Happy Halloween, Fruit, Food & Community Garden

Hey everyone, happy Halloween! I've been missing in action but I'm still alive. ;)

Today was the November work party for Cottonwood Community Gardens. I've been assigned kiwi duty so I spent most of my time there. The pruning has been finished for the most part so we've constructed as woodchip path through the area beneath the kiwi arbour and added some compost to fertilize for next year.

I also tried three new fruit today. The first one is called a Fuyu Persimmon. I've noticed dozens of these mid-sized trees across the city which appear to have mini pumpkins dangling from them (the one in the picture has less pronounced ridges than most). These are in fact a hardy variety of persimmon which is only ripe when it has a soft, mushy texture. It tastes like a cross between a pumpkin/squash and a mango. Not too sweet or fibrous, basically just right.

I also tried some tomatillos both raw and fried with butter. Very interesting. Sort of like a sweeter unripe tomato with a lemon twist. These were followed by some small 'grape kiwi' that were about the size of cherry tomatoes. They were delicious and taste just like the larger kiwi but don't have a hairy covering so you can eat them right off the vine. I had both a male and female plant back in Ontario but never ended up getting any fruit.

To finish off the day I'll be making some banana bread. I didn't have baking powder/soda so I'm trying to use yeast and I'll just let it sit for an hour or so. Hopefully it works and I don't end up with some banana brick! I'll upload the recipe and a picture if it turns out.

BTW Does anyone know what this fruit is? EDIT: Barry Parker has determined it's a Common Medlar (Mespilus germanica). Apparently they're one of the few fruits to ripen in winter. It is related to the Loquat which is also hardy in Vancouver.

Also what variety of Ficus is this? I'm thinking a Ficus carica hybrid. I've seen both green and brown figs in Vancouver but nothing with leaves like these. EDIT: Identified by College Gardener as Paper Mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera).

Cottonwood Community Garden: August Work Party

The last Sunday of nearly every month, anyone with a plot in the gardens is asked to come out to a Work Party. Keeping the gardens up and running requires a lot of time and effort and everyone needs to lend a hand.

I volunteered for kiwi duty. Unfortunately only myself and one other person were able to make it today. Both of us are new to kiwi care and unsure of the required maintenance. We ended up just going around removing weeds, young raspberry bushes/locust trees, and trimming off the dozens of branches reaching over the side of the trellis. We decided not to touch the ones growing vertically over the trellis. Some will be trained for next year and others removed. It seemed safer than risking damage to the plant. There are two varieties and the fruit won't be ready until October/November.

A young mouse also payed us a visit near one of the compost bins. It seemed really timid but instead of running like a normal mouse it just froze. Perfect for a photo! This photo is a bit low quality but the pose is great.

Now for another Vancouver surprise, the giant slugs. This one even comes with an orange racing strip! The coffee cup is an extra large for comparison.

Miraculous Mostly-Mature Mulberry Monday

Lately I've been in LOVE with mulberries. There is a large tree in Cottonwood Community Gardens and whenever I go to water my plot I make sure to grab a bunch of mulberries. There's a random outdoor chair near one of the tool sheds. I drag it over under the tree and grab as many as I can reach.

I've almost fallen a few times. This would be particularly bad because there is a patch of raspberries under the branches that I harvest most of the berries from. I should probably stop trying to grab things out of reach but I won't learn that until I end up falling. It's not that I'm overly confident in my abilities, just very very foolish.

You know the berries are ready when pretty much fall of the branch just by touching them. That being said even when they're not completely ripe they're still quite good. The tree in the garden has been fruiting for about a month and may have another month to go! I grabbed a few dozen today and gave them a good wash. Make sure not to soak the berries long because they'll loose their taste relatively quickly.

WARNING: The follow is not plant related and mostly incoherent. Do not read unless you have time to waste.

