ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson Discussion Topic @ AdlandPro Community

ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 19:14:46 GMT

[Partners]

Green!! This has always been the Creator’s desired original color for our world and the garden was supposed to provide the ultimate source – flora! Garden was the first gift handed to mankind by the Creator. Imagine a world where everyone is involved in this divine pastime!

Friends, Once again, I am glad to introduce a respectable member of our great community – Judy Woodson and her wonderful Article of Virtue – My Patch of Community Garden.

In this special work, lady Woodson takes us, hand in hand, through what she enjoys doing each day, gardening. You cannot, but feel her passion and love for her patch of rich and beautiful garden and of course, the resultant assistance she offers to the neighbors. How about the environmental impact?

Judy’s article reminds me of the words of a Greenpeace speaker who said “Eating food grown closer to our homes reduces our negative climate footprints, and does not get any closer to home than a beautiful home garden”

Another clarion call and spirited show of the right path to save our fragile earth.

We thank you Lady Judy Woodson for a wonderful article.

Sincerely,

Sam “samiplus” Sunday.

www.samiplus.net

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MY PATCH OF COMMUNITY GARDEN
by Lady Judy Woodson

Those of you who know me have probably heard me go on and on about my garden.

There’s nothing I like more than grabbing my little green bag of hand tools, tossing it into a blue five gallon plastic bucket and wandering up to my garden to see how everything is doing. Most days, I stop by the tool shed and pick out a shovel or fork (there’s always something that wants digging up) and then head over to my patch. On the way, I can check out other patches. This one is divided up into four raised beds, each planted in a separate vegetable, this next one neatly arranged in rows of lettuce and carrots with tomatoes and flowers scattered about, and over here is one dedicated almost totally to roses, iris and some flowers I don’t even know the name of with one section full of trellised peas. Here as I turn the corner, I can see the giant cardoon, the summer squash just starting to explode and a carpet of strawberries in the front planted by my neighbor. Yes, I do love my garden, but one of the things I love most about it is that it is not just “my” garden – it is a community garden.

Here I can plant in my patch anything I want as long as it’s organically grown. Here I can chat with fellow gardeners about what is working and what isn’t and what to do about the family of rabbits that made their home here and will eat pretty much anything except plants in the nightshade family like potatoes and tomatoes which are, understandably a very popular item this year.

On each Tuesday, I can weigh and label any extra produce, herbs or flowers and put it in the cooler in the shed to be taken to the local food bank. Between 7 and 10 tons of produce was donated to Seattle area food banks by P-Patch gardeners last year. Can you imagine the difference this makes in the quality of our lives?

In these times of rising food and gas costs, many are re-thinking how our food is grown and how far it has to travel to get to us, many are moving towards buying more locally and growing more ourselves. When I Googled "Community Gardens", there were over 600,000 results. Perhaps there is one in your area.

In these times of personal isolation and community indifference, many are remembering how it is to get together for just a short while during

each week, get our hands in the dirt, stretch our bodies in the sun and enjoy the miracle of watching things grow from just those tiny seeds planted such a short time ago.

During these times also, we can share our bounty and trade stories with fellow gardeners and in our case at The Good Shepherd P-Patch, figure out what to do about those blasted rabbits.

This is about it for now folks!

Thank you my friends!

Judy Woodson

You can go to Judy's Income Garden here:
http://www.ad-alyzer.com/727/959549292093

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lady Judy Woodson is a very active and respectable member of Adlandpro community. A member of the community’s newsletter crew, Judy resides in Seattle, Washington. She loves gardening and of course, spends quite some precious time tending her "community" garden.

Judy’s other love is Adland community where she also spend quite a bit of time - too much probably – visiting and posting in various forums and making great friends in the past years she’s been around.

She loves to hear from good friends by all means, so invite Judy to be a friend if you aren't already, Okay?

