Weed killer update - request for ideas

The vinegar + salt + soap weedkiller that was so enthusiastically talked about online was a total bust for the weeds I was trying to kill. The thistles merely laughed, and I suspect the vinegar made them tougher. The broadleaf grasses browned, a little bit, and then continued to grow. We knocked down the broad leafs in the tiller activity over the weekend, but I know they'll come up just as fast and just as strong.

I am more than willing to suggest that operator error had something to do with this failure. Did we wait too long and the weeds were simply too large and established? Did I not spray enough? Did the dew on the grass affect the strength of the vinegar? Was there not enough sun? There are simply too many variables to identify the problem, but I still have a lot of grass and thistles to deal with.

I am convening a meeting of our garden leadership this week to talk about our options. One of our gardeners is working on some solutions, but I've just about had it with the thistles in our paths. We have sheet mulched and wood chipped our paths for three years, and the thistles just keep on coming. We have spent hours and hours manually digging them in both spring and autumn and the turned up soil just seems to yield more thistles.

I have threatened, jokingly, but now I'm starting to get more serious, of hitting the paths with a one-time application of RoundUp.  This  is specifically and strictly forbidden by our garden bylaws; we are an organic garden. But I simply don't know what else to do.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Annual community garden potluck and networking

I attended my third Community Action Coalition (CAC) community garden potluck and networking event Monday night, Nov. 11. Each year it feels a little like homecoming, when many of us who are passionate about community gardens gather to share successes, winge (but just a little) about garden problems and share ideas.

One idea I got from Melissa Gavin might just make me a super hero in my garden next spring. She has a simple recipe of vinegar, salt and soap that will turn Canadian Thistles into wispy crispies. Melissa mentioned in passing she found the recipe on Pinterest - I found one that sounded like here recipe.

I also met a farmer who specializes in small-scale tilling and soil prepping. We may need him next spring if the American Family community gardeners decided to convert our "vine" or pumpkin patch into more plots.

It was also a delight to reconnect with Annette from the Atwood Community Garden. Two summers ago I helped a friend reclaim a weedy plot and Annette lent us a little rototiller. The diminutive machine was GREAT since I had to literally climb up an into the 2-foot tall accessible plot.

Finally, I got to sample some great food! Pumpkin soup. A broccoli soup with a touch of cayenne. Some amazing apple desserts. And a sourdough bread with sage butter. OMG.

But the best part was sitting around the table, good food on our plates and even finer company. I sat at a table for "garden leaders," there were other topic tables as well, like food pantry gardens, and gardens in southwest Madison.

Thanks to Shelly and the staff at CAC for organizing and hosting this dinner. I find it rewarding and very helpful. Like I said, it's kind of like going back home.