Improvements in container gardening equipment and techniques have cleared the way for even the most "brown thumb" city dwellers, and anyone without a yard, to grow their own groceries.

"There's nothing to stop anyone who wants a garden from having one," says Roy Joulus, CEO of Greenbo, www.greenbo.co, a company that designs award-winning innovative products for urban gardening including the new Greenbo XL flowerbox.

"Plants add a great deal to our quality of life - from cleaning the air we breathe to keeping us in touch with nature. Fresh, home-grown herbs and vegetables not only taste so much better than supermarket produce, they're convenient, and you know exactly where they came from and what was used, or not used, on them."

While hydroponic and vertical gardening systems have been developed to maximize the yield in small spaces, Joulus says starting a balcony garden needn't cost much. Start with the right materials and choose plants that are right for your conditions, and you'll soon be eating from the pots on your porch.

He offers these tips especially for balcony gardeners:

Plant the right plants for the amount of sunlight you have:

Most herbs and vegetables require six to eight hours of direct sunlight a day. So what do you do if you have just one balcony and it doesn't get that much sun?

• Choose edibles that can take partial sun/shade (three to six hours of sun in the morning or early afternoon) or light shade (two to three hours of direct sun or lightly shaded all day.)

Some partial shade herbs: cilantro and parsley (both prefer cooler weather); dill, bee balm, spearmint chamomile.
Some light shade herbs: garlic chives, peppermint, rosemary.
Some partial or light shade veggies: lettuce, broccoli, green onion, collards, cabbage, peas, carrots, strawberries, beans, sweet potatoes.

• Remember, pale-colored surfaces increase the light your plants receive. Plants in regions with short growing seasons usually need the full six to eight hours of light per day.

Choose the right pots:

• Bigger pots require less water and are less likely to blow over on high-rise balconies where the winds can be fierce. Terra cotta allows moisture to escape fairly quickly, which is helpful for people who like to water a lot. Non-porous plastic or glazed pots hold water longer and are better for windy balconies, where soil dries out quickly. Use brightly colored containers to add style and visual interest to your garden.

• Most vegetable plants require even watering - don't let them dry out completely and don't keep them soggy. Apply water directly to the soil.

• Make sure your containers have drainage holes or a drainage system. If they have an attached tray to catch excess water, don't allow the plants' roots to sit in the water, which promotes rot and fungus. Either empty the tray regularly, or use a design that holds the water away from the roots.

Use the right dirt:

• It's important to use dirt that allows for good drainage. Most edible plants don't like to sit in wet dirt, and soil without good drainage tends to become compacted - a difficult medium for plants that like to stretch their roots out. You can buy a sterile soilless potting mix, a soil-based potting mix, or mix up your own batch using 1 part compost, 1 part perlite and 1 part potting soil.

• Don't use garden soil or top soil, which won't allow adequate drainage.

• On windy balconies, top-dress your container with small rocks to keep the soil from drying out so quickly.

Joulus offers one more tip for high-rise dwellers: Rely on self-pollinating plants, or plants that don't need pollination by insects, unless you're willing to hand-pollinate.

"You likely won't see many bees buzzing around the 40th story," he says.

Don't worry about pollination for root vegetables, like carrots and potatoes. Some self-pollinators include beans, peas, tomatoes and peppers.

About Roy Joulus

Roy Joulus is CEO of Greenbo, which was founded in 2012 in Florida with a focus on simplicity, efficiency and innovation in creating urban agricultural products. Its Greenbo XL flowerbox, designed to hang securely on any balcony railing up to 6 inches wide, won the prestigious 2012 Red Dot Design Award. Greenbo products are manufactured in a multi-cultural Israeli-Arab setting using sustainable and recyclable materials, and with safety the No. 1 priority. Find Greenbo products at garden centers and independent nurseries in the United States and Europe, and online at amazon.com.

City of Davenport, Iowa
Monday, June 10, 2013; 5:30 p.m.
City Hall Council Chambers

I.     Moment of Silence

II.    Pledge of Allegiance - Ald.  Ambrose

III.    Roll Call - ALL

IV.    Discussion Agenda

       1.  Resolution closing Gaines Street as requested by the River Bandits.

       2.  Motion approving a vending location at 400 West 4th Street, Scott County Courthouse to Business in a   Box (Gregory Millsap, petitioner) COMMITTEE ACTION ONLY

VI.   Adjourn to Work Session: Update on recent rain events

June 7^th - First Friday in LeClaire!  5:00-8:00 p.m.

