemade salsa.

Lazara shares her delicious recipe with everyone!

Ingredients:

5 ripened tomatoes
3 medium size yellow onions
12 small to medium size jalapenos
5 garlic cloves
1 bunch of cilantro
1 T cumin
1 1/2 T of salt
6 C of water

Instructions:
1. Cut up the ripened tomatoes and yellow onions into small pieces (nickel size) and place them in a large skillet.

2. Cut up the jalapenos into small pieces (to look like dime size thin rings and play with color! Jalapenos come in all colors!) then spread them over the tomatoes and onions. That's both fun and colorful! (Make sure you wear disposable gloves when handling jalapenos! or you will be painfully surprised)

3. Smash the 5 fresh garlic cloves and scatter them over the tomatoes, onions and jalapenos.

4. Separate the cilantro leaves from their stem and use only the leaves. Chop the leaves into small pieces and add them to the tomatoes, onions, jalapenos and garlic. (Throw away the cilantro stems. If you add the stems this will give the salsa an unpleasant texture and a bitter taste.)

5. Mix all of the above, then add the condiments of Cumin & Salt.

6. Toss all the ingredients well.

7. Add 6 cups of water (which should cover all the ingredients.)

8. Cook at medium high for about 45 minutes (stir a few times while cooking).

9. Lower the heat to a low-medium for about 10 minutes while you smash all the ingredients in order to obtain the right Salsa consistency (still chunky, but not lumpy)

10. Stir the Salsa and let it cook for another 10-15 minutes on low heat. After that, turn off the heat and smash the Salsa again for a few minutes.

Take out the chips out and Enjoy! The Salsa is now ready to eat! Remember: HOT is best!