Good Bugs

Cara Fleischer and emerging ladybugs
 

Cara Fleischer is a Leon Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisor, a Creation Care leader at St. Paul's United Methodist Church and the co-leader of Tallahassee Citizens' Climate Lobby.  She is on a mission to spread information about sustainable living.  At the UF/IFAS Leon County Extension Open House this spring, she released many, many ladybugs into the VegHeadz garden.  Ladybugs provide biological control of aphids and many other pests and diseases.  Biological pest control is an important part of Integrated Pest Management (IPM).  To learn more about how this works and about Cara's ladybug mission, explore the links below. 

http://livinggreen.ifas.ufl.edu/landscaping/ipm.html

http://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/lawn-and-garden/ladybugs-in-florida/

http://blogs.tallahassee.com/community/2018/03/27/friendly-ladybugs-keep-gardens-healthy/

The New Raised Beds are Finished!!!

Would you believe it!  The semi-circle of twelve raised beds in the VegHeadz garden has been completed thanks to faithful and talented Master Gardener volunteers Mike Dugger, Glenn Berman, Buddy Holzhauser, and Howard Kirk.  They are wonderful!

Three of the beds were planted for the spring growing season and are flourishing.  All beds will be filled and ready for fall planting.  The beds are deep, so we are gathering plant material, small logs, brush from non-invasive trees, and even several whole banana trees which were thinned to add to the bottom of the beds.  Most vegetables require only the first 6 to 8 inches of soil to thrive.  The materials in the bottom of the beds are being added to reduce the amount of gardening soil need, and also to furnish a continuing source of nutrients.  As the base materials decompose, they will help conserve moisture and provide compost for crops.  Additional compost and mulches will be added to the top as the decomposition process lowers the soil level. 

The Master Gardening irrigation team under the direction of Master Gardener Dwight Arnold will be adding micro-irrigation to the beds.  The four wedges of three beds each will be incorporated into our rotation schedule to help control pests and diseases from season to season. 

Stay tuned as we continue to realize our dreams for the vegetable demonstration garden at UF/IFAS Leon County Extension..