A garden visitor....

In mid August Jennifer Pake's mother, Judy Strong, from Mesa, Arizona, came to visit.
Judy is a former member of the Richfield, Minnesota, garden club & had a vegetable garden in her back yard when her 4 children were growing up.
Gardening is not nearly as labor intensive in the desert climate of Arizona. While on vacation to see Jennifer she visited the Midsun Community Garden & was very impressed. She helped pick vegetables in Jennifer's plot & gave  the beautiful plants growing under the Midsun sign a good drink of water. Doing this reminded her of how much she misses gardening in a northern climate. She plans to return again next summer to visit her daughter & lend a hand in the gardens.
Thanks for your help Judy!--Jennifer Strong

confessions of a gardener....about workbees

That was me.  I'd open my inbox and groan...sometimes OUTLOUD. 

Seriously? 

You want ME to come to the GARDEN and work? 

Questions flooded the mind:

What would we do?

who are these people?

Does anyone go?

why do they go? 

Don't they have a life?

Why would I do all this extra work? 

Who would be there?

Do I have the skills?

What if someone asks ME some gardening query?

In short: 

I didn't go--FOR TWO YEARS.  The workbee went in the trash.

But I must confess...I did drive by once...it was easy--Saturday morning and I saw all these people at the garden...

and I thought, that is that workbee...and that could be me...and what are they doing?

So then I'd read the emails and see what was being "celebrated"....really?  is this for real?

So another workbee invite came, a bit too enthusiastic for my liking...

I thought "I'll just go check my garden and if things look ok I might say hi.."

I showed up all casual and nonchalant...

and there they were, eager beavers--gloves and tools and hats and smiles...really?

yes.

And they said hello and asked my name and we chatted.

A few them were weeding...I did manage to show one of them my plot,

and ask a few questions that I was dying to know about some varieties I had seen around the garden...

and I thought,

NO ONE HAS ASKED ME TO WORK YET---?

who are these people, I thought they wanted help?

after a while, I did wander over to the garden where most of the gardeners were pulling weeds from the clay and I watched. 

 I was greeted, more introductions and smiles, offered some watermelon...

and then someone asked me what I THOUGHT should be done...huh? 

I checked my watch, a few minutes can't hurt...

and that's how I went on my first workbee.

This could be you...and if you have read this far,

 you might want to know that this Tuesday there is a scheduled workbee at the garden,  August 20, 7 pm.

You are encouraged to come, meet some other gardeners and have fun. 

What you could do, if you are shy like I can be, is "check" your plot...say around 715/720ish..and see what happens...

This might be a great time to debrief this Saturdays' FABULOUS opportunity to visit Jeff Casey's urban garden (go go go!)

I'd go on Saturday too, really, even carpooling with those eager beaver gardeners...but I have a small baby and she trumps tomatoes for now...

Maybe you'll see me Tuesday night if she goes to sleep...hope so--if not, Wednesday morning I hope to be by and water..

but Tuesday I mean I hope we can meet at the garden (and the baby sleeps!)

See you on Tuesday?

Great opportunity to get some local fruit! and meet new friends...

Gardeners,

 

The harvest has begun!

The Calgary Urban Harvest is now on!  Check it out--join a picking of a tree or trees and go home with beautiful fresh locally grown fruit.

  There are MANY trees in Sundance and Midnapore, so connect with the harvest through this website to start picking! 

 

go to:  http://www.calgaryharvest.com/

Our First Field Trip! A Visit to Jeff Casey's Urban farm in Airdrie

Jeff specializes in growing tomatoes- heirlooms and Japanese hybrids, along with Japanese eggplants and green peppers.  He also grows organically heirloom potatoes, Japanese carrots, collard greens, kale, Japanese long and round green onions.

 

Jeff has updated his garden with new raised beds complete with insect and hail protection.  Come see two greenhouses and a couple of techniques to help tomatoes grow in our climate.

A selection of Japanese tomatoes and peppers will be available for purchase.

For more information on Jeff visit his websitehttp://www.caseysheirloomtomatoes.ca/Caseys_Heirloom_Tomatoes_of_Airdrie/Home.html

potato condo!

