Water is the first consideration in any garden, landscape or ecosystem. In our garden, our water access is limited and in an effort to be as resource-efficient as possible, we must be wise and mindful of our water use.
Water is stored in our garden in the cistern next to the garden entrance, and also in the reservoirs in the bottom of the wicking beds. Each reservoir holds approximately 1/3 of the volume of the cistern, and should not need filling more often than once a week.
For now, the hose will run from the hospital to fill our cistern and wicking beds on
Tuesday, Friday and Sunday evenings.
We will re-assess this schedule around mid-July to determine if it is meeting our needs. Feedback is welcome!
Please do not draw from the cistern to fill the wicking beds, wicking beds should be filled only when the hose is running at the above times.
The cistern water should be used for the communal beds and for top watering the wicking beds when necessary.
Please take the following into consideration when watering your garden bed:
1) Mulch! water evaporates from exposed soil, and a layer of straw, or other mulch will do wonders to retain the moisture in your garden!
2) Cover Crop! again, keeping the soil covered goes a long way to keeping moisture in your bed. Planting a nitrogen-fixing species, greens or other cover crop in between all your larger plants will help limit evaporation.
3) Soil should not be wet, just a little moist is good. Often if the soil appears dry on the top, it remains moist just below the surface. You can check by poking your finger in a little ways.
4) top watering encourages the roots of our plants to remain near the surface of the soil, whereas allowing water to wick up from the bottom encourages deep root growth thus strengthening our plants
5)please help us monitor the efficacy of the wicking beds by recording your observations in the water section of the Garden Log (Glog)... last section, little green book in the green tool box.
Happy Gardening!
Monday, June 27, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
GLog and Greenhouse Assembly!
The GLog is now in the green box in the garden. Green notebook titled Garden Log ...you'll notice different sections -
"daily tasks" i'll try to keep a running list of what needs doing, but feel free to add to this if you notice something has been overlooked or needs tending to.
"communal gardener sign in" to track the number of hours that have been spent in the garden
"garden observations" a log of what you have seen and done in the garden
"wildlife observations" any activity, damage, attractant, or whatever noteworthy behaviour you might notice.
there is one section currently untitled, and i'm thinking this should be our "water log" ...to track how often we fill the cistern (and wicking beds) in order to monitor our seasonal useage.
with regards to water, we are using a lot as we establish our garden, keeping our seeds and seedlings moist until their roots are established. One strategy for limiting our need for water is to mulch our garden beds which is what has been done this afternoon with the bean/squash bed - you'll notice the straw the next time you're in!
we have a group project that needs doing: assemble our greenhouses! wondering if anyone is keen to do this tomorrow (Friday June 24) in the early evening (5-7pm...although i hope it doesn't take that long!)?? please respond to canmorecommunitygardening@gmail.com if you are keen, and if we have 2 or more takers let's make it a date!
"daily tasks" i'll try to keep a running list of what needs doing, but feel free to add to this if you notice something has been overlooked or needs tending to.
"communal gardener sign in" to track the number of hours that have been spent in the garden
"garden observations" a log of what you have seen and done in the garden
"wildlife observations" any activity, damage, attractant, or whatever noteworthy behaviour you might notice.
there is one section currently untitled, and i'm thinking this should be our "water log" ...to track how often we fill the cistern (and wicking beds) in order to monitor our seasonal useage.
with regards to water, we are using a lot as we establish our garden, keeping our seeds and seedlings moist until their roots are established. One strategy for limiting our need for water is to mulch our garden beds which is what has been done this afternoon with the bean/squash bed - you'll notice the straw the next time you're in!
we have a group project that needs doing: assemble our greenhouses! wondering if anyone is keen to do this tomorrow (Friday June 24) in the early evening (5-7pm...although i hope it doesn't take that long!)?? please respond to canmorecommunitygardening@gmail.com if you are keen, and if we have 2 or more takers let's make it a date!
Monday, June 20, 2011
Communal Gardening!
For those of you who haven't seen the garden in the last day or two, it has been green-washed ! On saturday we transplanted the seedlings that had been started for us by Club Green at the high school which gives us a great start to a late season - we've got herbs galore, edible flowers, squash, cucumbers, cabbages and more!
We'll be seeding on Tuesday evening at the Solstice Garden Party ...5pm for the Official Garden Opening, and at about 5:30 we'll start doing our seeding! so come on out!
We also finally have the rest of the parts (and an instructional DVD) to assemble our little greenhouse, so i'm looking for volunteers to help out with this (i'm useless with these things). I'm bringing the parts to the garden today (Monday) and there will be a group of people at the garden tonight between 6-8pm assembling the last of the wicking beds and doing some planting. If we could get the greenhouse up tonight, we could transplant our tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and more into it tomorrow!
Most of you have been in touch with Heather who is putting together a calendar for garden tasks - see her to sign up for a time that works best for you.
We also have a "Water Task Force" who are looking into innovative ways to capture rainwater for our garden.
