One of the many things Alan forgot to do at the class on Saturday, was to ask if anyone knew where he could get some used 8ft. florescent light fixtures. All of PTG’s annual bedding plants and tomatoes are grown under lights. A couple of years back, Moeen offered up four 8' fixtures to augment the 4' lights that Alan used for thirty-something years and this year the whole set-up has been torn down and redesigned, to better utilize what little space there is in the furnace room, so he needs 4 to 6 more 8' fixtures. The big demolition companies like Teperman and Greenspoon no longer sell salvaged materials so he needs to find an electrician or a shop-fitter or someone who might have something re-useable. Any ideas?

As this is the time of year when people throw things out, here’s a list of some of the things we can use in the garden:

Any sort of dimensional lumber - 2x2, 2x4, 2x6 - any length, we cut it up to make the hundreds of stakes and pegs which get used in the gardens.

Window blinds to be cut up for plant labels.

Old garden hose, standard or soaker - any length any condition we fix. The garden uses dozens of recycled hoses - it takes about 600 feet of hose just to get from the nearest faucet to water the plants by the main sign. We also use bits 5 or 10 feet long to distribute water to nursery beds.

Old garden tools, any condition broken or otherwise, and especially useless garden gimmicks - garden weezles, claws, bulb planters, weed pullers - anything that looked like a clever idea when you bought it and that turned out to be just clever for making sales. (I promise not to laugh if you bring something - but I might smirk a bit when you’re not looking!)

And always: flower pots, hanging planters (including dead contents), seed trays, cell packs etc.

As I heard Margaret saying: once you’ve been associated with PTG you see pick-up day in a whole new way - it’s not garbage at the side of the road it’s resources.

The weather looks like it’s improving so if anyone wants to go to the gardens for a couple of hours call Alan and he’ll arrange a time. Generally this early in the year afternoons are better - it’s warmer. Wind is a big issue - if it’s just breezy in town it’s a full gale at the fairground. On hot summer days the wind is a blessing but in April I’d rather just pass. I’m available most any weekday and weekend afternoons. Preferably phone before 8 a.m., however, the dance card isn’t exactly over booked so if you find you’ve got a couple of hours, even if it’s noon call and Alan will likely be available.

Right now shrub pruning, perennial trimming and picking up what the wind has redistributed are the main requirements. For newbies, just getting acquainted with where everything is and realizing that everything is a long way from everything else is a beneficial way to begin the year.

Just a Thought:
Alan was just talking to Margaret about the last class and she told him that there seemed to be a lot of interest in the plant labels and how they were constructed.

If enough people were interested, a production line could be set up, each person doing one operation, and enough assemblies could be churned out for everyone who puts in time. Making labels single handed is a long slow process - Alan knows, he's made hundreds of them.

Given sufficient response he could build new jigs and we could use a room for an evening.

Any thoughts or ideas? Please reply to this update.

Day +4 partly sunny Wind E11km/h P.O.P.0%
Night -8 partly cloudy Wind N4km/h P.O.P.1%