Check out the potato condo...in the "west block" of the garden.  This picture is already outdated--there is more soil and more boards...
Did you "condo" your potatoes? 
IF so, take a moment for a picture and a few words and we'd love to hear about it and share it on the blog!

Introducing...the HERB PLOT

COMMUNITY GARDEN HERB PLOT

The Garden Team received feedback from community gardener members with interest in creating an herb plot in the community garden available to be used by current Mid-Sun Community Gardeners.  

 The plot that receives the least sunshine, plot 17 is often not a popular one for growing vegetable; therefore, becoming our first herb plot.  Once the berm is ready to plant in, the herbs will be incorporated into the berm.  Use this herb primer provided on herbs planted and how to use these herbs for culinary purposes. There are all kinds of other uses that herbs can be used for; craft, cosmetic, therapeutic and medicinal.  Please access these herbs with the awareness that we are sharing them with each other.  Share your stories with us at midsungarden@gmail.com in using the community herbs.  Provide us with suggestions of what you want to see regarding herbs in the berm for next year. Maybe you have an established herb perennial at home that will need dividing next year.  

 

What's going on behind the signs?

What’s going on behind the signs?

Or how to “read between the lines”....

 

Last year we had an exceptional rough year with theft and vandalism.  
Police were involved we focused on how to try and stop this.

Steps in response:

• Were featured on Global TV with Nancy Hixt.

• CBC Radio interview about garden theft.

• Spoke many times with our community liaison officer, Constable Sara Killington.

• Met with Janet Melrose from the Community Garden Resource Network.

• Attended meetings at the Calgary Horticultural Society with other community garden representatives to discuss how they were handling similar situations.

• Researched other community gardens signs on our personal travels around North America.

• Accepted a position on the board for 2013 to have our voice heard, and also to be mindful of the community centre in what we do.  One of us attends monthly meetings.  We had representation at many of the 2012 meetings.

• Got a quote for a video surveillance of the garden area.

• Did late night surveillance.

• Discussed the feasibility of installing a chain link fence to enclose the garden.

• Accepted a cash donation from Tower Chrysler to assist us in stopping theft and vandalism with improved signage.

 

A Calgary Police Officer who had worked in the Victims Assistance Unit said the garden was too accessible, too open and therefore vulnerable.  He emphasized GARDEN responsibility to take preventative measures to avoid both theft and vandalism.  He recommended signs and lighting to start with.

Our local Constable, Sara Killington stated, “Signage would help negate perpetrators using the defence of believing the produce is for public consumption.”  She suggested specific wording to make police prosecution more feasible.

We created signage to define the ‘rules of the garden:  If you didn’t plant it – do not pick it!

The sign’s design, wording and placement clarify the ‘rules of the garden’ to all visitors entering the garden from the curb or from the playing field. 

Watch for new motion-sensor lighting!

Last board meeting – new motion sensor lights were approved to be placed by the doors on the exterior of the building on the garden side for increased security.

Other ways we were advised to reduce the risk of vandalism is to show a sense of pride and ownership.

This includes:

• Installation of two new Mid-Sun Community Garden signs to bring awareness of what we are – created by Sheri Reed, who used a special anti-graffiti paint coating on the signs

 

• being on top of cutting grass in between all the plots

• having a deadline for plots to be planted

• plots weeded

• harvesting produce before plants go to seed

• keeping the garden area free of garbage and no overflowing garbage container

We did lose some of our gardeners last year due to theft that occurred.  We chose to take action rather than being complacent. It brought us closer as a community.

We want to celebrate our successes!  This year has already exceeded expectations for community growth.  The shed!  Eye-catching painted signs!  New gardeners!  Garden Launch party!  Phase 1 of the Pathways Project completed!

Summer is short and life does get busy for all. 

• Ask the gardener beside you if you need help with your plot. 
• Do what you can do when you can do it.  
• We are community and there is much more than plants growing in the garden!  
• Let’s work together to protect and enhance the garden and community that is growing.  
• You are encouraged to continue sharing your views. 

Happy gardening!