Mississippi River Distilling Company www.mrdistilling.com 5:30 - 8 p.m.  MRDC and Chef Stephanie are planning a real treat for everyone who comes out, Bourbon Ice Cream featuring Cody Road Bourbon.  We'll be sampling cocktails; Ananda, made with River Rose Gin, pineapple juice, grapefruit juice and honey simple syrup, and a classic daiquiri featuring Dry Dock Sorghrum.  Also kicking off our new rewards program.  We invite anyone to become a part of "The Crew" and when they sign up with instantly start earning points with each purchase that can then be used for discounts on future purchases.  To celebrate this new initiative, we'll be giving away a free "Crew" pint glass that says "Inaugural Voyage June 7, 2013" during First Friday to everyone who purchases a bottle of MRDC spirits.

Wide River Winery www.wideriverwinery.com - Wine samples and live music by Jordan Danielson. And, 'Lolly the Wine Gal' will be hanging out!

Aunt Hattie's Fanciful Emporium Come in for a free red velvet cupcake!

Razzleberries Come in to shop and get free samples of booze cake (while it lasts)!

LeClaire Antiques and Appraisals - 'First Friday's Free Appraisals' until 7 p.m.

Faithful Pilot Cafe & Spirits LIVE MUSIC - The Matriarchs starting at 7:30 P.M. www.faithfulpilot.com

Reusable Usables Yoga for yogaG w/ Live Music at First Friday Festivities in LeClaire DetoxRetox Fundraising Celebration at at 6pm (322 N. Cody Rd) *Donation Only (suggested $18...more money means more mission!) In celebration of yogaG's role in the National Yoga Service Council Conference this weekend, join Camie Easton for an amazing 60-minute, all-levels yoga class with live music, followed by Shaun's latest crafts at the Mississippi River Distilling Company across the street! Since 2009 yogaG has been sharing free trauma-sensitive yoga with women and children in domestic violence shelters in the Quad Cities (and a mat, too!) and in various cities around the US. For information, visit http://www.yogag.org

Other shops and restaurants will be open late!

June 7th-8th- LeClaire City-Wide Garage Sale Days Garage Sale Maps are available at the LeClaire Community Library website, www.leclairelibrary.org , at the library (323 Wisconsin), LeClaire Information Center (122 North Cody Road), and LeClaire City Hall.

June 8th - First Presbyterian Church, LeClaire - Garage Sale 8 a.m. to noon: Toys, books and children's clothes; gently used knick-knacks, dishes, etc.  Frito and Dorito Chili Pies for sale.

June 8th - Trivia Night at the LeClaire Civic Center benefiting the Buffalo Bill Museum. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with trivia starting at 7 p.m. Participants may bring beer, wine, snacks and soda. Water and snacks will also be for sale. Up to eight people per table. $10 per person with a $50 table minimum. Everyone will be entered into a drawing for door prizes. Contact Chris at chris@ccx.net or 563-505-6703 for reservations or information. Don't have enough for a full table? Come anyway and we can put you on a table that needs people!

June 9th- Sunday Brunch at the Faithful Pilot Cafe & Spirits Seatings at 10:00 and 12:30 - 3 Courses $20 per person Reservations 563.289.4156 www.faithfulpilot.com

June 10th - First Presbyterian Church, LeClaire - Generations Area Agency on Aging 11:45 a.m. to noon, someone from the agency will be at the church to help people sign up for food stamps. Eligibility: 60 years of age or older on date of application; single yearly income at or less than $21,256; married yearly income at or less than $28,693; disabled individuals under age 60 are NOT eligible.

June 15th- Faithful Pilot Cafe & Spirits Open for Lunch 11am-2pm- 3 different sandwiches and chips for $5 www.faithfulpilot.com

June 15th - First Presbyterian Church, LeClaire - Active Christians Hot Dog Roast and Potluck Picnic. 5:30 p.m. We will provide the hot dogs, buns, ketchup and mustard. Bring something to share and your own drink. We will play Corn Hole and other outdoor games.

