Northern Hills Community Gardens

Lets get cooking...

2011-10-07T11:15:00.029-06:00

All those good things to eat out of the garden, and everyone always sharing such delicious culinary details that eminate from the garden. What better way to celebrate this fact than with a Community Garden Cookbook. A very energetic group of gardeners has started working on this project and needs your recipes and stories.

The cookbook aims to 1) promote local organic produce, 2) to raise awareness of Community Gardens , and 3) to raise funds for future development of our Community Gardens.

If you are interested in submitting a recipe (or better yet, several recipes!), please contact garden@northernhills.ab.ca to obtain a form or visit the Northern Hills Community Association office, located in Cardel Place. Please take a look at the “Recipe Guidelines” section of the form to determine if your recipe can be included in our publication. We would also appreciate any pictures you have that you would like to share – pictures of your dish, produce, etc.

The deadline for submissions is October 31, 2011 so hurry and dig up your best kept family secrets (of the recipe variety).

We hope to have the cookbook completed by this spring. Perhaps some of the recipes will look so inviting you will be inspired to try a new vegetable in your plot next year. Keep a look out as we will be having a Cookbook naming contest in the future.

Harvest Celebration 2011...

2011-09-30T11:07:00.004-06:00

Centrepiece and Activities for every table.

Wow. That's all I can say, big wow. A tremendous amount of thought and care went into the planning and execution of this years harvest party. I think it showed because everyone looked to be having a marvelous time.

The decorations were outstanding, there was crafts (very cool mask kits) and colouring for kids, a guess your gourd game (I really have no clue despite the fact that the mystery veg came from Superstore), the centrepieces were seasonally inspiring and inspired all at the same time, and of course the food...ohhhhh the food. It would be impossible for me to accurately describe the culinary adventure that took place, so instead you can simply feast on a sampling of the dishes visually, thanks to all those who snapped some pictures. Unfortunately the pictures didn't turn out for everything. I know there was a coleslaw made completely from local garden cabbage that my picture didn't work. I only wish I had time to get the recipes for everything, I mean how can you not want to when you're eating a beet cake...that's right a beet cake, and a beet pie. When I was a kid beets did not make there way into such magical things.

Well it turns out there are some other like minded gardeners that would also like to get all the recipes. They have started planning the launch of a community garden cookbook. It's a great idea incorporating our locally grown produce and locally grown stories. Check back soon for more information or email garden@northernhills.ab.ca for more information.

Friends chowing down.

Tomato Salsa.

Pork and Chinese Lettuce.

Tofu and Red Beans (that turn green when cooked).

Kohlrabi and Ham dish.

Quinoa.

Burger time.

Mingling anyone.

Zucchini loaf.

Beet Pie.

Beet Cake.

Carrot Cake.

Zucchini and Chocolate Chip Loaf.

Food Bank harvest 2011...

2011-09-26T15:25:00.001-06:00

Our second year of growing turned out fantastic. This year we had a few less beds growing for the Food Bank but we still managed to pull in a bumper crop. Our potatoes are better than last year, the onions are huge, and we have enough beats to feed an army. It's great to see the pictures of our harvest day, we have some wonderfully dedicated volunteers. It looks like it was a blast. Next year it will be foremost on my calendar. Here are some of the action shots.

Harvest Pics...

2011-09-22T13:47:00.000-06:00

The season has just blown by. Consensus seems to be that harvests were up this year. Potatoes especially seemed to get a boost. After a chat with a few different gardeners prevailing wisdom is pointing to the great compost we were able to snag from the city at the beginning of the season as well as adjusted planting after lessons learned from our inaugural year. Here are but a few great pics of harvests in action.

World Leader Presents on Food...

2011-09-19T17:42:00.000-06:00

VANDANA SHIVA PRESENTS "THE FUTURE OF FOOD" ON SEPT 23
The 2011 Calgary Peace Prize recipient, Dr Vandana Shiva will be presenting an exhilarating talk on "The Future of Food" at the River Cafe on Princes Island Park, Calgary. Tickets are $60. This event is a Meet & Greet reception over food & drinks for passionate Calgarians interested to meet & exchange ideas with Dr Shiva on food policy, peace activism, international development & environment. During this event Oxfam Canada will be also be presenting their new campaign called GROW, which focuses on food justice and women’s rights. All welcome in this event. For tickets, click here . $30 of your ticket purchase is considered a donation in support of the Consortium for Peace Studies activities. Please provide your contact information, in order to issue your tax receipt. Please ensure you have entered the correct email address for your online registration and the names of exact attendees. Your ticket will be an email confirmation letter. All attendees need to print this email ticket and bring to the event for entry.

Date: Friday September 23, 2011
Time: Cocktails & Food at 6:30pm, Dr. Shiva's presentation at 7:30pm
Location: River Cafe, 25 Prince's Island Park, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 0R1
Ticket: $60. To purchase tickets, click here https://netcommunity.ucalgary.ca/shivareception

VANDANA SHIVA RECIEVES 2011 CALGARY PEACE PRIZE & PRESENTS "MAKING PEACE WITH THE EARTH" ON SEPT 24
Please join on us Saturday, September 24th 2011 at the Red & White Club as Alderman Gian-Carlo Carra & Chancellor Emeritus Joanne Cuthbertson present the 2011 Calgary Peace Prize to Dr Vandana Shiva, philosopher, environmental activist, eco feminist and author of several books. Her acceptance speech is titled "Making Peace with the Earth". This will include her commitment to social justice, food policy advocacy, empowerment of women in developing countries, her advocacy of the human rights of small farming communities, and her scientific analysis of environmental sustainability. Tickets are $12. This is a public event - all welcome. For tickets, click here . Doors open at 9:00 am, presentation by Dr Shiva: 10:00 am. Please ensure you have entered the correct email address for your online free registration and the names of exact attendees. Your ticket will be an email confirmation letter. All attendees need to print this email ticket and bring to the event for entry. Children over 2 years of age require a full ticket. Children under 2 yrs need to be seated on the accompanying adult's lap.

This event will also host craft sale & infomation booths by people or organizations involved with peace, social justice, environment, development, women's issues, food policy advocacy and natural health
Date: September 24, 2011
Time: Gates open 9:00 am, Calgary Peace Prize presentation and Dr. Shiva's presentation at 10:00 am
Location: Red & White Club, McMahon Stadium, 1833 Crowchild Trail NW, Calgary, AB
Advanced online tickets: $12; ($15 at the door)
To register/purchase your ticket, click here: https://netcommunity.ucalgary.ca/morningshiva

A belated view of tree planting 2011...

2011-08-07T23:07:00.000-06:00

Here is a brief glimpse of tree planting 2011. An absolutely wonderful program offered by the City of Calgary called Neighbourwoods provides trees and expertise to communities at a subsidized rate as long as they commit to caring for the fledgling trees. Both our gardens took advantage of the program, and with it the landscapes have changed overnight. Thanks to the great volunteers who showed up to take our gardens to the next level. It was a huge success not just for our gardens but for Northern Hills as a whole, as you can see from some of the pictures there was no shortage of people willing to bring more green to their lives.

A terrific educational opportunity...

2011-08-04T23:05:00.001-06:00

Raising Dirt From the Dead

Date: August 26, 2011 07:00 PM - 09:00 PM

Location: Harvest Hills Alliance Church

10099 Harvest Hills Blvd. NW

Calgary, AB

A Unique Opportunity to Learn From an International Expert

Doug Weatherbee "The Soil Doctor"

Soil Foodweb Advisor and International Soil Expert
(http://www.soildoctor.org/)

Soil is a complex community of life, supporting the most bio diverse ecosystem on the planet. A single teaspoon of soil contains billions of living organisms that are continuously at work, creating soil structure, storing carbon, producing nutrients and building defense systems against disease. Healthy soil cleans water, stores carbon, purifies the very systems that sustain us in addition to producing healthy and nutrient-dense food!
Learn how to create healthy and alive topsoil through organic agricultural methods, relying on biology and ecology instead of chemicals and utilizing naturals systems of soil regeneration.
Doug is visiting Calgary all the way from Mexico... Be sure not to miss this unique and rare opportunity!

WHEN: Friday August 26th, 7 - 9 pm

WHERE: Harvest Hills Alliance Church, 10099 Harvest Hills Blvd. NW

TIME: 7:00 - 9:00 pm

COST: donations gratefully accepted for future educational events

100 % of proceeds donated to these great non-profit organizations: Community Garden Resource Network, Permaculture Calgary, Northern Hills Community Gardens

Sponsored by: Community Gardens Resource Network (A program of the Calgary Horticultural Society), Verge Permaculture, The Northern Hills Community Association

And then there was green...

2011-07-29T23:53:00.000-06:00

I guess it is a good thing when life is so busy you don't have time to blog about it. And in the case of the garden it would be a full time job trying to keep up with all that has happened this year. As a quick run down here are some of the exciting things:

fresh compost arrived to top up everyone's beds this spring;
new ornamental beds were carved out and planted (they look fantastic);
a raspberry bed also made its way into the garden, let hope for some berries;
we were lucky enough to be able to capitalize on the City of Calgary's Neighborwoods Program and now have some fantastic tree groves (I can see stretching out in the shade reading a book in a few years);
our compost bin was relocated and stirred;
we have a wonderful new shed built and painted (what a world of difference);
our centre piece was planted and continues to look amazing;
we've had a few battles with the water system (it wouldn't be any fun without challenges);
and last but not least the veggies are prolific, I know I am seeing considerable improvement from last year.

I haven't been able to get many pictures (included a few below) but it has been great seeing so many fellow gardeners tending their plots. Looking forward to running into you while trying to keep the lettuce under control. I feel a bumper potatoe crop coming on.

An adventure in composting...

2011-06-13T21:51:00.000-06:00

Sunday we were very lucky to have an expert on composting come and share come valuable information with us. In essence lifting us out of the inactive compost club (basically we were piling up garden waste with nothing happening) and ushering us into the composting elite (or at least capable, in theory). Bert, with a varied resume of composting experience from a multitude of community gardens and other sources cannot be thanked enough. I have a feeling that if one was to map out all the composting done in Calgary he would have had a hand in most of it at some stage.

