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2014 Seed2Need Year-End Report v2
2014 Seed2Need Year-End Report v2
Now that the gardening season has come to an end, I would like to take this opportunity to
thank everyone who made 2014 a productive year and to provide you with a year-end
report.
Two graphs are provided below. The first graph compares our harvests from 2010 - 2014.
The second compares our major crops from 2012 -2014. Thanks to a long growing season, a
heavy apple crop and many generous property owners who allowed us to glean fruit from
their orchards, this year's harvest was 63,768 pounds bringing the total pounds donated
1. Harvest: 2014 was our second largest harvest, surpassed only by 2012. This year, we
had a record harvest of tomatoes (29,837 pounds), green chile (5,601 pounds) and fruit
gleaned from local orchards (25,899 pounds).
2. Increase in Volunteer Hours: We had higher volunteer turnout this year. Volunteers
contributed over 4000 hours planting, maintaining and harvesting the gardens and
gleaning fruit from local orchards. Besides Seed2Need volunteers (Sandoval County
Master Gardeners and the general public), we hosted six Eagle scout projects - three to
plant the gardens, one to glean fruit and two to clean up the gardens at the end of
season. In addition, we received help from several Corporate volunteer groups such as
Jiffy Lube, Smith's grocery stores, Heads Up Landscaping and CarMax, from church
groups, boy and girl scout troops, Los Ranchos 4-H and students from Bosque School,
Albuquerque Academy, UNM Sustainable Studies and Kappa Omicron Nu, a nutrition and
family studies honor society at the University of New Mexico We sincerely appreciate all
of the volunteer hours worked to provide fresh produce to less fortunate families in our
community.
3.
Control of Root Knot Nematodes: In 2013, root knot nematodes killed most of the
tomato plants in one of our three gardens. Root-knot nematodes are tiny parasitic
worms that form galls or knots on the plant roots which block the flow of nutrients to the
plant. The pest is found worldwide but thrives in the sandy soils common to New Mexico.
Thousands of root-knot eggs or worms may be present in one tablespoon of soil. Internet
research came across a study in Texas that used a biological fungicide called Actinovate
to control nematodes. We added fertilizer injectors to the irrigation systems at all 3
gardens, injected Actinovate into the drip irrigation system 2 weeks before planting, at
planting and 2 weeks after planting. When we pulled up our tomato plants this fall, very
few plants showed signs of root knot nematode damage. For more information on this
Texas study see http://today.agrilife.org/2010/12/22/root-knot-nematode/
tomatoes can be weeded. Pigweed this size can easily choke out
and kill the tomato seedlings.
Internet research led us to a study at Iowa State University that
found corn gluten to be 87-99% effective in controlling broad
leaf weeds. It also adds 10% nitrogen to the soil. We found 40#
bags of corn gluten at a local nursery and sprinkled it around the
tomato seedlings as they were planted. When the tomato plants
were uncovered in July, there was very little pigweed. For more
information on this study see
https://wwwhort.sws.iastate.edu/sites/default/files/imported/gluten/pdf/grnhsechr.pdf
5. Codling Moth Control: This year we purchased an orchard sprayer and sprayed the
fruit trees to reduce codling moth damage. While researching pesticides effective for
controlling codling moths, we found a table that listed pesticides based on their toxicity
to bees.
http://www.entomology.umn.edu/cues/pollinators/TenczarKrischik2013bulletin.pdf
To reduce our impact on the pollinators, we sprayed the orchard with a pesticide called
Intrepid. Intrepid was effective. We had very little codling moth damage. Intrepid is
expensive and difficult to find locally. However, less pesticide is required per gallon
making the cost less prohibitive.
6. Infrastructure: We built a garden shed so we could store all equipment and supplies
on site (see photo below). We also purchased a single bottom plow for the tractor.
In addition, we installed a pallet scale and purchased forks for the tractor so we can
move and weigh produce by the pallet rather than by the individual crate. This saved
time and back breaking labor. It also allowed us to load produce onto the food pantry
4. Bacterial Blight on the green bean crop. In 2015, we will look for a variety of green
beans that is resistant to Bacterial blight.
Seed2Need