Hello Members:

Happy New Year 2024 from the LBCG Board!

It is nice to see so many beautiful gardens. We are enjoying a great fall/winter season and the food bank donations have been bountiful. All your donations are greatly appreciated so please keep up the good work.

Saturday January 6th Work Party — We really need members to show for this as there is a lot of work to be done. There are only four (4) more work parties before the April 30 deadline to complete the 4 hours for the year.  Weather is good and cool for a 2-hour period of work so get your hours in before it gets hot. Please reply to this email and RSVP if you plan to attend the Saturday work party. It really helps us plan the assignments.

You can also email lbcg.orchard@gmail.com if you would like to help in the Orchard on Tuesdays.  The Orchard Manager really appreciates your help.

EXCITING NEWS – Bees are Coming!  — In a meeting with the City and other community gardens earlier this year, the Long Beach Beekeepers Association gave a report on work they do throughout the City and with other community gardens. One of the things we reported was the concern about “bee swarms” that occurred at the LBCG in the last year as well as several hives that had to be removed. They informed us that the problem is the bees do not have a “home” in our garden and that bee boxes would be a beneficial addition. As a result, several Board members met with the President of the Beekeeper’s Association in November and the Board voted to have bee boxes placed in the back half of the Butterfly Garden in early 2024. They will be surrounded by a cloth structure so that the bees fly up and out. The Association will manage the bees and will provide classes to our gardeners as well as invited community classes. The Board believes this will be a great addition to our garden. Bees are very important to the health of the gardens.

Weeds, Weeds & More Weeds — Yes, the rains and warmer weather coming will bring the weeds and grasses commonly seen in the spring.  Everyone should get out and clear weeds NOT ONLY from your garden but from your PATHWAYS — and then chip them.  DO NOT simply cover the weeds with chips or you will have a bigger mess in a month or so.  Dig out the weeds and then mulch.

Upcoming Renewals — Renewals will be emailed in February and must be returned no later than April 30th. If you do not plan to renew your membership, please respond to this email so we can plan accordingly. We do not want plots to turn to weeds and we like to orient new members before the spring/summer.

Next Board Meeting — The next LBCGA Board Meeting is scheduled for February 5 at 6:30pm via Zoom. If interested, email back and I will share the link prior to the meeting.

Looking forward to a plentiful new year!   🙂

Happy Gardening!

Greg Marcotte