Members of our club visited Mesa Community College on April 25 to learn about their sustainable gardening and Urban Horticulture Program from program director Peter Conden. The temporary greenhouse kept the temperature and humidity at optimal conditions for seeds to germinate and plants to grow in containers, in hydroponics and in aquaponics setups. We also toured their working organic farm where plants grow on fertile, absorbent soil. The organic soil was made by improving the native caliche soil with coconut husk, compost and chicken manure. All produce grown by the students is sold at the school’s farmers market or donated to local food banks.

Our monthly meeting on June 21 will feature a speaker from the Nature Conservancy. We will learn how practices and infrastructure in communities and neighborhoods contribute to water conservation. In our arid environment, our water resources are limited. By properly conserving this precious commodity we will be able to maintain our gardens. Our monthly meeting takes place on the third Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. in the Chapel House at Sun Lakes Country Club. We welcome guests at our meetings. If you want more information or are interest in becoming a member of the Sun Lakes Garden Club, please contact Nancy Sjolin at 883-3411 or visit our website at www.sunlakesgardenclub.com.