Those of you who have beds in the garden, please remember that you need to come out and water and weed your plot. September can be a hot, muggy time to garden, and the weeds are strong. But, the garden is lush and fruitful. Remember to wear a hat. We have sun screen, gloves, and tools for you. We also have on hand water, soda, snacks, a functioning bathroom, and cool spaces to rest. You are welcome to come out to the garden any time; we keep some tools on the side of the shed for you to use.

The update of the City Sprouts web page, http://www.omahasprouts.org, is not yet done, but it is coming along nicely. Your suggestions for additions and functions are more than welcome. Please let us know at ajameton@unmc.edu, or mkane@mail.unomaha.edu (web designer Michael Kane).

There is good news and bad news.

The good news: The plumbers came by recently and installed the second standpipe on the west side of the garden. The bad news: They made quite a mess. Looks kind of like a meteor landed in the middle of the garden. No serious damage, but it will take a while to grow back grass, re-grade, clean up the pathway, and repair the one raised bed they knocked for a loop.

The good news: The garden continues to be fruitful. The bad news: There has been a certain amount of pilfering of vegetables and peaches. Hopefully, they went to people who need the food.

We are working on firm, tactful, and brief warning signs, and have gotten good suggestions, but we still don't have quite the right phrasing. If you have a good idea for a sign, let us know. If, as I believe we inevitably need to, we increasingly grow vegetables locally and in the city, security is an issue that all vegetable growers in Omaha need to consider.

This article originally appeared in the September issue of the Missouri Valley Sierran