In all we spent an hour or so delving into the magic of bacteria and other critters recycling our organic wastes. It really is quite amazing what microorganisms can do. Here are some tidbits that I can remember (sorry I'm not one for taking notes):

try and mix equal parts browns and greens by weight (browns are dried leaves, newspaper, paper egg cartons; greens are your grass and veggies)
because greens are mostly water when you add them to compost the final mixture ends up being 20 parts browns to 1 part greens once everything has dried and started to mix
if your compost is starting to smell it is probably too wet and needs to be turned, also add some browns
if nothing is happening and you are getting pest infestation (ants, wasps, mice) your pile is probably too dry; add water and turn
if you have a large enough compost pile and it is working properly it will cook some bad things out of the soil (like seeds from weeds); but to be sure you can put your weeds and their seeds in a sealed black garbage bag out in direct sun for 3 days (driveway works well) this will definitely cook those nasty weed seeds
if you don't get oxygen to the microorganisms that are doing all the work by turning your compost and not over watering the process turns anaerobic and starts producing greenhouse gas bi-products, much like a landfill (best to keep it aerobic and turn your compost when it needs it
a working compost pile will create temperatures from 30-50 degrees Celsius (I'd recommend gloves)

And of course what would a day at the garden be without a lovely picture (thanks Paul for being our photographer). Ohhhhhh...and also it rained just as we were finishing up so we didn't have a chance to implement any of our new tricks on our pile in waiting, however next weekend our compost pile will be propelled into action by all of us new compost apprentices.

Bert Einsiedel imparting compost wisdom

Mmmmmm, first sprouts showing...

2011-06-10T16:27:00.000-06:00

The first tasty signs of veggies to come. In my head I was imagining the wait for germination as Sprout Watch 2011, but upon reflection of the past two years and what I always seem to see first I think Radish Watch 2011 is more fitting. They are so darned fast to germinate, and seem to love our less than stellar spring weather.

On a slightly sadder note my bean plants have succumbed to morning temperatures that must have been darn close to frosting. I guess when every gardener tells me it's to cold to grow beans here, especially down in Harvest Gardens, they are including me; it's not just jaunty banter. Two big lessons thus far and the season is just begun (the radishes having barely popped): don't seed your carrots deep (I only got a handful last year because I can't read seed packaging), and don't try to grow beans in Harvest Gardens (though I managed 7 beans from 4 plants last year).

Below are some pictures of some of our green thumb's planting magic. They are far more encouraging than anything my brown wilting thumb has managed to date.

Herbs and Spices, courtesy of Joanne D.

Love this little touch, now I want one.

Last chance for composting...

2011-06-09T07:34:00.000-06:00

We still have some spaces left for the composting class.

Want to learn more about composting and how to incorporate this into your home or community garden plan? Then join us for Composting 101 with Bert.

Composting 101

When: Sunday, June 12 1:00 – 2:30 PM
Where: Harvest Gardens (Harvest Hills Community Garden; from Country Hills Boulevard go south on Harvest Hills Gate, left on to Harvest Hills Drive, right on to Harvest Lake Drive. The garden is located at the west end of Harvest Lake Drive .)
Facilitated by: Bert Einsiedel

Please RSVP to garden@northernhills.ab.ca with name and number of attendees by June 10th.

Brought to you by the Northern Hills Community Gardens .

In order to help defray costs a donation of $5.00 per person is kindly requested at the door. Bring mosquitoe spray and a lawn chair.

Hope to see you there!

Harvest Gardens Kick-Off day photos...

2011-06-08T10:55:00.001-06:00

Even more great photos of our busy innaugural work day at Harvest Gardens:

Composting session...

2011-06-06T20:16:00.006-06:00

Want to learn more about composting and how to incorporate this into your home or community garden plan? Then join us for Composting 101 with Bert.

Composting 101

When: Sunday, June 12 1:00 – 2:30 PM
Where: Harvest Gardens (Harvest Hills Community Garden; from Country Hills Boulevard go south on Harvest Hills Gate, left on to Harvest Hills Drive, right on to Harvest Lake Drive. The garden is located at the west end of Harvest Lake Drive .)

Facilitated by: Bert Einsiedel

Please RSVP to garden@northernhills.ab.ca with name and number of attendees by June 10th.

Brought to you by the Northern Hills Community Gardens .

In order to help defray costs a donation of $5.00 per person is kindly requested at the door. Bring mosquitoe spray and a lawn chair.

Hope to see you there!

Here we go again...

2011-06-06T20:14:00.001-06:00

Oh Mother Nature, what a sense of humour. Last year you throw snow at as, and we chugged on through; this year rain of biblical proportions.

I must say I was feeling a little down in the mouth having seen the lake that was created in Harvest Gardens the day before our scheduled spring planting and work sessions were scheduled. Good thing we have an amazing group of dedicated gardeners, otherwise I would have called it a couch day.

Instead I was able to meet some new people and learn a little bit more about veggies (like everyday when I go to the garden), and the best part of all I got to play in the mud. Sometimes it takes a little rain to bring you back to the good old days of jumping in puddles and making mud pies. It was a day that has energized me for the season. Below are some great pictures of everyone hard at work and play. Looking forward to greening my thumb. See you at the garden.

A weekend of cooperation in review...

2011-05-17T20:27:00.000-06:00

Here are some great pictures from all the efforts that took place this past weekend at the Coventry Hills Community Garden.

Coventry Garden construction...

2011-05-14T23:27:00.000-06:00

Well the weather was a huge improvement over last year. Not a drop of precipitation and definitely no snow. There was an amazing turnout, and by the time I lazily rolled in about an hour after the construction began, it looked as though it would soon be over.

Everything looked to be organised and operating like clockwork. Trailers and tents were set up with saws positioned strategically for cutting, the drills were whirring, and the sawdust flying in the wind. But most importantly and as per usual, everyone was enjoying themselves with big grins on their faces.

For some it was the first time meeting, for others it was a reunion from last years gardening. It was clear that this determined group were going to have a great day. A day that will surely be just the beginning of a great growing season and very bright future. I'm looking forward to following Coventry's progress this year.

Tomorrow the plots will be put into position and filled with soil, the garden will really start to take shape. Pictures will follow shortly, there are bound to be some great ones.

Ignorance was working...

2011-05-03T20:24:00.001-06:00

Last year was the first year for Harvest Gardens and many of its gardeners. Our knowledge was largely lacking but our spirit and energy more than compensated for it. I think most of us would say that we were fairly proud of what we were able to accomplish. We had some great help from the more experienced gardeners, which certainly went a long way, and that tradition continued this past weekend.

Composterrific!

About 20 of our gardeners were lucky enough to sit in on an excellent beginner gardener session that we hosted and was conducted by Janet Melrose from the Calgary Horticultural Society's Community Garden Resource Network. It has been a long time since my brain felt that full. Climate, soil, planting, harvesting, it was a little bit of information overload but I definitely think my garden will be the better for it. I already figured out why my carrots were lackluster performers last year. It was great to see a large group of new gardeners from the Coventry Garden and I can't wait to see how things turn out at both of our locations. All I can say is if ignorance was working last year, I can't imagine what the results will be like this year.

If you missed this past educational session keep checking in for our next event. We are planning a hands-on composting experience with an expert. His name is Bert Einsiedel and he also has a blog with some great info, check it out and stay tuned for when we finalize dates.

Planning a garden plot...

2011-04-20T13:06:00.003-06:00

Even though the snow is still knee deep, being at the garden a few days ago has me in the mood for all things gardening. So I planned out what I'm going to plant. It's a small variation on last year. More of things I loved and that grew well, but a little less variety (some things just didn't work for me). I have a 4' x 12' plot so lots of room to play. I'm going to try mixing the beans and potatoes this year as they are supposed to like each other and my beans were rather dismal last year. More carrots because it seemed like I hardly got any last year and they were one of the best tasting veggies that came out of my plot. A little more lettuce, and a little less spinach, just to change it up. And about the same amount of peas.

I don't want to jinx our chances of a nice weekend, but i have a feeling that we may be able to see grass by Easter Monday. One step closer to real spring.

Attempt #1 at 2011 Plot Plan

More than a green thumb...

2011-04-18T19:53:00.000-06:00

Sometimes it takes more than a green thumb to be a Calgary gardener, lately it's all of the time. This past weekend it took a wild imagination. As snow continues to blanket the ground trying to plan your garden is getting to be a little ridiculous. But four gardeners/snowshoers made their way to Harvest Gardens this past weekend to try and finalize the location of a perennial bed, some raspberries and some trees. This was our best guess for a perennial bed, can you picture it? Just follow the orange line, it may get lost in the snow a bit.

Perennial Bed...Can't you see it?

Not quite the lush green bed with the infusion of colour we're hoping for, but we'll see in a few months.

Hmmm...How much compost do we need to top the beds up?

It also wasn't the easiest task to figure out how much soil we need to top our beds up for this coming year. I'm sure there must be some trusty equation for frozen-snowy-dirt compaction, but I don't know it.I think we did fairly well just find the dirt.

We also started talking about a shed, but the construction combined with the snow was bringing about flashbacks from last years construction day. So after about an hour our imaginations were worn out, or perhaps frozen, as were our toes and fingers and we decided we had finalized enough for a brisk spring day.

Time to trudge home.

Expansion plans...

2011-04-04T19:52:00.002-06:00

There are some exciting expansion plans for Harvest Gardens, lots of fruit trees and bushes. Check them out below.

Next Stop Veggie Town...

2011-04-01T09:58:00.000-06:00

Coventry Gardens (and whatever official name it takes in the future) has officially been approved! Great work everybody, a stellar group effort. I can already smell the flowers and taste the carrots. A little more sweat and hopefully a lot more sunshine and we'll be in full bloom.

More ways to learn...

2011-03-28T13:12:00.000-06:00

Here is another great opportunity before the season gets fully underway. It is offered by Green Calgary. Here are the details:

Organic Veggie Gardening for Beginners

April 19, 2011 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Hillhurst United Church
1227 Kensington Close, N.W
Calgary, Alberta T2N 3J6
Canada

The Details:
Planning your first vegetable garden this summer and wondering about how to get started?

Green Calgary's Healthy Homes program has teamed up with Kathleen Van Ihinger from Harmonic Herbs Farm to bring you an evening of Organic Veggie Gardening for Beginners.
Learn about choosing seeds, planting, site and soil preparation, and about vegetable varieties that thrive in Calgary.
Kathleen is co-owner of Harmonic Herbs Farm where she strives to grow and raise the majority of her family's food organically on 12 acres in central Alberta. Harmonic Herbs provides open-pollinated, short-seasoned seeds and niche herbal teas for Albertans. Kathleen is former Acting Director of Green Calgary and former Cooking Class Director and Buyer for Community Natural Foods.
We know Kathleen's passion for plants and enthusiasm for all things seedy will leave you feeling inspired!
Tickets are $10 in advance (through Eventbrite).

