DIGS Plant and Bake Sale May 13, 2018

Thanks to Francois for these photos.

Busy Little Gardeners May 5

Little Diggers were busy labeling their Mothers Day baskets and making baskets for their dad for Father's Day.

Potato Tower April 26

The Little Diggers were not put off by the rain last Sunday. They were building a potato tower - their favourite lesson!

PLANT AND BAKE SALE

PLANT AND BAKE SALE, MAY 13

DIGS will host it’s annual Plant and Bake Sale on Sunday, May 13 (Mothers’ Day) at the community garden starting at 9:30 (Bake Sale) and 10:00 (Plant Sale) at the pickle ball/tennis courts. There will be a great selection of ANNUALS, PERENIALS, HERBS, VEGGIES, HANGING BASKETS and BAGS and DEER PROOF varieties. This year “FREE PLANTS” will be available to encourage you to grow something for the Fall Fair in September. Donated plants will also be available. If you have any extra plants you wish to donate label them and bring them to the garden on Saturday, May 12 between 10:00 and 12:00 so they can be incorporated into the sale.

P.S. Plants make a wonderful Mothers’ Day gift.

Making a Strawberry Tower and Planting Peas

Little Diggers were busy little beavers today at the community garden. They planted strawberry plants into pots and then put the pots on the rebar post to make a strawberry tower, a technique for maximizing space in a small garden. Then they planted peas around the base of the trellis and marked in their calendars the day they planted the seeds and the day the plants will be harvested.

LITTLE DIGGERS PLANTING HANGING BASKETS March 31, 2018

Little Diggers were busy little beavers planting hanging baskets at their first lesson of 2018.

Steps to Starting A Community Garden

1. Organize a Meeting Of Interested People

Determine whether a garden is really needed and wanted, what kind it should be (vegetable, flower, both, organic?), whom it will involve and who benefits. Invite neighbors, tenants, community organizations, gardening and horticultural societies, building superintendents (if it is at an apartment building)—in other words, anyone who is likely to be interested.

2. Form a Planning Committee

This group can be comprised of people who feel committed to the creation of the garden and have the time to devote to it, at least at this initial stage. Choose well-organized persons as garden coordinators Form committees to tackle specific tasks: funding and partnerships, youth activities, construction and communication.

3. Identify All Your Resources

Do a community asset assessment. What skills and resources already exist in the community that can aid in the garden’s creation? Contact local municipal planners about possible sites, as well as horticultural societies and other local sources of information and assistance. Look within your community for people with experience in landscaping and gardening. In Toronto contact the Toronto Community Garden Network.

4. Approach A Sponsor The following steps are adapted from the American Community Garden Association’s guidelines for starting a successful community garden in your neighborhood. Some gardens “self-support” through membership dues, but for many, a sponsor is essential for donations of tools, seeds or money. Churches, schools, private businesses or parks and recreation departments are all possible supporters. One garden raised money by selling “square inches” at $5 each to hundreds of sponsors.

5. Choose A Site

Consider the amount of daily sunshine (vegetables need at least six hours a day), availability of water, and soil testing for possible pollutants. Find out who owns the land. Can the gardeners get a lease agreement for at least three years? Will public liability insurance be necessary?

6. Prepare And Develop The Site

In most cases, the land will need considerable preparation for planting. Organize volunteer work crews to clean it, gather materials and decide on the design and plot arrangement.

7. Organize the Garden

Members must decide how many plots are available and how they will be assigned. Allow space for storing tools, making compost and don’t forget the pathways between plots! Plant flowers or shrubs around the garden’s edges to promote good will with non-gardening neighbors, passersby and municipal authorities.

8. Plan for Children

Consider starting a special garden just for kids–including them is essential. Children are not as interested in the size of the harvest but rather in the process of gardening. A separate area set aside for them allows them to explore the garden at their own speed.

9. Determine Rules and Put Them In Writing

The gardeners themselves devise the best ground rules. We are more willing to comply with rules that we have had a hand in creating. Ground rules help gardeners to know what is expected of them. Think of it as a code of behavior. Some examples of issues that are best dealt with by agreed upon rules are: dues, how will the money be used? . How are plots assigned? Will gardeners share tools, meet regularly, handle basic maintenance?

10. Help Members Keep In Touch with Each Other

Good communication ensures a strong community garden with active participation by all. Some ways to do this are: starting a telephone tree, creating an email list; installing a rainproof bulletin board in the garden; having regular celebrations. Community gardens are all about creating and strengthening communities.

American Community Gardening Association

3271 Main Street

College Park, GA 30337 USA

DIGS AGM minutes March 3, 2018

DIGS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: March 3, 2018  -  Minutes

Number present:  19

1.   Kevin Pistor called the meeting to order at 10.06 am.

2.   Approval of agenda – moved by Barry, seconded by Maureen

3.   Minutes from 2017 DIGS AGM were read-moved by Margaret/seconded Lin

4.   There was no correspondence to read.

5.   Business arising from minutes: it was suggested to email copies of the minutes

to DIGS members, post a copy on the Harvest Table and on digsgarden.blogspot.com

6.   Veronica read the Treasurer’s report – opening balance as of Jan.31/17 was $4274.90  Total Revenue: $7378.29    Total Expenditures: $7432.76

Bank balance on Jan. 31,2018:  $4220.43  Expenses over revenue: $52.47

($574.99 still on hand for shed or gazebo) Actual available for garden:$3645.44

Moved: Cate  Seconded:Norah   Passed

7.   President’s Report: 1) Seedy Sunday took place in January. Jane Foxwell was appointed “seeds” director. Jane had made a calendar of planting dates. It is located on the shed door. 2) Jim is looking for volunteers to help with seeding in preparation for the Plant Sale, May 13.  3) Norah spoke about potential field trips for this year.  4) Work on the gazebo to date: 4 holes dug 5) Greenhouses

yellow one needs to be fixed as a tree fell on it this winter – new one needs a new cover  6) Little Diggers: theme this year “Growing a Soup” -lessons start in April on Sundays. 7) the Fall Fair is scheduled for Sept. 8   8) The Dessert Auction fundraiser is scheduled for June 23   9) Apple Orchard – it was suggested that the trees that are not producing fruit be replaced with pear trees

Veronica moved to accept the President’s report, Seconded by Lin  Passed

8.   Allotment Beds: Norah 1) 2 new beds were built for a total of 21. 2)no more on the waiting list. 3) Watering and Mowing schedules: allotment bed leasers must sign up on these schedules. 4)Maureen Johnson volunteered to take over the position of Allotment Bed Coordinator.

9.   Directors for 2018: President: Jim Harris, Secretary: Margaret Harris  Treasurer: Veronica  Directors: Mike, Andria, David   by acclamation

10.New Business: Barry moved that fennel not be allowed in the garden as a lot of plants are affected by chemicals in fennel. Seconded by Jim  Passed

11.Annoucements:Kevin mentioned that Farmer Chris Brown has a radio program 101.7FM Thursdays

 Meeting adjourned: moved by Veronica, seconded by Lin.

    

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