Guided Work Party - June 15th

Perfect gardening weather, cloudy but dry.  We had a good team today who enthusiastically waged war on the weeds in the orchard, herb bed, strawberry/blueberry patch and the leeks and onion bed.  A new recruit was given charge of sifting some compost to enable us to pot up half a dozen gifted heritage raspberries (reputed to come from a 100 year old orchard) and giving the compost a stir, after which Bin 1 was completely filled up with fresh annual weeds and some comfrey, which should give it a boost. A small team trimmed the vegetative growth from the espaliered fruit trees in the orchard, this will encourage the tree to concentrate on growing fruit instead of leaves. Wenwen removed the plastic ties from the branches now that the trees have got used to their shape. We also managed to find and fix a couple of leaks in the irrigation system, hooray!

Angela

Full compost bin!!

Neat espaliered orchard

Bad aphid infestations were found on two apricot trees!

Potting up the raspberries

Guided Work Party - June 12th

Last of the heat loving summer veggies were planted today (basil, hot peppers, and eggplant).

Mini cucumbers (green apple, west India burr gherkin and cucamelon) were planted up the vertical garden on the side of the shed.

Garlic scapes on our porcelain garlic were ready to harvest today and a few early spring garlic bulbs were harvested for a sneak peak. They are still small, but should be ready in another 2 weeks.

Selina

Mini cucumbers planted along vertical garden. Dad’s shovelling compost, mum’s weeding, daughter planted 10 cucumber seedlings

Making teepees for runner beans and pole beans.

Huge harvest of greens - romaine lettuce, kale, arugula, spinach, radicchio, nozawana (Japanese turnip green), cilantro, radishes, mustard greens; salads for everyone!

Happy gardeners leaving with fresh spring garlic

Composting Conversations - Master Gardener Workshop

And that’s a wrap!

Master Composter Angela Hoy led two very informative and fun composting workshop this past week for fellow master gardeners from all over the Greater Vancouver Area. Angela prepared a wonderful talk on how everyone can getting started with composting and provided tips to improve existing composters. Even the crows above were listening attentively.

Gardeners were keen to try their hands at turning the compost bins and were able to observe the different stages of the compost material. Participants also categorized tricky green waste items which generated more interesting discussions around Keurig cups, tea bags, paper towels and dog poop!

- Wenwen

Gardeners participating in the composting game.

Many gardeners showing up to the workshop!

Guided Work Party - June 8th

A perfect day for gardening, partial cloud and quite warm! Selina was keen to get the rest of the summer crops in, so after a quick second to weed those that had grown in the last couple of weeks, more of the vertical growing supports were erected and cucumbers, squash and tomatoes planted. We noted that the garlic spathes have now started to appear, although only in one variety so far. And the broad beans (fava beans) were ready to have their tops removed as greedy black fly have been attracted by the soft juicy foliage. Some celery seedlings were added to the eastern herb bed, and the bean bed was prepared ready for the school group to plant later this week.

Angela

Celery seedlings around last year’s celery

Broad bean with tops removed

Bush bean plot ready for planting

Guided Work Party - June 5th

Supports erected for the upcoming cucumbers

More tomato supports

Despite the dreadful weather forecast and the occasional downpour, we managed to complete the usual two hour work party today; we erected both the tents and had to run for cover at least once!  However, we were able to erect the vertical supports and plant out tomato, tomatillo and squash plants, and Selina showed us how to remove the first flowers and lower leaves to encourage the plants to develop healthy root systems before starting to fruit. We had a surprise harvest of young lettuce, arugula and spinach leaves, some celery stems, and a few rogue potatoes that were growing in the wrong place!  Weeding continued in the leek and onion bed, and the squash bed before planting commenced.  

The Buddhist contingent arrived as we finished, and recited a liturgy before distributing and blessing the worms in the Edible Forest area and a few in the compost bin.

Angela