A NEW GROWING SEASON HAS JUST BEGUN

Yes, I know it’s November. No I have not gone crazy. Yes, I am serious. This really could be the beginning of your indoor winter garden. There should be no excuse for us to have to stop doing what we have loved doing all summer. Growing fresh, healthy food can be done even in the winter. Now of course there are more limitations and not everything is doable, but it is certainly not out of the question.

For example spinach, kale and leaf lettuce can easily be grown in pots in a sunny window. These vegetables like the sun but do rather well in a cool location. This is why they do well in a spring garden outside. As well they do not require deep soil or much space to spread. Just a few small plants can keep producing for some time and can give you many wonderful cuttings.

 

Of course, you can give plants like tomatoes and pepper a try too. They will need deeper pots and a very warm, sunny location. Supplementing the light with grow lights works wonders for these plant as well.

 

Finally, do not forget that fresh herbs is always a wonderful addition to any meal. Buying them at the grocery store is never the same as cutting some fresh. Most Herbs are easy to grow from seeds or you can take a trip to a local garden centre. Many still have fresh herbs in pots ready for your kitchen window.

The only requirements for a vegetable containers are:

·         Must be big enough to support plants when they are fully grown

·         Hold soil without spilling

·         Have adequate drainage

·         Never have held products that would be toxic to plants or people

It’s easy to be creative with your planting containers!

So, this winter, try bringing the outdoors in and plant some seeds. Watch your indoor garden come to life!

 

 

 

Final Fall Harvest

One of the sweetest little volunteers who came out to pick our apples for donation today. Even the rainy weather couldn't stop our volunteers today.

So MANY CARROTS!! Two garden plots packed full of carrots.

Only one of the many bins full of apples that will head over to The Gleaners. This organization will dehydrate the apples into snack size pieces. Then they will be shipped to those in need in overseas countries. It is a snack that is considered a treat.

One of the two vehicles packed with vegetables to be delivered to Charities in Hamilton.

Yup...more carrots!!

kale, more Kale and yet  even more Kale! Picking the last of it this morning. The garden is looking so empty and sad right now. Funny how even now, after all the hard work of the day harvesting, all I can think about is the growing season of 2016.

     SOUP IT UP EVENT !

Come join us for a wonderful Fall event hosted by Flamborough Baptist Community Garden. We will start the day with picking organic spy apples from our orchard on the front lawn of the church(availability on a first come first serve basis). We will then work our way into the church to participate in a soup making Demo. Our demonstrator is Chef Nina Ruelens. She has been cooking professionally for 14 years and is now the Executive Chef at Copetown Woods Golf Club. She will be walking us through the process of creating some of her soups. Finally plan to stay and enjoy soup, rolls and dessert!

When: October 17^th

Time: 9am-10am Apple picking

         11am-12pm Soup making Demo

         12pm- 1pm Lunch!

Cost: $5 per half bushel of apples

         $3 per person for workshop and lunch(to help cover costs)

We would love to have your family and friends join us as well! Please email me at flambcgarden@gmail.com to confirm the total number of individuals that will be attending.

Hoping to see you all there!!                               

*Event is for anyone 12 years old or older                             

                                     
                                                              Composting:

Composting, why bother? It seems like a ton of work, and for what? Would it not just be easier to buy something to ad to the soil?  So why bother. Well I am glad you asked ( ok I asked the questions but for the sake of this piece just go with it). There are several really good reasons to compost. Here are just 6 reasons why:

1 Composting turns garbage into "black gold"(  its my term I use for this free soil, rich soil you add to the garden)
2.Composting helps to build up the soil in the garden
3.Composting helps build strong, healthy plants
4.Composting gets rid of the need for chemicals. Fully composted materials added to your garden acts as a natural, slow-release garden fertilizer.
5. Composting reduces water usage.  A 5% increase in compost ( organic material) may increase the amount of water the soil can hold by four times.
6.Composting reduces items that fill our landfills

So now that we have some great reasons on why to compost it is important to know how. It is quite easy actually. But it is a little harder then just dumping all food scraps into the bin. It starts with having an area or bin (with air holes) designated for the purpose of composting. Let's be honest here, it's decomposing materials, it really doesn't have to be fancy. It just has to be a way to hold everything together. If you live in the city it is helpful if your bin is pest resistant, so a bin with a lid would be best. However, if you have the space, like we do at the community garden, then something bigger that allows sun light, rain and air to penetrate is best.

