NLR Community Garden Newsletter
Garden Spotlight: Hays Senior Center Garden Grows More Than Vegetables
TuckedwithintheHaysSeniorCenterisaflourishing gemthat’squietlymakingabigimpact theHays SeniorCenterCommunityGarden Whatbeganasa smallcontainergardenhasblossomedintoavibrant spaceforgrowingfreshfood,sharingstories,and buildingconnectionsacrossgenerations.
Thegardenislovinglytendedbymembersofthe communitycenterwhohavecometogethernotjust toplantandharvest,buttoconnect,learn,andenjoy theoutdoors Numerouswoodenpushcartsbuiltinto raisedbedsmakethespaceaccessibleandthecrops easytomanage Thevarietyofplants,including tomatoes,peppers,herbs,andflowers,willbeshared withmembersonaweeklybasis.“Thisgardengives usareasontogetoutsideandmove,”saysone volunteer,“butmorethanthat,itgivesuspurpose andsomethingtolookforwardto.”
TheHaysGardenisalsoabeautifulexampleofwhat canhappenwhenweinvestingreenspacesforall ages.Withitsfriendlyfaces,andongoingcare,it offersmorethanjustproduce itofferscommunity, education,healing,andjoy.
Pointyour cameraphone here!
STEP3:Submiteverythingto NLRNeighborhoodServ@nlrargov FALL2025FUNDINGAPPLICATION DUEONJUNE15,2025 NEWGARDENSELIGIBLEFORUPTO$1500 RETURNINGGARDENSELIGIBLEUPTO$5000
STEP1:ScantheQRCodetoreview theapplicationlocatedatthe bottomofourwebsite
STEP2:Completeapplicationand compileallrequireddocuments
Forassistancewithyourapplication, contactRKelly@nlrargovor NLRNeighborhoodServ@nlrargov 501-351-0184
Lastcallforfundingthisyear!TheNLRCommunity GardenProgramprovidesseasonalfundingeach springandfalltosupportbothnewandexisting communitygardens.Activegardensreturningtothe programmayreceiveupto$5,000annuallyfor materials,tools,andexpenses,whilegardensnewto theprogramareeligiblefor$1,500tohelpthem establishinfrastructure
Beyondfunding,participatinggardensgainaccessto freecompost,seeds,plants,educationalresources, hands-onassistance,andsocialmediapromotion. ApplicationsarereviewedtwiceayearbytheGarden AdvisoryCommittee.Applytoday!
Urban Garden Summer Care Tips
Drought-ResistantWateringStrategies forZone7b/8a
WaterDeeply,LessOften:Encouragedeeprootgrowthby wateringthoroughlybutinfrequently.Aimfor1"ofwateronce perweekratherthanshallowdailywatering.
WaterEarlyintheMorning:Waterbefore10am toreduce evaporationandfungalrisk
MulchHeavily:Apply2–4inchesofmulch(woodchips,straw, orpineneedles)aroundplantstoretainsoilmoistureand regulatetemperature.
GroupPlantsbyWaterNeeds:Create“hydrozones”by plantingdrought-tolerantspeciestogetherandhigher-need plantsinseparateareasformoreefficientwatering.
UseSoakerHosesorDripIrrigation:Thesesystemsdeliver waterdirectlytotheroots,minimizingwasteandkeeping foliagedrytopreventdisease.
ChooseDrought-TolerantPlants:Nativeandadaptedplants likepurpleconeflower,black-eyedSusan,yarrow,andsalvia thriveinZone8awithlesswater
ImproveSoilHealth:Addcompostandorganicmattertohelp soilretainwaterandnutrientsmoreeffectively.
CollectRainwater:Userainbarrelstocaptureandstoreroof runoffforuseduringdryspells.Clickheretolearnmore aboutrainwatercollecting.
ReduceLawnAreas:Lawnsrequiremorewaterthanmost gardenbeds.Replacesometurfwithnativegroundcovers, mulch,orediblelandscaping.
Example of straw used as mulch in a raised garden bed. Every inch of soil is covered and protected.
Urban Garden Summer Care Tips
BattlingBugsintheHeat:SmartPestPreventionforArkansasSummers
AsArkansasgardenersknow,thesummerheatbringsmorethanjustthrivingtomatoesandsunflowers it alsowelcomesawaveofpersistentpests.Fromfireantsinthesoiltowhitefliesonyoursquash,it’s importanttostayonestepaheadtoprotectyourplants,yourhome,andyourpeaceofmind. Here’showtomanagecommonpestsduringthehottestmonthsinTheNaturalState ProactivePestPreventionTips
1.EliminateStandingWater:Checkyouryardforitemsthatcollectrainlikebuckets,flowerpotsaucers, birdbaths,andcloggedgutters.Dumporrefreshwatersourcesweeklytopreventmosquitobreeding.
