Fall 2021

Stay tuned for a SignUp for Fall Garden Guards.

“GARDEN GUARDS” NEED DAILY VOLUNTEERS TO: Water, weed, pick and tend the garden’s growing crops.

Note: while its best to water the garden in the morning, we will take your help any time during the day you signup for! Also, if it rains heavy, you get the day off!

SIGNUP COMING SOON – Please Sign-Up using the slots provided to choose the date/s you will commit to be responsible for this summer.

HOLD HARMLESS:  By Signing Up to be a Garden Guard this summer, you agree to WAIVER liability and consider working in the TFES Garden at your own risk.  Any fruit/vegetables you take home, you consume at your own risk.  You agree to hold harmless Upper Dublin School District, Thomas Fitzwater Elementary, its staff, Garden Club Leaders and its volunteers.

IT’S SWEET TO SUPPORT SUSTAINABILITY IN UPPER DUBLIN!

The sweetest part is that volunteers are welcome to take home ripe fruits and vegetables. Please share with us a photo of your crops. Extra points for photos of your family in the garden!

Please contact us with questions, concerns, or ideas for improvements at TFESgardenClub@gmail.com! This is a community experiment in science and horticulture! We look forward to growing food and young minds!

INSTRUCTIONS FOR VOLUNTEERS:

Welcome Garden Guards! To help you with your gardening duties, we have created a list with tips for volunteering in the TFES Food Garden:

INSTRUCTIONS FOR VOLUNTEERS were revised on 9.26.21

CHORE 1 – BE A WATERING WARRIOR: Your most important job is watering the Garden. While it’s best to water the garden in the morning, we will take your help any time during the day you signup for!

HOW TO USE THE OLD GARDEN HOSE:

  • The hose cross-key can be found inside the:  
  • —the gray bin (shaped like a treasure chest, inside the food garden) 
  • — in a black bag attached to the lid (right side). 
  • —The hose key is 4-sided like a cross (there are 2 in the bag). 

How to Turn On the Hose:

  1. After you find the cross-key to turn on the water supply….
  2. Take the key to the hose stand (located on the school building, and is visible from TFES Food Garden. – see photo)
  3. Attach the key to the valve on the brick building, which is where the hose attaches to the school.
  4. Tryout the cross-key to match up the correct sized key slot knob and turn. Just keep trying.
  5. To turn on the water, turn hose key LEFT (“Lefty Loosey”) with all your might and keep going and going until it stops.
  6. You may need to turn the hose stand faucet knob too. (just to make it more complicated!)
  7. Unravel the hose (may be kinks) and then put the hose over the fence.
  8. HOW TO WATER: Think about acting like rain using the “shower” setting.
  9. Stand on the garden-side of the fence. – DO NOT water standing on grass).
  10. Spend 2 minutes on each garden bed or potted plant.
  11. Spend extra time watering those potted plants (they dry out quickly)
  12. When finished, wind the hose back up and empty the hose
  13. TURN OFF THE WATER: turn the hose key alllll the way towards the RIGHT(“righty tighty”)
  14. Put Away the Hose Key (where you found it.)

CHORE 2 – PULL WEEDS – Check the 9 FOOD Garden beds for invasive weeds. Pull and discard in the compost can (black trash can in garden). There are garden gloves in the gray bin for protection – dirty gloves go in the plastic bag, which is attached to the front/inside of the bin.

CHORE 3 – PICK AND HARVEST – The sweetest part is that volunteers are welcome to take home the ripe fruits and vegetables. Please share with us a photo of your crops. Extra points for photos of your family in the garden!

ATTENTION VOLUNTEERS: How to cut lettuce crop so you can keep growing salads!

HOLD HARMLESS: 

By Signing Up to be a Garden Guard this summer, you agree to WAIVER liability and consider working in the TFES Garden at your own risk.  Any fruit/vegetables you take home, you consume at your own risk.  You agree to hold harmless Upper Dublin School District, Thomas Fitzwater Elementary, its staff, Garden Club Leaders and its volunteers.

UPDATES/MORE INFO:

www.tfesgardenclub.org/2021/05/21/summer-2021-signup

IMPORTANT INFORMATION / HOW TO COMMUNICATE: 

We will keep updated Garden Guard instructions here.  Please also check your texts the day before so we can advise you if there is a special task you can help with.  Or if for some reason we don’t need your help that day — When it rains heavily that day, you can assume it will be canceled. Also, call/text Tracy Nyszczot if you need to cancel 215-219-4803 or we would appreciate it if you can have a friend cover your spot.   

QUESTIONS:

Call Mr Meyers, (267) 230-9347

Or

Call Mrs Tracy Nyszczot, (215) 219-4803

Email: TFESgardenClub@gmail.com

THANKS A BUNCH!!!! Please contact us with questions, concerns, or ideas for improvements! This is a community experiment in science and horticulture! We look forward to growing food and young minds!