Forget you snow...

2011-03-27T22:34:00.001-06:00

I can't take it anymore. Snow, snow, snow, I can't remember a year with more snow. But maybe that will mean a really good year for soil? or some other positive way of spinning it. I myself am almost out of silver linings and all that I see on the horizon is more clouds.

I made myself give one last effort towards staying positive, but if it snows all the way through April watch out. So yet again I turned to the computer to check out some good things to help me prep for the upcoming gardening season, staying positive. One of my favourite garden type things is water conservation. Not a day goes by in the summer when I don't make a remark to someone about the water level of Nose Creek, or the Harvest Hills drainage pond, or how dry the grass is. Most just smile and wave...goodbye. I think it must be my delivery. If you are interested I found a neat little clip on You Tube that has me mighty eager to hook up my 3 barrel home system. Check it out below.

And for those hardcore gardeners, or those like me that have let their holiday goodies build up into a warm protective layer of flab I found a clip on exercises for gardeners. Not that I'm going to do them, but maybe some one else will and can motivate me through shame. It's probably a good idea to limber up. Last years big garden build left me stiff for a few days. But it might have been the frostbite?

Anyways, have fun with both clips. Looking forward to green.

That's the Bee's needs...

2011-03-22T07:00:00.000-06:00

Love those flowers, love those veggies; not without bees you won't. With the world's increasing food and space requirements for all its people and creatures it is becoming increasingly important to understand how to co-exist and hopefully prosper along side nature.

To the point the NHCA gardening group has had many a discussion on Bees and the large roll they play in our society, whether or not most people recognize it. So with a few people's help I decided to poke around a bit and find some information on Bees. A great starting point is David Suzuki's website. Here is a little excerpt to wet your appetite:

Build a Bee House
Provide Nutritious Bee Food
Make a Bee Bath
Create a Welcome Place for Bees

If you want a little background on Bees and their importance check out the film clip below:

And if that has only served to peek your interest you'll probably want to check out Calgary Beekeepers or another website that doesn't look great but has an overabundance of info, and it is also local The Beekeeper's Home Page.

Good luck with all your spring gardening BEESness.

Beyond gardening...

2011-03-19T11:27:00.000-06:00

Northern Hills just loves their veggies. To what extent you might ask? So much so that they are starting a Farmer's Market for those that "just don't have the time" to grow their own veggies but still want that great nutritious fresh local produce while cultivating their community's spirit.

Check it out, it looks like it is going to be amazing!

NCHA Farmer's Market

Updates galore...

2011-03-17T14:07:00.001-06:00

There has been an absolute ton of work going on behind the scenes to get everything gardening ready to fire on all cylinders once spring arrives. Joanne was kind enough to provide us all an update:

We sent in our application to the City this week. The site requested within this application is at the north end of the existing green space on Covepark Square and Coventry Hills Way NE (directly across from the Middle School under construction). Many thanks go out to Adrianne for the hard work that she put in to the design (attached) and Lisa, Tammy, Teri and Carmen for visiting the neighbors of the garden site to answer their questions and get their support!
We will be constructing 40 raised vegetable beds this year. We will also be adding some trees, shrubs and flower beds this year. This is a long term plan, and as gardeners we know we’re always changing and adding things, so there will be no shortage of work to be done every year to maintain and improve the garden.
I expect to get the approval to go ahead by no later than mid April. There is a lot of work to coordinate if we want to plant by the end of May. On that note I am calling out for committee members to help champion this. There are four key elements outside of applications and funding which I will continue to coordinate that need committee members. They are:

Construction – Adrianne will coordinate this but would love someone else to help. This organizes construction day – ordering of lumber, soil and bobcat. It organizes compost bins as well as a storage bin or shed as well as purchases of small equipment and hoses. (Please note that everyone wanting to rent a bed must volunteer on construction day(s).)
Communication and Education – we are looking for someone to team up with Chris (with the Harvest Hills Community Garden ) to coordinate educational programs, provide blog updates for Coventry and coordinate signage for the garden. We would like this person as soon as possible to help coordinate a class on first time vegetable gardening.
Administration – Susan will coordinate this and will maintain the user list, assign beds, coordinate the collection of fees and maintain the weekly volunteer list to water and mow.
Extras – Lisa will coordinate this but would love someone to help her. This coordinates the tree and shrub purchase as well as the delivery and planting of these. They will also coordinate the planting and harvesting of the food bank and community beds.

That being said, if any of you want to sit on the committee please let me know as we don’t want to turn anyone away. Plans are to have the committee meet in early April to get all of this underway.

The finalised user agreement will be coming shortly (it's in draft form right now but it shouldn’t change much). It may look lengthy to you but it is the standard contract provided to us by the Calgary Horticultural Society. Some major points include:

100% organic gardening methods are used
An NHCA membership is required as they provide us with the majority of our funding
Bed rental fees of $35.00 (4 x 8) and $50.00 (4 x 12) for the season
We ask all gardeners to support with watering and maintaining common areas
Susan and I will work out the logistics of collecting the agreement and user fees from you sometime in May

If you have changed your mind and no longer want to be on the list for a garden plot this year please let me know as I have a steady stream of interested gardeners.
Remember to watch the blog for updates. http://www.northernhillscommunitygarden.blogspot.com/
Last but not least please save your newspapers and non glossy flyers. You will need these to place on the bottom of your bed – it kills the grass which we will not be digging up. If any of you work for a newspaper or know of someone who does – we could use roll ends; they really do the trick!

A reminder...

2011-03-16T20:17:00.000-06:00

Some very exciting events that are quickly approaching. Please check them out, we are lucky to have such excellent local resources.

2011 Calgary Seedy Saturday

When: Saturday, March 19, 2011

Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: Hillhurst-Sunnyside Community Centre, 1320 5 Ave. N.W.

Cost: $2 Admission, we accept Calgary Dollars

Getting brighter...

2011-03-08T19:38:00.000-07:00

That's Mr. Vitamin D to you!

But still dark before I get home from work. I timed it today and was so close to making it home in daylight that I was almost skipping, about two minutes short. Which means I'm still battling the darkness like everyone else, and struggling for that Vitamin D. It would be so easy if we could just pop out to our community garden plots and grab a handful of greens while basking in the rays of summer, but alas record cold March is kicking my but. So being stuck inside I've been poking around trying to find some other natural ways to get the big D in my diet. And would do I find to my surprise, a cow is my savior (or at least one option), good old Canadian Beef. I stumbled across www.beefinfo.org and found the article Put More 'D' in Your Diet. By no means is anyone suggesting that you eat cheeseburgers 3 meals a day (though I may be willing to try this diet), but there are some great suggestions while waiting for our gardens to bloom, or even defrost.

Another way to beat the winter blahs (thanks goodness they're almost over) is to blog about them and how we are going to get over them when our wonderful gardens start to sprout. My wife and I were talking about all the delicious things we are going to eat from the garden and how we should blog about them because it makes us sad to look outside. She then came across a Conference on Blogging about Food www.eatwriteretreat.com which sounds pretty interesting. And quite frankly gives us something to day dream about because we are afraid to even open our front door.

So until spring really arrives good luck getting your D. Perhaps we should think about introducing cows to our gardens this summer, do they come in miniature sizes?

Milk Jug Planting...

2011-02-26T09:35:00.002-07:00

One of our more experienced gardeners has tried Milk Jug Planting in the past (it was recently mentioned in the Calgary Horticultural Society article on February 25th) and says it works great. Brenda does it slightly differently and has outlined her process below. Thanks for the tips Brenda.

Sowing in milk jugs definitely works. I had great success last year with a couple of differences from the article.

1. A starter mix tends to work better than potting soil -- less damage to roots when transplanted.

2. Don't keep the lids on the jugs -- moisture builds up and can cause mold/rot the plants.

3. Don't worry about punching holes in the bottom - the slits and open top are plenty of ventilation and you don't want roots to grow outside the container or your new plants may be damaged when transplanting.

4. I use packing tape rather than duct tape -- easier to open when ready to transplant.

5. Be sure to label the jugs -- a black felt marker worked fine for me.

6. Place jugs in the snow in any area of the yard that gets the most sunshine. I put these along a fence or building (protected area) rather than out in the middle of the yard.

7. Sow seeds as suggested on packages (ie. some take 6 weeks to germinate and some take longer) so bear in mind when you want to plant these out.

8. Don't worry too much about checking for moisture. The jugs are unlikely to need additional water for 6 weeks or so unless the weather gets unusually warm.

9. Use a utility knife to cut the jugs -- easier than a kitchen knife.

10. Milk jugs work great but you can use other plastic jug as long are they aren't opaque. For instance, I use windshield fluid jugs too. Rinse all jugs well.

More great offerings from the Calgary Horticultural Society...

2011-02-25T10:39:00.006-07:00

If you don't get the regular Calgary Horticultural society Newsletter you may be missing out. Below is an excerpt from their most recent online newsletter. If it interests you I would definitely subscribe.

PINING TO GROW SOMETHING? ANYTHING AT ALL?

Join the fun by taking in a special talk this Friday, February 25th
"ALL ABOUT SEEDS"
All you need to know about seeds from ordering catalogues through to transplanting them into the garden once the warmth of spring is here.
For more information and to reserve your seat click here:

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU!!
New talk: March 25th- 'Growing Food for the First Time'

SEEDY SATURDAY

Mark your calendars, put on your gardening shoes, get ready set go!
Seedy Saturday in 2011 is bigger, better and more exciting!
When: MARCH 19TH from 10:00 am- 3:00 pm
Where: Hillhurst-Sunnyside Community Hall (NEW LOCATION!!)
1320-5 Ave. N.W.
Parking and Transit: limited parking on site, but lots of street parking and Transit routes
What: exhibitors, presentations,seed exchanges, kid's corner and much more
Cost: Just $2 (accepting Calgary Dollars too)
Sponsored by: The Calgary Horticultural Society and your Community Garden Resource Network
For more information check the Seedy Saturday website.

WHAT DO MILK JUGS AND SEEDS HAVE IN COMMON?

