OTCG Workday

On Saturday, November 3, the OTCG Gardeners met for a morning of hard work to assemble the frames for the raised beds.

The morning was also filled with laughter, friendship, memories, fun and fulfillment.

Here are some pictures from that morning. Don't forget to come by the garden and see the completed frames!

Thanks everyone for your hard work and the laughs!

MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR: Alma & Harry

Gardener Name(s): Harry Maynard with my assistant, Alma Maynard

I fish, hunt and read. I grew up in Fort Worth but have lived in Lewisville since the mid 70s. I work at Texas New Mexico Power and have for the last 28 years.

I learned of the garden through my assistant Alma who works at CCA.

Our yard is not very sunny. I haven't had good luck with my home garden so when I heard of the opportunity to garden with the advice of master gardeners, I couldn't pass up the chance.

How experienced are you in Gardening? Inexperienced.

What is growing in your garden? Tomatoes and squash at OTCG (peppers and tomatoes at home).

What do you hope to accomplish this year in the Garden? More knowledge of gardening. Fresh vegetables for the CCA food pantry as well as my table.

Everyone is so friendly. I have met many new people that I enjoy.

Stop by and visit us at plots A3 & B3!

MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR: Troop 621

L - R. Breann, Natalie, Joanne-Troop Leader, Kaylee, Jessica, and Jessica.
There are 12 girls total in Troop 621.

Troop leader Joanne tells us about these amazing young gardeners...

Troop 621 is a Junior Girl Scout Troop composed of 4th and 5th graders from Lewisville schools. Junior's are in between Brownies and Cadettes. There are 5 levels of girl scouts from Daisies to Senior girls. Some of our girls have been in scouts since 2nd grade. Others just joined our Troop this past August.

A Girl Scout is a girl who honors the 3 parts of the Girl Scout Promise that guide their values. They work on projects that are fun, and help people in their communities. Girl scouts also learn skills that help them become better people and future Leaders. Scouts go on field trips, go camping, and work together as a group toward a common goal. They also earn badges for the projects they have completed. Our Troop has completed arts and crafts, cooking, fitness, making jewelry, child care, swimming, math whiz, etc., and we sold over 1200 boxes of cookies this year!

I (Joanne) personally have made a hobby of gardening since childhood. Some of the girls have gardens at home some do not.

I decided to start gardening with OTCG because it was a great opportunity to grow fruit and veggies with my girls to not only earn badges and a Bronze award, but to give to others the most basic necessity of food. We are also getting to experience the joy of planting and watching things grow. Of course, the real reward will come later when we get to eat what we harvest.

The best thing so far is spending time with my Troop and my kids and watching them learn how difficult and rewarding gardening can be.

When not gardening, I am a really hooked on any kind of Arts and Crafts project.

Stop by and meet the Gardeners from Troop 621!

MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR: Eileen Graziano

My name is Eileen Graziano, and I have lived in Lewisville for 22 1/2 years. I used to garden when I lived in Connecticut, where the soil is beautiful, but was frustrated trying to get anything to grow in Texas clay.

I first heard about the garden through an insert in our water bill a few months ago, and decided if someone else was going to do all the major tilling, I would like to grow something other than houseplants again.

I guess I would consider myself an average gardener. I love working in the dirt, and it is fun getting to know the others in the garden.

I have planted in my garden, at the present time: cantalopes, cucumbers, pole beans, grape, cherry and slicing tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, red and green bell peppers, yellow and red onions, yellow straight neck squash, marigolds, nasturtiums, cilantro, parsley, basil and rosemary.

I'm just hoping I can beat the summer heat on my plants, and for a harvest big enough to share with the pantry.

Stop by and get to know Eileen!

OTCG: In the News

The Dallas Morning News included a story on the Garden in the Sunday, April 15 edition.
CLICK HERE TO READ ONLINE.

Also, we made the cover of the DMN Southern Denton County Neighbors, Saturday, April 14. Photos and story appear on pages 20 and 21.

The Dallas Morning News included a story on the Garden in the Sunday, April 15 edition.
CLICK HERE TO FIND PICK-UP LOCATIONS.