Operation Green Thumb-Wellington's Community Gardens Introduction: Operation Green Thumb (OGT)-Wellington's Community Gardens is supported by Wellington City Council (WCC) and funded by Lottery Grants, the Community Trust of Wellington and the Nikau Trust.  We have been around since 1994 and have most of our gardens in WCC housing complexes but there are 3 public gardens:  Owhiro Gardens in Brooklyn run by Mokai Kainga Maori Centre, another in Kilbirnie & Tawai Park for those locals in the Trentham area.  All up there are about 90 plots dug up around Wgtn at 9 sites. We also support other garden projects around greater Wellington and Upper Hutt. We try to be as organic as possible and do not condone the use of sprays.  We have a small seed bank and publish our own calendar specific to Wellington's conditions, posters sponsored by the Cancer Socity. Our Aims: are to assist in the set up of new gardens for those people who have no land of their own so they can grow low-cost food.  So if your are unemployed, on a benefit, retired or on a low-income and have no land of your own OGT is available free of charge. If you live in a WCC complex and already have a community garden there you are welcome to apply for a plot.  New gardens starting in Alicetown New garden at Trentham Army Camp starting for personnel Great to see more gardens sprouting up and people growing their own veg.  If you live in Upper Hutt check out the Farmers Market every Sunday for veg, advice and gardening calendars from Operation Green Thumb OWHIRO GARDENS HAVE PLOTS AVAILABLE IF YOU NEED-HAPPY VALLEY RD WGTN RING MOKAI KAINGA 3834922 Even though its wintertime spring is around the corner. Frosty broccoli at Upper Hutt  If you live in the city and have no land of your own but want to have a plot contact the co-ordinator listed below.  Garden space is becoming a premium now at the 2 public gardens but we hope in the future to be able to offer more gardens in Wellington.  You do save money gardening as well as knowing the veg is fresh and spray-free. Phone: Sue Boyle (Dip Hort)- Co-ordinator- 04 9342629 Please do not ring on Sundays or late at night, gardener is resting. Mailto: greenthumb@paradise.net.nz  How do we keep our soil fertile, that's the prime job of gardeners-growing the soil?  Every weed you pull out and throw away you are just exporting nutrients, you must mulch your garden, for example with pea straw, or grass clippings.  Add your kitchen scraps and just cover with the mulch.  Don't dig, let the worms do the work.  Want some horse manure-go down Happy Valley Rd to the paddock past Carlucciland towards the beach at the corner there will be a shed with bags by it, leave a koha.  You can soak it in a bucket to make a strong liquid you will need to dilute or powder it up and lay on. GARDEN POSTER FOR SALE $5- FOR WELLINGTON'S CONDITIONS-MONTH BY MONTH PLANTING GUIDE, MOON CALENDAR, JAN CULY COMPOSTING. We wish to acknowledge the generous support of: Lottery Grants Wellington City Council Upper Hutt City Council The Community Trust of Wellington Trust House Charitable Trust The Nikau Trust The Wellington Cancer Society WINTER MONTHS ARE JUNE-early, JULY-mid winter, AUGUST-late winter JULY-mid winter growth of autumn seedlings slowed right down everything wet and boggy prune the roses This can be a miserable time with lots of rain and wind.  Still there's probably some rhubarb to pick and the odd weed to pull.  Most gardeners hide indoors at this time AUGUST-late winter Underground tree roots are regrowing, daffs are out signs & of Mother Nature coming to life.  Don't be sucked in not a time to rush out and buy seedlings yet.  If you can avoid walking on your plot you can add some fertiliser, mulch and get it ready.  Walking on your garden compacts the soil, makes it hard to work. You can spray your roses with Lime Sulphur now if they have Black Spot and repeat in 3 weeks as the buds burst open. Time to split rhubarb clumps up, divide herbs also. Green up spuds in late august (early ones) to put in a prepared bed for Sept.  Think about rotating your veg around so the soil doesnt get exhausted from the demands of the same plants in the same spot year after year.  Here is a simple chart for you: YEAR 1 potatoes-peas/beans-roots-brassicas YEAR 2 peas/beans-roots-brassicas-potatoes YEAR 3 brassicas-potatoes-roots-peas/beans YEAR 4 roots-potatoes-peas/beans-brassicas  Want help or advice starting a community garden of your own gives us a ring or email Sue