Milk jugs are perfect for community gardeners that don't have space indoors to start seeds!
All you need is a supply of 4L milk jugs (Starbucks has lots), potting soil, seeds and enthusiasm.
Drill some holes in the bottom of the jug, a couple of slits near the top for ventilation, then make a horizontal cut about 4" from the bottom around 3 sides of the jug.
Fill the jug with 3" of potting soil, thoroughly moisten and allow to drain.
Sow the seeds according to the directions on the packages.
Lower the lid back down and seal with duct tape to keep closed.
Set outside in the snow.
The seeds will germinate nicely when the sun provides enough light and heat.
Monitor to make sure the soil stays moist but not wet, and as the days grow warmer take the cap off to let the heat out or make bigger holes for ventilation.
When the time is right transplant out into the garden plot, and you will have climate hardened seedlings ready to take off this summer.
It is a perfect way to get the whole family involved.
The only word of caution....it is addictive!

Tomatoes...

2011-02-23T11:50:00.003-07:00

Nothing gets a veggie gardener's attention more than that.

I’m starting to think about what to plant this in my garden, and year after year I always arrive at tomatoes as a good starting point. Part of the reason I think is that there is such a wide variety of plants you can experiment with, which always seems to peak my interest (check this tomato link out if you are interested, Casey’s Heirloom Tomatoes of Airdrie; that’s right they’re local and have an amazing seed catalogue). And also if you’re a bit of a scatter brain like me you are bound to miss some watering days, which tomatoes seem to be somewhat forgiving of in my experience, or lack there of. They are a great looking plant when they start to flower and develop fruit, and have an amazing smell that just screams summer.

Following the scatter brain mindset it seems that every year I have to at minimum refresh my growing acumen, but more realistically re-learn how to do all things gardening; from holding a trowel to turning on the hose. In this vein I searched out and found an amazing link for growing tomatoes online, it is a free e-book that has all the A-Z’s of tomatoeness, A Rough Guide to Growing Tomatoes. Enjoy, it has really helped me get ready for my great tomato quest. Hopefully this helps get you geared up for spring tomato season.

As winter’s end approaches...

2011-02-19T12:28:00.003-07:00

at least according to local groundhogs, people are starting to shift their minds towards spring and summer. Hopefully being outdoors is somewhere near the tops of your spring to do list. One of the best ways to get outdoors in the spring is to dabble in some gardening. Whether you’re a beginner or someone who would just appreciate another seasoned gardener’s opinion there is a number of educational workshops that the community garden group wants to offer to their members this year and if there is interest expand this to all members of the community.

Workshops may include subjects such as:

Composting Basics
Starting Plants from Seed
Food for Small Places
Growing Food for the First Time
Vegetable Gardening for Zone Three

Any other ideas would be appreciated and can be sent to garden@northernhills.ab.ca.

If you are interested in vegetable gardening and want to participate in these workshops keep watching the community garden blog or follow the Community Garden link at http://www.northernhills.ab.ca for more information and updates.

There are also some other great local educational opportunities offered by The Calgary Horticultural Society and Green Calgary, being but a few. Below is a great example of a fast approaching event, it looks like a lot of fun.

Time to start getting excited...

2011-02-09T22:20:00.001-07:00

The initial plan for the Coventry Community Garden was revealed in a sneak peak tonight. It looks amazing and is the culmination of many hours of surveying and visualizing, all towards finding what will work best for this particular location. Thanks Adrianne, I think everyone is really impressed.

Large Garden Overview (North is the top)

Closer up view of the Community Garden.

Canvassing the neighbors...

2011-02-05T14:49:00.002-07:00

Seeds Are Best When Shared

Part of the reason for having a community garden is to strengthen neighborhood relationships and start new ones. As the winter weather ebbs and flows dedicated volunteers are preparing to get out and meet the neighbors closest to the latest proposed community garden in Coventry Hills. As part of getting to know the neighbors and introducing them to what a community garden is all about we are sharing some of our donated seeds. It is quite amazing to see the variety of flowers and vegetables that thrive in Calgary's unpredictable growing zone. And if you want to have big beautiful plants early in the season, it's never too early to start thinking about what you want to plant.

Alberta takes notice...

2011-02-01T19:44:00.002-07:00

That's right, everyone is starting to take notice of the benefits that community gardens offer. Even the Government of Alberta's Health and Wellness Ministry. Although right about now it's probably pretty tough to find any carrots, it's great to check out information that spurs on our spirits for a quickly approaching season.

Carrotless journey.

The bright side of things, that snow should help with soil moisture during spring runoff.

Cold, cold...

2011-01-29T18:12:00.003-07:00

and more cold. Oh and did I mention "the snow". It transforms from mere "snow" to "the snow" when you have to shovel more than 4 times in one day. With that and the holidays just barely in the proverbial rear view mirror it has been somewhat difficult for some of us to think green. I've been beyond reticent to tackle the blog for the past 2 months. Lately when trying to decipher the ramblings that fly by in my brain it seems that gardening is taking a backseat to winter survival techniques, especially when it's so cold that it hurts when you breath in. That of course is only the case for some of us. Behind the scenes, and snow banks, there has been an energetic group of gardeners steadfast in their mission to open a new garden in Coventry Hills this spring. I've heard some very exciting things are in the works and updates will be coming shortly.

But what has spurred me into action, and believe me that takes some doing, was a brief grocery shopping trip. Bundled up, ready to fight the snow, having to wait for the car to warm up, then forgetting my boots in the garage the night before and having my feet turn to icicles; it dawned on me that spring is just around the corner. What could possibly bring about such an epiphany as I awkwardly waddle through the store trying to recover from shoveling for a record 100th time this winter...a McKenzie seed stand being set up just beyond the cashier line. That's right it's time to toughen up and start thinking dirty thoughts...about gardening.

So I did a little checking around. Turns out there's a lot of people thinking about vegetables and flowers in Calgary. Check out some of these upcoming workshops at the Calgary Horticultural Society. I always find events that concentrate on local food interesting as well, Slow Food Calgary has some fun offerings, and Kingsland Farmer's Market is a new market in town that is owned and operated by local producers. Let your imagination run wild with that, as I try and gear up to keep you updated on Harvest Gardens' growing season.

Northern Hills to Sprout another Community Garden

2010-10-27T19:52:00.002-06:00

Last year I was reminiscing about some of my fondest memories as a child “picking raspberries and pulling carrots in my grandparents’ garden. Nothing tastes as good as a dirty carrot (though my wife insists I say “fresh”), a grubby fistful of juicy raspberries, and a cold drink from the garden hose.” After a long winter and short spring and summer Northern Hills Community members, with their extraordinary efforts, were able to breathe life into a community garden. Harvest Gardens was born; a place to go with friends, family, and neighbors; whether to putter in the dirt or maybe just sit and enjoy.

With such amazing success and exponential growth in community interest there is already talk of a second community garden; this one in Coventry Hills. The accompanying picture has been identified as a potential garden area and is one that many people may be familiar with.

Community gardens offer some great potential benefits for the community; healthier food choices, increased community cohesiveness, reduced vandalism, an inexpensive family activity, increased property values and a better looking neighborhood are just a few.

The positive impacts of community gardens are endless and the individual commitment can vary depending on preference. A community garden can be as diverse as its community of gardeners. Some may choose to grow solely flowers. Others may nurture vegetables and fruits for family consumption, to share or donate. It’s really up to the gardeners to decide what they would like to do in order to make a special place for themselves and the whole community.

If you are looking for a great family outdoor activity – and are interested in getting your hands a little dirty, you are encouraged to email garden@northernhills.ab.ca. You won’t be disappointed. We are trying to gauge interest so please contact us. All questions and ideas are welcome.

Over 1000 visits...

2010-09-28T09:09:00.002-06:00

The blog hit over 1000 visits this past weekend. Keep on enjoying the garden, and stop by the blog to check in on things if you can't make it to Harvest Gardens.

Free to compost, at last...

2010-09-26T21:08:00.000-06:00

The perfect weekend finally arrived for building the compost bin. Unfortunately for my in-laws I conscripted their talents to help me out. I would like to thank them a bunch because I think I may have been a little overwhelmed if it weren't for their efforts.

Any who, after a beautiful Saturday and a little sweat but no tears (that I'm willing to admit to) Harvest Gardens has been adorned with a two bin compost system. Feel free to open it up and place your garden materials and other appropriate kitchen wastes in the bin. It will soon be in its final resting place, though if it moves I don't think you'll have trouble tracking down its new location. It will soon have a lock attached so that no one is tempted to add creative things to our bin (my mother in-law informed me that Chestermere recently had a dead goat placed in their recycling bins, so I think we'll err on the side of caution). Next year we will set up some learn to compost sessions. The bin is equipped with a rotating brace to keep the lid opened, and the front panels are removable if you need to rotate the compost or dig some out. I think the pictures below will help out more than these words. I also added some building pictures if anyone wanted to check it out.

Maybe no Da Vinci but plans all the same.

The materials.

First wall finished.

Progress.

Compost bin's view of Harvest Gardens.

Removable front panel.

Finished and in place.

Keeps the lid from knocking you on the head.

Thank You...

2010-09-23T15:27:00.000-06:00

Thanks to Kate's thoughtful ways we were able to present a very nice thank you card to the children at Ascension of Our Lord elementary junior high school. It was an excellent summer, one in which I think it is safe to say that all our expectations were exceeded where the neighborhood childrens' respect and interest in the garden is concerned. Lets hope their interest grows and along with it their participation.

With the growing season gone...

2010-09-20T20:21:00.000-06:00

my imagination is running wild with what next year can bring. Some of this has been inspired by articles that are occasionally forwarded to me. A short one that I really like was sent to me by my wife, it is from one of her favourite websites. Check it out if you're looking for an interesting read, the particular article I was reading 4 Simple Reasons Why You Should Grow Your Own Food.

Harvest Party 2010 a great success...

2010-09-15T23:52:00.000-06:00

It was great to see everybody make it out to celebrate our inaugural Harvest Gardens year. True to form, as with all our community garden projects, the weather was a bit chilly. But as you can see from the pictures below everyone was having a great time sharing their gardening experiences from over the summer.

There was no limit of great food. I don't know who brought the watermelon dish but I couldn't stop eating it; it was unlike anything I had ever tasted, and if you know me you can tell I've obviously tasted my fair share of things. I don't think I've ever enjoyed such a variety of salads: from the creamy cucumber dill salad, to the fruit salad, 7 layer (maybe more) salad, I can't keep going on because my mouth is starting to water...But I will...a great rice and bean dish, stir fry, Ok now I have to stop. Well maybe just one last word on food, I think everyone gained a few extra pounds from the amazing spread offered at the dessert table. I'd like to pick a favourite but I think it's pretty hard to narrow down when you have at least two of everything.

