Sackville Community Garden

Garlic planting time!

2011-11-19T18:08:00.011-04:00

It was perfect timing. We got out to the garden before the first big snowfall to plant garlic. T'is the season, after all. Though, when isn't it garlic season? Garlic is a curious vegetable, in that it never really stops growing. It lives in the ground all winter, is harvested in the summer, and then returns to the earth in the fall.

On November 17th I was accompanied by a grade 2 class from Salem Elementary School to plant garlic at the garden. Garlic likes to be planted in fertile, well drained soil, so we planted it along the berm, facing the road. I separated the bulbs and the kids planted the cloves wherever they chose to. They were very enthusiastic to plant the garlic, and eat it too! Sure, maybe they left with stinky breath, but I don't think they'll be getting sick anytime soon! We put a covering of straw mulch on the berm after planting, to provide insulation for the long, cold winter. The straw is like a warm winter coat, the kids told me. It will also help to prevent a continuous freezing and thawing of the ground in early winter and spring, keep the root system stable, and prevent weeds and preserve moist, fertile soil.

Before the kids left, they also got to harvest some carrots for a mid-morning snack.

They will be able to come back to the garden in the spring to see the garlic poke through the mulch and hopefully help harvest it in the summer.

A big thanks to Shannon and Bryan of Broadfork Farm for their generous donation of the red Italian garlic! A thank you as well to the teacher and parent volunteers who helped out.

"You can't run away on harvest day" - Barbara Kingsolver

2011-08-22T13:08:00.012-03:00

Harvest time is an exciting time. There is an abundance of vegetables to be picked at the garden - pepper plants teeming with little hot gems, artichokes rising up in the center of their pointy leaves, large zucchinis hiding below their big green umbrellas. Unfortunately some of our potatoes and tomatoes have blight, so we're trying to keep on those plants to make sure it doesn't spread too much. Blight is a disease that causes leaf and stem lesions and fruit rot on potatoes and tomatoes. If you notice discolouration and lesions on the stems or leaves of your plants pull off the leaves or pull the whole plant up and dispose of them ASAP in a plastic bag in the garbage or burn them. The spores will spread if put in the compost or left out at the garden. The potatoes should still be okay to eat, unless you cut them open and they are visibly diseased.

It's also that time of year that we can start planting cold tolerant crops. Fall vegetables actually require less care because of the favorable autumn growing conditions. Weeds and destructive pests don't create as much of a problem in the fall either due to the cooling temperatures. Some crops suitable for fall planting include spinach, kale, turnip, broccoli, mustard greens and arugula. So, if you have extra space in your plot and you want to have fresh produce into the fall, come on out to the garden and get planting!

For those of you who are interested in preserving your harvest, here are a couple tried and true recipes:

Zucchini Relish
Makes about 6-7 500ml jars

12 cups shredded, unpeeled zucchini
4 cups chopped onion
5 tbsp salt
1 red bell pepper, chopped (hot peppers work well too)
4 cups white sugar (or less)
2 cups white vinegar
2 tbsp cornstarch
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp turmeric
1 1/2 tsp celery seed
1/2 tsp ground black pepper

Place zucchini and onion in a large bowl and sprinkle with salt. Mix, cover and refrigerate overnight.

Next day, rinse and drain zucchini in a colander, squeezing out all excess water.

Add all other ingredients in a pot. Mix, then add zucchini and onion. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce to medium-low and simmer for 30 minutes.

Sterilize jars and lids to hold relish. Pack relish into sterilized jars, leaving no air bubbles in the relish.

Immerse jars in boiling water for 30 minutes. Remove, let cool and check to make sure the jars are sealed.

Dill Beans
Makes 6 pint jars

3 pounds fresh snap beans
4 springs of fresh dill per jar, or 2.5 Tbs dill seeds per jar
1 clove peeled garlic per jar
1 tsp red pepper flakes per jar

Top and trim the beans to 4″. Put dill, garlic and pepper into hot sterile jars. Tightly pack the beans upright into the jars. While doing so, bring to a boil in a saucepan:

3 cups white vinegar (I prefer apple cider vinegar)
3 cups water
6 Tbs pickling salt

Pour the hot vinegar into the jars, leaving 1/2″ of headspace. Process in a hot water bath canner for 5 minutes.

An abundance of zucchini

2011-08-22T12:04:00.005-03:00

We were happy to be back at the Sackville Farmers' Market this Saturday, August 20th. We came armed with an abundance of zucchini - 'tis the season, after all - as well as eggplant, a variety of hot peppers, beans, basil and cukes. We sold out early of our garlic scape pesto and zucchini relish, which we had taste testing of as well! It was great to get out and see everyone at the market this weekend. Thanks to everyone who supported the community garden!

Meeting our farmers!

2011-07-24T21:58:00.011-03:00

On sunny Saturday, July 23rd, 11 of us met at the garden and headed out to Nature's Route Farm in Point de Bute where we met up with others and our farmers Kent and Ruth Coates. For those of you who don't know, Kent and Ruth run the CSA in Sackville. They gave us a great tour of their 4 acre farm, sheep and one lama, and machinery - including the ever-important wheelbarrow. It was a great opportunity to get that one step closer to our food. Kent even offered us all broccoli before we left! Nicole from "La Recolte de Chez Nous/Really Local Harvest Co-op" was there and filmed the tour - some of which she will use in a short film that she is creating about local food to show in schools in the fall - very exciting project!!

We then carried on to the beautiful Amherst shore to visit Jessy and Charles at Wymsykal Farm. This is the second year for their small farm overlooking the Northumberland Strait. Their farm is very diverse, including things such as fava beans, different varieties of cabbage, tomatillos, white and purple kohlrabi. They invited us over to their property afterwards to see their incredible hops yard and their greenhouse. They made us a delicious dinner of pizza and salad - made with fresh farm veggies! I made food forest black currant cookies for dessert. Yum yum.

Thank you to everyone who came out and a big thanks to our farmers who helped make it such a fantastic day!

Meet your farmers this Saturday!!

2011-07-19T15:41:00.003-03:00

Herb Day at the Sackville Farmers' Market!

2011-07-09T21:52:00.005-03:00

It was a busy, rainy day at the Sackville Farmers' Market. There were lots of people out and about and lots of fresh produce for sale! For those of you who stopped by, you may have just missed our "three green pesto" or noticed an array of fresh herbs piled high on our table. Laura and I spent Friday evening making arugula, red russian kale and basil pesto and herbal iced tea with herbs from the garden and Community Forest International's food forest.If you haven't yet checked out the food forest, it is well worth it! Especially in the coming months, there will be lots to see in terms of berries and blossoms! We also had medicinal and edible herbs available by donation - chamomile, sage, oregano, lemon balm and echinacea - great for a rainy day to boost our immune systems and keep those colds and coughs away! Thanks to everyone who helped support the community garden today.

Me to We visit!

2011-07-08T14:22:00.008-03:00

On Wednesday July 6th, seven kids from Me to We, a partner organization with Free the Children, came to visit the garden! They had all different levels of experience with gardening and were all very motivated to learn and get their hands dirty! I gave them a garden tour and we identified lots of different vegetables and herbs. They had a lot of fun designing their own plots with help from the companion planting guide (which you can find in the toolshed). And then we were able to design a plot together and actually plant it! They planted thai chili peppers, garden salsa peppers, watermelon, cantaloupe, hubbarb squash, butternut squash, calendula, African marigolds, begonias, and eggplant! Check out plot #28 when you're at the garden to see it. It was great to have help watering and weeding too!

It was really neat to hear some of the kids compare our community garden with community gardens in their hometowns. At the end of their visit, one girl told me she wasn't very enthusiastic about coming to the garden because community gardens back home in Montreal meant small plots surrounded by chain link fences - not entirely conducive to creating a sense of community. She told me she was very impressed with our community garden and was so glad she got to visit it! Other kids in the group, from Sackville, said that they were going to come back and check on their plot!