Next, it is important to use the right materials. Start with a base of soil. It can be old, useless soil because over time that will all change. After that it is all about layers; greens, browns and soil.
Greens:
Vegetable/fruit peels and scraps
Green Grass clippings
Green Garden waste ( items pulled out of the garden)
Flowers
Tea leaves and bags

Browns:
Brown grass clippings
Dried leaves
Shredded non glossy paper and cardboard
Coffee filters
Straw

Ok, pretty simple right?  I told you. Now comes the hard part. Do not give up just because I said there was a hard part. I never said it was impossible, I just meant to say that it is harder then throwing the items in. It is important to make all the items you put in somewhat small. Do not put in a whole pepper plant. Yes, it will decompose but that will take forever ( ok not forever but you get the idea). The smaller the pieces the faster they will break down. Just take a moment and rip leaves off steams or break the large pieces up. Once you have put a nice layer of green materials in add some of the good brown materials. Since it is already on the way to decomposing it will speed things along nicely. Then comes a nice layer of soil. Stir it all up a bit ( to add air) and top with some water. And repeat!
Now if you have a 3 part bin like we do, it is good to take all the compost you have been piling up in the first bin and flip it over to the middle bin. This will mix things up, move the worms and bugs around and speed the process along. Start all over in bin number one. Whenever you stir one bin, give the middle one a good toss too. Finally when the first one is building up again, toss the pile in bin #2 into bin #3 ( should be close to done at the point. It should resemble a nice dark soil) and begin the process all over again.  Remember to add water to all three bins from time to time if  it is getting dry. All this tossing, stirring and flipping will speed the process up so that you will have rich organic material to use the following year in your garden.

That's it my friends, you have rich "black gold" for your garden. See, not difficult at all. The benefits will out way all the work you put into it!! I promise.

                                                  Picture courtesy of the Flamborough Review

                                               Bernardin Canning Demo:

The art of canning and preserving is making a come back! How do I know, our kitchen was packed full of eager individuals wanting to learn  the time-tested techniques of putting up healthy preserves. Some who came wanted to learn to preserve their home grown ( or locally grown) produce to be enjoyed throughout the cold winter months. Some wanted to learn so that they could control what was going into the food they eat. While others came because they were inspired by their mother's or grandmothers beautiful cellars lined with jars.

No matter what reasons may have been for attending the workshop we all shared the same goal; to learn the safest way to home can our food. The best way to do that is to be taught by the experts. We were so fortunate to have Chef Emerie Brine come and teach us all we needed to know to get started. Mr. Brine is the Chef and Brand Manager for the company Bernardin. For 100 years Bernardin has been a trusted leader in home canning products.

Chef Brine demonstrated how to make strawberry freezer, cooked peach ginger jam and bread and butter pickles. He took us through each step from what products to use and how to safely process them in a water bath canner.  It was a delight to listen to stories of his youth and the way canning use to be done. He was patient to teach us what is no longer  recommended  canning practises and how to follow proven safe techniques. He even brought some new and wonderful products to show us that Bernardin makes. I am not sure yet if that was good or bad, since I went right out a few days later and bought some of those product. I couldn't help myself, I am addicted to canning and canning products!

At the end of the night some participants were fortunate to win wonderful gifts given by Bernardin and then we all were treated to samples of the recipes the Chef demonstrated that night. It was a wonderful night shared by all who were able to come out for the evening!

Well, after a night like that am eager to get started on putting together another workshop! What should it be next? Send me an email, I would love to have some ideas!!

  Thank you again to Bernardin for making this event such a success. To learn more go to their web site at www.bernardin.ca
                     Happy Canning Everyone!

A Fall Garden ( Succession Planting )

As I walked through the garden on Sunday morning I could not believe how wonderful everything was looking! So lush and so much produce.  There is tomatoes, peas, carrots, corn and so much more! I am sure that as everyone is enjoying eating all the produce that has come from your hard work  the last thing on your mind is to start planting more.  Why on earth would you want more? Well, come September when all that is lush and green now is starting to turn brown you might be wondering why you didn’t. There are still many vegetable that can be grown if you plant now.  Some plants that grow well are:

Beets

Are a great fall crop! Beets are easy to grow, don’t take any work and you can use both the root and the leaves. Also they are a source of vitamins A and C. Dig deep so the plants stay cool, and don't let the roots get longer than three inches because the beets will get kind of tough.