This post may seem a little disjointed. That's because I was only going to post the picture with the title. Then I figured the title is so great that it would get people's hopes up. If they clicked on it just to see a picture it may be a little disappointing. I also just made brownies from a mix and added Reese Cups and butterscotch chips. I'm EXTREMELY excited!

I'm really not sure how to end this post. My landlords are back with their three screaming children and I'm a little annoyed. I don't mean to alienate anyone with kids, but there is at least one child screaming/crying every minute of the day. It starts to grate on you. I think it's about time to find a new place. Unfortunately with only one of us employed that isn't in the cards.

I have all my plants outside and I'm afraid they'll end up being abused. Last time they were hit with a basketball. It took my Adenium a month to start growing again. That is something you just don't forget. I'm afraid to go outside and move stuff and risk an awkward social interaction. I think I'll sneak out in a few hours under the cover of darkness and move stuff then.

Hopefully they don't think I'm trying to break-in and end up coming outside. Then *BAM* awkward social encounter. Speaking of awkward, I just saw an ad for a 24 hour reality show channel. That kind of makes me sick. Of course I'll have to give it a chance so I don't make a hasty, uneducated decision.

Now I'm just warm and slightly annoyed. I think I may have gotten a little off topic. I think I'll add some text after the stuff that's plant related to warn my readers of what is to follow. This long, odd little ramble that has a tone of slight annoyance.

Of course it isn't as long as the book "The Reality Dysfunction". I'm a total sci-fi fan. This book has over 900 pages in relatively small print (smaller than standard at least). I'm around page 460. I think I'm going to have to renew the loan.

I'm going to end this post now. I just want my brownies. I'll call them special brownies. You can take from that what you will but they only have the added Reese Cups and butterscotch chips. They have to cook longer and generally don't turn out entirely solid but if you put them in the fridge they're just AMAZING!

Bloom Day July - Plot Update (Don't Get Too Excited)

I have a single Lantana flower in my plot so instead here's an update with the veggies!  I've been watering every two or three days.  What they really need is water two times a day!  You can see they look a little awful but at least they're still alive.  My plot has purple orach, leeks, tomatoes, spinach, chard, pak choi, moringa, and zucchini.

Strathcona and Cottonwood Community Garden Open House & Plant Sale

Just a quick update:  I've been hired to work part-time as a painter.  This will really help out with the money as I keep looking and will get me better acquainted with the city.  So if anyone needs some painting (primarily interior) take a look here.

This weekend is the big open house at the oldest community gardens in Vancouver.  Last year it was estimated that between 500 and 600 people turned out.  This year they are getting even more coverage including a front page article in the Vancouver Sun!  I'll be acting as a floater (doing whatever they need me to) all day on Sunday in the Cottonwood Area.  There will be a chili lunch, plant sale, info session of chicken keeping, permaculture and much more.  Drop by and take a look!

You’re Invited to

Magical Gardens in the midst of the city

Sunday, July 11, 10am to 2pm

Visit eight magical acres, sway to live music with Tambai Marimba, learn from free gardening sustainability workshops, see one of Vancouver's oldest off-grid solar houses, eat scrumptious goodies, sample local garden honey, snatch wonderful plants at bargain prices, & celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Vancouver's first community garden and the opening of Cottonwood's new garden that is the first community garden fully accessible for seniors and people with disabilities! Everyone is welcome!

Strathcona Cottonwood Gardens Annual Open House

Prior/Hawks * Raymur/Malkin

Info: (604) 608-0384 or (604) 253-3384

info@cottonwoodcommunitygardens.ca

www.strathconagardens.ca or www.cottonwoodcommunitygardens.ca

Open House Events

Live Music! Tambai Marimba! Fiddlers!

Sway to the music of awesome fiddlers or dance your socks off with Tambai Marimba, Vancouver’s great youth Marimba Band.


Tambai Marimba: Cottonwood Garden, 10:30am to 1:30pm.

Fiddlers: Strathcona Garden, 11am to 2pm.