<<click here for more about Judy Woodson>>

Judy sure makes gardening sound like the best thing that came down the pike. She is so exciting just talking about her garden, what enjoyment she is having in watching things grow. Her description of her garden is easy to imagine, it was easy to picture her going to the garden in the morning to do what needed to be done for the day.

What Judy is doing to help the Community is just wonderful. It is so amazing to see the produce go to help others, you can feel her enthusiasm knowing her work, and enjoyment, is from her garden patch.

Great article.

Thank you dear Judy.

Myrna Ferguson.
http://www.treasuresgiftbook.biz/d.cgi/mf1059

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Support	- Neil Sperling - Peter Fogel - Leslye Miller - Joyce Hyde	- Geketa Holman - Joe Downing - Jill Bachman - Georgios Parasevopoulos

© Copyright – www.samiplus.net - 2008

Created By: samiplus

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 19:43:58 GMT

Sunny Greetings from California, Sam!

Thank you for this great forum. Your hard work is appreciated.

Also many thanks for featuring such a nice article about the dedication and love to gardening from a special lady, Judy Woodson.

Myrna, thank you for doing a good job of review on Judy's article.

Congratulations, Judy!!!

Judy, it is always a pleasure for me to meet other avid gardeners like you. I myself love gardening and discover so much joy and understanding with Mother Nature each time I play in my garden. I really appreciate your sharing joy and love in gardening with us here. I have visited your garden website many times. And I always enjoyed my visits there. Keep up the good work!

Again, I appreciate your friendship and support, Judy.

Have an Awesome Weekend!

JoAnne Green
Principal / International Risk Management Advisor
Integrity Experience Dependability

Click the Banner Below:

Wherever you are in the world,
our worldwide travel assistance is
by your side 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Created By: 241880

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 16:37:31 GMT

Hello Sam and Judy et al.

I really enjoyed reading this. Judy, by all means put the link in my forum to bring fellow Mother Earthers over here, that may have missed this.

We're experiencing storms at the mo and I've got to disconnect all the phone lines.

On top of a rock and do get struck sometimes!

I loved your point about sharing and caring together and cultivating the community spirit, and therefore cultivating care of Mother Earth.

It really is a lovely feeling when you grow your own too. My cucumber plants seem to be surviving the snail attacks at the mo. Not like the last lot of plants which all disappeared over night.

I wish you happpy gardening with your gardening friends in the community garden. Do you have get togethers where you all share in a meal, sharing your produce in a social activity? That would be cultivating your community spirit again.

Well, I must unplug the telephone lines before it's too late.

Angel cuddles,

Sarah

Created By: sarahp

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 20:06:33 GMT

Sunny Greetings from Central Valley of California to Seattle, Judy!

I would like to share with you some of my favorite quotes on gardening.

"The best way to raise a successful garden is by trowel and error."
~Author Unknown

"Gardening is good for the waistline, but the trouble is that it's even better for the appetite."~Author Unknown

"As ye sow, so shall ye reap, unless of course you are an amateur gardener."
~Author Unknown

"We all go back to the soil eventually, but only the gardener does it while he's still alive."~Author Unknown

I hope you'll like them, too.

Have an Awesome Weekend!

JoAnne Green
Principal / International Risk Management Advisor
Integrity Experience Dependability

Click the Banner Below:

Wherever you are in the world,
our worldwide travel assistance is
by your side 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Created By: 241880

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 20:35:12 GMT

Well first off , thank you Sam and all your hard working team for once again proving why you where the # 1 forum for 2007. Hi Judy, We have been friends here at ADLand for quite some time. I am thrilled to see your article and read your wonderful story. Coming from a long line of gardeners, I appreciate what this garden means to you. I once sat as president of a Garden Club and one of our major achievements was the establishment of a community garden in Port Coquitlam. So I know what it means to be able to stand and talk over the garden fence with other gardeners and share the wisdom of the soil. Thank you for sharing this with us. Nick
Created By: ngrimshawe

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 21:42:10 GMT

Hi Sam,

Thank you for asking me to review Judy's articule of Virtue. I love gardening and it was a real delight to read Judy's story, and give my remarks.

