Dishing the Dirt: June 2025 Newsletter

Hello my friends!

Wow! May just flew by! You know what they say- time flies when you’re having fun! And we have been having a lot of fun at the garden this month! So many things- where to start?! 

In May, the bees arrived at Sandy’s Garden! Thanks to your generous donations, we were able to purchase two nucs - short for “nucleus colony”- it includes a few thousand bees, the queen, and several frames with honeycomb, honey, and brood. They were installed in two bee hives in the garden. We will check on them regularly to make sure that they are growing and staying healthy, but for the most part, we will let them do their thing- pollinate our garden and make honey! 

The garden has been growing and growing! We have been planting, watering, weeding, and harvesting! Thanks to another donation of vegetable plants from Bonnie Plants, as well as a donation of several more fruit trees, strawberries and asparagus plants from Stark Brothers Orchard & Nursery, the garden is FULL! The crops in the greenhouse are beginning to wind down- cool weather crops such as lettuce and spinach struggle in the heat. And the greenhouse has begun to get HOT! But that’s ok! The seeds and seedlings which were planted in March and April are now big and producing! We have begun to harvest broccoli, snow peas, and beet greens in addition to more lettuce, spinach, kale, and green onions. To date, we have donated 340 pounds of fresh, healthy food to 5 different food pantries in Kent County! Beginning in June, we will add the sixth food pantry. My friends, I had no idea that there was a need for 6 food pantries in Kent County. They provide such an important helping hand to hundreds of our neighbors. Thank you for supporting Sandy’s Garden so that we, in turn, can support these pantries which are so essential to our community. 

While we’re on the topic of good news, I want to share that while working in the garden, we have seen bees (of course), butterflies, worms, ladybugs, spiders, snakes, and toads! We also have bluebirds and purple martins making their nests in our birdhouses! Besides being beautiful/cute/adorable, the presence of these animals tells us two wonderful things- first, that our garden is healthy enough to support these types of animals, and second, that we have resident pollination and pest control! It’s exciting! Dishing the Dirt 

And it’s exactly what we are striving for- pesticide free food! We are also herbicide-free, thanks to our dedicated volunteers who have spent hours on their hands, knees, and bums, pulling weeds. 

June is here, and we look forward to a big increase in the harvesting fun. We are looking forward to welcoming two groups of school-aged children who will be volunteering as a part of their summer camps! Please remember that EVERYONE is welcome to volunteer at Sandy’s Garden. Yes, it might be hot and sweaty, but there is definite joy to be had. Whether it is from the satisfaction of removing the weeds from a row of beans, the fun of picking a MILLION tomatoes, or simply enjoying the peace found in listening to the chickens and ducks as they putter around their coop; working in the garden doesn’t really feel like work:) 

One more thing before I close - an update on the chickens and ducks! They are getting so big! Thank you to everyone who has donated to their care. We couldn’t do it without you. The birds are free to wander around and eat grass, leafy plants, and bugs, but they also require a high-quality commercial feed in order to ensure that they stay happy and healthy. They are almost two months old - not old enough to lay eggs yet, but they still make an important contribution towards the productivity of the garden. They eat bugs and weeds, and they provide mulch for the plants in the form of the soiled straw which we collect during the daily cleaning of their coop. Thank you girls! 

And thank you my friends. 

With love and gratitude,

Sandy Zappia

Executive Director