June 15th- 16th Annual Golf Outing Benefiting the Buffalo Bill Museum of LeClaire - Olathea Golf Course Matt Boesch, head golf pro from Hawk's View Golf Club in Lake Geneva, WI, will host a golf clinic at 9:00 am before the 10:00 a.m. shotgun start. The cost is $50 per person and includes 9 holes golf with cart and a pizza lunch with beverage. If you don't golf, come anyway to place a bid on all the wonderful silent auction items and enjoy the pizza lunch for $7. To make a reservation for yourself or a foursome call Olathea at 289-4653, Packy Huettman at 289-5971, Steve Suiter at 289-2724 or Barry Long at 949-6969. www.buffalobillmuseumleclaire.com

June 16th - Asbury Methodist Church "WORSHIP IN THE PARK" and Potluck Service The Worship Committee of Asbury United Methodist Church, Bettendorf, is planning a Praise Worship Service in the Park on Sunday, June 16 at 10:30 a.m.  The service will be held at Veterans Memorial Park Bandshell, 1645 23^rd St., Bettendorf. Following the service there will be a potluck picnic with sliced ham provided.  Please bring a dish to share and your own table service, drink & lawn chair.

June 17^th-21^st - Kingdom Rock Vacation Bible School - Asbury United Methodist Church 9 a.m. to noon, 1809 Mississippi Blvd., Bettendorf - 563-355-5218 Register on-line www.asbury-bett.org.  VBS is offered for participants ages Kindergarten through 5th grade (completed), and to volunteers 6th grade and up.  If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Swinney at 563-505-0060 or mswinney@mchsi.com.

June 17th-20^th - First Presbyterian Church, LeClaire - Bible School 5:30 - 8:00 p.m., supper included. Theme: Living Waters. Cost $10. Special Bible School program, Sunday, June 23 at 10 am. Call 381-7777 to pre-register.

June 21^st - 22^nd - THE LeCLAIRE GIRLS' GET AWAY WEEKEND! On the evening of Friday, June 21, and all day Saturday, June 22, 2013, TUGFEST hosts the Girls's Getaway Weekend in LeClaire, Iowa! Sign up today for this amazing event featuring give aways, coupons, music, games and delicious food. MEET Anthony Ryan Auld the Winner of this year's "Project Runway All Stars" at the Girls Get Away Fashion Show & Cocktail Party on Saturday evening. No other contestant has had more wins beating the best designers in a single season of the show. Anthony Ryan will be speaking about his journey to becoming a top fashion designer and winning Project Runway All Stars. KWQC's anchor and on-air reporter Bailey Deitz will be the mistress of ceremonies for this special event. The LeClaire Girls' Get Away will start on Friday evening, June 21, at the Wide River Winery, where you will taste award-winning wines, enjoy the music of Pieces of Candy in the Wine Garden, and pick up your GIRLS GET AWAY passport to LeClaire with your goody bags.

On Saturday, June 22, LECLAIRE GIRLS GET AWAY events include :

* Grasshoppers will host music and wine tasting on their beautiful lawn.

* Win Prizes every hour on the hour at Aunt Hattie's Fanciful Emporium.

* Dwellings will be hosting Margarita Man.

* Robert Day of the Faithful Pilot, and the winner of the Quad Cities Top Chef competition, will demonstrate some of his secret cooking techniques.

* Zaruba's will host mini make overs.

* Free Tours at the Mississippi River Distilling Company.

* Expert Tammy Allen will teach a FREE Class in "Punch Needle" at Primitive Cottage.

* The Buffalo Bill Museum will offer a Quilt Making Class.

Cost to participate in the LeClaire Girls Get Away are $65 per person. Go to Leclairegirlgetaway.com

June 22^nd - Faithful Pilot Cafe & Spirits Open for Lunch 11am-2pm 3 different sandwiches and chips for $5 www.faithfulpilot.com

June 25^th - First Presbyterian Church, LeClaire - Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia 1:30 pm. Dessert and coffee. No cost for this program. Please RSVP at 381-7777.

