Community Garden News October 29, 2017

It was a small group of adults that met this past Sunday. Despite the low nmbers we did get some important done including the following:
                              - the lupins and hollyhocks for our spring sale were put into larger pots
                              - most compost from our garden waste pile was shredded. We are using that
                                compost in our soil mix.
                              - the compost from our kitchen waste was buried in bed # 9 to finish
                                 decomposting
                              - we started the thankless job of cleaning old plant labels for use next spring.
                              - WE WILL BE AUCTIONING OUR TWO REMAINING GARLIC BRAIDS                                         AT  ART WALK DEC. 2 IN THE BEACON HOUSE. MORE ON THIS NEXT
                                  WEEK.
                               - NEXT WEEK THE ADULT WORK PARTY MEETS ON SATURDAY, NOV. 4
                                  10:30. THIS TIME CHANGE WILL CONTINUE ALL WINTER.
                               -  The Little Diggers were busy carving faces in pumpkins followed by a story and
                                   treats. Today will be the last Little Diggers lesson until the spring.

The Aquaponic Farmer

Valley has copies of the new book The Aquaponic Farmer (which she edited for Adrian Southern and her son Whelm) for sale for $30.

The Aquaponic FarmerA Complete Guide to Building and Operating a Commercial Aquaponic System by Adrian Southern & Whelm King

Aquaponic farming — raising fish and vegetables together commercially — is the most promising innovation for a sustainable, profitable, localized food system. Until now, systems have largely focussed on warm-water fish such as tilapia. A lack of reliable information for raising fish and vegetables in the cool climates of North America and Europe has been a major stumbling block.

The Aquaponic Farmer is the game changer. Built around a proven 120' greenhouse system operable by one person, the book distills vast experience and complete step-by-step guidance for starting and running a cold-water aquaponics business. Coverage includes:

·        A primer on cold-water aquaponics

·        Pros and cons of different systems

·        Complete design and construction of a Deep Water Culture system

·        Recommended and optional equipment and tools

·        System management, standard operating procedures, and maintenance checklists

·        Maximizing fish and veg production

·        Strategies for successful sales and marketing of fish and plants

As the only comprehensive commercial cold-water resource, The Aquaponic Farmer is essential for farmers contemplating the aquaponics market, aquaponic gardeners looking to go commercial, and anyone focused on high quality food production

What Was Happening in the Community Garden - Oct. 22

1. The sweet potatoes have been cured and are ready for consumption. The balance of the harvest will be brought to the next work party - Oct. 29.

2. The winter cleanup continues. The ground cherries were composted, hoses were wrapped and stored and the potted raspberries moved.

3. Our greenhouse got a little more organized with pots and hanging baskets sorted and stored.

4. Finally, we began shredding last year's garden waste. The finished product is a finely ground mixture of blackberry canes, vegetable stocks and leaves and small twigs. It will be used as mulch and as a soil amendment.

5. The fall garden run is fully subscribed. The order will be placed on Monday and delivered when Jas can arrange it, hopefully next week.

Next meeting:  Sunday, Oct. 29 at 10:00.

Oct. 15 A Busy Day at the Community Garden

A beautiful fall day to work in the garden getting the beds ready for winter. At our meeting we discussed the upcoming garden run. Now is a good time to order garden supplies with DIGS subsidizing the barging costs. The work party today made a list of what the community garden requires but individual DIGS members can also place an order. If you would like to participate contact Jim.  m.e.harris50@gmail.com   250-740-0317

A big "thank you" to Ralph and Kate who donated a whole slew of garden supplies to the garden.

It was decided to grow violas. impatiens and petunias in hanging baskets for our garden sale next May.

The chipping program was discussed. The garden gets wood chips for our paths from this service by the city. Chipping also is a healthy alternative to burning. Your support would be appreciated. Get your woody material out on the boulevard before Oct. 31 and help to clean Smugglers Park of woody debris. More details about this to follow. Check the island bulletin boards for more info on the chipping program in the letter from the Parks Board.

In terms of work done the garden was put to bed for the winter by mulching the blueberries, raspberries, rhubarb and asparagus. The tomato bed was cleared out (green tomatoes are available on the harvest table). Kale, lettuce and rudebeckia were transplanted.

Next week we will start to shred our large compost pile.

"You're nearer God's heart in a garden than anywhere else on earth."