Garden alert! Bugs and fences need your attention.

Bugs! 

Squash bugs are out in droves. It's very important that everyone tends to their bugs. If you spend time eradicating bugs and eggs in your garden and your neighbor is not, you'll soon have bugs again.

It's important to inspect your plants -- especially any kind of squash, but any plant they can hide in -- underneath the leaves, on the stems, and the earth around the stem for bugs. Egg bunches will be under the leaves in an area usually smaller than a nickel.

The offenders:

The squash bug, about the size of a pencil eraser:

The stink bug (may not be exactly the right bug, but looks just like this) about 3/4 of an inch long:

Stink bug nymphs, very tiny:

Eggs from both these bugs are similar, and will be grouped like the photo. They look like tiny seeds. Do not just throw them aside: Take along a small container of soapy water, remove the eggs from the leaves and put them in the solution, and dispose of them at home. 

The Fence

The fence has been torn and pushed down several times in the past week. We suspect there may be deer or racoons (or both) breaking into the garden, or becoming trapped inside and destroying the fence on their way out. 

We will be repairing the fence as soon as we can -- but do appreciate it when you look after it, too. Please take a look at the fence when you are there, and mend it if you can and let us know if it's broken.

Please don't forget to close the gate when you leave the garden. 

Also (smaller problem), please take all your equipment home and put all garden equipment back in the garden entrance before you leave. Plot owners are responsible for keeping the garden neat. If you bring helpers, please show them where things are put away. If you have any questions, please let us know!

Last But Not Least

Everything looks wonderful! You guys are doing an amazing job on your plots. It's a pleasure to walk through and see all the hard work everyone's doing. THANK YOU! :)