What's Growing On At The Garden - September 2026
Happenings at the Garden
As we all know, September was a continuation of a long, hot summer. The plants and gardeners are thankful for the even slight temperature drops at the end of the month. We are excited to transition into Fall and Winter which have proven to be our most productive garden seasons.
We began planting Greens and Root Crops from seedlings the garden team grew in their homes. These include kale, collards, mustards, cabbage, radishes and turnips. As we continue to harvest our summer crops of okra, peas and peppers, we have donated 1,500 lbs of produce to our neighbors in need at WestAid and the Las Vegas Trail Rise Community Center so far this year.
We are thrilled with the progress in the Compost operation as we are receiving approximately 325 lbs of food scraps per week. We plan to produce 8000 lbs of compost annually. Thank you to Ridglea Country Club, Culinary School of Fort Worth, the community members who contribute to our compost, and the volunteers who help process the food scraps into rich soil.
When it was too hot in the garden, we ventured into the kitchen to try our hand at canning, and dehydrating, making salsas, pickled okra and cucumbers, and spice mixes from the garden’s produce.
Education, Events, and Groups
For the current academic year, we have set aside a workday every Thursday to host 20 young adults each week from Jane Justin School and Boulevard Heights Transition School. With the help of students from the Jane Justin School, Texas Health Community Hope filmed a promo in the garden.
A total of 22 students and 8 adults from Girl Scouts and Eugene McCray Community Center attended garden Field Trips.
Volunteers, the lifeline of the Ridglea Giving Garden, did not let the hot weather stop them. We had groups from TCU Nursing, and 93 individual volunteers from the community this month help keep the garden growing.
Events scheduled for early October include a table at Archie’s Gardenland’s Fall Festival on October 10th, from 10:00 – 2:00.
Follow the garden's Youtube and or partner, Made Greene's Youtube channels for weekly reports at the garden and fun ideas for kid and student activities in a garden setting.
Funding
The Ridglea Giving Garden relies on donations and grants and our grant writing team has been very busy during the month of September. We have submitted and are currently waiting to hear back from several grants including the Allen Foundation, Garden Conservancy, the National Benevolent Association (NBA) of the Christian Church, and the North Texas Community Foundation.
Through market sales and a garden rental, we received $281. We continue to seek new avenues for funding and would love your donations and ideas.
How to Get Involved
There are many ways you can join us in supporting the important work of the Ridglea Giving Garden during this beautiful Fall Season:
Volunteer Here
Donate Here
Bring your leaves (no weeds, grass, or branches please) to the compost area of the garden.
Vegetable of the Month - Bloody Butcher Corn
As the famous song from the musical Oklahoma says, “The corn is as high as an elephant’s eye, and it looks like it’s climbing right up to the sky.”
This 10-foot-tall corn is an indigenous, heirloom variety. We are in the second generation as we saved seeds from June and planted them in late July. We will harvest the corn in late October. The cucumbers we planted at the base of the corn are using it for a trellis. It’s a beautiful sight!
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