Putting the Garden to Sleep

A large part of late summer/ early fall vegetable garden care is preparing for winter dormancy. This year, I’m on an early time table due to earlier than normal spring planting and impending foot surgery. I must have everything completed by the third weekend in September so that I can convalesce with peace of mind.

1. Empty and cover main planting beds: As my tomatoes die off, I cut them down and clear the planting beds. Once cleared, I cover the bed with a semi-permeable plastic covering. It allows water in, but keeps weeds from sprouting.

2. Trim back my ‘Bee and Butterfly’ flower bed: Time to dead head and cut back the lavender (bye-bye bees) and allow the orange lantana to take center stage (beloved of butterflies).

3. Trim and fertilize roses as needed: This includes more dead heading of spent blooms and trimming any diseased leaves and stems. I still continue to battle orange rust and mildew, but I am winning the war.

4. Trim the culinary and tea herb garden beds: My herbs have gone crazy this season (as they normally do). It is time to trim them back to prepare them for their dormant season.

5. Dry the following herbs: Tarragon, catnip, oregano, and lemon balm. I don’t need to dry down everything this year (thank goodness!).

6. Remove dead palm fronds from the ancient Elephant Palm: This is a fun one – pulling the dead fronds off the palm tree while attempting to balance on an old ladder (with a bad foot), and dodging falling debris and scary spiders.

7. Weed and trim the front yard and set watering schedule for Santa Ana season: I have neglected the curb appeal, yet again. It is time to pay more time and attention as the seasons change.

Hubby will need to water, harvest cherry tomatoes, peppers, and mission figs, and take care of unanticipated emergencies.

Getting downtown office towers to grow food

The CBC has an article today about a building downtown that is converting its planters to food production: “Vegetables sprout in Plus 15 planters”.

A farmers’ market in downtown Calgary?

A post by Paula Arab on her blog at the Calgary Herald asks: “Would you walk to an Urban Farmers’ Market in the heart of Calgary? It could be closer than you think.”

Community Garden Benefit Concert

Hello Gardeners! Community Crop is sponsoring a concert of fabulous live music--local musicians of renown--and it is taking place right here in our own community, at the hall. The great thing is, all proceeds benefit our Currie Booster Garden. Please see the poster below or check out out facebook event page.

Saturday April 3rd - 7 pm

South Calgary Community Hall (3130 16th St. SW)

Featuring live performances by: Ellen McIlwaine , Clea Roddick , Clinton St. John , Thighs , and Wheat & Water .

There will also be a silent auction featuring amazing art pieces from local artists.

$10 at the door.

Event is licensed.

All ages welcome.

Co-hosted by South Calgary Community Association

and made possible by a generous grant from The Calgary Foundation.

If you are interested in volunteering for this event contact us at info@communitycrop.org

Great Article, from Lelani: Crop Mobbing!

Read it here!

I love the idea of flash mobbing for productive ends.. If there's anyone with interest in this kind of activity, as the season rolls around, let me know! I would be happy to help organize events!

From the article:
“The more tedious the work we have, the better,” Jones said, smiling. “Because part of Crop Mob is about community and camaraderie, you find there’s nothing like picking rocks out of fields to bring people together.”

Hi everyone,

As many of you may already know, the reason that I'm able to devote time to initiatives like Calgary Urban Agriculture and the "Rachel Grows Project" from last May, is because I have been supported by a scholarship from the Millennium Foundation. This means that instead of a full time job, I'm lucky enough to work with different volunteer and community initiatives.

This year, the foundation is closing its doors. It has been running for 15 years, and is at the end of its funding. All the scholarship recipients will receive the remainder of their funding. However, the Foundation will no longer be able to provide the programming it used to which kept all of us laureates in touch with each other, offering support and knowledge for the wide variety of programs we are interested in.

It has been an inspiration to me to see some of the laureates coming forward to bear the torch- we have organized and planned, and have been able to set forward a plan for the new Millennium Network. The Millennium Network will continue the programming (as best we are able,) for years to come. Part of what we're doing to put together an initial investment is competing in the Aviva Community Fund Competition, for a potential $50,000 worth of funding. We've already made it to the semi-finals, with over 4000 votes over 2 weeks. Aside from the competition, we have already raised nearly $10,000 nationally. Winning this competition would give us a level of stability that most startup not-for-profits don't see for years.

So- this is something of a solicitation for help. We're not looking for donations, just for a few minutes. If you could sign up (just an email address and name) at http://www.tinyurl.com/voteMN to vote on the competition, I would really appreciate it. The last round was really down to the wire, so every vote we can get counts. Whether having your help means a few votes, or a vote once a day, or forwarding this message to all of your friends and asking them to vote as well, I'll be really happy for any help at all. If you're interested in a daily reminder to vote throughout the competition, please feel free to let me know.

Thanks so much for all of your support and friendship. It means a lot that I have a community to look to for support.

Rachel

South Calgary Community: Fall Harvest Potluck!

Just got this email today:

Everyone in the community is welcome:

gardeners and volunteers, families, friends, and neighbours, and those interested in gardening with us next season.

Bring your favourite dish - share your company and meet others in the community. Talk about gardening or find out more about communtity gardening for the 2010 season. There will also be a wine bar.

Sunday, November 15th

6pm to 9pm

South Calgary Community Centre Lower Hall

3130 16th Street SW

RSVP would be extremely nice but is not essential.

Email us at info@communitycrop.org