The Cucumber Flea Beetle

2011-06-30T10:07:00.003-03:00

I am reposting a blog from June 28th last summer because they haven't failed to return! The cucumber flea beetle is back! I squished quite a few yesterday, however there are other measures we can take to ward them off.

The best way to get rid of them are by planting radishes, nasturtium and marigolds in close proximity of target plants (cucumbers, squash, pumpkin, gourd, melons, other species of Cucurbits, beans, corn, peanuts, potatoes) will help to repel cucumber beetles.

Also, dusting the plant lightly with a charcoal or soot mixture and repeating after every rain will also help keep this varmint at bay.

Good luck! If you have any other questions about organic pest control feel free to post here or email sackvillecommunitygarden@gmail.com

Celebrating the Summer Solstice

2011-06-23T09:05:00.002-03:00

A big thanks to everyone to came out yesterday evening to our summer solstice bbq! It was a beautiful evening, it was great to meet fellow gardeners, and the spicy bean burgers were a hit! A special thanks to those who lent a helping hand in the organization of the event. Thank you thank you thank you.

2011 Community Garden Coordinator

2011-06-21T17:40:00.002-03:00

Originally from Prince Edward Island, this is Alissa's first involvement with the Community Garden. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to experience a Sackville summer as the Community Garden Coordinator! She studies Geography and French at Mount Allison University, and will be finishing up her undergraduate degree in December.

Alissa's taste for gardening comes from helping out in her family garden every summer. She hopes to be a useful resource for fellow gardeners, while at the same time expanding her own knowledge of organic gardening. She believes that the community garden is a great educational centre and plays a key role in raising awareness about food issues and sustainability. She also recognizes that it is a great place to build a sense of community and she looks forward to meeting all of the plot renters and other volunteers and working alongside them throughout the summer!

Feel free to get in touch with her at sackvillecommunitygarden@gmail.com.

Think global, plant and buy local!

Summer Solstice Celebration!

2011-06-19T15:52:00.009-03:00

BBQ AND POTLUCK MEET & GREET AT THE COMMUNITY GARDEN!

In celebration of the summer solstice the Community Garden is hosting a Potluck BBQ Meet & Greet this Wednesday, June 22nd from 6-9 pm. This event will be a great chance for everyone to meet fellow gardeners, as well as to meet this summers garden coordinator, Alissa Sylvester!

We will be supplying the barbecue, so you just need to bring something for the grill and, if you're feeling ambitious, a potluck dish to share!

This event is open to everyone, so please spread the word to family and friends you think might be interested. The forecast is projecting sun, so hopefully we won't have to worry about being rained on! Hope to see you there!

When: Wednesday, June 22nd, from 6-9 pm
What to bring: food, beverage, plates/cutlery, and a chair or blanket to sit on

Happy Spring!

2011-04-26T11:16:00.014-03:00

Spring is here and the Sackville Community Garden is ready to celebrate! Our annual Good Grounds Café (in conjunction with the Rotary wine and beer tasting event) is happening this Friday from 7:00-9:30 pm at the Tantramar Veterans Memorial Civic Centre, 182 Main Street. The fundraiser is the most important of the season and helps us with our start-up costs each year. We will be offering delicious desserts (baked by local buisnesses and Sackville community members), coffee and tea for donations. Spread the word!

Also, we are currently signing indivdiuals up for plots this year! Plots are priced at $30/ 5 x 15 ft plot. In that price you also get access to a greenhouse on site, a toolshed, some seeds, workshops and planting guides! If you or someone you know are interested in signing up for a plot this year please contact us at sackvillecommunitygarden@gmail.com.

In other exciting news: the community garden has receieved funding from the Mount Allison Student Administrative Council's Green Investment Fund (GIF). This is a great source of funding for organizations that are working to help lower carbon emissions. For our funded project we are going to build new raised beds at the garden - important for land that is suspectible to flooding. This will allow for a larger area of viable gardening space, thereby increasing the number of community members that can get involved at the garden, as well as the amount of organic crops grown and carbon sequested within the soil. We'd like to thank the Mount Allison Student Administrative Council for giving us this amazing opportunity! We are very excited (:

Stay tuned for other exciting events coming up this season... as well as the official date of our upcoming Introducton to Organic Gardening Workshop (likely occurring mid-May). Even if you don't plan on gardening with us this season you are still more than welcome to attend to receive an introduction/refresher on organic gardening!

2010 Growing Season a huge success!

2010-08-24T12:24:00.006-03:00

Don't miss the article this week (August 25th edition) in the Sackville Tribune about the community garden and how much of a success the garden has been this year! Thanks to all volunteers to have helped out at the farmers market, weeded pathways, planted seeds for the community food section, etc, etc. Here are a few photos from the growing season ..

Enjoy the harvest. -Mel

Native Plants, Native Insects Workshop

2010-08-24T11:26:00.009-03:00

Thanks to everyone that came out last night to the Native Plants, Native Insects workshop at the garden. Hosts Sarah and John were super knowledgeable about bugs, weeds and endless amount of info on garden related topics! They hope to do another similar workshop next spring when different insects inhabit the garden .. they are definitely a great resource to have at the community garden!

SCG BBQ Fundraiser a huge success!

2010-08-17T15:45:00.005-03:00

The SCG BBQ Fundraiser organized annually at the end of July, beginning of August each year was a big hit again this year. Thanks to all those that came out to support our efforts and to the fabulous volunteers. BBQ goers were raving about Alicia's homemade lemonade and iced tea, and the presentation of the table, which was lined with fresh veggies and beautiful cut flowers.

New Interpretive Sign at SCG grounds!

2010-08-04T11:08:00.002-03:00

The Sackville Community Garden is happy to announce that we now has a new interpretive sign at the garden. This will hopefully bring more passers-by to the garden!

Map to the Sackville Community Garden

2010-07-21T09:41:00.003-03:00

If you haven't already been out to the community garden this year, now is a really great time to do so! New perennial flowers have been added to the flower beds, many of the veggies are ready to harvest and these gorgeous sunny days mean for great evening walks to check out the space. Below you'll find a great map (pulled from Community Forest International site) to get to the garden.

A great gardening book!

2010-07-12T16:23:00.004-03:00

This is the best gardening book I have come across recently. It is Atlantic Canada specific and gives in-depth info and tips, great for the novice gardener and the more advanced.

It can be purchased from Nimbus Publishing, visit them online:

http://www.nimbus.ns.ca/Store/CatalogItem/tabid/904/ProductID/4828/Default.aspx?txtSearch=east+coast

Sackville Community Garden on Boardwalk Radio

2010-07-12T15:52:00.008-03:00

Tune into CHMA 106.9FM to find out about the weekly happenings at the Sackville Community Garden. Every Wednesday in the summer SCG coordinator Mel Jellett joins host Marc Leger to talk about weeds, bugs, plants and to play some good tunes!

When: Every Wednesday in the summer from noon-1 p.m.

Who and what: Join Marc and Mel for garden updates.

For more information visit sackville community garden on facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=136043629751658&ref=mf

Hot Weather and Bolting Greens

2010-07-06T16:00:00.007-03:00

Garden tip #1: Spinach is a cool weather crop that does not like the long hour days and warm temperatures of the summer months. It is for that reason that it is best planted later in the season and can be harvested long into the fall. In the summer it has a tendency to bolt, the spinach plant quickly goes to seed, by producing a central stem (?) that the seeds jet out on. To keep your plant around a little bit longer, simply cut those seeds off and hopefully this will allow to continue to harvest some of that spinach for another few days. If you don't cut it off, the spinach leaves generally take on a woody texture and bitter taste.