Judy,

Congratulationtion my dear friend, I appreciate all you do to help out your community in Washington state.

Created By: ernamay

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 22:24:09 GMT

Hello sam, Congrats to you Judy, you have been so inspiring over the years I have known you. I wish you a very blessed week. Congrats for being chosen to be featured. You are most amazing woman. Blessings, Kathy Hamilton/simikathy
Created By: simikathy

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 22:49:19 GMT

Hello Sami ,

You have gotten another winner with our special lady Judy. I always learn something new when I read this forum. Thank you for giving us such a positive forum featuring the best of Adlandpro.

Hi Judy,

Your article on Gardening with a community was delightful and I enjoyed it very much. Thank you for taking the time to share your expertise and love of all things green. I love fresh foods especially when I know they are organic the way our Maker intended them to be. Now I think I will go make myself and nice fresh spinach salad.

Blessings,

Geketa

Created By: 313726

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:56:50 GMT

Hello Sam,

Sorry I'm late to be here.

What a wonderful theme! Gardening!

Congratulations Judy. I enjoyed reading your wonderful article. I like gardening too, although I have not a big garden to have many plants. I really admire people who have so great gardens with a lot of flowers and many vegetables.

Thank you for this article Judy.

Best regards,

Dimitra

Created By: 323854

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:02:13 GMT

Hi Judy. I'm glad you were chosen as Sam's Article of Virtue Adlander. We have something in common.....we love to garden!!

I liked reading about your garden. Congrats my friend,

Pat

Created By: 252171

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 23:33:45 GMT

Oh, Sammy, I was so excited when I saw the forum notice come over my email!! Another winner, too. I am a passionate gardener, and share in Judy's enthusiasm.

Congratulations Myrna, You did a wonderful job with the review.

Judy,

Your article exudes the same enthusiasm that I feel every time I get to wander in to one of my gardens. I love the dirt and the miracle of watch the seeds sprout, the blossoms and then the fruit or vegetable form. The garden is my place of solitude - or as Nick Grimshawe would refer to it - one of my special "quiet places"

Do you have any pictures of your community garden? I would love to see them. Congratulations again on a wonderful and enthusiastic artic. it sure got my attention!

Blesslings,

Judy

Created By: jnsmith

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 04:24:11 GMT

Hi Sam,
Although I don't always respond, your forums are always inspirational. Judy's article was wonderful. I remember when I was younger, much younger, my mother allowed me a small patch behind the garage to grow a garden. I went out every day, pulled the weeds and watered as she had instructed me to and in the meantime a friend gave me a twig from his Cherry Tree. I planted that in the middle of the yard. From my first garden, I harvested cucumbers, tomatoes, green beans, peas, and radishes. It was amazing how much flavor everything had. It took about five years for my Cherry Tree to take shape and I was amazed at how big that tree was. From such a small twig it grew and grew. My mother had always told me to be patient. I believe that the greatest sense of accomplishment is when you serve guests vegetables from your garden and they all ask how you were ever able to maintain such wonderful flavor. The flavor came from the love that you put into each and every seed that you planted. I am trying to plant some seeds of love right now and I would be honored if you would stop by and let people know about your forum. Lady Judy and everyone else can help me plant these seeds to show our new members just how much there is to do here. http://community.adlandpro.com/forums/thread/1064573.aspx Let's make this harvest of Love a Bumper Crop.
GOD BLESS YOU
MIKE
http://countryvalues65.tripod.com
(This forum is not for me but rather for all those that make AdlandPro Community the very best Online Community that there is.)

Created By: 192260

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 11:03:45 GMT

Hello everyone,

I am happy this thread on Judy's Article of Virtue came through. I was trying to post it yesterday when the internet crabbed out on me and never came back on until this morning.

