Mesa Urban Garden

Here's a fun Throwback Thursday photo... can you believe this BEFORE pic of the property where Mesa Urban Garden now sits???

To follow up on my growing celery post, - sorry I do not have a picture. Celery is an over-looked vegetable - as a vegetable, not just a flavoring agent. I ori...ginally created this for Thanksgiving back in the early 2000s. Since this a "sweet" type of dish, an alternative would be using crushed coriander seed instead of the poultry seasoning, and leave out the cranberries, heating the coriander in the oil before adding celery and proceed with the cooking. When I was writing one of my books I played around with the coriander / celery combo and I really liked it. BRAISED CELERY WITH CRANBERRIES Celery has been forgotten as a vegetable by itself, replaced almost entirely for its "aromatic" qualities in mixtures. The sweeter "hearts" and tender center leaves give this vegetable another aspect. Save the tougher outer stalks and leaves for your soups and "aromatic" work. Celery, both vegetable and seed, has long been used as a "substitute" for salt, in part because it has naturally occurring sodium. Celery is also a diuretic and a possible hepatic (liver and digestive aid). 2 cups cut-up celery (more attractive if sliced on angle) 2 tablespoons tender celery leaves for garnish 1 teaspoon olive oil 2-3 tablespoons water 1/2 cup whole fresh cranberries 1/4 cup dried cranberries 1 teaspoon favorite poultry seasoning, or 1 and 1/2 tablespoons of fresh mixed herbs chopped finely sage, marjoram, parsley, and thyme) Heat oil and add seasoning, mix well, add celery, whole cranberries and 2 tablespoons of water, stir and simmer covered for 25-30 minutes until tender. Whole cranberries will pop in first 5 minutes. Stir often. Add additional water if needed. Stir in dried cranberries last 10 minutes of cooking. Garnish with celery leaves.

Hey fellow community gardeners! Our hot summers are a great time to learn. On August 8, the American Community Garden Association (ACGA) conference will take place. It is the largest North American gathering of individuals directly engaged in community-based gardening and urban farming. The theme for this year’s conference is Digging for Victory where they will be exploring ways that community gardens bring people together and build more resilient communities during the cor...onavirus pandemic. Enjoy a great keynote address, workshops, virtual tours of community gardens and opportunities for networking with fellow gardeners from across North America. Registration fee: $45 (includes one year membership in ACGA!). Register today! https://www.communitygarden.org/event

Update: Garden -2 Squirrels-0!!! Surprise , surprise there were 2 squirrels living at the garden! I hope the first one didn’t find his way back to us!! Now I’ll work on the rabbits I hope

Garden-1 Squirrel -0!!! I warned him that I had had enough of his years of broken promises to leave and find somewhere else to live. I made a plan , acquired the tools necessary and after I saw him frolicking around the garden with his new Bunny friend, that he invited to hang out and keep him company, I sprang into action. I set the trap where he was hanging around . I smeared p-nut butter on the plank and sweetened the deal with some Bluberry crisp cliff bar. He was a greedy , well nourished and threw caution to the wind!! HE WAS CAUGHT!!!! So I wisked him away to a place that would love to have a resident squirrel!!! There is water, and lots of fast food places to snack from and hopefully more squirrels!!! Now back to get his Bunny friend!!!

Central Arizona Conservation is holding a digital event TONIGHT on MONSOON GARDENING: FOOD PLANTS! Tickets are $25 (or $40 for Weds & Thurs classes) -- Join native gardener Laura Neff (Neff) for an evening of learning about how to have a productive and successful monsoon food garden in the low desert! The presentation will be online via Zoom, and there will be plenty of time for questions and answers. This is a companion class to Monsoon Pollinator Gardening, which will be presented Thursday evening. You can register for one or both classes. https://cazca.org/events/monsoon-gardening-food-plants/

The garden is donating our produce from the foodbank gardens this spring to the Navajo Nation food drive. Our neighbor, Republica Empanada Restaurant, has been taking donated food and supplies each week up to northern Arizona and distributing it. Please help them continue to do this by donating items or cash to their restaurant by Wednesday’s. Please check their Facebook page for the items they need and the Venmo link @NavajoNation2020 for cash donations!!!!! Thank you

Coloring pages for you to print and COLOR! With from your own @mesaurbangarden here in beautiful #downtownmesa Disclaimer: coloring may be done by adults but preferably under close supervision by children #cultivareenmesa #iheartmug #mug #hechoenmesa

¡Feliz Día de la Tierra! ¡Cincuenta Años ! NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration (l’historia es abajo)

This is NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration 50th anniversary Earth Day Poster ! Happy Earth Day! ( the story behind it is in the comments) you can download this living art here https://science.nasa.gov/toolkits/earth-day-2020

Happy Earth Day! The City of Mesa, Arizona Government has some great tips and tools to help you lighten the load on ol' Mother Earth. Check them out here: https://www.mesaaz.gov/residents/earth-day

Today is Earth Day! 50 years ago today communities across the country celebrated the first Earth Day. Today, the Earth Day Network holds a digital Earth Day across the globe. Arizona PBS has a number of resources for all ages available to do at home, including streaming some documentaries through the end of the month. If you're able, consider taking a bike ride and enjoying the weather and air. https://azpbs.org/2020/04/happy-earth-day-from-arizona-pbs/