Garden Tip #2: Lettuce is another cool season vegetable & most lettuces turn bitter and bolt in hot weather, especially crisphead lettuce which is intolerant of heat between 7-18˚C are ideal for growing harvestable sweet lettuce, and no amount of water will keep your lettuce from turning bitter and bolting to seed on hot summer days. Heavy mulching will help though by keeping soil temperatures cooler, thereby extending the harvest season of leaf lettuces. So will planting in partial shade in areas where there are very hot springs & summers. Successive sowing of leaf lettuces every week or so starting in spring can extend your harvest season well into summer.

After the main heat of summer is over, germination rates of lettuce rise again (lettuce seeds won't germinate over 26 degrees celsius), and you can start planting for fall/winter harvest. Too much water can make lettuce prone to leaf rot & disease, so be careful about overwatering, especially in the evening when water remains on leaves and does not rapidly dry.

If you have picked some bitter lettuce and still want to reap the benefits of your harvest, you can soak the lettuce in water for a few minutes, and that will remove some of the bitter taste!

Good luck!

The Cucumber Flea Beetle

2010-06-28T15:04:00.009-03:00

A little visitor has arrived at the garden: the cucumber flea beetle!

The best way to get rid of them are by planting radishes, nasturtium and marigolds in close proximity of target plants (cucumbers, squash, pumpkin, gourd, melons, other species of Cucurbits, beans, corn, peanuts, potatoes) will help to repel cucumber beetles.

Also, dusting the plant lightly with a charcoal or soot mixture and repeating after every rain will also help keep this varmint at bay.

Good luck! If you have any other questions about organic pest control feel free to post here or email sackvillecommunitygarden@gmail.com

SCG Summer Solstice BBQ Potluck a huge success!

2010-06-27T11:14:00.003-03:00

Thanks to all those that came out to the Summer Solstice BBQ Potluck on Tuesday, June 22. Special thanks to David Saunders, Natalie and Daniel Donaher for providing BBQs and to those that lent a helping hand in the organization of the event.

A video on composting!

2010-06-14T14:47:00.003-03:00

http://www.cityfarmer.info/2010/06/09/the-short-and-simple-of-backyard-composting/

Basics: you need a mixture of green and brown matter. Don't forget to add those veggie scraps, weeds and brown matter (leaves), and finally mix!

Sackville Community Garden to celebrate the Summer Solstice!

2010-06-14T14:09:00.003-03:00

Come celebrate the longest day of the season at the Sackville Community Garden!

The garden is hosting a Potluck BBQ Party at the Charles Street garden location this Sunday, June 20th from 5 - 8 p.m. We will be supplying the BBQ, all you need to do is bring something for the grill, and maybe even a dish to share with your friends!

What to bring: food, beverage, a chair or blanket to sit on.

Time: June 20 from 5 till 8 p.m.

There is no rain date, so let's hope for sunshine!

Food Forest Workshop in Sackville hosted by Community Forest International

2010-06-06T15:21:00.009-03:00

Community Forests International hosted the first in their series of summer workshops at the Sackville Community Garden and CFI space on Charles Street this past weekend. There was a great turn-out and everyone I spoke with at the end of the day left feeling inspired and having learned a lot about food forests.

For more information about the future workshops, check out http://forestsinternational.org/
The next one will be June 19th and 20th on Backyard Beekeeping, don't miss out! Register today!

Adding lime to the garden?

2010-06-01T15:09:00.001-03:00

Hello gardeners!

It is raining in Sackville, and rain is in the forecast all week, seeing as how we have had a dry Spring so far, this is a good thing! Hopefully it clears a little on the weekend to allow us time to get those beds full of new seeds!

A plot owner the other day asked a really interesting question: should we be adding lime to the soil?

I did a little bit of research and found out the following:

Liming while plants are growing may harm those plants, so wait until after the garden season. It is best to add garden lime in the fall and let it break down over the winter. Planting two to three months later will allow the soil pH to adjust.

Sprinkle the lime over the soil surface and rake it into the top couple of inches, letting it naturally work down to the root zone by spring. This can be added at the same time as organic manure. Do not till it deeply into the soil, it will leach down soon enough.

A soil test will tell you how often to lime, but usually every couple of years is sufficient.

On a nothing note, I found an article written by someone out of Saskatoon really opposed to the entire liming idea! If anyone has any other information, please feel free to add to the discussion!

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/homes/story.html?id=08c04622-29e0-4e94-8702-269ac9af2859

2010 Community Garden Coordinator

2010-05-31T10:40:00.001-03:00

About Mel: Mel has taken a two year lapse from direct involvement from the Sackville Community Garden, so is happy to be back as Coordinator for the summer! She has been busy finishing up her undergraduate degree at Mount Allison, where she studied Geography and Canadian Studies. The research for her honours thesis was on "Sustainable Communities: Local Food Production in SouthEast New Brunswick".

Last summer Mel helped out at Bancroft Farm in Murray Corner, NB, a small 1/4 acre market garden, and gained a lot of gardening and preserving food experience, which she intends to apply to the community garden. She'll be the first to admit she is no expert, but is always willing to look up and try new ways of doing things, and hopes to be a resource for the garden. Feel free to get in touch with her at sackvillecommunitygarden@gmail.com.

Spring! Prepping, planning and planting ...

2010-05-13T09:32:00.000-03:00

Spring, in all it's sunny glory and wet soil, is truly upon us. For those of you planting with the Sackville Community Garden this summer, it's time to start prepping your soil and planting your seeds!

To prep your soil you first need to weed it: get out all of the unknown plants popping up in your plot! For some of you, this may be a big job, for others - whose plots were properly put away last year (covered in leaves, mulch etc over the winter), this may be as simple as giving it a rake. I encourage everyone to team up and help out - this just might be the most difficult part of your gardening season - and it's a very important step - lend a hand!

Once your plot is weeded - I recommend adding some rich compost (Greenhouse Gold or Jolly Farmer products are excellent compost products if you can find them!). In order to promote healthy plant growth, you might consider adding a few other natural nutrients as well. Blood Meal adds important Nitrogen and other micronutrients to the soil, while Bone Meal is a great source of Phosphorous, another essential nutrient for healthy plant growth. When applying these soil additives to your plot, make sure you mix it in to you soil well - they are "slow release" nutrients, and if mixed in properly and thoroughly, they will enhance your soil all summer long.

If your soil seems particularly dense, it's REALLY important to add some compost to loosen the soil. In addition, if there are any leaves about - mix some of the leaves in too, leaves are good worm food and they instantly provide more soil texture. They will eventually breakdown in your plot.

NEXT is planting time! Even though it's quite early in the season, there are definitely some seeds you can plant now! These include all of the cold tolerant plants - peas, carrots, beets, chard, kale, brassicas in general (broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, mustard greens etc), some lettuce varieties (though you'll have to watch if there's a frost!), spinach, nasturtiums (- a great addition to ANY plot!), turnip, parsnips, regular potatoes, radish, and more! Check your seed packages to see if your seeds are cold tolerant. If you're going to plant early, I recommend just planting a few to start, and then plant more in two weeks in order to give yourself a successive harvest (to avoid the problem of when ALL of your peas are ready to be harvested at the exact same time - if you plant in succession, then you can give yourself a continuous harvest over a longer period of time).

Below this post, I re-posted a blog entry from last year about planning your plot and companion planting. I hope you find it helpful!

5' X 15' may seem like a small space, but I assure you, there's an abundant harvest to be grown if you plan it properly!

Since the garden is divided into raised beds, there is no need for space between your rows, which is an essential point when planning your garden this summer. You don't need to plant linearly, in fact, I encourage you to think in 3D - planting left, right and UP! The best way to do this is to plan your garden according to basic principles of companion planting.

Companion planting is essentially being aware of and employing nature's own compatibility plan. It's as simple as the fact that some plants like to grow together - they actually grow better together! Other plants, however, strongly dislike growing in proximity to certain plants, because they compete for the same nutrients, the same root-space, or are susceptible to the same diseases and pests, thereby increasing the chances of a pest finding an abundance of good food supply in one spot.