Thanks to everyone who came out in our inaugural year, without all of us giving our time and effort projects like this simply wouldn't exist. A special thanks to Kate, Joanne, and Sunny who really put in the extra effort so that we could all enjoy our harvest celebration together. Apologies if I missed anyone (though hopefully you include yourself in everyone).

Any who, let your eyes feast on some of the pics from a great day. Here's looking forward to next year, hopefully the sun will decide to join us.

More great harvest pics...

2010-09-10T16:05:00.001-06:00

Here are some more great pictures from our Food Bank harvest. Thanks Sunny.

Food Bank Harvest...

2010-09-10T06:30:00.001-06:00

We had a great harvest for the Calgary Inter-Faith Food Bank. 180 pounds of potatoes, carrots, beats and onions. Thanks to all the dedicated volunteers over the summer. Check out some of the pictures below. We even had a special visitor from the Calgary Foundation that came to check out the harvest action. Earlier in the year they contributed $400 to help us get underway, thanks so much Calgary Foundation.

Garden party fever...

2010-09-08T23:03:00.001-06:00

I can feel it coming on, and I'm not talking about hay fever. The garden is a buzz with the upcoming party. Inspired by our first ever harvest season it's time for all the gardeners and volunteers to celebrate. And what better way than with a potluck, they make my belly sing. Whenever there's a potluck it's like everyone is sharing something special about them self. Sometimes it's one of those secret family recipes whispering from the past, other times it's that crazy sweet tooth that just can't be satiated; or if you're like me you'll comb the world over (that means the Internet) to find the easiest yet tastiest recipe around. Whatever your recipe, I'm looking forward to seeing everyone together, and hearing your best garden stories.

Epiphany, inspired by frost...

2010-09-02T05:03:00.001-06:00

It would seem that Harvest Gardens is a frost magnet. While many yards in the Northern Hills have been chilly lately, it is clear from the pictures below that our little lakeside oasis is getting more than its fair share of the summer cold snap (no that's not a mistake, summer cold snap).

While many of our plants have seen better days it's not all doom and gloom. Joanne informs me veggies such as beets actually get sweeter as their foliage dies off, and a potato's skin toughens up for better storage (hopefully I remembered that right). I guess mother nature has us covered for the most part. The carrots still look great, and there are other plants that seem unscathed by Oldman Winter's foray into the three fairer seasons (yes he makes appearances in all three).

If you have more delicate varieties I highly recommend paying a visit to your plot for an emergency harvest, before it is too late. This is a special warning to the tomato fans out there.

Sad Potatoes (but hopeful)

I would like to offer my condolences to anyone and their beans that have suffered the same fate as my own. Last words, keep sending out good vibes to your potatoes and mine, I know they're going to pull through, they've just got to. Good gardening, and fast harvesting.

Just a little peak...

2010-09-01T08:00:00.000-06:00

If you just can't wait to see if your root veggies are growing here is a little peak of some potatoes. A little check up helps us tell if we're on the right track.

I don't think it's a coincidence that the potatoes are making a happy face. I guess the garden makes more than the gardeners happy. It must be a potato paradise as well. I would also like to add that no potatoes were harmed in this photo shoot, all disturbed tubers were lovingly recovered with dirt to hopefully grow a little more. See you again in a few weeks.

Overwhelmed by the leaning tower...

2010-08-30T22:17:00.001-06:00

The leaning tower of pallets! I have been considering a plethora of options for Harvest Gardens' compost system over the past month or two. A few weeks ago Carla provided me with some great links about compost construction. It turns out she is quite the community gardener being a member of the University of Calgary community garden as well. I encourage everyone to check out their Urban Gardener blog and the web site that hosts their very creative how to video "How We Built Our Community Garden's Compost Bin".

I really liked the idea of reusing pallets. And having heard some other positive comments from people that had re-purposed pallets I was raring to go. I knew that there were a few hanging around my office and after checking around I found out that the company I work for would be overjoyed if we found another purpose for their slightly worn pallets. So I decided last week that on the following Monday I would take my lunch and pull some pallets apart salvaging some wood for our compost project. The pictures below are what I found as I walked in with a little claw hammer that I borrowed from the receptionist (it was included in an Ikea picture hanging kit, apparently the hammer couldn't even handle tapping tacks into drywall either).

Needless to say I will be bringing some other tools and scheduling some extra time for this one. I couldn't even reach the top of the stacks to pull a pallet down to try and work on it. But there is definitely some great wood to be had.

Anyway I have reset my fear-o-meter and will strive to tackle this one on Wednesday. There will definitely be pictures for proof, and more than likely a splinter or two.

Freshening up...

2010-08-29T12:15:00.000-06:00

It seems that fall is upon us, but we have had some outstanding weather in the past few weeks. With that heat comes the need for water, lots of water. Harvest Gardens is lucky to have such devoted caretakers. Heid beats the heat with all three sprinklers going full boar on our only 30+ degree day to date. With the wind sprinkler combination there were certainly some extra refreshing moments. It was great while it lasted, bring on the fall and harvest season.

Another word on dirt (that's right, DIRT)...

2010-08-27T06:00:00.000-06:00

In case anyone doubts the importance of good dirt (or quality soil) check out the effect that bad dirt has on potato growth. The dirt in the picture below has very little water retention and from what I can figure is too sandy, I think it also has too much peat moss. It grows flowers and kale really well, but my poor potatoes are a bust this year.

It might also be the tight space. Either way I think I found the imperfect way to grow a potato. I also started a potato plant in a clay pot with similar dirt and noticed a similar yellowing (picture below). I have since amended the dirt and will see if this makes a difference. If it doesn't I guess I can chalk it up to the tight space.

Dirty or soiled...

2010-08-25T16:00:00.000-06:00

There are a few things an aspiring gardener should know. I think the first is the difference between soil and dirt. Until recently I really had no definite ideas on what the difference is, though I had a few thoughts floating around in my head. What I have learned the more I poke around is that it really depends what your perspective on the subject is that decides how you see the difference between the two.

Some take the position of place. Soil is what you find under your feet, dirt is what you find under your fingernails. It seems that the displacement of tiny morsels of soil, little runaway renegades are relegated to the status of dirt. While as long as there is a giant party going on, it can be considered a soil party.

There are those more partial to the scientific disposition who speak of the layers or horizons that make up the earth. The first layer is top soil, followed by subsoil, then weathered parent material, and finally bedrock. The first two layers are the only ones that support plant life. Apparently dirt does not enter the equation here.

I personally like dirt better than soil because I think soil sounds pretentious. However I did find one explanation I found helpful, and is probably the most commonly adopted by gardeners. Soil holds all of the key ingredients to providing life. These important ingredients are classified in three ways: texture, structure, and tilth. As well as innumerable nutrients and organic happenings going on inside like decomposition and microbial life.

Texture refers to the relative percentage of sand, silt and clay within the dirt. Ideally you want an equal mixture of the three to have healthy soil.
Structure is how sand, silt and clay fit together. Good structure is evident when the soil holds together if squeezed, but breaks apart or crumbles easily when disturbed.
Tilth has to do with how well soil drains. Ideal tilth is loose enough to allow for adequate drainage, yet dense enough to retain moisture long enough for plant roots to utilize it.

Now that I have expounded on a few different ways to differentiate between soil and dirt I will give you mine. It's all dirt, it's more a matter of good dirt or bad dirt, healthy dirt or dirt in need of help. And the main reason I side with dirt is when I think about applying the monichers to myself I would always rather be dirty than soiled.

To sprinkler or hose, that is the question...

2010-08-24T22:47:00.000-06:00

So Heidi was down at the garden and was nice enough to sprinkle for everyone. She said it was great minus the changes in wind that left her book, dog and self a little wet. I myself have sprinkled once but find it very cathartic to hose water every bed individually; this might be because I'm too disorganised to get a book and chair in order to enjoy sprinkle time. It turns out Joanne is also a sprinkle supporter. Which led the 3 of us to wonder, or atleast Heidi and I, what the preference is out there? Sprinkler or hose? Leave your comments below and we'll take an informal poll. Don't worry I won't have hurt feelings if we only get results for the three that have already put in their 2 cents, I'll use my tears to water the beds in any event. Of course we probably all prefer the good old fashion rain method.

Time to get your harvest on...

2010-08-23T14:00:00.000-06:00

In case anyone has been too busy to hit the old garden lately I highly recommend bringing a large bucket with you to collect your produce on your next visit. Some may even need a wheel barrow. It looks like everyones peas are exploding, the lettuce hasn't slowed since late spring, beans are showing all over, onions are looking prime all over, the tomatoes are growing by the second and within a few weeks carrots will probably be ready. Try not to let your veggies go to waste, if you are going to be away let a fellow gardener know and they can probably help you out while you're gone. I myself would be happy to lend a hand, especially since I've got the taste for peas now.

An aside, if you have the giant zucchini plant you may want to bring a truck. I think that it is one of the coolest plants in the garden this year; and it has done so well to recover from the crazy hails storms of July.

Good Harvesting!

Some intersting favourites of mine...

2010-08-22T02:10:00.000-06:00

Check out some pics from Harvest Gardens. Some of these favourites are just great looking plants, some are prolific producers, others are things I didn't think could grow here, and some I have no idea what they are which makes them all the better.

Fancy grass cutting...

2010-08-20T14:00:00.000-06:00

Deanna certainly has taken our garden up a notch. Pretty soon there's going to be a dress code. Check out the pictures of our H H (harvest hills) community garden. I think it's snazzy!

Serenity now...

2010-08-19T22:08:00.000-06:00

Things have been rather busy this summer. Today was the first day I had a chance to get to the garden in the last two or three weeks, for more than a peek. It's days like today that help remind me why community gardens are so great. Let me recount why I love Harvest Gardens.

First, the exercise. Though mostly from trying to avoid the mosquitoes, which usually then leads to me going crazy and trying to squash as many as possible. Some watering, weeding and harvesting always works up a good sweat. Nothing is a better stress reliever, the exercise that is not the mosquitoes, though maybe I should sell mosquitoes as a workout.

Second, the atmosphere. I think within about 5 minutes of watering and picking and weeding I was completely engulfed by the garden and everything it brings. I didn't think about anything else except whether I was picking the peas properly or not. Do you leave the little flowery part on the vine or break it off with the peas? Regardless the flowers and greenery have an amazing calming effect.

