Want to write your own blog post?
Contact Natalie at Natalie.Mikkelson@stpha.org or 651-298-5222. Please leave a voicemail and your call will be returned.
UPDATES
COVID 19: PHA Community Garden Update
Hi-Rise Gardens:
-
Anyone displaying symptoms of COVID-19, or who has come in contact with someone who has symptoms of COVID-19 should not come to the gardens. Ask anyone displaying symptoms to leave.
-
PHA Garden Committee Meetings will be held via email or telephone for now.
-
No more than two residents should be out gardening at a time. Maintain a 6-foot social distance between people.
-
Wash hands before and after gardening. Do not touch eyes, nose or mouth while gardening.
-
CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings. Scroll down their page for directions for making sew or no-sew masks. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html
-
Consider wearing disposable gloves to avoid picking up germs from gates, spigots, etc.
-
Consider bringing your own tools from home and not sharing tools. If you use the community tools, remember to wash your hands immediately after use.
​​
Family Site Gardens:
PHA Community Gardens recognizes gardening as a valuable recreational and therapeutic activity that can contribute to community development, community education, environmental awareness, and positive social interaction. Unfortunately, the current MN COVID-19 virus guidance prohibits group gatherings. P HA is following updates from Governor Walz to determine if we can garden this year on schedule, partially, or at all. Please look for a garden plot application in the mail, and apply by the scheduled deadline. Do not enter any PHA Community Gardens without written approval.​
​
THE GOOD NEWS
COVID-19 is not a food-borne illness. It is extremely unlikely that someone will catch it through eating. The virus is most likely to cause illness through respiratory transmission, not eating. The routes of exposure to be concerned about include:
-
Being in very close proximity to other people, or
-
Coming in contact with high touch surfaces (gate latches, padlocks, spigots, tool handles, door knobs, banisters, etc.)
-
Touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
​
STAY ENGAGED
The garden is the social center for many gardeners. Social distance need not lead to isolation. Stay in touch even when you can't gather in person. Use our PHA Garden Blog website, web conferencing (Zoom.com, Google Hangouts), social media, email or phone communication to foster a connection by sharing:
-
Stories and profiles of gardeners
-
Tips and strategies shared by gardeners
-
Recipes
-
Photos of home gardens and gardens from previous years
-
Consider offering online webinars on gardening topics
​
Stay informed: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/
​
​
RESOURCES
PHA Garden Resource Guide
This resource guide lists resources that residents may call, volunteer organizations that help out with large garden projects, and public garden plots to rent in the St. Paul community.
​
Directions to print: print on two sides (flip on short edge)
Garden Mentor Training Program
Saint Paul Public Housing Agency partners with University of Minnesota Extension Program and Ramsey County Master Gardeners to provide PHA residents resources for gardening. Ramsey County Master Gardeners offer a free, 6-session garden mentor training for PHA residents. In this training, residents learn about growing vegetables, soil quality, composting, fertilizers, indoor plant care, community building and mediating conflict. This training is beneficial to both residents with little or no garden knowledge, as well as residents with a gardening background. This training is from 4-6pm at the Mt. Airy Community Center and will be on 6 consecutive Mondays, 2/24, 3/2, 3/9, 3/16, 3/23, 3/30. You will be provided with a binder and weekly handouts with various garden resources. You will also be provided with free snacks, a t-shirt, and field trip to Frogtown Farm in early summer. Residents will take the knowledge gained from the Training Program and be an educational resource for other gardeners at their community.
We ask you to be able to drive, walk or bus to the training site. If you would like to apply for a bus pass, please contact Natalie. We also ask you to attend at least 5 out of the 6 training sessions, and connect with your community and share garden resources. To apply, you can request an application from your manager or HSC and you will turn it in to the same person. The manager or HSC will get the application to Natalie, PHA’s Green Initiatives Technician, and she will reach out to you regarding your application status. Applications are due December 31, 2019. If you have any questions about the program, you can contact Natalie at Natalie.Mikkelson@stpha.org or 651-298-5222.
Ramsey County Master Gardeners
The Ramsey County Master Gardener Volunteers connect University resources with the environmental needs and initiatives of Ramsey County. To do so we:
- Teach the public environmentally-sound landscaping practices
- Serve underserved audiences
- Teach youth to enjoy the benefits of gardening and enhance our environment
- Build public awareness of the Ramsey County Master Gardener Program and the services we offer
Our gardener volunteers use the latest research to
- Protect and enhance the environment
- Strengthen citizens and families by promoting the therapeutic benefits of gardening.
- Strengthen community pride by engaging in neighborhood vegetable, fruit, and native plant gardens. Watch a video on Community Gardens: Make it Bloom.
- Promote good nutrition by teaching residents to grow fruits and vegetables.
​
This website has more information on various resources for gardeners, upcoming classes, background information about the program, and how to become a master gardener.
​
​
Ask a Master Gardener
Have a gardening question? Ask a Master Gardener:
​
-
Go to the U of MN Extension Ask a Gardener Website to search for answers;
-
Call 612-301-7590 and a Master Gardener will research the problem and return your call. Please accept blocked calls so a Master Gardener can return your call within 48 hours.
-
Visit our Ramsey County Diagnostic clinic, seasonal hours from May through September.
NEWS
McDonough Gardens recognized
at Blooming Saint Paul Awards
Congratulations to McDonough Gardeners on earning the Golden Bloom award in the Egg Plant Edible Garden category! They were recognized for their tremendous gardens at the Blooming Saint Paul event held on September 24, 2019.
​
To learn more about the Blooming Saint Paul Awards, visit this website:
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Welcome, PHA Gardeners! This blog was created so that PHA gardeners can share garden resources, successes, tips and tricks, stories, and more with each other. On the home page, you will find resources, news, and reminders. On the blog page, you can write and find other blog posts written by PHA Gardeners. All blog posts will be monitored by PHA's Green Initiatives Technician.
Thank you for being an active member in your garden committee and playing a role in the beautiful gardens at your community!
PHA Garden Photos