Luckily for us amateur gardeners, people for centuries have been noticing and recording what plants grow well together, and which ones don't, so we don't have to reinvent the wheel here. In fact, last summer, community gardener Angela Hersey created a simple and handy companion planting chart that you are free to consult (we sell them for a donation). There are also great books available on the topic (check Tidewater - they always have a great selection of gardening books)! I've also included some good links at the end of this post for you to consult. Some plants are generally great companions for all gardens, such as nasturtiums, some herbs, marigolds, radishes and peas! Feel free to share your new-found knowledge on the blog!

As for planning out your plot, some things to consider are:

- Spacing required for each plant:

How big will this plant get and how much space should I leave around the seed for it to grow to maturity without crowding other plants or competing with the next plant of the same species?

- The direction of the SUN:

Consider the direction of the Sun (South is approximately the RIGHT side of the garden (when you're facing it from Charles Street), the LEFT being North and the back (shed) is East, which makes the front West - where the prevailing winds come from. this means you should plan your plots so that no plants are shading one another (consider how tall they grow and where they should be spaced)

FOR EXAMPLE: one of my plots last year had corn in the middle, planted the length (South-North) of the bed, and planted directly on either side of the corn were two rows of beans (8 different kinds of bush beans - but you could plant climbing beans too so that the beans climb the corn stalks as they grow!) In the four corners I planted squash/or cucumber, herbs, radishes and in the middle sides of the bed I planted zucchini and nasturtiums. I also put potatoes in there somewhere! These are all companion plants in some way, and I had a pretty good harvest from that little plot!

- Heavy versus Light Feeders:

What this means is that some plants (tomatoes, peppers, squash, corn, potatoes for example) are heavy feeders, that is, they need to gather lots of nutrients from the soil in order to be healthy, thriving plants. If you are going to plant heavy feeders close together, make sure you have plans for adding compost to fertilize them. Though they might be listed as companions, they'll compete for nutrients and could both end up suffering as a result. I always try to spread the heavy feeders out throughout my plot. Light feeders generally don't tax the soil as much, and they also usually grow more quickly (see next bullet)

-Timing:

Some plants will mature much more quickly than others and will be ready to harvest before other plants show any signs. Generally, these are the light feeders, which means you can plant successive plantings of these crops (because the soil isn't depleted). For example, if I were to plant peas tonight, they might be ready for harvest in early July, by which time I could plant some heat-tolerant lettuces in the place where the peas were. When the lettuce is harvested by the end of August, then I'd plant a cold-tolerant plant (yumm - spinach!) for a fall harvest. This is a little more difficult to plan, but I like to think about it as much as possible so that I know which plants and parts of my plot I'll be working with most - cause I'll want those sections to be accessible (i.e. not the middle of my plot, where it might be a bit awkward to reach around other taller plants)

-No empty space:

Empty space in your plot is, among other things, the place for weeds to grow. Either plant some flowers (nasturtiums are great!) or mulch it with leaves, grass clippings - something. You can also plant it with a cover crop if it's a significant section.

I'll keep adding to the blog as I think of new ideas and I'm more than happy to answer ANY questions. Don't worry if this all doesn't make sense - it's all about learning, and the best way to learn is through experimentation (one doesn't make mistakes in gardening, everything is simply an experiment:)

Good luck!

Companion Planting starting links:

http://www.gardentoad.com/companionplants.html

http://www.ext.nodak.edu/county/cass/horticulture/vegetables/companion.htm

http://www.homeandgardenmag.com/articles_sp06/plantpals.html

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/1992-02-01/Carrots-Love-Tomatoes.aspx (a great book resource)

NEW Community Garden Coordinator: ANGELA HERSEY!

2009-08-20T16:06:00.000-03:00

About Ang:
Angela has been involved with the Sackville Community Garden for three years as a gardener and volunteer. After leaving Sackville for a brief stint in Toronto, she teamed up with a community centre garden project for a year where she shared and learned new tricks and trivia about community gardening, planting, growing, composting, and lots in between.

Angela graduated from MTA in 2007 and is willing to help any interested parties in taking the next step with plants that have bolted (flowered) or fallen ill with blight, etc., whether it be seed saving for next year or choosing replacement crops. She will be a friendly resource until mid-September (and maybe even beyond...).

2009-07-29T10:51:00.001-03:00

Blight Affected Tomato Leaf: BEWARE and remove if you see this on your tomato plants!

Thanks!

Watch out for signs of LATE BLIGHT in our tomatoes and potatoes!

2009-07-21T10:05:00.000-03:00

See the link below for some very clear pictures and information.

With all the wet weather, it's no surprise that our nightshades (tomatoes, potatoes and eggplant) are susceptible to "late blight". This is a fungal disease that can affect and kill all of the nightshade family plants, so let's keep watch on our plants and make sure we keep it under control.

If you see signs of late blight on your plants, do the entire garden a favour and pull up the plant, isolate it in a plastic bag, and dispose of it. Being a fungal disease, it spreads quickly through spores (blowing in the wind or making physical contact, i.e. one infect tomato touching another, or a gardener handling an infected tom and then touching the next plant and infecting it). If we catch it early, we'll still be able to keep it under control and share an abundant harvest!

http://www.hort.cornell.edu/department/Facilities/lihrec/vegpath/photos/lateblight_tomato.htm

Weeds Are Cool, but let's keep them under control!

2009-07-07T15:47:00.000-03:00

While we are all delightedly watching our garden veggies grow, we're also eyeing the weeds blooming ... . We've got some pretty intense weed issues at the garden these days and we really need some serious and dedicated help to get the garden looking proper.

Ways to help:

-Weed one of the back

plots (there are two plots on either side - 4 total - that are not in raised beds. They desperately need weeding). On the left hand side of the garden, there are also some really weedy plots that are to be planted in a cover crop soon. They also desperately need weeding.

- Weed the pathways (use the spadefork for the gravel, it's much easier!)

- Put black fabric (1 foot wide) down on the pathways of the Community Sections of garden. Cover with mulch (mulch is in a big pile at the back)

- Find a good source of mulch material (see earlier blog post)!

Thank you!

Here is some cool info about weeds:

Name: Chickweed, Stella

ria media (L.) Vill.,  Other Names: Common chickweed, stellaire moyenne, mouron des oiseaux   Family: Pink

Family (Caryophyllaceae)

  General Description: Annual or winter annual, reprodu

cing by seed and by horizontally spreading leafy stems which root at the nodes.

Photos and Pictures

Chickweed. A. Plant. B. Section of stem with a single flower between the pair of branches and showing narrow lengthwise lines of hair on alternate sides of the stem. C. Seedling, top view. D. Seedling, side view. E. Young plant.

Stems & Roots: Stems - prostrate, spreading or nearly erect, much-branched, 5-50cm (2-20in.) long, soft, delicate, bright green, with swollen nodes, smooth except for a single, narrow lengthwise line (about 1mm, 1/25in. wide) of fine white hair on one side of each branch, this line of hair alternating from one side of the branch to the other on successive internodes; stems rooting from nodes which touch the ground, and the plant spreading by this means to form dense, matted patches.   Leaves: Opposite (2 per node), stalked near the base, stalkless near ends of branches, blades oval with pointed tips, smooth or slightly hairy.   Flowers & Fruit: Flowers small, white, produced at tips of stems and in angles between branches; petals white, shorter than the 3-4mm (1/8-1/6in.) long green sepals; each of the 5 petals is 2-lobed so the flower may appear to have 10 tiny petals; seedpod somewhat egg-shaped, about as long as or slightly longer than the sepals, the tip splitting into 6 tiny teeth and releasing the reddish-brown somewhat spherical seeds which are about 1.2mm (1/20in.) in diameter. It may start blooming in early spring and produce flowers and seeds throughout the growing season.   Habitat: Chickweed occurs throughout Ontario in a wide variety of habitats and soil textures. It is one of the most common weeds in lawns but is equally at home in gardens, cultivated fields, pastures, waste areas and even under deciduous forests.   Similar Species: It is distinguished from similar plants by its bright green colour, its ovate-pointed leaves, and the single lengthwise line of fine white hair on one side of the stem but switching sides above and below each node.