Third, the veggies. So I picked some peas, about 3 carrots, and maybe 20 odd lbs. of lettuce. What does that get you? With a glass of cool water to relieve the heat caused by running away from the mosquitoes, it gets you the best dinner ever. I think somehow my carrots are sneaking into the grocery store and stealing all the flavour from those carrots, with the peas as their accomplice. Unfortunately, to avoid detection by the carrot flavour police, my little orange friends are staying remarkably small.

Fourth and finally, the people. About one hour at the garden gets you a chat with two great garden members, a chance to meet a few neighbors, and helps you see what actually goes on in the neighborhood. Unknown to myself we have quite the bustling community on nice summer afternoons.

So if "the man" has got you down or if you're feeling a little blahhh remember to visit Harvest Gardens. It certainly did the job for me today. And thank you a boat load to whoever keeps replenishing the mosquito spray, I owe you about a pint of blood.

Resurgent centrepiece...

2010-08-07T16:16:00.000-06:00

Here are some great pics of the transformation from a slightly wilted flower salad to our current splendiferous flower centrepiece.

Composting anyone...

2010-08-06T23:56:00.000-06:00

As the summer moves on and more and more veggies are finding their way into our mouths many of us are also finding that there is a noticleble amount of compostable material as a by product of our gardening adventures. It has always been a plan to implement a compost system for Harvest Gardens, it seems however that it is needed sooner rather than later.

Currently I am looking into a bunch of designs with key features being: strong construction (so that it can withstand the rigours of park life), large enough to accomodate all our organic would-be wastes, looks great (after all our garden is a masterpiece so far, why ugly it up if we don't have to), low maitenance (no one wants more to take care of), and if possible cheap to construct. There are a million different plans for composters out there, here is one site I have found helpful. I'm leaning towards something similar to the picture below, but would love input from anyone who has experience or is interested in being part of this little composter project. If you are such a person email cmroy@yahoo.com with the subject: COMPOST.

Canadian Tire to the rescue...

2010-08-05T12:06:00.000-06:00

A few weeks ago Harvest Gardens had a wee set back as the centre piece flower bed had some unwanted visitors. Consensus is that vandals decided to pick a few flowers and toss them on the ground. I have a different theory, where by the flowers had a housewarming party to celebrate their new digs and had a few too many cocktails. Slightly dazed and confused from all the party excitement they lost their way on a walk about the garden and never found their way home (flowers aren't known for their sense of direction, but have you ever known a potato to get lost).

Regardless of the cause, we were a little short on flowers for the centre bed despite some great neighbors who did their best to replant the hungover flowers. It was a little demoralizing after all the work that had gone into the planting and care of the garden.

But I'm very happy to communicate that Canadian Tire heard our story and immediately stepped in providing us any plant material that we required. A few flats of petunias, some succulents for the edge, some really neat grass and giant marigolds for the centre and we're back in business. The business of looking awesome that is. I can't say enough about Canadian Tire stepping up for the community. They didn't bat a lash when asked to help out and even provided someone to help plan the replacement flowers. They helped turn my frown upside down. They made replanting a wonderful experience and I was glad to meet some really wonderful people at Canadian Tire.

Thanks you so much Canadian Tire! Please stop by for a visit.

New rain gauge...

2010-07-22T11:57:00.000-06:00

We have a new rain guage in the garden. It should help us keep track of how much water has fallen on the garden to see if we need to augment with manual watering. It can also be used to track the amount of water put on the garden if you use the sprinklers during your watering week.

There are also signs placed that designate which beds are Food Bank beds and one for our community bed. Make sure you don't pick the asparagus. Mr. Asparagus says he won't be ready till 2012.

A little hail isn’t going to keep our gardens down...

2010-07-18T21:52:00.000-06:00

Two giant hail storms two days apart, it certainly doesn’t take long for a gardener’s proverbial blue skies to turn grey. One could say after the two storms I was a little worried about the status of Harvest Gardens, especially having grown up hearing stories of hail damage wiping out whole crops on the prairies. But there’s no sense in crying over spilled milk, better to buck up and assess the damage. So after taking the opportunity to save some golf-ball size hail in my freezer, I quickly summoned the courage to check out the gardens status (it took me a few days, some people are quicker than others).

Anyway, so I’m trudging down the park with a heavy heart, unsure of what I’m going to find. In my head I’m picturing the carnage from a Chuck Norris action flick; after all fake blood comes from tomatoes right. You think I would have caught on by now to the resilience of Harvest Gardens and its caretakers. Instead of the Norris leftovers I find gardens exploding with veggies and gardeners unfazed by the barely existent memories of ‘Oh yah that was a pretty big storm’, ‘I didn’t know we got hail twice’.

The season is definitely in full swing as Kate trots down to collect her daily lettuce and other assorted goodies for dinner. Joanne comes by to thin the Food Bank onions and takes a few bags down to drop off, our first donation, very exciting. And Brenda and Rigel take their turn at watering all the beds on a beautiful summer day.

Upon closer inspection there were a few signs of the stormy weather, basically some bent stalks and raggedy leaves; but to be honest I’ve caused more damage from sneezing fits. The gardens look great and more importantly the vegetables taste great. I myself have enjoyed spinach and lettuce that I don’t think have ever been so fresh.

In case you were wondering about someone saving hail…‘Why save hail?’ you might ask, as did my wife. The obvious answer is because it would melt if you left it in the yard. Despite my logical response we no longer have hail in our freezer, and it did melt.

Our new name...

2010-07-14T10:09:00.000-06:00

Over the past few weeks everyone has been submitting their input. It was very interesting to see that most names got atleast a few votes, and often by those who didn't submit the name. In the end it was a very close vote. There was only a difference of 3 votes (23-20) between the two most popular names: The Harvest Patch and Harvest Gardens (not in any specific order).

...And the winner is Harvest Gardens!

Keep your eyes peeled as we try over the next few weeks to come up with some signage to display our new name.

Let the naming begin...

2010-07-02T21:59:00.000-06:00

All the submissions for our garden name are in and it's time to vote. I'm excited to see what our name will be. Once it has been decided upon we'll get some designs done and then erect a beautiful sign that we can all be proud of. Here are the rules for the vote:

Choose your three favourite names.
Organize them from most favourite to least with corresponding numbers 1,2,3.
Email your list to cmroy@yahoo.com with the subject: VOTE.
First choices are worth 3 points, Second choices 2 points, and Third choices 1 point (It should help us average out something we can all live with).
Results will be tallied on July 12 and announced July 13 so get your responses in quickly.
The following order of the names is random having been drawn out of a hat (a cowboy hat if you are really interested, a little bit dusty and very smelly; quite fitting if you ask me).

Whispering Waters Community Garden
Northern Hills Fertile Crescent
Rabbits Unwanted Garden
Harvest by the Sunshine Lake
The Harvest Patch
Sunshine Garden by the Harvest Lake
Harvest Hills Community Garden
Northern Lights Community Garden
The Gardens of Harvest Hills
Bountiful Harvest Community Garden
Aurora Borealis Community Garden
Harvest Hills Grassroots
Rubbing Rock Gardens
Northern Hills Community Garden ... growing a healthy community
NHCA Gardening Club
Lakeside Community Garden
Harvest by the Lake
Garden on the Lake
Whispering Pines Community Garden
Prairie Gardens
Harvest Gardens
The Hills' Garden

We are changing the world...

2010-06-30T21:59:00.000-06:00

Maybe not all at once, but as they say 'baby steps'. My wife was kind enough to point out an article in Alberta Views magazine July/August issue entitled "The Farm Next Door: Why local food - really local - is back on Alberta's political menu". It does a really good job articulating many reasons people have for getting involved with a community garden and local food.

There is also a great local food guide. I always like to take advantage of the summer to explore, trying to find unique local options for food. With this guide you have access to a "cornucopia of options for local fare, including farms, farmers markets, grocers and restaurants". Lots of the places they mention are great, and those that I haven't experienced I'm eager to give a shot.

Reflecting upon how far we have come with our little garden project, and then reading an article like this; I can't help but feeling all warm and fuzzy that we are part of something bigger , something beyond our little garden project; we are contributing to a political/social movement. But hey, if thinking about it that way doesn't float your boat, and in no way shape or form do you ever feel warm and fuzzy; then at least you can say that you're trendy, people are taking notice and writing about your actions, and you're a mere breath away from becoming famous!

Either way our garden rocks! I'm having a blast so far, and hope you are too. Catch you lake side.

Ohhh my aching back...

2010-06-29T17:07:00.000-06:00

I think we've covered the notion of relaxing in a lawn chair while enjoying the fruits of our labour, but that requires lugging chairs down to the garden. So much hard work gardening, and weeding, and watering, and, and , and. What more work do we need? Carrying chairs equals more work. Well we've remedied that, no more carrying chairs around. Thanks to the Devonian Gardens' recent renovation and a few volunteers' efforts (thanks to Deanna for the use of her truck, and Michael and Joanne's muscles) we were able to pick up a pair of beautiful benches for a steal. Check'em out, and better yet try them out. Solid as rocks and a perfect addition to our blossoming garden. They may look a little rough around the edges now but wait a few weeks and you'll see a magnificent transformation. Hmmm...ended up binging a little more work in the end anyway, funny how life is like that. I know a bench for my weary bones will be totally worth it in the end, I'm rather tired of sharing the grass with the mosquitoes. Besides I don't think they like to share.

Time for a little veggie thinning...

2010-06-26T18:07:00.000-06:00

No your veggies are not too fat! In fact, the fatter the better I say. But to get them that way you often need to thin out what you have planted. Tightly bunched seedlings don't produce big juicy carrots because there is too much plant competing for too little space, water, and nutrients. I found some helpful information on desired veggie spacing (the Thinning Table below) and also some helpful hints on how to go about the thinning process (a two step thinning hints based on carrots).

A warning; I am not an experienced thinnerer (that is not a real word) so you may want to run these distances by an experienced gardener before you start pulling. But as far as I can tell the spacing distances make sense and the hints on thinning are what I sometimes use when pulling weeds (as far as the watering goes) so I assume they'll work on veggies as well.

Thinning Table

Thinning Hints
The Hints are done for carrots but I think you should be able to apply them to any veggie if you cross reference the Thinning Table.

Step #1
Water carrot seedlings well before thinning. This will allow you to pull them out without breaking the roots, the smell of which attracts carrot root fly. Simply grip the seedling to be removed between thumb and forefinger and pull. Aim to leave seedlings at 1" spacings.

