100 feet of planters along fence built and almost all filled this week. 1/2 the cost of the lumber was generously donated by New Canadians Lumber. Thanks Edger. The saving allowed us to purchase a small greenhouse and a great sturdy dolly for our 120 foot hose. Merci goes out to our crew this week Graeme, Jeremy, Tim and Marc. Nancy also collected a plant donation from Fiesta Gardens. Thanks Margaret. See you on Sunday 2PM !
June 2008
Monthly Archive
June 28, 2008
June 28, 2008
When: Sunday, June 29, 2008 2:00pm
Rain or shine. If lightning or tornadoes threaten, we will postpone to later.
Where: Garrison Creek Park Community Garden
What: Come out to help plant our community garden! Tasks will be filling the last of the planters located outside the fence with soil and plants! Please bring any annuals or perennials that you would like to donate.
See you there!
June 27, 2008
St-Bruno Catholic School Kindergarten Class with Teacher Rose Fava and member Albina Burello. Morning and afternoon classes came by to see the Community Garden this week and take possession of their own planter box in the park. The kids planted and watered their pumkin patch.
June 22, 2008
Funding for our additional and future needs has started. We have about 250$ left from key deposits. 500$ has been donated by member Albina’s corporation Northern Standard and 250$ has been promised from Joe Mihevc’s office. In all we therefore have approx 1000$. I have set up an account for Garrison Creek Park Community Garden Association at my Royal Bank. We spent so far on keys, locks, one small soil delivery, few tools, library rental for early meeting this winter, and gas for materials pick-up. Will prepare a document finance report shortly as well.
Any additional contributions from individual members are welcome. A committee to prepare grant applications for corporate and governmental funding is slowing coming together, Arthur Flach is the Coordinator and now that he has finished building planters you can connect with him if fund-raising, grants is your schtick. Now that we have completed the principal construction and planting in the garden is complete we can start to look at Hydro/CPR and municipal/provincial programs that may be available to us. Funds can be used for additional beautification of Park and Garden and the hosting of community events. And soil testing if need be (see more below).
City Parks has paid for all aggregate base, lumber and fasteners for raised beds, fence, water hoses, approx 70 yards of soil, wheelbarrow, and a dozen cedar shrubs. We are still getting a pick nick table (if available) and then that’s it except for ongoing plant material (grass seed for park and additional trees/shrubs). Our first big expense is a 18-24 inch wide planter box at foot of fence to hold our vines for fence beautification (will also make unwanted intrusion more difficult) We may plant directly into ground at both ends of fence or elect to wrap planter around. Need to clear our 2 possible proposals with Chris Martin City Parks on Monday. TODAY we’ll be discussing these ideas (afternoon) as we place a few more community planters in the park grounds.
I have been asked regarding old contamination in the park enclosures. According to information given me (which is rather vague) the entire park was used as a household dumping ground (old school style tires, fridges, junk) decade plus ago before this became a residential area and that the enclosures themselves may have had some sort of industrial contaminants that are now inert? Precaution has prompted city none-the-less to enclose 2 areas after contamination was carted away. Past soil tests have indicated/made park safe for activity. The enclosures may still have some level of contamination buried deep and this is a concern to us TO KNOW. Precaution has led to our garden being built above ground. New soil test have been promised this June and I continue to pressure both Parks and Ward 21 Councillor on this. I am prepared to inquire directly with U of Guelph Agricultural dept (does most soil tests for Ontario municipalities) and conduct our own tests in park and enclosures if need be.
Now the only concern that exists for our garden crops (top quality multi-mix soil from Zephyr Peat) is our proximity to CP rails and small iron filings coming off tracks. Requires us to wash any vegetables with care and all should be well I’m told. We are not the first garden to be close to railroad and Hydro. I recommend we conduct additional tests this year with U of G (our first harvests) to put our collective minds at ease. We need a team here to undertake research on need and costs of testing and collection/delivery to lab if we so decide.
Marc De Mouy
Park/Garden Coordinator
June 20, 2008
Communications Coordinator and Webmaster Kat Tancock has just added a feature to the Community Garden Web Site site that allows you to subscribe (top right click to subscribe) and recieve these updates as e-mails. I urge you all to do this so that you stay in touch with “What’s Going On” Needless to say, I will also have to e-mail you all this memo.
June 20, 2008
At Thurs June 20th Garden Members Meeting our City Councillor Joe Mihevc came by to witness the amazing progress that is taking place in Garrison Creek Park. Didn’t have my camera ready so I have to use a Garden stock photo here. I can’t find the words to thank you enough Councillor for your support. Councillor’s office has made an additional donation of $250.00 towards our needs.
Friends and neighbours we’re not done yet and we’ll need as many worker bees this weekend as possible to set up our last 6 community plots IN THE PARK for flowers/non-edibles/beautification. Weather permitting we’ll be out there Sat/Sun afternoons setting up park planters and starting work on our 160 Foot Fence Planter Box that will hold our vines. Construction being funded by our sponsors Northen Standard and Joe Mihevc’s office.
June 16, 2008
Our first corporate donation in the amount of $500 has been made by Albina Burello’s company Northern Standard. Just in time too as we will need additional lumber to build a fence long planter for our vines to green and beautify the chain link. You can visit our sponsor’s web-site at www.northernstandard.ca
Albina is also introducing us to a kidergarten class from St-Bruno’s Catholic School on Shaw Street who will be getting one of our six community planters that will soon be set up at various locations in the Park.
I will be looking to hear from more of our members who are interested in participating in administration and planning. Please join us this THURSDAY 6:30 PM in the Garden MEETING regarding what’s NEXT!
June 16, 2008
Yes, we just got the garden plots started up, but we’re planning on applying for grants to make further improvements to our park. Some suggestions have been: fruit trees along the pathway, another set of garden plots on the west side of the park, a kids’ play area, a rainwater collection system, and dog waste composting.
What would you like to see? Make a note in the comments or email the executive at garrison.creek.park@gmail.com. And if you’d like to help write grant applications, please let us know as well!
June 15, 2008
Latest and youngest addition to our executive team is Aidan Witelson, Our Kid’s Coordinator. Aidan’s primary responsability for now is to oversee the watering of ALL trees in the Park and Garden. Additional Kids activities and plans to be determined.
At this thursday’s Garden Meeting 6:30 PM one of our topics for discussion will be the creation of a proper watering schedule. I noticed this sunday the hose being pulled out 6-7 times and used to water a planter at a time. What makes most sense is one evening watering, one set-up for all and rotate watering responsability. THURSDAY 6:30 PM join us if you want your voice to be heard.
June 15, 2008
Most of our planters owe their existence to our drill man and the hardest working member of our team MR ARTHUR FLACH. Thanks brother for all your help. Couldn’t have done it without you. Marc
