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Greeting Creators!Spring has sprung here in Central Texas and we are abuzz with new growth and even enjoying some early harvests! Please join us in celebrating our collective achievements and getting ready for our upcoming opportunities. Our MAY CALENDAR
Click here to SIGN-UP for classes on our Eventbrite - 1st come 1st serve! AMERICORPS CORNERHere’s this month's fun joke from AmeriCorps! What is a flower's favorite pickle? Get the answer at the end of the newsletter. 
COMMUNITY GARDENSWhat Should We Do in Our Gardens in May?
Tomatoes – Our Most Popular Garden Crop: Are your tomatoes determinate or indeterminate? Determinate tomatoes grow to a certain height (generally in the 4-foot range), produce a bushy, low-maintenance plant that does not need to be pruned and provide an early-summer harvest. Indeterminate tomatoes absolutely must be caged or supported because they will keep growing until drought, heat or cold kill them. Generally, cherry or grape type tomatoes will be indeterminate, as well as all of the big "beefsteak" types. Paste tomatoes such as Romas are usually determinate varieties. Beans Are a Snap to Grow: Like tomatoes, beans have two varieties – either bush type (which don't need any support) or pole type, which means you must provide them with a trellis, fence or something supportive upon which to climb. Pole type beans like Kentucky Wonders, certain varieties of Blue Lake, runner beans, and asparagus beans absolutely must have a trellis, fence or taut suspended strings upon which to grow upwards. Pole beans are prolific and will keep producing throughout the season. Garden Management: If you are a smoker, wash your hands very, very thoroughly before touching the plants of the nightshade family (solanaceae). Cigarette products leave a residue on your hands that can infect your plants with viruses which affect other nightshades. That plant family includes tobacco, tomatoes, potatoes (but not sweet potatoes), peppers, eggplant and tomatillos. These are the most common crops grown in American gardens so minimizing the risk of spreading viruses among them is critical. Weeding your garden is important as weeds steal nutrition and critical moisture from your plants. Mulching cuts down on weeds by blocking their access to sunlight while conserving moisture in the soil. Shredded paper, newspapers, packing paper, straw (not hay!), pine straw and compost are a few examples of mulch products. I use a layer of EZ Straw, a chopped straw product compressed into easy-to-manage bags. It’s available at Tractor Supply and sometimes at Ace Hardware or Walmart, etc. Water Deeply, Not Frequently I recommend doing a “digital moisture test” – stick your finger (or “digit”) about 2" down into the soil. If it feels dry, it’s time to water, but do it slowly and deeply. Then, do another test to make sure the soil is moist well below the surface. ~ Lois Mauk, Our board secretary & certified square foot garden instructor 
What's In the garden to harvest NOW? Everyone is welcome to come to all of our gardens to harvest what's ready. If you aren’t sure what's ready you can ask an Americorps Member or Staff that is present! What is available and ready varies day to day, season to season. Here are some of the vegetables and herbs that have been available in our gardens: 10th Street Garden: carrots, lettuce, kale, collard greens, lemon balm, dill, sage, parsley, cilantro Alvarez Garden: carrots, beets, Swiss chard, chocolate mint, lemon balm, sage, dill Kelly’s Garden (bundrant): Swiss chard, dill, kale, lettuce Coming Soon: ART OF RECOVERY CLUBHOUSERelease and Rebuild: Splatter Paint - New Class! This is a group that uses expressive splatter painting as a non-verbal outlet for emotions. This is helpful for anyone who is in any form of recovery or would benefit from non-verbal or low-verbal expression. This group is trauma informed, meaning in part: anything shared stays in the group, you may pause or step out at any time, and there is no pressure to perform or explain your art. No art experience needed and there is no "right" or "wrong" way of creating your masterpiece. Held the first two Thursdays of each month, 1-3 PM. Get your ticket here on Eventbrite! 
Painting With Purpose Painting With Purpose is a welcoming, beginner-friendly art class where you can learn and grow creatively—no experience needed! Participants build foundational painting skills at a comfortable pace. 
Held the last two Thursdays of each month, 1 - 3 PM, with two connected sessions that build on each other. Hold your spot here on Eventbrite!
Therapeutic Art Journaling
Seeds Of Recovery 
A member from Seeds of Recovery volunteered to share their story: "This is a space for individuals to experience a no judgement zone no questioning zone. To cope with life on life's terms without the use of alcoholic beverages or drugs. No 12 Step program, no NA program. Just checking in with each other as peers, keeping conversation between peers. Learning about myself with the least harmful approach. I have one year clean from drugs and alcohol. I am proud of my journey and how Seeds of Recovery has helped me." You can reserve a spot here on Eventbrite!
What is Recovery Capital? ~ A letter from our CEO & Founder At Killeen Creators, we often talk about recovery capital - the internal and external resources that support our ability to heal, grow, and sustain wellness. It's not just about getting through a difficult moment; it's about building a life that can hold us, even when things are hard. Recovery capital looks different for each of us, but we build it together. Sometimes it's learning how the food we put into our bodies impacts how we feel. Sometimes it's discovering who we feel safe with—who we can lean on, who truly sees us, and who reminds us that we matter. It's practicing healthy ways to express emotions, to process trauma and grief, and to create meaning from our experiences. In our gardens, in our studio, and in our peer support spaces, we teach each other these things every day—not through lectures, but through shared experience. We learn by doing, by creating, and by showing up alongside one another. Recovery capital also lives in something simple, but profound: being witnessed. To be seen in your struggle, your growth, your creativity—and to offer that same presence to someone else—is a powerful form of healing. As individuals, we build recovery capital step by step. As a community, we strengthen it by making sure no one has to build alone. Because when we grow it together, it lasts. — Kristin Wright, Peer Support Professional
Sharing Our Stories (S.O.S) - Taking a Break We're always evolving the studio to better serve our community, and that growth sometimes means making space for new opportunities. While S.O.S will be taking a pause for now, we're excited for what's ahead—especially the launch of our new Thursday class (above), Release and Rebuild: Splatter Paint! CIVIC ENGAGEMENTMad Hatter 2026 We are grateful for everyone that showed up to our annual Mad Hatter Tea Party and Seedling Sale! We had an amazing turn out, celebrated our community and enjoyed everyone's company. Please join us in thanking our fabulous SPONSORS and support them with your business and referrals! 
Here are a couple photos from the event. If you are interested in seeing how it turned out, please take a look at this KDH video!
BOARD CORNEROur board would like to thank everyone who has helped GROW our Gardens & Recovery Community over the past months - and years! From donated supplies, to extra hands in the garden or teaching a sewing class - EVERY donated penny and minute are treasures for those struggling with both.
May JOKE Answer:
Lots of Love, Feel free to reach out if you have any questions. |
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Killeen Creators 701 N 10th St, Killeen TX 76541|254-213-2210
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