Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

In June we learned about exciting stirrings in Habitat for Humanity of Dane County from our CWS representative at those meetings. Among other projects, Habitat plans to rehab a 4-plex on Russett Road. This could be a near-by project for us to participate in, so we will keep apprised of how it evolves.

We discussed a website that is having millions of hits; it is thestoryofstuff.com. It is an excellent 21-minute overview of how the materials economy impacts our planet. Although it is not framed in a religious context, we wonder whether it might be useful in a church program.

Excitement builds as the opening of the Farmers’ Market in our parking lot approaches. It starts Wednesday, June 24, and will be open from 3 – 7 p.m. Here’s the sort of shopping CWS can encourage!

Preached by the Rev. Ken Pennings on Sunday, June 7.

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Thanks to all of you who have helped out thus far, and a special thanks to Lori Miller for risking the shocks on her truck when delivering a full load of compost to the garden. Collectively we have put in over 100 hours tilling, planting, fence-building, and so much more to make this garden a reality. Things will quiet down a bit with the planting mostly completed. Always, there will be weeds. So, feel free ANYTIME to grab a weeder from the foot locker (little storage bin) and chip away at them.

By July some of the veggies will be ready for harvest. We’ll be harvesting on Tuesdays so we can get fresh produce to The Lussier Center for their Wednesday pantry. Details to come about additional harvesting/delivery later in the week.

Upcoming events….

Sunday, June 14th: Dedication of the ORUCC Vegetable Village at the end of the worship service.

Tuesday, June 23rd: ORUCC bonfire – 8:30pm.
GARDENER’s POTLUCK & ORUCC BONFIRE ~ JUNE 23RD….
All pantry plot volunteers and individual gardeners and their families are invited to share food and fellowship on Tuesday, June 23rd at 7pm at church. As our spring work comes to a close and the ORUCC garden appears to be well on its way, its time to imbibe in some good food and getting to know each other. Come early to play/work in the garden (6pm) and bring a dish to share at the potluck to follow. Local foods are encouraged with many fruits & veggies coming into season and available at the Farmer’s Market. Beverages will be provided. Dessert (smores) is promised to those who stay for the ORUCC bonfire to start around dusk out near the garden.

Orchard Ridge UCC voted overwhelmingly to call the Rev. Ken Pennings as Associate Pastor for Congregational Life on Sunday, June 7.  He’ll begin working with us on August 1.

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From one of our coordinators, LuAnn Greiner
The garden is really shaping up! Soon we will be able to sit on our laurels (if only for a brief moment) and watch our gardens grow. There are now a few lawn chairs in the garden for just that purpose. You’ll notice that there are rocks on the chairs. That is to keep them from blowing into somebody’s bed on a windy day. If you come up with a better way to keep them in place, please feel free.

FREE COMPOST!!!……Lori Miller, Rachael Lancor, Meg Stevens and I unloaded some rich compost into the garden plot area yesterday. 2 big piles are located in the second bed along the fenceline on your right as you enter the gate. Help yourself! Even if you’ve planted already you can add a few cups around your plants or in any empty areas of your beds to feed the soil.

What’s in the foot locker???…. Have you noticed the foot locker in the pathway? This little gem was donated by Meg and contains some plant labels for those who love to label their plants, twine string for tying up your tomato plants, sheets of white row cover, extra seeds and some hand tools (donated by Tim Johnson for the pantry garden). HELP YOURSELF to whatever you need. Handtools are labeled and should go back in the locker when you are done.

Paul Patenaude and Jerry Nelson should be finishing up the fence line in the next week or so. Check out the cool new gate that Jerry fashioned together. A classic!

If your are one of the lucky souls who have a bed along the fenceline… If you don’t have anything growing right along the fenceline AND if you have enough straw available, tuck some of it right up against the fenceline. Weeds/grass are already trying to make their way in !!

Happy gardening!!