Name: Redroot pigweed, Amaranthus retroflexus L.,   Other Names: amarante à racine rouge, Green amaranth, Pigweed, Redroot, Rough pigweed, Tall pigweed, amarante réfléchie, armarante pied rouge   Family: Amaranth Family (Amaranthaceae)   General Description: Annual, reproducing only by seed.

Photos and Pictures

Redroot pigweed (A - young flowering plant with dull (non-shiny) leaves; B - thick inflorescence with short lateral branches).

Redroot pigweed. A. Base of plant. B. Top of flowering plant.

Stems & Roots: Stems erect, 10cm-2m (4in.-6½ft) high, but usually 50-90cm (20-36in.), simple or branched, lower part thick and smooth, upper part usually rough with dense short hair, greenish to slightly reddish but usually red near the roots; leaves alternate (1 per node), long-stalked, ovate with a shallow notch at the tip on young plants but on older plants somewhat diamond-shaped, dull green above but lighter green and with prominent whitish veins below, and somewhat hairy.

Flowers & Fruit: Inflorescence a coarse, branching, bristly panicle made up of a short, thick terminal spike and below it several to many short, lateral finger-like spikes, these pointing upward if not crowded or outward if densely crowded, and smaller spikes in some lower leaf axils, each spike made up of many tiny flowers and spiny-tipped bracts up to 8mm (1/3in.) long; each flower unisexual, having either 1 pistil or 5 stamens but never both (similar to Prostrate pigweed); seeds black, shiny, round, flattened with a narrow, thin margin, and about 1mm (1/25in.) in diameter. Flowers from July to August.

Habitat: Redroot pigweed is a common weed in cultivated fields, gardens, pastures, waste places, roadsides and other disturbed areas throughout Ontario.

Similar Species: It is distinguished from Tumble pigweed and Prostrate pigweed by its tall, erect habit of growth, its larger and broader leaves, and its flowers crowded into a thick, terminal panicle as well as in some of the lower leaf axils; from Smooth pigweed by its coarse, harsh inflorescence; and from Green pigweed by the somewhat dull green colour of its leaves, the dense covering of short hair on its upper stem, its thick, coarse, bristly terminal panicle with the uppermost central spike extending only a short distance above the rest of the panicle, and by two features requiring magnification to see: the sepals of each flower are broader above the middle and rounded or somewhat flattened at their tips, and its male flowers usually have 5 stamens each.

Name: Lamb's-quarters, Chenopodium album L.,   Other Names: chénopode blanc, Fat-hen, Pigweed, White goosefoot, White pigweed, chou gras, poulette grasse, ansérine blanche   Family: Goosefoot Family (Chenopodiaceae)   General Description: Annual, reproducing only by seed. Very variable in appearance.

Photos and Pictures

Lamb'squarters. A. Young flowering plant. B. Seedling in 2nd true-leaf stage, top and side views. C. Seedling in 6th true-leaf stage.

Stems & Roots: 20-200cm (8in.-6½ft) high, branched or unbranched, smooth, green or with reddish or purplish lengthwise stripes and ridges

Leaves: First 2 or 4 true leaves apparently opposite (2 per node), but all later leaves and branches distinctly alternate (1 per node); leaves stalked, the blades 3-10cm (1-4in.) long, lance-shaped or more often broadly triangular with irregular, usually shallow teeth; leaves green or grayish due to a covering of a white mealiness or powderiness, sometimes with reddish undersurface on young plants.

Flowers & Fruit: Flowers very small, greenish, densely grouped together into small, thick, granular clusters along the main stem and upper branches, having 5 green sepals but no petals; seeds small, rounded in outline, somewhat flattened, 1-1.5mm (1/25-1/16in.) in diameter, enclosed in a very thin, membranous, smooth, whitish covering (pericarp) which is readily fractured and lost when dry. Flowers from June to August.

Habitat: Lamb's-quarters is very widespread throughout Canada, occurring in cultivated fields, pastures, wasteland, roadsides, gardens and almost anywhere the soil is disturbed.

Similar Species: It is distinguished from the Atriplexes by having only the first 2 or 4 leaves arranged in opposite pairs, and from most other weeds by its broadly triangular leaves with irregular, shallow teeth, its smooth, occasionally mealy or scurfy leaves and stem, and its inflorescence of small, greenish flowers in granular clusters.

Name: Field horsetail, Equisetum arvense L., [EQUAR].

Other Names: Horse-pipes, Joint-grass, Mare's-tail, prèle des champs, queue-de-renard, prèle commune

Family: Horsetail Family (Equisetacae)

General Description: Perennial. Never has flowers or seeds but reproduces by spores and by horizontal underground stems (rhizomes). Distinguished by its ashy-gray, unbranched, leafless shoots tipped with brownish, spore-producing cones in early spring, and later, from late spring or early summer onwards, by its whorls of 6 to 8 green, leafless branches and complete absence of flowers.

Photos and Pictures

Field horsetail, vegetative stage.

Field Horsetail. A. Vegetative shoot (Green). B. Spore-producing reproductive shoot (whitish to light brown).Stems & Roots: The rhizomes are dark brown or blackish, spread out for long distances and are often 1 m (3 1/3 ft) below the ground surface. They send up numerous aboveground shoots but of two different types at different times of the year. In early spring, the shoots are ashy-gray to light brown, unbranched, hollow, jointed stems; each node (joint) surround-ed by a toothed (b) sheath (a); and the tip of stem end-ing in a brownish, spore-producing cone (c). After the cones have shed their spores (early May) these whitish to light brown stems wither and die down. At the same time, the second type of shoot emerges from the ground. These are green, slender, erect, hollow stems, leafless but with whorls of 6 to 8 branches at nearly every node; each branch may branch again with whorls of smaller branches; stems and branches surrounded by a small, toothed sheath (d) at each node but never end in a spore-producing cone. Both kinds of stems are easily pulled apart at the nodes and can be fitted back together like sections of a stove pipe.Flower and Fruit: The cones shed their spores in early May.Habitat: Field horsetail occurs in all parts of Ontario in depressional areas with poorly drained soils, as well as in sandy or gravelly soils with good drainage such as railroad embankments and roadsides. An intense competitor, it can severely suppress crops and other plants.Caution: It contains a substance which destroys vitamin B in animals. It is especially poisonous to young horses. Hay containing this weed may be more poisonous than fresh plants in the field.

Name: Wild buckwheat, Polvgonum convolvulus L.,   Other Names: renouée liseron, Black bindweed, Climbing bindweed, Corn bindweed, faux liseron, sarrasin sauvage   Family: Buckwheat or Smartweed Family (Polygonaceae)   General Description: Annual, reproducing only by seed.

Photos and Pictures

Wild buckwheat. A. Base of plant. B. Portion of stem twining around another stalk. C. Section of stem with leafstalk, ocrea and 2 flowers.