This is a wonderful and inspiring work from a great friend and inspiring personality of the community - Judy Woodson. We cannot hide from the amazing advantages of gardening. Apart from the beauty and satisfaction associated with it, there is nothing as satisfying as eating something natural and organic from your garden behind your backyard.

This is probably going to be a win, win idea! Gardening should be everyone's vocation, maybe pastime at most.

Thank you Mike for your response! It is nice to have you in our midst and I hope from now on, you'll add some more response to our threads.
We seems to share this one my friend, my mom also mentioned it when she was alive:
"I believe that the greatest sense of accomplishment is when you serve guests vegetables from your garden and they all ask how you were ever able to maintain such wonderful flavor"

Thanks a lot everyone and God bless!

Created By: samiplus

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 16:04:44 GMT

Thank you so much, Sam for the invitation to write this article and also for the most wonderful introduction.

It is truly inspirational to see how much the general public awareness about creating sustainable gardening and farming practices has grown in recent years.

Wikipedia has an excellent overview of community gardens as well as links to programs in many areas of the world.

Here is their link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_gardening

Have a wonderful week, Sam!

Judy

Created By: 256704

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 16:13:18 GMT

What a great review, Myrna!

As a farmer's daughter, you must find it amusing that many of us are just now coming around to what you have perhaps known all along - that it matters how we grow our food and that is is a blessing to be able to.

Thank you for the review, and also for posting the link on the Treasures forum.

Judy

Created By: 256704

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 16:25:51 GMT

Thank you for stopping by, JoAnne.

I loved your quotes. Didn't realize you had been at my site, but you might check it out again in a day or two as I have a new addition and am planning some re-organization.

It's always a pleasure to hear from you.

Judy

My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~H. Fred Ale

Created By: 256704

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 16:43:51 GMT

Hello again, Nick - good to see you here.

Port Coquitlam? I am familiar with the place, though not the garden. My sister lives in Surrey and my Mom in New Westminster. I'll have to check it out next time I'm up there.

Yes the social aspect is lovely. We have a get together each Monday evening to get things ready for the Food Bank on Tuesday and get a watering schedule for the Food Bank plots. People started bringing snacks, then wine or maybe a Margarita. Now it's practically a pot luck supper.

And then of course it's the conversations with whoever happens to be in the garden at the same time.

Lovely!

Judy

There can be no other occupation like gardening in which, if you were to creep up behind someone at their work, you would find them smiling. ~Mirabel Osler

Created By: 256704

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 23:33:13 GMT

Brother Sam !

Dearest Judy

Created By: nicksym

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 16:50:53 GMT

Thanks so much for stopping by, Kathy.

I don't know how you fit it in with all you do.

Yes I was surprised and honored when Sam asked me to write an article and had no idea when I accepted what I would write about, but then it just sort of evolved and wrote itself.

Have a great week, Kathy, and don't forget to take time to stop and smell the roses.

Judy

Created By: 256704

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 17:00:30 GMT

Good to see you here, Geketa.

Spinach salad...Yummm.

It's really heartwarming to see how many people have begun to realize the value of growing organically.

Over 30 yeaars ago several friends and I started the first organic produce stand in our Pike Place Farmers's market here in Seattle. At that time, folks would come up and ask what organic meant and why our prices were higher than other stands. Now even the largest grocery chains carry organic items and they are in high demand.

Now that's what I call progress!

Judy

Created By: 256704

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 17:22:34 GMT

Hello Judy.

We do share a love of gardens, don't we?

Each year I try and grow at least one thing I've never grown before and this year it is tomatillos. Are you familiar with the plant? It is so amazing. Right now it is in full flower and, something I didn't know is that what happens next is it produces wonderful green hollow lanterns which then the tomatillos grow inside of. How amazing is that?

About pictures, I haven't taken any this year for some reason, but somewhere I do have some. I will try and find them and get back. In the meantime, the main picture on my website was taken there.

