The Garden Commons; A Community Garden at ASU

Big things have been happening at Garden Commons the last few months. We are putting the final touches on Phase 2 of construction that will add more outdoor event space, water feature and relaxation area, and an additional 225 sq feet of growing space.

Look for details for an opening celebration this Fall.

Join us next Friday for a Prickly Pear Harvesting Workshop. For the first 30-40 minutes we will meet under the shade pavilion at Garden Commons to participate in prickly pear harvesting and sample some juice and fruits. The last half of the workshop will be spent walking to demonstrate harvesting at three cacti located on n the south side of Warner Hall. If you wish to harvest your own fruits please bring a bucket or a box. Tongs are also highly encouraged. We have gloves to barrow.

RSVP here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfnDtjy8XV5-EzqTMmXA-KgyWXRrs9F1a52Cdtj3E0Qpdz-JQ/viewform

Look who we found hopping around Garden Commons. This is a Sonoran Desert Toad, also called a Colorado River Toad, and is one of the largest native toad species in North America. It is semiaquatic and is often found in streams, near springs, in canals and drainage ditches. They have a loud croak sound to ward off predators and can often be heard near the Desert Mall through campus. These toads also ward of predators by secreting toxins from their glands which is why they shouldn’t be handled and unfortunately are known to be extremely dangerous to pets who may get too close. Due to habitat loss and illegal collection they are considered a threatened species.

The Garden Commons is currently home to hundreds of lady beetles! Many people do not know that there are lots of different species that fall under the term “ladybug.” Currently inhabiting the garden are the seven-spotted and convergent ladybeetle.

We love both of these flying friends because they protect our plants from aphids—their main food source. They love to lay their eggs in the aphid-rich dill and cilantro, where their larvae will have lots to munch on as they mature.

Come volunteer with us on Friday, May 3rd, and check them out for yourself!

Our bi-annual Cakes and Cacti event took place on Tuesday and was a hit amongst our student, staff, and faculty attendees! 🥞🌵The Garden Commons; A Community Garden at ASU sold cacti, succulents, herbs, flowers, and vegetables and Sun Devil Hospitality offered local cuisine like mesquite pancakes and prickly pear lemonade! Thank you to all who came out and enjoyed our third time hosting this event!

Join us next Tuesday for a hyper-local breakfast with Sun Devil Dinning. We will also be hosting out Annual Plant Sale to raise funds for garden supplies.

https://asuevents.asu.edu/event/garden-commons-plant-sale?eventDate=2024-04-09&id=0

We had such a great time yesterday at the Valentine’s Day pot painting event! Thanks to everyone who came out and brought their creative ideas.

Follow us and check out Sun Devil Sync to join us for our other events. Lots of great things planned to come out and enjoy the garden.

Have you been to Garden Commons lately? Come out to one of our events coming up and check out the beautiful flowers and produce. More info here:

https://linktr.ee/asugardencommons?fbclid=PAAabXGh2bQFcUBBcdKF3ERW8sv-Xjkd9cCDO9zBaxREkGCgURYJPcMiHnBlQ_aem_AUnAoihcRxs0dfp-mWnhvW3ojw4IHeQV89rXzmmmXuxpwZ6un99gwUyjp6iAcX8fP14

We are excitted to kick off Sping 2024 semester! Join us at our weekly Farm Stand or Volubteer Days. More info here:

https://linktr.ee/asugardencommons?fbclid=PAAaY5k9FI-E6er6poTXzA-D7J9gmS3ZwdCG5-sjR-LdAQ0RGJ9ywYu4AnAq4_aem_AZh2iueJNVTj8U1gaFmqPeaCODIUAmFiHEVB2uEOloYTv-J3ub2y6-VUqGeKWqQfSro

Did you catch ASU Garden Commons on ABC15 Arizona last night? We were proud we were Uplifting Arizona and fhe ASU Community. Garden Programing resumes when the semester resumes next week.

https://www.abc15.com/news/uplifting-arizona/watch-student-run-garden-at-asu-provides-more-than-just-an-agriculture-lesson

Garden Commons is hiring a student worker. Visit the ASU Job search and look for Sustainability Program Aide. The position closes on December 18th so apply today!

Have you seen any caterpillars or butterflies on campus this semester? This Fall has been one of the most abundant we have observed. Perhaps the warmer weather. Monarchs and Queens are pictured here. Monarchs and Queen caterpillars only early milkweed plants so one of the best places to find them are on the milkweeds around campus including outside Garden Commons, around the ASU charter sign on Backus Mall, and around Lantana Hall.

1. Monarch Caterpillar on Desert Milkweed.
2. Female adult monarch. Notice the damage to the wings. This occurs during mating.
3. Queen caterpillar. Compared to the monarch it has different striping and a third set of tentacles.
4. Adult female queen. Notice the pattern of spots compared to monarch (white touching brown) and the more brown color vs orange.

Thank you to Garden Commons Ambassador Ariel Harrington for capturing these great shots!

Bok choy, a type of cabbage common in Asia, is one of our favorite vegetables to grow at Garden Commons. We love the large ones, baby ones, white and green stemmed ones. But you may not be familiar with how to eat this versatile green. Swipe to read some of our favorite ideas!

Do you have a favorite way to enjoy Bok choy? Share in the comments! If you post a comment you can receive a reusable tote to use at our farm stand and beyond. We will reach out with pickup instructions. Totes must be picked up from .

Want to grow nutritious and delicious microgreens? We will get you started next Wednesday with growing kits and instructions. Microgreens can be grown indoors, including your dorm or your office, and can be harvested in 10-14 days. Stop by between 11-1 but know our supplies are limitted and it’s is first come first serve.