Carrots

Carrots are one of my favorite autumn crops. You can be store Carrots for up to nine months making it possible to eat your own produce much longer into the winter. Also if you are a bit impatient like I can be you can pick carrots  whenever they reach the size you like.  

Lettuce

 Lettuce is easy to grow, and delicious. It can even grow well into the first few weeks into the frost season and is fine with only about 5 hours of sunlight a day. Some types of lettuce varieties for the fall: Butterhead, Romain and looseleaf.

 Peas

 Peas are a treat to grow in a fall garden, because unlike cabbage, carrots, and beets, peas can grow up on a trellis and are as pretty to look at  as they are delicious. Although most people plant them in the spring these lovely green vegetables thrive in early fall as well. They enjoy the cooler weather

Radishes

Radishes are perfect to plant for a fall harvest. It is easy because they take little space, and their lovely pink colouring is so nice to see in the fall.

Spinach

Spinach is such a rewarding plant to have in your fall garden. It is loaded with iron, vitamins A and C and leutine to name a few reasons you should grown it. Plus, it is just easy to grow!

Beans

Beans make a good fall garden vegetable only if you plant soon.  During the heat of the summer, bean plants get weak and tired. So August an ideal time to plant new seeds.

Turnips

Because turnip is known as the “poor man’s vegetable” it is no longer a popular vegetable to grow. However, turnips are tasty and they give a great harvest greens.

Additional Vegetables:

Broccoli, Cabbage, Leeks and onions are also great to plant now. However, since they need to be planted as young plants it will be very hard if not impossible to find these plants in garden centers at this time of year. For this reason we may be hosting a “starting plants from seeds” workshop during the later months of winter.

I just wanted to take a moment to invite everyone to our upcoming workshop.

We have partnered up with Hamilton Family Health to offer you a cooking demonstration showing how to make a healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner using fresh produce of the season. We will even be able to enjoy trying a sample or two!

The workshop starts at 7pm on July 21st. It will be held inside the church so that rain or shine we are fine.

Please contact Nicole (flambcgarden@gmail.com) so I can reserve a spot for you!

           They are coming at night for your plants!!

Don’t panic! It’s ok. Ok, now that everyone is calm let’s talk bugs. I must admit it is one of my least favorite things to talk about but as gardeners it is a reality we must face. There will be bugs in our garden. However, it must be said that some varieties of bugs are good for our gardens and are welcomed.

 Some good bugs: wasps, ground beetles, dragonflies. Attract the good ones by plants a variety of flowers and herbs in the garden. If every plots has some flowers, everyone will benefit!

So, how to manage these pesky little invaders? The first and best defense against them is to grow healthy plants. The stronger your plant the better is to defend itself against any trouble a bug may bring on. In fact in some cases, when we see signs of pest damage the best thing to do is, well, nothing. In nature, there’s always been some insect damage; that’s the way it has been forever, and plants are designed to cope. The good news is that since most of us are growing many varieties of vegetables and flowers in our plots. This mixing up of the plants attractive odors will make it harder for pests to find their favorite food.  But, in reality there may be issues to watch for. Now is the time to not just water your garden but care for your plants. Look at them closely. Are there signs of damage? Do they look weak?

Bad bugs to watch for:

· leaf miner: spinach, beets, chard, etc. Leaves turn brown.

·cabbage worm / moth: cabbage families ( broccoli, cauliflower,etc). Cover plants so eggs can't be laid. Pick off worms and put into a container with soap and water.

Cabbage worm/moth



Cabbage worm

  

·squash bug: squash, zucchini, etc. remove adults(spraying with a mixture of water and a bit of dawn soap will kill the adults), crush eggs on underside of leaves  

Adult squash bug and eggs

·ants and aphids: usually won't destroy a plant

Key is identification of the bug. Then you can find out if it is a big problem or not, and the best way to combat it (“The Vegetable Gardener’s Bible” by Edward C. Smith is a great tool for identifying pest and how to control them).  Often mechanical means (picking off adult bugs, destroying eggs on underside of leaves) are very effective. Removing affected plants or leaves can also help (removing leaves may open the plant to attack from earwigs). Remember, NO PESTICIDES allowed.