Thanks for stopping by.

Judy

In my garden there is a large place for sentiment. My garden of flowers is also my garden of thoughts and dreams. The thoughts grow as freely as the flowers, and the dreams are as beautiful. ~Abram L. Urban

Created By: 256704

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 23:08:09 GMT

Hi again, Judy.

I have never heard of Tomatillos. You are going to have to let me know how they are.

I spent a perfectly beautiful Sunday after noon in my garden, mostly attending to my flowering pots. They do take up a lot of time, but they are worth it.

I can see you are enjoying every bit of this.

Continue to enjoy!!

Judy

Created By: jnsmith

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 17:26:10 GMT

Sam, Thank you again. Another winner. Judy, You’re a star. What a great lady. I am happy to say that my principle job is my hobby too. Although I work as a hypnotherapist I still have a very active garden business. What a joy to get paid for doing the things I love Judy clearly gets the same buzz. Sharing growing things is a joy that Judy obviously has and her enjoyment comes to us in her writing. Thank you for caring for our planet and it’s people. Roger
Created By: 286465

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 17:26:20 GMT

Sam,

Thanks for letting me know about this article. I loved gardening when I lived in Illinois, and managed to grow just about anything you could name in the good black dirt up there.

What a great concept, too, to make your Community garden a contributor to your local food bank! It must give you a tremendous sense of satisfaction on many levels - good eats for you and sharing the fruit of your labor with others. It doesn't get any better than that.

Thanks so much for the article, Judy!

Created By: smithworkshere

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 21:05:39 GMT

Hello Judy and friends,

Looks more like we're having a great time here and everyone seems to agre with Judy on the urgency and long list of benefits of the art of gardening, especially the wonderful concept of community gardening! Quite interesting. I must confess, this concept is a new learning curve for me.

Hello Lorraine,
Thanks for finding time to visit us and congratulations again for being voted the community's Person of the Week (POTW). We rejoice with you and wish you all the good things you yearn for!

Created By: samiplus

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 23:23:00 GMT

_{Greetings Nephew Sammy, hope your enjoying you fine Sunday :) Thank you for the invite my faithful friend :) As my Rabbi Jesus once did say "I am the true vine, and the Father is the gardner." John 15:1. Judy Congratulations on your Virtue forum, Rabbi Jesus was once a carpenter and like you with your Garden he made beautiful things with hands. God_bless you my friend. :) Enjoy your time in the light. Thomas}
Created By: tmobil8

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 17:40:36 GMT

Hello Michael.

What a great story about your childhood garden! To be able to successfully grow that many things on the first try really shows the love you must have put into it.

My first garden was a small plot awarded to me for learning enough Spanish to be able to take my classes in that language. We were living in Mexico City at the time and the garden was on the school grounds. Unfortunately I never did get to see the results as we moved back to the states before the season was over, but my love of gardening started there.

About the cherry tree. I've never planted a tree, but there is an apple tree at the foot of my current plot. It is wonderous how much it will grow in a year. This past spring was cold and wet and somehow it never got pruned, so now the branches are practically touching the ground and there are way too many apples on it and I worry about branches breaking. A lesson in maintenance to be sure.

I love your Welcoming forum. It appears to be growing regularly and attracting new people as well. Bravo!

Judy

Gardening is a matter of your enthusiasm holding up until your back gets used to it. ~Author Unknown

Created By: 256704

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 18:27:59 GMT

Thank you once again Sam for featuring another talented writer for your Article of Virtue.

Myrna you have done a wonderful review for Judy's work!

Congratulations Judy! You have touched the hearts of gardeners everywhere! Your love of your Community Garden Patch is evident in your writing.

Community Gardens seem to be catching on everywhere. After seeing ours and celebrating its opening this spring, I believe they are invaluable to any community.

May the seeds you plant today forever beautify your world

Sincerely,

Terry

Created By: 169711

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 18:36:00 GMT

Thank you for the kind words, Roger.