Free Gardening & Sustainability Workshops

How to Keep Chickens in Your Backyard for Complete Beginners: Sunday, July 11, 10:30am: Cottonwood Garden

Thinking about having your own chickens and fresh eggs? Jordan Maynard, Manager of Southlands Heritage Farm, will help you understand the basics of keeping chickens in your backyard. You’ll leave this workshop with the confidence to buy, care for, and enjoy your own backyard hens. Workshop organized by Village Vancouver.


Permaculture/Vancouver Permaculture Meet-up Group: Sunday, July 11, 10:30am; Cottonwood Garden

Permaculture is an important way of letting the earth take care of itself. Learn basic permaculture techniques from the Vancouver Permaculture Meet-up Group. Workshop organized by Village Vancouver.


Winter Gardening/Grants Gourmet Gardens: Sunday, July 11, 1pm; Cottonwood Garden

Want to have fresh vegetables from your own garden year round? Certified organic farmer & edible landscaper, Grant Watson, will teach you the basics of what/when to plant, so you can harvest from your garden in the coldest season. Workshop organized by Village Vancouver.


Corsage Making: Sunday, July 11, 12-2; Cottonwood Garden

Learn how to make corsages from flowers and leaves picked that morning at Cottonwood. You can have a corsage custom-made for you, make your own, or choose one that has been made.


Compost Making/City Farmer: Sunday, July 11, 10:30am-2pm; Cottonwood Garden

Learn how to make compost from City Farmer’s Compost Hotline Staff.


Birdhouse Making for Kids: Sunday, July 11: Cottonwood Garden

This hands-on workshop teaches kids how to make their own birdhouse. Each participant will be able to make and keep a wooden birdhouse they have made.


Bee-keeping demonstration: Sunday, July 11, 10-2

Bee-keepers from each garden will demonstrate basic bee-keeping techniques and teach people about bees and their needs.


Solar Eco-House Demo: Sunday, July 11, 10:30am – 2pm, Strathcona Community Garden

See Strathcona’s wonderful solar house. This garden house generates its own power with solar panels, re-uses all its water with a grey-water recovery system, was built with recycled materials, and has a licensed composting toilet. Built over 20 years ago by teenage women learning carpentry skills, this is one of Vancouver’s oldest off-the-grid houses.


Magical Oasis in the Midst of the City: Garden Tours

Please join us for tours of Vancouver’s oldest community gardens, as we celebrate 25 years of community building, local food production and sustainability. Recipient of a City of Vancouver Heritage Award, Strathcona and Cottonwood Community Gardens feature eight magical acres with 350 individual garden plots; countless varieties of native and exotic perennials; one of the largest collections of heirloom apple trees in BC; thriving honeybees; a solar house that generates its own power, recycles water, and has a licensed composting toilet; beautiful water gardens, terraced gardens, oval gardens, fragrant gardens, reflecting ponds; an Asian garden, native garden, permaculture garden, wetlands; cherry, apple, plum, mulberry, fig, pear, persimmon & Asian pear trees; blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, currants, Saskatoon berries, gooseberries, grapes & kiwis; eight types of bamboo; nut trees; and many ornamental trees and shrubs. There are two solar greenhouses; toolsheds; extensive composting; and many species of birds, butterflies and hummingbirds. A pair of bald eagles nests overhead. Garden Tours: 10:30am to 1:30pm, at Strathcona and Cottonwood Gardens


Cutting Edge Sustainability: Solar House

Strathcona’s Eco-house is a model of sustainable building. This garden house generates its own power with solar panels, re-uses all its water with a grey-water recovery system, was built with recycled materials, and has a licensed composting toilet. Built over 20 years ago by teenage women learning carpentry skills, this is one of Vancouver’s oldest off-the-grid houses. Learn how the eco-house was built, principles of grey water recovery, solar power: 10am to 2pm, Strathcona Garden.