Step #2
After three to four weeks, repeat the thinning procedure to leave the seedling at a spacing of 2" apart. This second thinning usually produces tiny carrots that can be trimmed for use in salads or as a garnish (thats right, eat'em don't toss'em).

One week and our name will be born...

2010-06-24T13:50:00.000-06:00

Submissions have been flowing in for potential names to our garden. With only one week remaing until the June 30th deadline we have over 20 entries. I have a feeling it will be a difficult vote to win as there are some terrific names floating around. There is still time for everyone's ideas to be heard, email your best to cmroy@yahoo.com with Garden Name as the subject.

Our water, convoluted but not polluted...

2010-06-23T15:53:00.000-06:00

As all of our gardeners are aware, the City of Calgary has done a great job providing us water. In order for us to access our water, we have to run what I call "The Gauntlet", so named because you need strong hands to turn the water line on and off. Check out the "Accessing Water" section if you want step by step instruction on how to get the old juices flowing. If you are already experienced and know the ins-and-outs, pull out a hose or set up a sprinkler. I think, and many others have suggested, that a lawn chair, a good book, and a sprinkler session make for a perfect summers eve. Remember to conserve and stay water wise when possible, visit the City's website for more info.

Full scale rabbit alert...

2010-06-16T15:01:00.000-06:00

I think on the whole there had been at best a subtle optimism when it came to rabbits and our community garden, and at worst denial of what can now be said to be 'the inevitable'. Well the optimism has been shattered and the denial put asunder. The 12 inch raised beds are definitely not enough to deter our little furry friends (some as large as I goats I think) from nibbling our greens. Unfortunately some of our gardener's beds, the plants that are more mature, have been the targeted victims. So until we get our laser guided rabbit defense system installed you have a few options, either fence your garden or feed the rabbits. There are also so called rabbit proof plants, but I think our rabbits are of some mutant breed that don't follow the established rabbit plant rules, as their eating habits haven't been all that discerning to date. I have put a small fence around our garden and a few other gardeners have erected fences varying from chicken wire to decorative landscape fencing. Our struggle continues, we shall prevail!

Just to prove that our rabbit problem is no laughing matter I scoured the Internet for rabbit jokes and the following is the best I could find.

Bunny Humour:

Waiter, what is this hare doing in my salad?
I believe he's eating your lettuce.
(That's right, there is clearly no humour when it comes to rabbits)

The great potato question...

2010-06-14T19:06:00.000-06:00

Planting potatoes is an adventure in education. There are many a potato rule for planting and I had to check more than a few sources before I felt comfortable enough to dig in. Thanks to all the gardeners who put up with the beginner questions. Anyways here is the most useful information I found:

If your potato has more than 2 eyes or sprouts cut it in pieces to increase your yield. If you follow this rule with larger seed potatoes you can get 2-4 mounds per potato.
Plant your potatoes about 12" apart. The closer you plant the potatoes the more competition they will have for nutrients with neighboring potatoes, if you want big potatoes give them space. Likewise if you want smaller potatoes plant the hills closer so that the competition for nutrients works for you.

Wait until your potatoes have started to sprout before putting them in the ground and plant them with the sprouts facing up. No one had an exact idea of how big the sprouts should be before they went into the ground. I have an idea that mine (shown in the picture) had gone a little too long; the potatoes actually started to feel like raisins.
I also heard once you cut your potatoes up you should let the cut marks dry to prevent molding in the ground. I didn't have time, so I'll let you know how they turn out.
The consensus seem to be for potatoes to be planted 6" in the ground for optimal growth.

I also hear things about mounding your potatoes and don't know if they are talking before or after they start growing above ground. I looked into the mounding phenomenon and think I have narrowed down the reason for doing so, it has to do with how potatoes grow. The sprout comes out of the potato until it finds sun above ground. The sprouts use the energy from the potato for this initial growth stage. Once above ground the sprout takes its vitamins from the sun, soil, and water which it uses to send further shoots back into the ground to create potatoes. I think the mounding must help more potatoes to grow because it allows the shoots to keep growing up and down (more space and nutrients). The mounding may also help with water drainage (if you water potatoes too much they get scabs). Needles to say I didn't mound...yet. I'll see what happens.

If you have helpful hints for potatoes please feel free to add them, I know I can always use the help.

Planting seeds for the future...

2010-06-09T00:46:00.000-06:00

The weather appears to be getting better for the Northern Hills Community Garden members. It only rained one of the days on planting weekend. But as usual spirits were high and people were eager to get planting, especially since Kate offered refuge during the rain on Saturday. The orientations for all gardeners went well and now everyone is ready to watch for their first sprouts.

That is if you were patient enough to plant only seeds, some just couldn’t wait and needed to see some colour in their beds; Sunny’s plot definitely has a head start (I may have to beg for some scraps while I wait for my own veggies). All in all the area looks great, and there already has been an overwhelming response from residents of the area.

The variety of plants is amazing, and I can’t even tell what they are since most are still in the ground; I can’t wait to see what pops out of the earth. But word going round is that Michael’s plot will be one to watch as he has sewed some heritage grains.

Lisa’s son has what I call the perfect recipe for gardening; equal parts planting and sitting back in a lawn chair enjoying the park (I probably add in a little extra sitting myself). Carla and her son were driven by their rabbit concerns and have constructed a fence that I’m sure if they marketed in the neighborhood could keep them busy for years. I may have to ask for the blueprints as my wife seems to lose a third of everything she plants every year.

Elizabeth seems to share this same fear of rabbits. She returned on Sunday to check on her Saturday’s hard work only to find that every single plant had been eaten…Oh no wait! The rabbits were only playing a trick on her; instead of eating everything they just moved all her plants two plots over. That seems odd, maybe it wasn’t rabbits after all; could it be that someone (name begins with the letter E) had a little trouble reading the garden map (that she made) and planted the wrong plot? Either way the garden looks great and everyone had a great time.

Hope to see you at the garden.

The community garden would also like to extend their thanks to the following organizations which supported our construction through donations or discounts. Without their generous contributions we would have been challenged to get this off the ground.

City of Calgary, Parks
Sobey’s
RONA
Home Depot

Planting and orientation weekend...

2010-06-04T08:06:00.000-06:00

A mandatory orientation session designed by the City for all users of the garden as well as potential volunteers (ie. food bank beds) will be covered off this weekend. This will only take a half an hour. There are three sessions set up for this weekend - please attend one of these. Please bring a lawn chair and mosquito spray. An information package has been developed for all of us gardeners - especially those of us that are new to vegetable gardening - which has been emailed to gardeners that have signed up. If you didn't get one and are interested please contact cmroy@yahoo.com.

Orientation Time Slots
Saturday at 9:00 AM Sunday at 9:00 AM Sunday at 1:00 PM

At that time we will also be taking any outstanding user agreements and payments (please bring along a copy of the user agreement previously sent to you). A bed will be assigned to you once this is received. Each bed has a name (a herb or spice). Have fun everyone, it should be a great weekend.

There was also some damage to the grass surrounding the plots during their filling with soil. This was due primarily to the soggy weather. Our gardening team is currently discussing options regarding repair. Any comments or concerns please contact Chris Roy cmroy@yahoo.com.

Plots and plants, but no name???

2010-06-03T21:32:00.000-06:00

It's time to name our garden. So put on your thinking caps and get creative. Check out the "about the northern hills community garden" section to see what we're trying to accomplish and then let the creative juices flow. If your idea works better as part of a sign, go with it. We'll be making signs with the name eventually, so killing two birds with one stone would be great. Submissions and inquiries can be made to cmroy@yahoo.com. The deadline is June 30 so don't delay. Good luck.

We've had it up to here...

2010-06-03T21:30:00.000-06:00

The words of our beautiful cedar beds, not mine. Why would they say it, because it's literally true. They are officially filled with dirt thanks to a handful of very committed volunteers. Thanks so much to Brenda, Marlene, Michael, Wendy, and of course Joanne. It just wouldn't be a party without her. A few blisters and broken backs later and everything is ready for the big weekend of planting.

Of course it rained again, but only while we were working. We now expect this so everyone was prepared, even Brenda with her shorts (don't you know its easier to clean muddy legs than muddy pants). Everything looks great, planting weekend should be a blast. One step closer to great veggies. Yay!

Warm hearts and jubilant spirits trump frosty spring weather...

2010-06-01T16:48:00.000-06:00

The average Calgarian was definitely not spending the weekend of May 29th outdoors. Waking up on Saturday one couldn't help but feeling a little bewildered; temperatures near zero, snow covering the ground, more snow falling, where the heck are we? Calgary of course. Any other place the day would have been a complete write-off. But Northern Hill's residents had committed to build a community garden and build they did.

It was an epic effort by all, a day I'm sure that won't be forgotten for many years, a day where every single participant gave their all. Every time I looked around people were hard at work and of course having a little fun as well. After 3 odd years of living in Calgary Suresh is still wondering why people think Calgary weather is so much better than Edmonton? Luckily he had Sunny, Marianna, Brenda and Kate to help with warm spirits and show him how to use a drill. Just jokes, I think we can safely say that we are all on the verge of joining the professional drillers union.

Perhaps we were all just as lucky that John and Heidi came prepared, surely helping to thaw every one's bacon at one time or another. They had a second home built by the time the day got underway; complete with event tent, trailer, chairs, heater, and probably even the kitchen sink if we looked hard enough. Attila and Eleno found another way to keep warm, building beds at a frenetic pace, continuously testing their own record time of 15 minutes per bed.

Paul and Lisa were trying the same method to keep warm, but were unfortunately paired with a third party that was more interested in soaking up the atmosphere (that's my attempt at an excuse for slowing them down, sorry guys). While Rory (a volunteer coming all the way from Bankview) was questioning his commitment to check out what a community garden was all about, he still had a great time and "learned a lot". He too was slowed by my preoccupation with the ‘atmosphere’.

Perhaps no one had a better way of keeping warm than Elizabeth; I didn't take an official poll, but at a mere 5 million layers of clothing I think she holds the record. It really makes me wonder what she does when its winter? Jeannine had to be especially brave as she tackled the most difficult job, the money collector; come on out freeze your butt off and then give us money? Marlene exemplified the no quit attitude shared by the group, even though she showed a little later than most you had to practically wrestle the drill from her hand to get her to take a break.