I didn't realize you have a garden business. I think in some ways folks in the UK have been traditionally even more into gardening than we are here in the US, although interest is on the rise here to be sure.

I understand the allotment system is alive and well there as well. Perhaps we really are beginning to come together as a planet.

Glory Be!

Judy

Created By: 256704

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 18:58:28 GMT

So glad you could stop by, Lorraine.

There is a special place in my heart for Food Banks. About 15 years ago, I hit a rough spot financially and for about six months i frequented our local food bank often to help make ends meet. Many times there was nothing at all in the way of fresh produce, and when someone would stop by and drop off some, they vanished immediately.

We have one large and one small plot devoted to the Food Bank and try to plant enough of one thing so everyone can get some.

Thanks so much for your warm comments.

Judy

Created By: 256704

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 19:10:47 GMT

Thanks for stopping by, Terry.

Yes, community gardens of all sorts are catching on in many communities.

Another related activity for those that don't want to or can't garden themselves is the CSA or Community Supported Agriculture.

Many farms offer produce subscriptions, where buyers receive a weekly or monthly basket of produce, flowers, fruits, eggs, milk, coffee, or any sort of different farm products. Some offer opportunities to work at the farm as well. Here is a website with more information along those lines.

http://www.localharvest.org/csa/

Have a great weekend!

Judy

Created By: 256704

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 19:28:03 GMT

Thank you Sami........

Hello Judy,

I now live in a senior citizens apartment complex and I have 5 gallon buckets with cherry tomatoes, regular tomatoes and bell peppers.....I also have 3 of my neighbors growing tomatoes and peppers. We love the fresh veggies..... I appreciate your post here.

Have a wonderful and blessed day!!!!

Created By: 255442

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 22:40:14 GMT

So good to see you, Jo.

Tomatoes grow real well in containers, don't they? I live in an apartment and don't choose to grow tomatoes in my P-Patch because they have a habit of going AWOL. : 0

Some people just can't resist walking off with them, so I either grow them in containers or in the small growing space I have behind my apartment. Amazing what one can grow in a container.

Nothing like the taste of a home-grown tomato - wouldn't you agree?

Thanks so much for coming by.

Judy

Created By: 256704

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 23:15:08 GMT

Wonderful Judy!!

What a great satisfaction you must have in your heart. This article is a fullfilling one and has given me the idea to call my town and see about starting this next year. My husband and I enjoy gardening very much and to watch everything bloom into life.

Thank you Judy for this wonderful contribution to the Article of virtue forums...;-)

Peace.

Created By: 268579

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 23:21:59 GMT

Hi ya Sam!!! I thank you for these wonderful VIRTURE forums. It is like Judy's garden, a great place to find the goodies of life and to spend some time cultivating our relationships. Thanks my friend! ~ Joe

***************************************************************

Dearest Judy,

Oh to be blessed where things can grow! Living here in the desert has been quite a challenge to get my garden to grow each year, but... we have definitely been blessed with green thumbs! LOL!! This year we are growing less of variety. The corn was an experiment by my daughter... 8 feet later I have to say success! The squash grows like crazy and is so delicious. Any time of gord or melon grows very well here. Chili! Don't forget chili! Yum!! The peas grow like crazy, but no pea pods! Ah, so many other things.

I think you are right that the garden turns into a social affair almost daily. The neighbor wants to know what is producing and so you have to give them samples. LOL!!! My daughter would live in the garden if we let her.

It is always a pleasure knowing other gardeners! Thank you for sharing your experiences in the garden.

Sincerest hugs,

Joe

****************************************************************

Myrna, you are so right... Judy has an enthusiasm that just excites others!

Joe

Created By: myGetX2ONow

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 08:00:52 GMT

Hi Sam,

Thanks for another wonderful article. It never ceases to amaze me when I realize what talented people we have here in our community.

