Strawberries Changing the World

You might wonder from the title how a tiny strawberry can change the world. Well, let me explain. I've been collecting strawberries from the garden for the past week or two, enough to fill one of those regular sized plastic cartons from the store. I was wondering what to do with them and so I got to thinking.

The garden is paid for through tithes by the parishioners. So technically all of the produce belongs to the congregation. I'm always telling people that they are welcome to pick what they need. However, I'm kind of glad that they let me pick everything and then bring it in every Sunday to share. That way I can pick things when they're ripe and assure that everyone has a fair chance to get what they want/need each week.

So, the only plants that are producing enough fruit to share right now have been the strawberries. Let me stop and explain that I'm no expert on the care of strawberry plants. I didn't realize that slugs and snails love strawberries and will eat little holes in them if you don't protect the plants and put mulch or straw (strawberries, get it) down around them. Most of the strawberries I was picking were either half-ripe or had a small hole or two from the slugs. I didn't throw them away though. I just cut the hole out and the rest of the berry was fine. I even ate a few to make sure they wouldn't make people sick and they were delicious and they didn't make me sick.

Then I started thinking about upcoming church functions where I could serve the strawberries and where they would do the most good. It didn't dawn on me until Amy Lyon asked if I was bringing something for the "Change the World" bake sale that I could make a dessert with the berries. The proceeds from the bake sale would then be used to buy much-needed books for Groveton Elementary School's reading program. So there you have how strawberries can change the world. Who knows what greatness those books will spark in the kids at Groveton.

Thanks again to Tracy for putting the Buy Fresh Buy Local magnet behind the pies. That added a lot to their attraction. Oh, and if you're curious about the recipe I can tell you what ingredients I used but not the proportions.

Mini Strawberry Pies:
- mini graham cracker crusts
- strawberries mixed with agave nectar and cinnamon
- topping of brown sugar, vanilla flavored granola, and butter

Here are more pictures of the Change the World weekend event at MVUMC

It's a Grand Old Flag

Mom and I bought some plants over the weekend for the planter boxes. This is right after I had received an email from a church board member asking me to cool it on the garden spending. He didn't give me a number as a ceiling. He just said to be conservative with my spending. Minus
the flowers for the planters, I have spent under $300 of the church's money for annuals, a few perennials, seeds, starter soil for the seeds, a few veggie and herb plants, and garden soil. I had to replace some of the tools that I had purchased last year with church funds. But, since I broke them, I spent my money to buy new ones. Also, mom spent her own money to buy hanging baskets for the two hooks on the evergreen tree. So, I was a little resentful when I was told to stop spending so much of the church landscaping funds. I understand that having a garden is a frill. But, I also understand that having an inviting church exterior will make visitors and potential new members feel welcome.

Anyway, I immediately started thinking of solutions to this problem. I came up with two ideas that I had cleared by the same board member. First, I can place a jar at the back of the sanctuary and announce during worship services that I'm collecting funds for the garden. Second, I can have a plant sale to sell the excess seedlings I planted and have no room for. I have about 15 sweet basil plants that I could part with. There are also a ton of 'extra' plants that pop up in the garden that I usually just pull and compost. For instance, there are tons of new lariope plants every year. I would gladly part with them for funds to purchase the summer and fall annuals. So I have my marching orders and I have a great desire to keep the garden up to my high standards. Now I just need to find a jar and make an announcement. Oh, and if you were wondering, I'm not charging the church for the plants for the planters. I will count them as a donation to the church which I can claim on my taxes next year.

Back to gardening! I mentioned the plants that I bought for the planters. We got these fern spikes for the back of the boxes, then red geraniums after that, some blue flowers in front of those, and white petunias that will hopefully thrive and spill over the edge. I'm sure you noticed by now that I said red, white, and blue; all patriotic colors. I also figured the red would work since it's a Methodist color (think of the Methodist 'cross on fire'). Plus, they are all hearty plants that will look good all summer. It took me about two hours to get the boxes planted and placed on the balcony. I then had to rig the hose and reel so I could water the planters every other day. The land is sloping underneath the spigot so that took some huffing and puffing. But, I got it all done.


I then went to plant the gorgeous, deep purple clematis mom bought me. At first I couldn't think of a good place to put it. Clematis like to climb but they aren't destructive like ivy. They also like to have lots of sunlight which is at a premium in the garden. So, I had to think outside the box or in this case, outside of the usual flower beds. I finally decided to plant it right outside of the playground and up against the fence so that it can grow and climb the fence each year. I will probably need to clear the land around it and put up some barrier so the lawn guys don't mow it down. Then, I planted the two hydrangeas that were abandoned in the garden after Easter. I figured someone had left them there for me to plant and having no one to ask about them, I just dug two holes a few feet to either side of the clematis and dropped them in. I gave them all plant food and I'll water them well and hope for the best. They were a bit waterlogged when I found them and some of their leaves were falling off from neglect. But, I'm hopeful that they will pull through with some love and care.