Stems & Roots: Stems 5 cm (2 in.) to more than 2 m (6 ½ ft) long, slender, prostrate or twining vine-like over other plants or any available support, with a short ocrea (membranous sheath) at each node (joint)   Leaves: Leaves alternate (1 per node), arrowhead-shaped with pointed basal lobes and elongated slender tips.   Flowers & Fruit: Flowers small, 5 mm (1/5 in.) across, with 5 greenish to whitish sepals (no petals), in small clusters at tips of short branches or from axils of leaves; "seeds" dull black, 3 mm (1/8 in.) long, pointed at both ends but sharply triangular in cross-section and often partly or wholly enclosed by the dry sepals even after shattering from the plant. Flowers from July to August.  Habitat: Wild buckwheat is a common weed in cultivated fields and gardens throughout all of Ontario and its "seeds" frequently contaminate small grains.   Similar Species: It is distinguished from all other weedy members of the Smartweed Family by its twining stems, its arrowhead-shaped leaves, and its seedling usually having longer cotyledons (7-33mm, ¼-1¼in. long). It is distinguished from Field bindweed by its annual root system with thin, downward-tapering taproot, the presence of an ocrea around the stem at each node (joint), its very small, short-stalked greenish flowers, borne in the axils of leaves or in clusters along short branches, and its dark, sharply triangular seeds.

Name: Curled dock, Rumex crispus L.,   Other Names: patience crépue, Curly dock, Narrow-leaved dock, Sour dock, Yellow dock, patience, rumex crépu   Family: Buckwheat Or Smartweed Family (Polygonaceae)   General Description: Perennial, spreading only by seed.   Photos and Pictures

 Curled dock. A. Seedling in cotyledon stage. B. Seedling in 4th ltue-leaf stage. C. Rosette. D. Base of mature plant. E. Inflorescence. F. Single, 3-winged "fruit".

Stems & Roots: Stems erect, 1 m (40 in.) or taller, from a thick, yellowish, deeply penetrating, simple or branching taproot   Leaves: Leaf shape variable: cotyledons (first 2 seed leaves) very narrow, dull green and mealy-surfaced; first true leaves roundish in outline; rosette leaves long, 10-30cm (4-12in.) or longer, narrow, with rounded or tapered bases, very wavy-margined, curled or "crisped," sour-tasting; stem leaves alternate (1 per node), similar but smaller upwards, base of each leaf-stalk flattened, expanded and somewhat encircling the stem at the node, and with a prominent ocrea (membranous sheath) up to 5 cm (2in.) long which becomes brown and papery with age; the lower stem leaves dying as the plant matures.  Flowers & Fruit: Flowers small, greenish clustered in whorls around the branches of the terminal inflorescence, becoming at maturity a thick branched mass of light brown to dark brown "fruits"; each fruit with 3 tiny sepals and 3 large, wing-like, smooth-margined, papery sepals or "valves", with 1 prominent, egg-shaped, corky bump (tubercle or "grain") on the back of each of the 3 large sepals, and enclosing a small, shiny, reddish-brown fruit ("seed") which is triangular in cross-section, pointed at both ends and about 2mm (1/12in.) long. Flowers from June to July.   Habitat: Curled dock is a common weed of moist situations such as meadows, low pastures, riversides, roadsides, depressions in cultivated fields, and occasionally on sandy uplands throughout Ontario.

Similar Species: It is distinguished from similar plants by its long, narrow leaves with curled and wavy margins, the base of the leaf blades being rounded or narrowed towards the leafstalks, and the 3 wing-like sepals (valves) of the fruit with relatively smooth margins (no teeth) and each one bearing an enlarged corky tubercle.

Name: Prostrate knotweed, Polygonum aviculare L.,   Other Names: renouée des oiseaux, Doorweed, Knot-grass, Mat-grass, Road-spread, traînasse, renouée aviculaire   Family: Buckwheat or Smartweed Family (Polygonaceae)   General Description: Annual, reproducing only by seed.

Photos and Pictures

Prostrate knotweed (A - plant on a dry lawn; B - portion of stems showing ocrea).

Prostrate knotweed. A. Plant. B. Branch tip with flowers in several leaf axils. C. 1 older leaf with 1 "seed" in its axil, the "seed" still enclosed in its sepals.

Stems & Roots: Stems prostrate or semi-erect from a thin, tough, wiry, deeply penetrating taproot; stems slender, tough and wiry; growth habit variable: in open sunny situations stems fully prostrate, to 1m (40in.) or longer, or main stems prostrate with short, upturned branches, but in partly shaded situations, such as a grain crop, stems are nearly erect to 30 or 40cm (12-16in.) high; stem nodes (joints) distinct, thickened, and surrounded by a thin, papery ocrea (membranous sheath) that usually has a torn or jagged margin.   Leaves: Leaves alternate (1 per node), up to 5cm (2in.) long but usually much shorter, their width about 1/3-1/5 of their length, usually broadest near or past the middle, and narrower towards both ends.   Flowers & Fruit: Flowers small and inconspicuous, 2mm (1/12in.) or less long, without petals but with 5 tiny greenish, pinkish or purplish sepals, produced in axils of leaves and partially enclosed in the ocrea; mature "seed" more or less enclosed by the drying sepals, slightly rough, dull brown, triangular in cross-section and about 2mm (1/12in.) long. Flowers from June to September.  Habitat: Prostrate knotweed occurs throughout Ontario in areas of moderately heavy foot- or wheel-traffic where the soils may be low in fertility and so heavily compacted that other plants are unable to survive. It is one of the most common weeds along roadsides, edges of or cracks in sidewalks and pavement, and heavy-traffic areas in lawns. It also occurs in gardens and cultivated fields where it tends to have a more erect habit of growth.

Similar Species: It is distinguished by its thin, wiry stems with small leaves, the ragged ocrea surrounding the stem above every leaf, and its tiny greenish to pinkish or purplish flowers in axils of leaves. Prostrate knotweed, an introduction from Eurasia, is similar to several, closely related, native species of knotweed. One of the more common of these is Striate knotweed, Polygonum achoreum Blake,[POLAH, renouée coriace, Erect knotweed] This plant sometimes occurs in similar situations, especially roadsides, and is distinguished from Prostrate knotweed by its coarser, more erect stems, broader and more rounded leaves, and by its triangular seeds being smooth and olive-coloured. All knotweeds have wiry stems with swollen nodes, membranous ocrea, and tiny flowers arising inside the ocrea in leaf axils.

Name: Tall buttercup, Ranunculus acris L.,   Other Names: renoncule âcre, Field buttercup, Meadow buttercup, Tall crowfoot, Tall field buttercup, bouton-d'or   Family: Buttercup Family (Ranunculaceae)   General Description: Perennial, reproducing only by seed.

Photos and Pictures

 Tall buttercup. A. Base of plant. B. Lower leaf. C. Flowering branch.

Stems & Roots: Stems 1 or several from a thick rootstalk with numerous, spreading, coarse, fibrous roots, erect, 30-100cm (12-40in.) high, branched in the upper part, hairy throughout; leaves basal and alternate (1 per node) on the stem, softly hairy, very deeply lobed and toothed; basal and lower leaves long-stalked, the blade deeply divided into 5 main lobes palmately arranged (like fingers from the palm of the hand), each of the 5 lobes irregularly jagged or coarsely toothed; middle leaves with similar shape but nearly stalkless; upper leaves progressively smaller with fewer and smoother lobes; the base of each leafstalk flattened and partly surrounding the stem at each node.   Flowers & Fruit: Flowers bright yellow, about 2-3cm (4/5-1¼in.) in diameter, grouped on long stalks in a much-branched inflorescence; sepals 5, green and small; petals 5; stamens numerous around the cluster of tiny pistils; after the petals fall, the cluster of seeds is nearly spherical with each seed about 3mm (1/8in.) long, flattened, egg-shaped in outline with a short hooked tip. Flowering and setting seed from late May throughout the summer and fall.   Habitat: Tall buttercup is one of the most common weeds of pastures, meadows, and roadsides throughout Ontario. It can grow in a wide variety of habitats from low wet meadows, to rich woods, to the coarse soils of gravel pits and railroad cinders. There are many species of native and introduced buttercups, but only Tall buttercup is of wide importance as a weed.   Similar Species: It is distinguished by its erect habit, the lower and middle leaves being similar in appearance, and the leaf blades deeply lobed but not completely divided into sections with distinct stalks.