Hey Judy, I have to admit that on a personal level I am not a gardener BUT I love the garden. Strange isn't it? I do work in the garden but as the mower, cleaner and all the other laborious jobs. The green thumb belongs to others in my family.

Many years ago on one of my many trips to Switzerland I discovered areas in the country side that were comprised of small fenced in patches of land with the most amazing variety of veggies and fruits growing there. I inquired and found that many city dwellers that live in apartments and haven't got their own gardens rent these patches of land to grow their own produce. It is their weekend entertainment for the family and they were taken care of religiously and with Swiss precision. It wasn't communal but all the gardeners shared their experiences and knowledge with each other. It was beautiful and till this day you can find these patches of gardens all over the country side.

Your garden sounds wonderful and the community spirit is amazing.

Myrna thanks for a lovely review of Judy's article.

Shalom,

Peter

Created By: 281772

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:03:24 GMT

Hello again Judy.

Never heard of tomatillos? Hmmm....If you are a fan of Mexican food, it is what Salsa Verde is made from. It's in the nightshade family.

I couldn't find a picture of the plant, but here is one of the fruit. See the lanterns?

Created By: 256704

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:21:20 GMT

Hi Judy!

I couldn't find a picture of the plant either. VERY interesting. Since I LOVE salsa verde, I can be sure I have eaten them, just didn't know what I was eating! I will have to look for the plants or seeds.

Have a great day and many thanks!

Judy

Created By: jnsmith

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:17:54 GMT

So glad you stopped by, Sharon Lee.

Yes, it is awfully fun. I took a quick look at New Jersey in the Community Gardening Association website and there are a couple in Jersey City. one in Woodbury and one in Belmar.

Actually, there is a lot of information there about starting a community garden as well. Here's the link if you want to check it out.

http://www.communitygarden.org/

Happy Gardening!

Judy

Created By: 256704

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:27:01 GMT

Hello Joe.

Gardening in the desert is another thing altogether from the cooler drizzlier (is that a word?) Northwest, isn't it?

I lived in a desert like part of Texas one year and had some success, but not a clue of what would work to start with - and then there were the fire ants. What a surprise that was when I first stuck my hand into into of their nests!

Glad you are having such success.

Judy

Created By: 256704

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:50:20 GMT

Hello Thomas.

Thanks for your kind words - and the picture is lovely! I just love Impatients. These were grown by a fellow gardener last year.

Have a great August!

Judy

Created By: 256704

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:54:06 GMT

Hello Nick.

You have the most amazing collection of graphics! I had to laugh out loud when the people started jumping up and down. Now there's enthusiasm!

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Judy

Created By: 256704

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:10:15 GMT

Hello Peter.

Of course gardening isn't for everyone, especially the mowing and general grunt work part. On the few occasions when I've had a lawn, I tend to let it go to wildflowers if neighborhood rules allow, but I do enjoy the smell of fresh mowed grass.

Interesting about the gardens in Switzerland. The format isn't too different from ours actually. I call it community gardening, but in actuality we each rent our own plot annually much the same as the Swiss do. We just get together for the Food Bank part.

There was a survey done a few years ago in which it was determined that about half of the P-Patch gardeners were apartment dwellers and about half lived in their own homes. I was surprised at that.

Thanks for stopping by.

Judy

Created By: 256704

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:17:27 GMT

Hey Judy - Look what I found.

I was looking for a picture for Thomas and ran across this. It was taken a few years ago in what I call "The Year of the Sunflowers and Mega-Bean Crop". If I find more, I'll post them later, but it's time to go water now.

Judy

Created By: 256704

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 16:50:34 GMT

Oh My, Judy,

That is HUGE! What a great accomplishement thought. Thanks for sharing the picture!!

Judy

Created By: jnsmith

Re: ARTICLE OF VIRTUE with Judy Woodson

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 16:51:23 GMT

Guess you figured it out - but THOUGHT is supposed to be THOUGH
Created By: jnsmith