June 27th - Mississippi River Distilling Company Takes Over the Faithful Pilot Cafe & Spirits Bar 5:30-7:30 P.M. The men from MRDC take over the Faithful Pilot with signature drinks and Pilot appetizers for $25 per person www.faithfulpilot.com

June 29^th - Faithful Pilot Cafe & Spirits Open for Lunch 11am-2pm 3 different sandwiches and chips for $5 www.faithfulpilot.com

June 30th- Wine Tasting at the Faithful Pilot Cafe & Spirits 3:00-5:00 P.M.  $15 per person Taste 14 wines and heavy appetizers from The Faithful Pilot www.faithfulpilot.com

Save the Date

July 1st - Friends of the LeClaire Community Library is planning an Open House to celebrate our 9th anniversary! Details are forthcoming!

July 5^th - First Friday in LeClaire

July 15^th-19^th - LeClaire Baptist Church - "Colossal Coaster World" VBX Week For kids age 4 up through kids going INTO 6^th grade! Cost: FREE! Time:  9:00 AM - Noon Location:  1326 Wisconsin Street LeClaire, Iowa  52753 Family program:  SUNDAY, July 21 at 10:30 PM followed by our "Burger Bash" lunch! For more information or registration: phone:  (563) 289-4191 e-mail:  leclairebaptist@leclairebaptist.org or REGISTER ONLINE at www.leclairebaptist.org (under ministries and kids vbx link)

FYI

LeClaire Antiques is hosting an on going Plant Sale benefiting LeClaire Parks. Go by and see the beautiful plants for sale - great prices!

Programs, performers & activities for all ages. Registration materials for Children (B-5th G) available at the library starting May 20th.Program information & Activity Calendar available at the library & online @

Please volunteer or help recruit volunteers for the LeClaire Information Center! We get a lot of great comments about the LIC, and we help promote all of LeClaire:

1. Through telling visitors about our great attractions, shops, restaurants, parks, schools, housing developments, etc.,

2. By mailing out information to individuals, small groups and bus tours who want to come find out what LeClaire is all about, and

3. Through providing nice, convenient public restrooms to shoppers, diners, people checking out our attractions, families, LeClaire residents who are just out for a walk - everyone appreciates the restrooms!

Almost everyone knows at least one person who loves to talk and meet new people - a retired neighbor or stay-at-home mom, a relative, a friend, a person from church, a person from your civic club, a person from exercise class... Please contact Cindy at 563-650-7963 or info@visitleclaire.com Volunteers are trained and there is lots of brochures and information to share with visitors.

Let's make downtown LeClaire and the LeClaire Information Center the best it can possibly be!

Buffalo Bill Museum is now open until 5pm daily. As of April 1st, the museum is open 9am to 5pm Monday through Saturday, and on Sundays 12noon to 5pm. A reminder: group discounts are available for tour groups, clubs/reunions, and school groups. Call the museum at 563-289-5580 for details!

Reusable Usables - Planet Green recycled art after school classes on Tuesday and Thursdays.RSVP 563-289-3946 or angie@reusableusables.org

"LIKE" the LeClaire Chamber of Commerce on FaceBook Visit the chamber's Face Book page and discover a great source of news, business announcements, events, and other information that is updated frequently. It's a useful source of updated information for all members and non-members!

Chamber 2013 Networking Events - Everyone welcome to attend!

July 9 - Blue Iguana - Lunch -noon

August 13 - Big Dave and Holly's - lunch -noon

September 10 - Steventon's - after hours - 5-8pm

October 8 - Hungry Hobo - lunch - noon

November 12 - tbd

December 10 - Happy Joes - lunch -noon

SERVING THE COMMUNITY AND BEYOND

Meet and greet Pastor Melody any Wednesday from 1-3 pm at Happy Joe's. Pastor Melody from First Presbyterian Church of LeClaire, will be at Happy Joe's in LeClaire, every Wednesday, from 1-3 pm, sipping on a soda, reading and waiting to visit with you and your friends. Stop by and say hi. Or, if you have a prayer request or a question, just let her know. Meals for Seniors at the church every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 12 noon. Good food and a time to visit with others. Please call 563-289-3646 and make a reservation 2 days in advance.