If available please bring your own growing container by washing an reusing a a single use plastic, styrofoam, or heavy duty paper bowl. It is more sustainable to wash and reuse a food container. Examples include a takeout containers, strawberry or berry clamshells, egg carton, etc. We will have a limited number of supplies available.

Last week Garden Commons hosted a Compostable Pumpkin Decorating event. We used dried flowers, herbs, leaves, and napkins. They were attached with a glue made from corn starch and water that can completely wash off. Which makes it super easy to bake up the pumpkin after the Halloween. Participants were encouraged to return any waste from their pumpkins for composting.

Today was the first monarch sighting at Garden Commons. We frequently see monarchs in the garden in the Fall as they are making their way to overwintering sites along the California coast or Central Mexico.

Monarch butterfly migration is threatened by habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change. The entire Polytechnic campus provides protection for this species by offering numerous nextar and host plants. Monarchs caterpillars feed exclusively on milkweed. There are several milkweed plants located outside of Garden Commons as well as the southwest of the student union and throughout the Desert Mall.

The Queen has arrived! We mean the Queen Butterflies. We have observed several Queen Butterflies flittering around Garden Commons and they have laid some eggs on nearby milkweeds. The caterpillars are munching away. We will be on cocoon watch soon.

Did you know? Both Queen and Monarch’s are toxic to predators. They have evolved this defense by being able to consume cardenolides present in milkweed plants. The milkweeds are not toxic to the caterpillars and they sequester the chemicals in their bodies as adult butterflies. The chemicals are harmful and deadly to potential predators such as birds so they know to avoid them.

Next time you walk by the numerous milkweed plants outside of Garden Commons as well as the rest of the Polytecnic Campus take a look to see if you find any very hungry caterpillars or the beautiful butterflies they become.

Thank you to Garden Commons Ambassadors Gryffin Garcia and Natalie Zimmerman for the photos.

Join us for a Fall Gardening Workshop this Friday! All in the ASU Community are welcome. For those who have garden space we will be starting some herbs, lettuce, etc. in a 6-pack to take home.

RSVP here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScTbhK9AbHhVuddAmMQgVVcIDzvejb_QM2CD46eMYHLHos8rw/viewform

Come visit our Three Sister’s Garden Bed and watch how it grows. We are growing corn, beans, and squash together in this bed. All of these crops provide one another many benefits. The large leaves of the squash help shade and coop the ground. The corn provides tall supports for the beans to climb and the beans help pull nitrogen from the air and make available to other plants. Together these crops provide balanced nutrition.

We have planted brown tepary beans from our neighbors on the Gila River Indian Community, sweet corn, and butternut squash.

We will begin harvesting these crops in a few weeks for Indigenous Peoples Day on October 9.

Join us for this exciting event! More information and RSVP at the link below.

https://linktr.ee/asugardencommons?fbclid=PAAabt6vBEkrT-j62PD9iaWx-GTQotCQZdTXDN2HNT8yaxOw86cqQ-Mkx6Ogs_aem_Abg8UzeLlVKnxs3r8Pgev7EOQqoDLxqdH6CkjfOVRM1Fz1iAY2f7PuR91gMv_tifqBg

Tomorrow is the first Farm Stand of the semester!

Garden Commons is hiring a student worker! Please see the announcement for details and share with your network! Job closes on Thursday, August 10.

https://students.asu.edu/employment/search
Job 93284BR

We are so grapeful for everyone who came out to the garden today for the Great Grape harvest! We had a great turnout and harvested over 60 bunches of grapes as well as flowers and herbs.

Those that will be ripe in the coming weeks we will be donated to local food pantries.

What do you think Sun Devils? Should we make the Great Grape Harvest an annual event?

The first ripe Mission Figs! We planted two small trees this past December. Figs are a great fruit tree for the Phoenix area. Meep meep- our resident Roadrunner- approves!

We *might* have a few more figs ripe this Friday for our great Grape Harvest event. The birds have been hungry and thirsty and getting a few grape bunches and some won’t be ripe until next week but we should have plenty for everyone to get a taste and be able to take home some herbs.

We are so Grapeful for Garden Commons! Join us on June 30 for an open-house to learn about Garden Commons Programs and take part in the great grape harvest of 2023. The mild spring has been good to us and we will have red and green table grapes, mint, basil, and more to harvest and share.

Please RSVP and learn more details here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfwTV7968axaV_kmsrU_rRm7RiSbxteXl-pxlRtNeskRj_jzA/viewform

Final Farm Stand of the semester is today (Wednesday, April 26) from 11-1. We are just starting to get some spring harvests of summer squash and peppers.

Or come out and join us for a morning of volunteering in the garden on Friday, April 28 and Friday, May 5 from 9-11. Volunteers are welcome to the harvest.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeyRqDUugwpsj9R3I2ZzYRY01ITseDgXOW_WgBVaE5ryRdBFQ/viewform

So many fun events during Earth Month! More details here: https://linktr.ee/the_desert_smells_like_veggies?fbclid=PAAaYxTcihqWxaxYb57QXhsrV0NYdd9SlSIMqDUK3Lp4Hj47RaMwcaS4Z4zN0.

Happy Earth Month! There are so many great event this month including many at the The Garden Commons; A Community Garden at ASU! Check out this calendar and link to register. https://linktr.ee/asugardencommons

We hope to see you at an upcoming walking tours, Cakes and Cacti, or volunteering!