COMMUNITY GARDEN NEWS, Nov. 11

* A "tip of the hat" to Gary Weikum who generously donated his time and wagon to help mulch 10 bags of leaves.  Please remember that DIGS needs your leaves. Bag them and call Jim (250-740-0317) for collection.

* A big thanks to Helen B. for creating a wonderful chutney from green tomatoes and sharing her creation with other gardeners.

* Jim is working on invoices for those people who took part in the garden run. You should get yours next week.

* We are going to raffle off TWO garlic braids at the Beacon House during the Art Walk on Dec.2. Mike G. created these beauties and guarantees that they will deter vampires! Tickets are $2.00 each or 3 for $5.00. You can buy tickets now from Mike Gillespie  (250-753-5740) or magillespie1@gmail.com  or at the Beacon House on Dec.2

* The last of the sweet potatoes went out today. If you got some let us know how they were and share your favourite sweet potato recipe.

*Niall Mann has some extra currant bushes to give away
. Contact him for more info.  250-714-1919 or mannniall@gmail.com

* 8 people showed up today and accomplished the following before the rain started:
        1.  planted 2 beds of garlic ... over 400 cloves!
        2.  harvested turnips
        3.  finished grinding the last bit of the woody garden debris, proving that blackberry canes can
             be useful.

                                                               

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."

Fall Fair Ribbon Winners continued

HORTICULTURE: 
                       BIGGEST ZUCCHINI: FIRST: Jim Harris  SECOND: Sharie Biller  THIRD: Claire                                                                                                                                                         Crowe
                       BIGGEST ONION: FIRST: Jim Harris (4.5 lbs.)  SECOND: Rick Biller   THIRD:
                                                                                                                                         Claire Crowe
                       BIGGEST TOMATO: FIRST: Norah Curtis   SECOND: Trudy Chatwin
                       WEIRDEST VEGGIE OR FRUIT:  FIRST: Little Diggers  SECOND: Sharie Biller
                     
CHILDREN'S DECORATED BIKE PARADE:
                      FIRST: Julien    SECOND: Finnian       THIRD: Sebastion
                 

         

DIGS Fall Fair 2017 Ribbon Winners

CHILDREN  - PRIMARY
Category: VISUAL ARTS:  FIRST: Willow  SECOND:  Sebastion  THIRD: Renee
                                               HONOURABLE MENTION: Finn
                 BEST DRESSED FRUIT OR VEGGIE:  FIRST: Renee   SECOND: Emma  THIRD:                                                                                                                                                     Emma
                 BAKING: FIRST: Sebastion    SECOND: Renee
                 CERAMIC:   FIRST: Sadie    SECOND: Sadie
                 LEGO:  FIRST: Emryst       SECOND: Renee

CHILDREN - JUNIOR
Category: VISUAL ARTS: FIRST: Lola  SECOND: Zea   THIRD: Caleb
                                             HONOURABLE MENTION: Ruxton, Erik
                  BAKING: FIRST: Blake
                  FABRIC CRAFT: Faye

ADULTS
Category:   KNITTING: FIRST: Jen C.   SECOND: Janine Keeling   THIRD: Jen C.
                   CERAMICS: FIRST: Krista Winter
                   SEWING:  FIRST: Margaret Harris
                   DYING:   Darlene Zelazo
BAKING/PRESERVES:
                   PIE: FIRST: Doug Rough  SECOND: Jim Harris  THIRD: Mark Kelly
                   MUFFIN: FIRST: Andria Gillespie
                   YEAST BREAD: FIRST: Thora Howell  SECOND: Jim Harris  THIRD: Thora
                   COOKIES:   FIRST: Margaret Harris  SECOND: Doug Rough  THIRD: EleanorVosey
                   FRUIT CRISP: FIRST: Josie Thornton
                   CANDY:  FIRST Josie Thornton
                   KOMBUCHA: FIRST: Nicki  SECOND: Kevin Pistor
                 JAMS/JELLIES/MARMALADE: FIRST: Josie SECOND: Mary Kroske  THIRD: Eleanor
                  PICKLES/CHUTNEY/RELISH/SALSA: FIRST: Eleanor Vosey SECOND: Norah Curtis
                                                                                      THIRD: Jim Harris

Sprouting Little Diggers

July 16, 2017
Little Diggers learned about sprouting seeds in their lesson today. They tried assorted sprouts, alfalfa, red radish, red clover and salad mix on crackers with cream cheese. Reactions were mixed.
Then they chose one kind to sprout themselves at home in mason jars.
Little Diggers next lesson will be on July 30. Next Sunday is bathtub races so - no lesson in the garden.

Herb Lesson Today

May 7, 2017

The theme for today's Little Digger's lesson today was 'herbs'. The children learned the names for three herbs - basil. mint and rosemary - and were able to recognize the herbs from sight and smell. They then made 3 pots of herbs, designed Mothers Day cards and assembled their gift for Mothers Day for next Sunday. There will not be a Little Diggers' lesson next Sunday, May 14 because of the Plant and Bake Sale taking place. 

Potato Tower

April, 30, 2017
Today the Little Diggers checked their wheat crop and crops growing in their milk crate garden. Then Jim discussed the potato with them - how, along with milk, it provides humans with a diet that can sustain them for a long time Just ask the Irish. Potatoes can grow anywhere - in compost piles, in rubber tires, on rocky soil, in potato towers. The Little Diggers then got busy preparing their potato tower and planting potatoes in it. Meanwhile, big diggers were busy preparing their own potato tower and moving the yellow greenhouse to its new location outside the garden fence. See pictures below.

Diggers in Action

April, 23
Today's in the Little Diggers' lesson the boys and girls identified assorted vegetables as to whether the vegie was the root, the stem, the leaves or the seed of the plant. Then they got busy filling their milk crates with soil and began to plant onions, lettuce and radishes, some from seed, some from seedlings.
The big diggers were busy transplanting assorted vegetables in the greenhouse.