Newsletter January 2024

In this Issue...

• In the Garden this month…
• Year-to-Date Harvest Numbers
• Upcoming Event - Annual Meeting
• Recent Postings
• How to Volunteer

January in the Garden

The weather for this month looks to be warmer than average,especially the lows. Port Townsend area averages a high of 44° F and a low of 38° F with a daily precipitation of 0.2 inches. Precipitation maybe a bit high this year according to NOAA.  If we don’t get a good freeze we will have more trouble with insects in the coming spring. Also some of our trees need a certain number of frost days to fruit well.  I have hopes for a good February freeze but we shall have to wait and see.

Planning  

It is seed dreaming time.  Time to look through our stored seeds and seed catalogs and see what we want to grow this year.  There are always interesting new varieties to try and old reliable favorites to stock upon.  Remember to review your crop rotation while planning what to grow and where you will be planting it.

Seed Storage

This is very important for all long term gardeners.  Whether you are buying seeds or saving them yourself, how you store them is very important. Jadyne Reichner atOatplanter Seeds has done a great deal of research on seed storage and generously shared it with the Growing Groceries classes.  I have listened to her talk on seed saving many times and my main takeaway has been that seeds last longer when stored in glass jars.  I have tried this and it works really well.  Larger seed packets and buying in bulk are often cheaper. (Don’t forget that FBG has a seed library that is available to all our Garden Managers.) So if you can save the seed reliably this is a wonderful way to save money.  Yes, you still need a cool, dark place to store them in.

Planting  

Yes we can begin planting, at least starts inside.  When setting up your starts it is important to plant more than you think you will need.  There are often challenges over the next few months and if you have extras at transplant time you can always pass them onto others who were not so lucky. I try to plant at least 25% to 30% more than I need.

• This is a good time to start your allium seeds. These do not need additional light as many are light sensitive but do not want it too cold.  
• You can also start some slow growing flowers as well as artichokes, endive, lettuce and lavender.
• I have also started some tomatoes and peppers later in the month.  These just need more transplanting up before they go to their final location.

Garden Tasks

• Time to set up your propagation area.
• Clean up your reused pots and check out any grow lights and mats you have.
• This is a good time to clean up your pathways and maybe do some sheet mulching.  I have been experimenting with topping my pathway card board with sand.  I still get some weeds but they are really easy to pull and it lasts a lot longer than wood chips.  One drawback is the cats think it is a litter box, however this is better than them using freshly planted beds.

Harvest  

For those who have managed to keep their winter garden going the harvest continues.  Fresh broccoli sprouts and winter greens, overwintering carrots and beets, scallions and leeks all liven up our winter meals.  It is a treat to go out to harvest even in January and have these tasty treats to share.  I hope that next year we can all plan to keep our gardens growing year round so we can continue to Grow, Gather and Give.

HappyGardening!

Dianna Wiklund 🌻

FBG GardenCoordinator

Year-to-Date Harvest  

We have a high bar to reach in 2024. Last year we gave away 36845 pounds.

Thank you Harvest Data Queen, Noreen Andrews for keeping watch and keeping score.

ANNUAL MEETING

Food Bank Farm & Gardens of Jefferson County, Inc.  dba  Food Bank Growers

Monday, January 8, 2024

5:30-6:45 PM

Humphrey Room

Jefferson County Public Library

620 Cedar Avenue

Irondale/Port Hadlock, WA

Also available on zoom link if you send a request for the link to FBGSecretary@gmail.com by January 7th.

This Month’s Postings on FoodBankGrowers.org

A Healthy New Year with Nutritionally Dense Food

Recovery Cafe, turns “any vegetable” into an amazing tart.

Volunteers Needed for:

• NEXT SEASON Garden Managers -- Each garden needs a point person -- someone who can point to what to do next… This year we're partnering new Garden Managers with experienced ones for every step. Between them, Dianna, and the Monthly "to dos", you'll have everything you need to produce baskets full of produce.

• WINTER Growers - - Learn how to grow fresh food for the Food Banks while learning how to grow food for yourself at home. We guarantee the every day you'll learn something new. All gardens will need help -- the more volunteers, the easier and more fun the work becomes. Go to the MAP SECTION of the website and locate a garden near you. Stay at one, or rotate through many. Hours differ by garden.

• WINTER Harvesters - Each garden will need harvesters to pick and prepare the produce for the Food Bank distribution. Hours differ by garden.

• GLEANERS The gleaning season is over, but if you want to be included in 2024 tree donation or volunteer to pick - write toPTgleaning@gmail.com.

VOLUNTEER HERE for computer work, writing, office-type duties…