One of our primary goals for 2009 is to sketch out some major, long-term plans for the park and raise funds for them. To that end, the executive decided we should hold a community meeting to collect everyone’s ideas of what we want to see the park develop into.
I’ve booked the community room in the Davenport library for Saturday, May 23, from 10 to 12. Please join us to share what your vision of Garrison Creek Park includes – and doesn’t include! This is by no means a finalized planning meeting but rather a “dream big” brainstorming session.
I’ve ordered some organic compost and fertilizer to be delivered to the garden Thursday evening: two (28.5 L) bags of compost per plot plus 3 bags of Spanish River carbonatite to be divided among the plots.
We are paying $5.50 per bag of compost, plus $20 per bag of carbonatite, plus tax. Unfortunately there’s no money in our bank account to cover the total costs at this time so while we will look for sources of funding, I’m asking that garden members make a donation if possible to cover the costs.
I will also need some help unloading the delivery and moving it into the shed (if we can fit it all) or at least into the fenced-off area. It should be between 8:30 and 9:00 pm—please get in touch if you’re available and I can call you when I have an exact time, or just drop by the garden to help out.
Once everything’s there, feel free to take your two bags and dig the compost into your plot, but please make sure to take only two bags! I’ll calculate how much of the carbonatite should go in each plot as well.
It’s going to be a beautiful weekend, perfect time to start working in the garden!
I just heard about an upcoming gardening workshop on May 3 from 1 to 2 at the Home Depot at 2121 St Clair W (that’s just west of Keele). It’s being given by Doug Green, author of new book Guide to Canadian Vegetable Gardening. Some info from his publicist’s website:
We’re pleased to announce that our very own Canadian “Garden Coach” Doug Green is partnering with The Home Depot in Toronto’s Little Italy to offer the free one-hour seminar Vegetable Gardening in Small Spaces to urban dwellers wanting to engage this hot trend.
In Toronto to promote his newly-released eighth book Guide to Canadian Vegetable Gardening (Cool Springs Press) Doug Green is happy to provide local residents with everything they need to know to simply and successfully grow vegetables. One of Canada’s top gardening experts, Green shares practical, budget-friendly tips for growing vegetables organically, including how-and-when-to information on planting, growing and harvesting more than 50 vegetables and herbs. Helpful charts and maps and full-colour images make this a book that will be referred to again and again.
Live in a townhouse, condominium or apartment? Green says, “No problem”. With half of all vegetables being grown in container gardens, Guide to Canadian Vegetable Gardening will help both urban dwellers and suburban gardeners experience the joys of growing their own edibles.
Green’s approach to gardening is “to have fun and eat well without working hard at it.” He says, “There is nothing quite like the taste of a freshly picked, juicy, vine-ripened tomato. That fresh, chin-dripping acid sweetness only comes from your own garden. I won’t even go on about combining herbs with your garden as I’ll assume you’ll want to tuck in a few here and there to complement the vegetables.”
Green’s one hour seminar Vegetable Gardening in Small Spaces will start at 1:00 PM on Sunday, May 03rd, 2009 in the outdoor garden centre at The Home Depot at 2121 St. Clair Avenue West, Toronto. It is free and no registration is required.
We’re jonesing for some gardening but it’s still a bit early, so instead we’re going to get together Sunday morning to clean out the shed for the new season.
Art and Mark will be there at 10:30 with gear. Please drop by if you can, get to know Art and Mark (they’re swell guys!) and get a chance to sniff the dirt.
