By LOIS KINDLE
lekindle@aol.com
Members of the Apollo Beach Garden Club have been busy gearing up for the Community Forest Garden's upcoming growing season and the club’s annual membership meeting in September.
Before they gather to elect new board members and discuss their fall planting plans, they’ve spent the summer pitching in behind the scenes to freshen up the garden and its overall operation. Members recently installed another eight 32-inch-tall Vego raised beds as part of a project to slowly replace all 24 in-ground beds by year’s end.
The new, off-the-ground beds will make gardening a bit easier for everyone, especially folks who are older or have trouble bending or stooping. Their reinforced design should help the garden better withstand future storm damage.
The rental cost of $50 per year includes soil, organic amendments and fertilizer, access to tools, water and friendly support from fellow gardeners.
The club is currently in the midst of its Summer Membership Drive with a goal of increasing its rolls to 60 and will be hosting an Open House at the Center from 8:30 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Aug. 15.
“We'll be cooking up a free breakfast of farm-fresh eggs and a member-supplied potluck in the garden, offering tours and welcoming everyone in the South Shore area to come join us to explore the garden and spend time with fellow plant enthusiasts,” said Teresa Hall, director of marketing and an urban agriculture and community garden specialist. “Come meet other members, ask questions and see what’s growing now in the garden and food forest. We’ll also have plant starts for sale in our nursery.”
The Apollo Beach Garden Club’s Annual Membership Meeting will be Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 6:30 p.m. at the Apollo Beach Recreation Center, 664 Golf and Sea Blvd. A free sourdough class will be held after voting.
The cost of annual membership is $32. Members who have logged 10 volunteer hours and completed orientation are eligible to rent one of the limited number of available organic garden beds in the Community Garden. They get to share in the garden’s communal harvest, provided they are present and volunteer.
Members have the opportunity to garden alongside dynamic gardeners with extensive knowledge who love to share it, and they get access to plants, seeds and information they might not otherwise discover. They’ll be invited to free members-only events and get a free Florida Federation of Garden Clubs membership, plus the club’s monthly newsletter.
Mark your calendars now for the Garden Club’s always popular semi-annual plant sale scheduled to take place Saturday, Nov. 14. Vendor registration is available for anyone selling anything having to do with gardening. Applications are available under the Plant Sales tab at https://apollobeachgardenclub.com/.
The 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization welcomes all donations, which are 100% tax deductible.
For more information, call Hall at 813-310-3204 or email kcproductions4fl@hotmail.com/.