                                        

                                          WATERING TIPS:

As we head into the heat of the summer watering will become more and more important to your growing plants. Not only will they need to be watered to grow but it is vital for the proper development of the fruit it will produce. Your continued efforts of watering will pay off with a wonderful harvest. Consider these tips when watering your garden:

• Try to avoid watering in the heat of the day (10am - 4pm). Water added at this time will mostly just evaporate. Of course if that is the only time you can water that day it is always better then nothing. Choose to water early in the morning or early evening. Watering later at night watering can cause mold growth and encourages slugs.
• Water deeply and less often once your plants are growing strong and past the young seedling stage. For our soils  a depth of 6 inches, a square foot of plants will need on average 4 cups of water 3x per week. However, since we are high on a sunny, windy hill you may need more on excessive hot day.
• Water only around the plant - Try to directly water  around the plant as this is where the roots are. A small depression around your plant will funnel the water where it is needed. (Even using a small sour cream container right at the plant stem to concentrate the water.)

                                             

So after working every night at the garden what do we have to show for it? A LOT!! It is quite impressive what our team of volunteers can do in such a short period of time. Now we have a fence and gates!

This is the side gate that will be used only from time to time

Composter all done and up by the main gate. I will need to post the front of it. It is very impressive what he did with pallets! Stay tuned...

Only 4 plots to fill. The remaining are full of plants and seeds. I am so anxious to see what this same picture will look like filled with growing plants. First step though, the picnic tables and umbrellas. They should be ready any day now.

Just a couple of the many volunteers who have helped make this garden a reality!!

Gardeners, scholars say, are the first sign of commitment to a community.

                      ~~Anne Raver

4 weeks, 38 volunteers, incredible donations and countless hours and we finally have a community garden!!  Of course there are still things that need to be done but we are ready for the garden to blossom with life. We are so excited to see what the growing season will bring!

Just one of the wonderful gifts from the many donations from businesses who have supported the garden. We were able to start planting Tomatoes, egg plants, cabbage and more in garden plots designated for growing food for our chosen charities.

The first plant has been planted!!

Our garden shed is moving into its new home. Thanks guys.

Not even in our wildest dreams did we ever think we would be blessed with a sign. Were we ever surprised when we were gifted with a sign like this!! 

As we finished up at the end of a very hot, busy day the clouds started to roll in and prepared to bless the ground with some much needed rain. Some of the plot renters managed to sneak in some planting just in time as well.

So what is next? A fence to install, 2 more rain barrels, and more planting. Nothing our volunteers can't handle.

" To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow"

~ Audrey Hepburn ~ 

Hello everyone

   I thought I though I would  share some sites and books that may help you as you begin to plan growing in your plots. For some of you this information will not be needed for you already have things ready to go and know what you want to do. Yet I am sure for some this venture is new and any advise will come in handy. Well that is exactly what a community garden is about, learning together. I will post all  this information on our  Facebook page too( Flamborough Baptist Community Garden).

So  here are some great books to buy or pick up at the library:

This blog is all on square foot gardening:

http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/

She has documented her journey of learning to garden by the foot.

This list would not be complete without adding a few Youtube clips:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2FxJimob84

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNxmOrxZM9Q

Also here is an amazing online square foot garden planner to try. Set your garden size and click on the plant you wish to plant,, drag the picture into the garden picture and it will tell you how much to plant in each square! How great is that! 

http://www.gardeners.com/how-to/kitchen-garden-planner/kgp_home.html

So, hopefully I have not overwhelmed you but instead gave you tools to inspire!

But do not let these guidelines worry you. That is all they are is guidelines. They are not rules. Gardening should always be enjoyable. So try what you wish, see what happens. It's all a learning experience.





We are so excited about all the fantastic work that has happened over the last few days! We had teams, moving dirt to level the area, building boxes and today laying down the beds and filling them for planting. These garden beds are sitting on a warm, sunny hill just begging to be filled with seeds and young plants!