Wendy, our community association president, had her whip cracking...just kidding, she took some great pictures and was swarmed when she and Elizabeth appeared with goodies in tow (or maybe that was just me); provided by our very generous sponsor's Sobeys and Tim Horton's. Yay for sandwiches, fruit, coffee, and tea.

Some found other ways of dealing with the weather. Genny and Kristin were having a competition to see how quickly their toes could turn blue; which Brenda and Rigel must have thought looked like fun because they decided to try with their fingers. TJ was helping John keep warm by requesting a few extra precision cuts. Sounds to me like perfection offers a few bonus perks. Cheryl was only able to help with the setup and cleanup (hmmm...how did she wiggle her way out of this one). However she was able to snag us another event tent from Moxie's to help us keep warm and dry (well at least try) so I guess we can let this one slide.

And of course there is our fearless leader Joanne, calm, cool (perhaps more cold that day), and collected. I like her ear muffs, they must help keep the copious amounts of details in her head. Maybe thats my problem, I gotta get some ear muffs. She has taken a rag tag bunch (I can at least speak for myself) and helped us accomplish something wonderful. No one could have done it better. Our heartfelt thanks, our community is lucky to have her.

I think Michael and his daughter Leona echoed how we all felt at the end of the day when he remarked (and I'm paraphrasing because I have the memory of a sparrow) at how surprising it was for a community effort to accomplish so much, in so little time, with most people being complete strangers.

In all it was a great day and an amazing experience. We built and placed 24 beds in 3 hours. I think it looks fabulous already and we've only just begun. Now we can look forward to a break in the weather when we can start sewing some seeds and enjoying the outside, not just the people we’re sharing it with.

Karma rich, and all wet...

2010-05-27T15:52:00.000-06:00

I'm starting to understand why it is raining so much, and more importantly at such an opportune time (yeah right, timed perfectly for construction day). No it's not bad karma, in fact it is the complete opposite; the community garden group are karma rich beyond our wildest dreams. Allow me to explain.

One of the largest hurdles to getting the garden started; aside from the legalities, logistics, and bureaucracy of the city (which they have been great about helping us navigate through), the uneasiness over whether or not we would find enough people interested in gardening (clearly not a problem, we have an abundance of northern hills green thumbs), the questions over funding for bed and planting materials (who ever has enough money?); was how are we going to get water? Well we are happy to say that yet again the city has stepped up and has provided us not only with water hookups but also free flow (we will do our best to be diligent in its conservative use). But because it was such a worry of ours, and because as I said we are a karma rich bunch, mother nature also heard our call for water and decided to pitch in. And when mother nature goes to work, she doesn't mess around!

Although we are definitely grateful for the rain in general, sometimes you have to wonder what kind of sense of humour mother nature has. Sitting here, ready for the weekend, with my working gloves on, drill in hand (all figuratively speaking, there are still 2 days till the shovel drops) and all I can see in my head is mother nature and karma kicking back and laughing. "They said they wanted water!!!!"

But I'm still hopeful and optimistic that karma and mother nature are just having a laugh, playing with our nerves; especially Joanne's, our fearless leader who has the dubious task of trying to organise the logistics of construction day while the deluge continues. I'm sure she is asking herself "Hmmm...Do we stick with the original box plans, or maybe switch over to building an ark?"

Like I said, or at least meant to say, I'm positive everything will work out fine; rain or shine. A little rain never hurt anyone.

So this is what it feels like to be a farmer...

2010-05-25T20:47:00.000-06:00

Perhaps slight hyperbole. But the idea is the same; sitting, staring at the sky, having all your plans depend on the weather (thank goodness not my livelihood). With the 29th and construction day looming large, and the impending rain clouds even larger, my FSL is increasing dramatically (that's Farmer Stress Level). All I've been doing is checking the weather forecast; but with its infamous accuracy I might as well be reading tea leaves.

Instead of continuing to worry my pretty little head (sure it is), I thought I'd try an stay in the farmer mindset and check the only truly reliable source...the Farmer's Almanac. Much to my dismay it only confirmed my fears, "May 27-31: Rain, then sunny, cool". However, we shall prevail, the show must go on; and building some boxes and filling them with dirt might be nice with a little sprinkle of rain to cool off the hard workers. Until then crossing my fingers and thinking desert like thoughts.

First harvest...

2010-05-23T20:34:00.000-06:00

It seems like only a few short weeks ago that the only colour on the ground was brown...or maybe even white. And yet today I'm proud to say that I am harvesting the first crop from my yard, or maybe more like a small grocery bag...OK very small. But nonetheless I've got fresh chives for the barbequed potatoes, and fresh rhubarb for ice cream.
The chives are nice, but nothing is better than stewed rhubarb over french vanilla ice cream; unless maybe you have some raspberries. Check out the pics below. I can't wait for the community garden to start, eating my own potatoes is going to be amazing.

A design to put the Eiffel tower to shame...

2010-05-22T19:37:00.000-06:00

It's true, these boxes are a work of art. Thanks to Deanna and Shawn for their extra time and effort puting together the prototype. And also to Elizabeth for her artistic interpretation/photography. Perhaps the best part is how simple the construction is going to be for everyone. A few cuts, a few screws, and voila Garden Magic!

More vandalism in the neighborhood!!!!

2010-05-20T16:27:00.000-06:00

In an apparent attempt to recreate the 90's craze of crop circles grafitti artists took to the field not far from the Harvest Hills pond. Of course this was just the apparent form, there was in fact method in the madness of the latest spray painting incident. Members of the community garden team were out on a chilly Thursday night to lay down a grid plan for garden box placement. Everything went very well, aside from a few setbacks caused by someone's (who could that be???) inability to distinguish between 2 and 3 feet measurements (whats a few extra lines between friends).

The city's parks and water departments have also marked our water lines out and helped us plan where we are going to get our blue gold from. If it wasn't for the city stepping forward I don't think alot would be growing in our near desert conditions, although I'm sure the planting boxes would still look lovely. Only one more week till construction, see you all May 29 weather permtting.

One step closer to planting...

2010-05-19T15:48:00.000-06:00

Only one week until the garden plots are built and filled with dirt. It's got me eager for all things gardening. Unfortunately this cold weather has swept in I've been relegated to researching all things garden and agriculture on the web. In my marathon web surfing session I came across two websites that have amazing, if not interesting information.

Check out Food Politics if you are interested in the complexity and anxiety that our current food system can bring. Or for some information that's a little closer to home, or at least a little more immediate in its scope check out The Urban Farmer. Though be warned, the information is from Edmonton, so don't blame me if you start sprouting Edmontonians. It does have a great section on edible plants for the Alberta landscape, and a whole slew of other information. Of course there is always the fail safe perennial favourite Calgary Horticultural Society website, they have what seems to be an unlimited supply of information to meet any Calgary gardeners needs. And whats even better is if they don't have it on the site they have contact information for someone who is bound to know. If anyone else has some resources I would love to check them out, just post in the comments.

Rabbits, Geese, and Bears...

2010-03-25T12:38:00.000-06:00

So maybe our garden won't be facing Bears, but there will definitely be some challenges involved in securing our gardens from unwanted intruders. Initially the easy solution seemed to be to build a nice fence. No rabbits, no dogs, no problem...oh but geese fly and love your leafy greens..and other birds love raspberries just as much as some of our gardeners...and the thousands of dollars for a fence. Ouch!!! Too much money (which also ruled out the retractable glass roof and invisible force field) and not totally effective either. To date we have had some very interesting options, but so far the most likely solutions seem to be: building some windmill type structures to scare away the critters, and using raised beds for planting to deter the other critters that like to munch on your veggies and deposit their...leftovers.

Stay tuned as Joanne is checking into some ways to fend off the Geese in particular, and I may be starting a rabbit hunting party (just kidding, even though they eat half my garden every year and I've already lost half a bush this spring, I still love them in our neighborhood).

A Garden Vision

2010-03-24T12:21:00.000-06:00

Thanks to Elizabeth and Joanne the varying thoughts of our visioning process have been consolidated. After everyone's two cents have been added, it's very exciting to see what the foundation of our community garden is. The Northern Hills Community Garden will bring together neighbors providing a community social gathering place that will be peaceful and aesthetically pleasing. The Garden will:

Promote a sense of community; based on a sense of shared responsibility and teamwork.
Provide a source of locally grown organic food to various users and user groups.
Promote education on organic gardening methods, food, flowers, trees, and shrubs.
Be a place to learn, build fellowship among neighbors, and celebrate accomplishments.

Plans for the "Molar"

2010-03-21T11:26:00.000-06:00

The planning continues for the "Molar", a nickname that Susan created for the plot of land in Harvest Hills that the garden will be located on, a name she and many others are hoping won't stick. If you look at the aerial view pictures below you'll understand why the name.

We have been very fortunate to have the assistance of the Calgary Horticultural Society and their Community Garden Resource Network in our planning endeavors; Gael in specific has been a tremendous help. Also through their help we were able to connect with Dirk Jan (a man experienced in all aspects of agriculture) who has helped us imagine what a community garden could look like. Below are some of his ideas for a potential layout. Currently we are looking at a plan that is some variation of Plan D. If you like one of the options please make a comment, or feel free to offer other options.

Let the gardening begin...almost

2010-03-12T14:21:00.000-07:00

At some point in time across the past few months members of the Northern Hills Community Association and Harvest Hills Gardening Group crossed paths with respect to creating a Community Garden. If you do not live in Harvest Hills, please do not let the name of the group scare you away, although it appears that our first garden will be implemented in Harvest Hills, it would be great to see this same initiative in every Northern Hills Community Association neighborhood (Harvest Hills, Country Hills, Coventry Hills, Panorama). The intent is to start with one garden this year and then use the experience, knowledge and resources gained from the first to help with others.

The initial stages of the Community Garden will involve a lot of planning, communication, building, and patience. If it sounds like something you are interested in please contact one of the following people:

Construction being led by Deanna Stangness (contact stangness@shaw.ca)

a. This is the largest and most complex piece and will include building the garden beds, securing soil, water hookup, as well as small equipment such as hoses and potentially a shed

Communication being led by Chris Roy (contact cmroy@yahoo.com)

a. This includes engagement of neighbours, school, church and other interested and potentially concerned groups

b. This group will be responsible for updating the garden blog and Northern Hills monthly newsletter

c. Garden signs

d. Organizing educational sessions and communicating safety guidelines

Administration being led by Joanne Davenport (contact jdavenport@purolator.com)

a. This includes gathering a user list, creating the gardener user agreement, assigning plots, collecting user fees and maintaining a waiting list