Community Garden Newsletter — August 28, 2026

News and Announcements

This week's harvest was plentiful! We were able to share cucumbers, tomatoes, kale, greens, and radishes with our community. Growing together means sharing together, and we're grateful to have had enough to go around.

Volunteer Garden Day — August 29

Bring water, wear comfortable clothes and sunscreen! Questions? Email garden@family-solutions.net.

Lemon Cucumbers

Last Friday we harvested lemon cucumbers and gave samples to staff and clients. Have you ever tried one? This heirloom variety is round and yellow like a lemon, with sweet, non-bitter flesh that sets it apart from typical cucumbers.

Critters in the Garden

• Dragonfly — They hunt and gobble up the pesky mosquitoes, gnats, and flies that buzz around the garden. These aerial hunters help control insects that can damage crops.
• Western bumblebee — Key drivers of plant reproduction, food production, and ecosystem health. Protecting them is essential for both environmental sustainability and human well-being — they are currently on the endangered species list.
• Praying mantis — They eat almost any insect that comes their way, making them excellent natural pest control. Unlike pesticides, they target pests without harming helpful pollinators like bees and butterflies.

Staff Spotlight

Sonova Aiken shared some beautiful sunflowers from her garden to brighten up our day! Sonova recently joined Family Solutions as a Family Support Specialist, and we're very grateful to have her here. Thank you, Sonova!

Mark Your Calendars!

• October 3 — Prep Day: We'll be prepping the ground for the hoop house build.
• October 10 — Build Day: We plan to finish building the entire hoop house structure.

See the hoop house flyer and details.