May, Corey, Ryan and Chris are currently doing research and getting creative with water solutions, so if you have an interest in participating in this be in touch with that crew.
Anne, our resident potato expert has taken the lead of "Team Potato" who will be responsible for hilling, monitoring and otherwise tending to our prolific potato crop, so if this is something you'd like to be involved with, be in touch with Anne.
Thanks everyone for all your work...you are amazing!
We'll be seeding on Tuesday evening at the Solstice Garden Party ...5pm for the Official Garden Opening, and at about 5:30 we'll start doing our seeding! so come on out!
We also finally have the rest of the parts (and an instructional DVD) to assemble our little greenhouse, so i'm looking for volunteers to help out with this (i'm useless with these things). I'm bringing the parts to the garden today (Monday) and there will be a group of people at the garden tonight between 6-8pm assembling the last of the wicking beds and doing some planting. If we could get the greenhouse up tonight, we could transplant our tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and more into it tomorrow!
Most of you have been in touch with Heather who is putting together a calendar for garden tasks - see her to sign up for a time that works best for you.
We also have a "Water Task Force" who are looking into innovative ways to capture rainwater for our garden.
May, Corey, Ryan and Chris are currently doing research and getting creative with water solutions, so if you have an interest in participating in this be in touch with that crew.
Anne, our resident potato expert has taken the lead of "Team Potato" who will be responsible for hilling, monitoring and otherwise tending to our prolific potato crop, so if this is something you'd like to be involved with, be in touch with Anne.
Thanks everyone for all your work...you are amazing!
Friday, June 10, 2011
Now Accepting Applications!
Canmore Community Gardening is delighted to invite you to participate in the first season of the Community Garden located north of the hospital at 1100 Hospital Place!
Applications due June 14th, 2011
(short notice, we know, but we want to get gardening as soon as we can!)
Canmore Community Gardening Membership is required for all applicants.
Individual - $10 one-time fee.
Family - $20 one-time fee. (Includes up to 2 adults + unlimited kids under 16)
Please consider the 2 types of community gardening offered this season:
Allotment Garden Plot
$50/season for a 8’ x 4’ raised ‘wicking bed’. There are 15 of these available for rent. Gardeners maintain their beds autonomously within the organic community gardening guidelines.
Allotment gardeners agree to participate in a Wicking Bed Installation and Orientation Workshop from 10am-2pm on either June 18th or 19th.
Communal Gardening
$30/season for participation in the communal garden beds which mounded beds, fenceline, and small greenhouse. The communal gardens are intended to allow gardeners to share in both the responsibility and the bounty of the garden. First-time gardeners have an opportunity to work alongside those with more experience, and this arrangement allows flexibility for those who vacation or have limited time in the summer. Max 30 gardeners.
Communal gardeners agree to participate in a minimum of 2 weekend work parties throughout the season, commit a minimum of 1-2 hours/week to the garden, and agree to work cooperatively with other gardeners, and responsibly share the garden harvest.
Email canmorecommunitygardening@gmail.com for your application form!
Applications due June 14th, 2011
(short notice, we know, but we want to get gardening as soon as we can!)
Canmore Community Gardening Membership is required for all applicants.
Individual - $10 one-time fee.
Family - $20 one-time fee. (Includes up to 2 adults + unlimited kids under 16)
Please consider the 2 types of community gardening offered this season:
Allotment Garden Plot
$50/season for a 8’ x 4’ raised ‘wicking bed’. There are 15 of these available for rent. Gardeners maintain their beds autonomously within the organic community gardening guidelines.
Allotment gardeners agree to participate in a Wicking Bed Installation and Orientation Workshop from 10am-2pm on either June 18th or 19th.
Communal Gardening
$30/season for participation in the communal garden beds which mounded beds, fenceline, and small greenhouse. The communal gardens are intended to allow gardeners to share in both the responsibility and the bounty of the garden. First-time gardeners have an opportunity to work alongside those with more experience, and this arrangement allows flexibility for those who vacation or have limited time in the summer. Max 30 gardeners.
Communal gardeners agree to participate in a minimum of 2 weekend work parties throughout the season, commit a minimum of 1-2 hours/week to the garden, and agree to work cooperatively with other gardeners, and responsibly share the garden harvest.
Email canmorecommunitygardening@gmail.com for your application form!
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Fence is Up!
The Man With The Plan!
1000 square meters, 30 fence posts,
131 meters of wire fencing, a bunny-proof trench, a gate, a bobcat, a backhoe and 40 pairs of enthusiastic hands!
Finessing the posts! Tamped into position with love!
12 foot wooden posts, buried 3 feet deep...
We're talking major bunny prevention!
Excavated....
then hand dug.....
wire laid...
and fastened...
trench back-filled and carefully tidied!... all for the bunnies!
An enormous THANK-YOU to all the enthusiastic people who dug, hauled, lifted, tamped, raked, and laughed this fence into place!
More to come next weekend....!
For more pics check out the album on the facebook page
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