Spring plant sale returns to JCC in May

Are you one of those people who cannot wait for the ground to warm up each spring to start working outside in your garden? I and my fellow plant sale committee members certainly fall into this category and are pleased to be hosting the Alliance’s third annual spring plant sale. Come to our sale behind the Dwares JCC on the first Sunday in May to find an assortment of chemical-free vegetables and other plants ready for you to add to your gardens and home. Perhaps you will even find the perfect gift for Mother’s Day.

Although we do not yet have a final list of the farmers and other vendors who will be in attendance, we assure you that you will have plenty of plants – ranging from chemical-free vegetable seedlings to native perennials as well as indoor potted plants – to tempt you.

If you prefer to start your own vegetables from seed, the URI Master Gardeners’ table will be offering free-of-charge organic seed packets. In addition, the URI Master Gardener volunteers will answer your gardening questions, conduct free onsite soil pH testing and provide recommendations for actions to improve your soil.

To take a sample of your soil, use a spade to collect a thin slice (about 1/2 cup) of soil from the root zone in several spots in the same area (e.g., your lawn or vegetable garden.) Mix the soil from these spots together and spread the soil out on a piece of newspaper or a paper plate to allow it to air dry completely. Pour about one cup of the mixed soil into a clean plastic or paper bag. You may bring in soil samples from more than one area, but do not mix soil from different areas.

A family favorite, the Lazy K Ranch will be coming from Foster with some alpacas and selling natural fiber knit goods, including gloves, socks and beanies, made from their alpacas’ fleece.

At our fall plant sale last October, we offered an activity for children – painting pumpkins – that proved to be quite popular. This spring we will be offering face painting with simple nature themes.

Indie Cycle will again be on hand for you to dispose responsibly of unwanted e-waste including TVs, monitors, printers, and small household appliances. Please see their website for a complete list of items, most of which do not require a drop-off fee.

As in the past, the Rehoboth Sunday Night Jammers will provide live music, ranging from klezmer tunes to waltzes. The members of the Jammers – including some East Siders – play an assortment of instruments including fiddle, mandolin, acoustic guitar, bass, keyboard, and bouzouki (a long-necked member of the lute family).

The plant sale will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 4 in the parking lot behind the Bonnie & Donald Dwares JCC 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence, weather permitting. The sale will move indoors to the Baxt Social Hall if the weather does not cooperate.

For more information, contact Samantha Kaufman at skaufman@jewishallianceri.org