Caution: The Buttercups have a bitter, acrid juice which causes severe pain and inflammation when grazed by livestock. They are normally avoided, but when other feed becomes scarce they may be grazed with serious consequences.

Name: Stinking wall-rocket, Diplotaxis muralis (L.) DC.,

Other Names: Sand-rocket, diplotaxis des murailles, diplotaxis des mursFamily: Mustard Family (Cruciferae)General Description: Annual, reproducing only by seed.

Photos and Pictures

Stinking wall rocket. A. Base of annual plant.

Stems & Roots: Stems 20-50cm (8-20in.) long, spreading erect or nearly horizontal, much-branched, smooth.

Leaves: Leaves mostly clustered in a basal rosette and on the lower part of the stem, alternate (1 per node), elongated, deeply lobed or toothed.

Flowers & Fruit: Flowers like Wild mustard but lighter lemon yellow and on stalks 1-1.5cm (2/5-3/5in.) long; pods 2-3.5cm (4/5-1½in.) long with a very short beak but not developing a short stipe (see Narrow-leaved wall-rocket); flower stalks spreading at an angle from the stem. The whole plant has a distinctly unpleasant odour, somewhat resembling that of rotting turnips. Flowers from May to September.

Habitat: Stinking wall-rocket usually occurs in coarse soils along roads, railways, beaches, around buildings and in waste places in southern Ontario

Similar Species: It is distinguished by its leaves being mostly clustered near the base, the upper part of its stem being usually more or less branched and spreading, its lemon yellow flowers followed by short seedpods, and the very unpleasant odour from all parts of the plant.

Name: Rough cinquefoil, Potentilla norvegica L.,

Other Names: Upright cinquefoil, Yellow cinquefoil, potentille de Norvège, potentille

Family: Rose Family (Rosaceae)

General Description: Annual, biennial or short-lived perennial, reproducing only by seed.

Photos and Pictures

Rough cinquefoil.

Stems & Roots: 20-50cm (8-20in.) high, usually branched, sometimes with 2 or more stems from the same root, hairy throughout.

Leaves: Alternate (1 per node), compound; 1 leaf consisting of 3 leaflets at the end of a leafstalk (petiole) and a pair of stipules at the base of the leafstalk where it joins the stem; each leaflet oblong to roundish with coarse, sharp, forward-pointed teeth; leaves in a rosette early in the growing season and, at this stage, frequently mistaken for strawberry; lower stem leaves long-stalked; uppermost leaves stalkless with the 3 leaflets and pair of stipules apparently attached directly to the stem.

Flowers & Fruit: Flowers about 6mm (?in.) across, on short stalks from leafy branches in the upper part of the plant; 5 pale yellow petals about the same length as the green sepals, a ring of many stamens around the cluster of many tiny pistils which mature into a cluster of seeds; each seed about 1mm (1/25in.) long, yellowish to pale brown and ridged lengthwise. Flowers in June and July.

Habitat: Rough cinquefoil occurs throughout Ontario in pastures, meadows, waste areas, roadsides, and occasionally in gardens and cultivated fields.

Similar Species: Rosettes of Rough cinquefoil are distinguished from strawberry plants (Fragaria spp.) by having teeth all around the margins of all 3 leaflets, whereas with strawberry the lower ? to 1/3 of each leaflet is usually without teeth. Older plants have robust, erect stems with several leaves and yellow flowers, whereas strawberry has a slender, short, nearly leafless stem with loose clusters of white flowers. It is distinguished from the yellow-flowered buttercups by its 3-leaflet leaves and the presence of a pair of stipules at the base of each leafstalk. Rough cinquefoil is distinguished from other cinquefoils by the combination of 3-leaflet leaves green on both surfaces, and small (6-10mm, ?-2/5in. across), pale yellow flowers in which the sepals and petals are of about equal length.

Name: Common mallow, Malva neglecta Wallr.,   Other Names: mauve négligée, Cheeses, Garden mallow, Round-leaved mallow, amours   Family: Mallow Family (Malvaceae)   General Description: Annual, biennial or short-lived perennial, reproducing only by seed.

Photos and Pictures

 Common mallow. A. Seedling. B.Base of flowering stem.  D. Fruit (ring of "seeds").

Stems & Roots: Stems much-branched, erect or trailing on the ground with upturned ends, hairy, 10-60cm (4-24in.) long, from a stout taproot.

Leaves: Leaves alternate (1 per node), long-stalked; blades rounded or kidney-shaped with a deep heart-shaped base, shallowly lobed and toothed; stipules green to purplish or brownish, triangular, 2.5-6mm (1/10-1/4in.) long.

Flowers & Fruit: Flowers in axils of leaves; sepals 5, in a ring; petals 5, white to pinkish or lilac, 1-1.5cm (2/5-3/5in.) across and with a column of stamens in the centre covering the pistil; fruit a circle of about 12 to 14 dry sections ("seeds"), each section having flat sides but being rounded on its back, very finely hairy, and containing 1 dark brown seed. Flowers from June to late autumn.

Habitat: Common mallow occurs throughout most of Ontario and is a very frequent weed in lawns, gardens, barnyards, roadsides, waste places and occasionally in cultivated fields.

Similar Species: It is distinguished by its low stature, its rounded to kidney-shaped leaves, its flowers 1-1.5cm (2/5-3/5in.) across witha central column of stamens and the individual sections in the ring of fruits rounded and not prominently veined.

Name: Purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria L.,   Other Names: salicaire, Spiked loosestrife, salicaire commune, lythrum salicairel   Family: Loosestrife Family (Lythraceae)   General Description: Perennial, reproducing only by seed.

Photos and Pictures

Purple loosestrife (A - flowering spikes; B - a typical strand).

Stems & Roots: Stems tall, erect, 60-120cm (24-48in.) high, somewhat branched, usually finely hairy, more or less square in cross-section, especially where the leaves are opposite; leaves opposite (2 per node) or sometimes whorled (3 or more per node), stalkless, broad near the base and tapering towards the tip, 3-10cm (1¼-4in.) long, finely hairy; upper leaves and those in the inflorescence usually alternate (1 per node) and smaller than the lower ones.   Flowers & Fruit: Flowers in dense terminal spikes; sepals united into a column with 8 to 10 or 12 prominent green veins and ending in several, long, thin, pointed lobes; petals 5 to 7, red-purple, 7-10mm (¼-2/5in.) long, very showy; stamens several and 1 pistil; seedpod small, containing many tiny seeds. Flowers from June to autumn.   Habitat: Purple loosestrife was introduced from Europe but is now widely naturalized in wet meadows, river flood-plains, and damp roadsides throughout most of Ontario.   Similar Species: Its opposite leaves and square stems resemble plants of the Mint Family but it is distinguished by having separate petals, a seedpod with many fine seeds, and it lacks the minty odour.

Name: Wild carrot, Daucus carota L.,   Other Names: carotte sauvage, Bird's-nest, Queen Anne's-Lace, carotte   Family: Carrot Or Parsley Family (Umbelliferae)   General Description: Biennial or, occasionally, annual and sometimes a short-lived perennial, reproducing only by seed. Seedlings emerge during spring and early summer, with 2 long, narrow, thin cotyledons (seed leaves); first true leaf is compound with 3 main divisions; later leaves compound with many divisions. Stems, leaves and root have the familiar carrot odour.

Photos and Pictures

Wild carrot. A. Seedling, top and side views.Wild carrot. B.Base and upper part of flowering plant.