2.SealandShield:Inthegarden,considerrowcoversforyoungorvulnerablecrops.
3.MulchWisely:Mulchhelpsconservemoistureintheheat,butkeepitafewinchesawayfromplant stemsandyourhome’sfoundationtoavoidattractingantsandslugs.
4 InvitetheGoodGuys:Attractbeneficialinsectslikeladybugs,lacewings,andparasiticwaspsbyplanting nativeflowerssuchasyarrow,dill,andconeflower Theseallieshelpcontrolpestpopulationsnaturally
5 StayVigilant:Inspectplantsregularly,especiallyunderleavesandatthesoilline Earlydetectionmeans quicker,easiercontrol.Squashbugsandcaterpillarscanoftenberemovedbyhand.
6.UseNaturalDefenses:Insecticidalsoaps,neemoil,andgarlic-peppersprayscanbeeffectiveand garden-safeoptionsagainstsoft-bodiedpestslikeaphids,mites,andwhiteflies.
7.RotateYourCrops:Changingthelocationofyourvegetablevarietieseachseasonhelpsbreakpestand diseasecycles,reducingrecurringinfestations.
8.TimingIsEverything:Wateryourgardenintheearlymorning.Thisreducesthechanceoffungalgrowth anddetersnocturnalpestslikeearwigsandslugsthatthriveindampeveningconditions.
Looking for a safer, more sustainable way to manage garden pests? Natural pest control offers an effective, chemical-free alternative that protects your plants, your health, beneficial pollinators and the environment using options like garlic, neem oil, diatomaceous earth, and beneficial organisms like nematodes and Bacillus thuringiensis.
It’s not too late to get growing! Summer is prime time to plant heat-loving crops like okra, peppers, southern peas, and melons. You can also succession plant quick growers like bush beans and squash through mid-summer. Keep soil cool and moist with mulch, water deeply, and harvest often to keep plants producing.
The closer to the bottom of the box a vegetable is listed, the closer to the end of the month it should be planted.
Click here for the AR Grown Fruit & Vegetable Harvest Calendar
June
Watermelon
Cantaloupe
Basil Tomatoes
Southern Peas
Collards
Pumpkins
Sweet Potatoes
Squash (Winter)
Squash (Summer)
Cucumbers
Peppers
Beans (Snap, Lima)
Edamame
June Garden Related Events
ARFarmer’sMarket-EVERYTHURSDAYNIGHT!
4:30-7:30pmuntilOct.30,2025
Location:St.JosephCenter6800CampRobinson
GrowingUrbanFarmersMeet-up
Wednesday,June4 5:30-7:00pm th
Location:St.JosephCenter6800CampRobinson
Joinourgrowingfarmercommunityandchatabout farmingissues,ideas,andmore.Parkonthewest sideofthebuildingbythewhitetentandBeerShed.
BlackberryNightMarket
Friday,June6 5:00-9:00pm th
Location:St.JosephCenter6800CampRobinson
Comekickoffblackberryseasonwithus!Enjoya livelynightmarketfeaturingmusic,foodtrucks,& localvendors.It’sacelebrationofsummerflavors youwon’twanttomiss!Entryisfree.
SoilHealthatUALR(GrowingUrbanFarmers)
Dr.StephenGrace
Wednesday,June11 5:30-7:00pm th
Location:UALRCampusGarden-3343FairPark Ave.,LittleRock
GrowYourOwnGroceries-Peppers
Thursday,June12 12:00-1:00pm th FREEOnlineZoomWorkshop. RegisterforthisworkshopontheUAEXwebsite. Clickhere.
SummerPlantingGuides
July
Basil
Pak Choi
Bok Choi
Cabbage
Irish Potatoes
Collards
Tomatoes
Southern Peas
Sweet Corn
Cucumbers
Pumpkins
Squash (winter)
Squash (Summer)
August
Southern Peas
Lettuce
Kale
Mustard
Carrots
Endive
Beets
Chives
Cauliflower
Broccoli
Cabbage
Cucumbers
Collards
Beans (Snap, Lima)
JOIN US IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE! SIGN-UP
garden manager meetings garden manager meetings JUNE 25
JULY 23
AUGUST 27
NORTH HEIGHTS COMMUNITY CENTER 4801 ALLEN ST. 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Our meetings are an opportunity for NLR community garden managers, volunteers, and the general public to come together, exchange resources, celebrate successes, address challenges, and stay connected with our program. These meetings create a collaborative space where local gardeners can share knowledge, ask questions, and support each other. Best of all, they’re free and open to everyone come join us.
MEETINGS TAKE PLACE ON THE 4TH WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH (JANUARY–OCTOBER) AND THE 3RD WEDNESDAY IN NOVEMBER NO MEETING IN DECEMBER