Opening of New Garden Fully Accessible for Seniors and People with Disabilities: 11:30am

Join us as we celebrate the opening of this new ¾ acre inclusive garden that is designed to enable everyone, regardless of age or physical ability, to garden. Based on the principles of universal design, the garden features raised beds that are high enough for seniors and people with disabilities to garden from a seated position; pathways 3-4’ wide and surfaced with a firm surface appropriate for persons with walkers, canes, strollers and wheelchairs; water taps at a convenient height for people who have difficulty bending and close to raised beds so that carrying a hose will not be needed; a tool shed with easy access and reachable tools; meeting spaces with wide-enough, smooth surfaces.


Official Opening of New Accessible Garden: 11:30am: Cottonwood Garden.


This new part of Cottonwood is along Raymur, at the corner of Raymur & William, across from the Food Bank, on the east side of Strathcona Park.


Honey! Local Bees!

Honey sales from our own bees, who thrive on the diversity of flowering plants in our gardens. The honey is fresh, local, and delicious. Come early! The honey usually sells quickly.

Honey Sales: 10am at Strathcona Garden and at Cottonwood Garden.


Wonderful Plant Sale! Bargain Prices! Great Plants!

Strathcona & Cottonwood’s Annual Plant Sale features an incredible variety of plants at bargain prices including perennials, vegetables, heirloom fruit trees & berry bushes, bamboo, flowers, shrubs, native plants, shade lovers, sun lovers & more! All of the plants are grown by our gardeners or donated by local nurseries. Prices are awesome and the range is impressive. Over 600 plants at bargain prices.

Plant sale starts at 10am, Sunday, July 11, at Strathcona Community Garden (corner of Prior & Hawks).


Silent Auction
If you haven't been to our Silent Auction before, you're in for a visual treat. Beautiful hanging baskets with fuchsias in full bloom, heritage apple trees, and a stunning Passion Flower vine, to name but a few of the entries we've had -- all generous donations from local nurseries and gardeners. Come and check it out and maybe you'll go home with a spectacular plant to highlight your garden or patio.

Sunday, July 11, Strathcona Garden, 10am to 1pm.


Native Plant Tour
Come to the Native Garden at Cottonwood and we'll show you which BC native plants you can grow to replace some of the invasive plants that have come into BC.

Cottonwood Garden 10-2.

Location:

Strathcona Garden & Cottonwood Garden are sister gardens located next to each other in and next to Strathcona Park, on the east side of Vancouver, on Prior Street, between Main & Clark.


Strathcona Garden is located just west of Strathcona Park, on Prior & Hawks.


Cottonwood Garden is located along the south side of Strathcona Park, on Malkin, between Raymur & Hawks.

The new accessible garden expansion is on Raymur, opposite the Food Bank (1150 Raymur).


The two gardens host the Open House together

Cold Hardy Palm Seeds Arrive! Jubaea chilensis, Chamaerops humilis 'Cerifera', Trachycarpus wagnerianus

My final batch of seeds arrived this morning!  I purchased them from Jungle Seeds.  It decided to buy a second pack of Jubaea chilensis in the hopes that if one batch doesn't work out, the other will.  I also grabbed some Trachycarpus wagnerianus and Chamaerops humilis var. Cerifera.  Apparently a leaflet with special instructions was suppose to be included for the Jubaea.  I looked for about 10 minuets but it's definitely not there.  I thought maybe it slept out to I checked the floor.  Still nothing.  Fortunately I know the 'special' method used to sprout them.

I've also been introduced to a possible job and the University of British Colombia Botanical Gardens as a shop manager.  It sounds like a great position and I think I'm very well qualified.  The only negative is that I'll have to drive right across the city each day.  Fortunately, we were planning on moving the end of the summer anyway so we could just relocate closer.

Stevie from Garden Therapy also forwarded my resume to two companies which I really appreciate.  Thanks!