Asbury United Methodist Church is hosting a "Partnering to EmPOWER" fundraising event for Winnie's Place on Tuesday, October 15th.  The team putting together the event is looking for vendors who would be interested in participating in this worthy cause. Booth fees are $15 for sales people and $25 for those providing a service (ALL booth fees will go to Winnie's Place). Vendors will also agree to donate 9% of their sales to Winnies Place, which corresponds to the statistic that every 9 seconds, a woman is abused. Interested vendors are asked to contact Heidi Lubben at hjlubben@aol.com for more details. Marketing packets for vendors will be available June 15th. The deadline for returning a signed vendor agreement is August 20th.

Trivia Nights in LeClaire at the LeClaire Civic Center -

2013 Trivia Nights:

June 8 - Buffalo Bill Museum

July 13 - Hosted by First Presbyterian Church - Hurricane Sandy Victims

LeClaire Trivia Nights have raised over $95,000 for local non-profit organizations! Thank you for your continued support!

LeClaire 2013 Events Calendar:

First Fridays each month 5:00-8:00 P.M.

June 7th-8th LeClaire City-Wide Garage Sales

June 21st-22nd - Girls' Getaway Weekend

Summer 2013 - City-Wide Water Explosion (Hollyhock Park)

Summer 2013 - Bike Parade & Decorating

August 8th-10th Tugfest

October 6th - Dogtoberfest at Bier Stube

October 13th - AppleFest

October 24th - HalloWine

October 26th - Witches Walk Costume Contest and Parade

December 6-8, 2013: Christmas in LeClaire

Family Nights at the LeClaire Rec Center: Details at www.leclairereccenter.com

www.LeClaireChamber.com and visit the Chamber on FaceBook!

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - June 7, 2013 -Iowa and national economists and ag market experts agree; many key indicators point towards a bursting of the ag sector profit bubble in the next two years so Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF), the state's largest grassroots farm organization, is bringing the nation's leading experts in finance, marketing, policy and economics to Ames July 22-23, to help farmers plan how to weather the evolving economic times.

"We are going through many of the same cycles that our farmers saw in the 1970's land cycle, high commodity prices, skyrocketing land prices and strong trade markets.  At this stage into the 70's land cycle, farmers were boosting capital expenditures by 80 percent.  This time, we're only up about 40 percent, so we are being more conservative, but a turning point is coming and being aware can help you manage and anticipate what's likely to happen, avoiding the kind of devastation we saw nationwide in the 1980's Farm Crisis," says IFBF President Craig Hill.  "Back then, too many farmers ignored the signs of a bubble burst and it put them on the path to economic doom, from which many never recovered.  This time around there are new challenges; our production costs have doubled and now our weather seems to bring its own set of problems, from drought one year to excessive rainfall and flooding the next."

IFBF economist Dave Miller agrees.  "We're in the fourth or fifth year of robust earnings in the ag sector and we expect capital expenditures to remain relatively strong through the rest of this year.  But, there's a persistency factor: farmers don't run out and spend because this year was good. They also don't quit spending just because one year was bad.  I would suggest that the drought of 2012 was severe enough that farmers did cut back, but they may see it as just a 'blip.'  In reality, it is the persistency and failure to recognize a general 'turn' in the ag sector that boosts debt levels to where it's unsustainable and we want to do what we can, to prevent that from happening," said Miller.

Helping Iowa farmers manage market risks like these and discussing farm policy challenges is the focus of the 2013 IFBF Economic Summit, "Grain, Gridlock and Globalization: Meeting the Economic Challenges in Today's Agriculture", which will be held July 22 and 23 at the ISU Scheman Building  in Ames.

The two-day summit brings nationally-known experts on crop and livestock market trends, exports and commodity price experts.  Experts ranging from economists Allen Featherstone of Kansas State University, Michael Boehlje from Purdue, export and policy analyst Ross Korves and Ag Meteorologist Elwynn Taylor are among many nationally-recognized monetary, policy, trade and economic experts tapped for the July IFBF Economic Summit.

For a complete listing of the panelists and schedule, click here: www.iowafarmbureau.com.

The price of the two-day summit is $50 for Iowa Farm Bureau members and $150 for non-members.  Information about the summit, lodging and online registration forms can be found at www.iowafarmbureau.com.

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