In the Community Garden, the seedlings are growing well.  Everything has sprouted.  I noticed a few dog treads crushing some of my spinach which pissed me off a little.  But then I took a few deep breathes and... everything was fine!  Now there was a rage blackout somewhere in there but I have no idea what happened or if anyone/thing was harmed.

I've also been asked to border a large plot with stones.  There aren't very many left in the area and Stevie pointed me to some large concrete chunks.  They actually look quite good and offer a home for what otherwise would be garbage.  They're a bit sharp though so if anyone comes to Cottonwood, make sure to wear shoes.

I would love to make a willow structure at Cottonwood.  Does anyone have any thoughts or recommendations?  Maybe where we could grab some willow twigs?

I was too lazy to type out the germination info so I just took pictures.  In 5 - 10 years I'll have a jungle!

I Have a Plot in Cottonwood Gardens!

I now have a plot at the Cottonwood Community Gardens here in Vancouver.  The gardens are located on the South-Eastern corner of Strathcona Park.  Oddly enough, another community garden known as 'Strathcona' is located about five minutes away and not in the park itself.  This had me confused for about two weeks but know I have everything figured out and have my own plot!

 It's only $10 for membership and then $5 per plot.  That's on $15 each year for water, compost, pots and the ability to grow whatever I want (within legal bounds of course).

I decided that the part of the plot nearest to the paths will be used for vegetables and the rest will be for decorative plants.  So far I've planted purple orach, leeks, tomatoes, pak choi, spinach and some rainbow chard.  The leeks could take up to 3 months but the growing season here is longer so I should be fine.  I've also ordered some stevia seeds which should be arriving within a week or so.

Today myself and James spent about three hours adding soil, edging with rocks that people had dug up, level the bed and planting.  We also dropped in our two Lantana plants.  They have barely grown since last fall.  We just dug them up, cut off their roots and jammed them in pots.  It's probably about time they get some good soil and room to grow.

Although I intend for the rest of the space to be for decoratives, I really some more tomatoes, zucchini, and strawberries.  We'll just have to see what the future holds and time permits.

We also saw this on the way home.  They have the most priceless store branding.  Look at the picture next to the store name.  WARNING:  Not for people without a sense of humour.  Oh Vancouver, how I love thee.

Strathcona Park - Cottonwood Community Gardens

Today I went to my first Work Party at the largest local community garden in Vancouver. Apparently there are actually two - Strathcona and Cottonwood.  Strathcona is located West of Strathcona Park and Cottonwood is at the South-Eastern corner in the park itself.  I'll be spending most of my time in Cottonwood where I have a plot.

The work parties are the last Sunday of every month. Attending these work parties allows you to be placed on a waiting list for the next available open plot. I'm not sure how long I'll have to go to actual get a space but I'll keep going until I do.

I spent the first half hour or so moving potted plants to get them ready for dividing, cleaning up and sale. Then I was on compost duty. I turned a good sized pile of compost and then went on to sift another. I finished up with some horse manure turning. Fortunately it was well decomposed and didn't smell anymore. I also ended up buying some honey, apparently from bees right in the garden area (left over from last year).  I purchased the summer variety which apparently has the most sophisticated taste.  It was the same price as the others.  I would never have splurged on such an item. ;)

I've been relatively sedentary since I got to Vancouver (excluding walks). I'm a little sore now and think I may have over done it. It's worth it though.  I can eat more food.

The pictures at the beginning are from the new area. They had to finish bordering a large number of the new plots with wooden boards. A lot of people aren't visible in this photo (60 to 80 total in the gardens).   I was there from 10am to about 2pm. I would have stayed longer but I have some part time work that I had to have finished for 9pm tonight. It was done just after 8pm so I'm glad I left when I did.

Stevie from Garden Therapy was also there. We didn't end up formally meeting. There were a tonne of people and sometimes it's hard to recognize people from their blog/twitter photos. Especially when they have big sunglasses. :)