Stems & Roots: First-year plant usually stemless, with a deeply penetrating, tough taproot and a rosette of stalked, very finely dissected (lacy), hairy leaves virtually identical in appearance and smell to leaves of the cultivated carrot.  Leaves: Bases of leafstalks broad and flat; stem produced in the second year on biennial plants, erect, to 1m (40in.) tall, branching, grooved, rough-hairy or bristly; stem leaves similar to basal leaves but smaller and on shorter stalks; base of leafstalk broadened and more or less circling the stem at each node.  Flowers & Fruit: Flowers white in compound umbels (large umbels made up of many smaller umbels) at tips of stem and branches; a whorl of several 3- to 5-branched bracts at the base of each compound umbel; most flowers white or occasionally pinkish, but the single flower arising from the centre of the compound umbel is often dark purple; after flowering the umbel closes, forming what is commonly called a "bird's-nest"; fruits ("seeds") grayish to brownish with several rows of spines by which they cling to clothing and animal fur. Flowers from June to September.   Habitat: Wild carrot occurs throughout most of Ontario in old pastures, waste places, roadsides, meadows and occasionally as a weed in gardens and flower borders. The cultivated carrot was developed from Wild carrot, which has a coarse, woody, fibrous, unpalatable taproot, by selecting strains having soft juicy edible roots.   Similar Species: It is distinguished by its finely divided leaves, its erect, hairy stem, its white to pinkish compound umbels surrounded at their bases by whorls of slender 3- to 5-branched bracts, its bird's-nest cluster of fruits and its typical carrot odour, and a coarse, fibrous, unpalatable root.

Name: Broad-leaved plantain, Plantago major L.,   Other Names: Common plantain, Doorweed, Dooryard plantain, Plantain, Whiteman's foot, grand plantain, plantain majeur   Family: Plantain Family (Plantaginaceae)   General Description: Perennial, reproducing only by seed. Plant stemless, except for the leafless flowering stalks.

Photos and Pictures

Stems & Roots: Root system thick and fibrous.   Leaves: Leaves all in a basal rosette, oval or elliptic, 5-30cm (2-12in.) long, the blade about as long as its thick green stalk, smooth or somewhat rough-hairy, with 3 to several prominent veins radiating from the leafstalk towards the tip, margins smooth or irregularly toothed.   Flowers & Fruit: Flowers in compact spikes on erect, leafless stalks from among the basal leaves; each spike about the size and shape of a lead pencil but consisting of many, tiny, stalkless, greenish flowers giving it a coarsely granular texture; each flower about 2-3mm (1/12-1/8in.) across, with 4 sepals, 4 petals, 2 stamens and 1 pistil; the egg-shaped seedpod developing beneath the withering flower; this mature seedpod splitting apart with a circular fracture around its middle so that the top part drops off and releases the 5 to 16 dark brown or nearly black angular seeds, each about 1mm (1/25in.) long. Flowers and sets seed from spring until late autumn.   Habitat: Broad-leaved plantain is very common in all but the most remote unsettled areas of Ontario occurring in cultivated land, pastures, meadows, waste places, roadsides, lawns and gardens.   Similar Species: It is distinguished by its rosette of dull green, oval leaves with thick green stalks, and its elongated spikes of tiny green flowers each followed by a small egg-shaped pod with usually more than 5 tiny dark brown or nearly black seeds.

Name: Common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.,   Other Names: petite herbe à poux, Short ragweed, ambrosie a feuilles d'armoise   Family: Composite or Aster Family (Compositae)
  General Description: Annual, reproducing only by seed.

Photos and Pictures

   Common ragweed (A - plant beginning to flower; B - spikes of male flower heads ready to release pollen).

 Common ragweed. A. Seedling, top and side views. B. Portion of stem with 2 leaves. C. End of flowering branch. D. 1-sided "raceme" with 7 heads, each with 1 female flower.

Stems & Roots: Stems erect, 15-150cm (6-60in.) high, usually much-branched, hairless or hairy throughout; lower leaves opposite (2 per node) but becoming alternate (1 per node) higher on the plant, bright green to slightly yellowish-green on young plants, becoming grayish-green on older plants, compound and finely divided, the final divisions usually coarsely toothed.   Flowers & Fruit: Flower heads not showy, individually small, 2-5mm (1/12-1/5in.) across, green and inconspicuous but very numerous and forming distinctive inflorescences; individual florets either male or female, but never both; all flowers within one flower head either only male or female, but both male flower heads and female flower heads usually present on the same plant; heads of male (pollen-producing) flowers in raceme-like elongated clusters at ends of branches, each male head hanging downwards on a short stalk like a tiny inverted umbrella; female (seed-producing) flower heads in axils of short, narrow, green bracts near the base of each long cluster of male flower heads, each female head with only a single flower and producing a single, hard, somewhat triangular or diamond-shaped seed with several, short, sharp spines around the upper shoulder, the whole seed 3-5mm (1/8-1/5in.) long. Flowers from August to October.   Habitat: Common ragweed is one of the most abundant weeds of cultivated land throughout southern Ontario, but is rare or absent in northern and northwestern parts of the province. It also occurs in gardens, flower borders, poorly kept lawns, edges of sidewalks, roadsides, fencelines, waste places, and in disturbed areas in pastures and meadows.

Similar Species: It is distinguished by its finely divided leaves, which are opposite in the lower part and alternate in the upper part of the plant, these being yellow-green at first, later gray-green with age, and its very numerous, tiny, non-showy, greenish male flower heads clustered along slender branches in the upper part of the plant.

It is essential that Goldenrod, Solidago spp., [verge d'or, solidage], not be confused with Common ragweed. Several species of Goldenrod occur throughout Ontario in meadows, pastures, woodland, river flats and roadsides, and have very conspicuous bright yellow inflorescences during the ragweed hayfever season of late summer and autumn. Goldenrods do produce pollen but only in small quantities, and their pollen is heavy and sticky. It is not carried on the wind and the plants are pollinated by insects. Because Goldenrod pollen is not carried on the wind, it must not be blamed as the source of irritation for ragweed hay fever sufferers.

Caution: Common ragweed is the most important cause of hay fever during August and September. Although inconspicuous and not recognized by most people, the tiny male flower beads hanging on their slender stalks produce huge quantities of very light pollen. As the pollen falls from these hanging flowers, it is caught by the wind and may be carried for distances greater than 200 km (125 miles). Hay fever sufferers, therefore, may be affected by pollen from ragweed plants far away.

Name: Pineappleweed, Matricaria matricariodes (Less.) Porter,   Other Names: matricaire odorante, matricaire suave, Chamomilla suaveolens Rydb.   Family: Composite or Aster Family (Compositae)   General Description: Annual, reproducing only by seed.

Photos and Pictures

Stems & Roots: Stems erect, much-branched, 5-40cm (2-16in.) high, smooth, hairless; leaves very finely dissected, light green, smooth, hairless and slightly fleshy, alternate (1 per node)   Flowers & Fruit: Flower heads small, conic or egg-shaped, 5-9mm (1/5-¾in.) across, yellowish-green, and without ray florets. The whole plant, and especially the flower heads, when crushed has a distinct pineapple-like odour, hence the common name. Flowers from spring until autumn.   Habitat: Pineappleweed occurs throughout Ontario, especially around farmyards, waste places and roadsides. It is an occasional weed in the compacted soil along the edges of pathways. Also see Prostrate knotweed.   Similar Species: It is distinguished by its small stature, its small flower heads without white ray florets, its smooth hairless stems below the flower heads, and its pineapple odour.

Pests

2009-06-20T10:15:00.000-03:00

You may have noticed that some of your delicate seedlings are being eaten ... I've done some research to see what might be enjoying our garden sprouts, and I'm not too surprised to discover it seems to be the most common pesky FLEA BEETLE! I've attached some links here for you to read about what they are and how to deal with them. Anyone feel like making some excellent garlic juice? There's a recipe here!

Flea Beetles are especially tough on seedlings, but once the plants are more well-established, the flea beetles won't do much damage, so NOW is the time to deal with them by employing some of the methods suggested below. Also, this week's forecast appears to be in our favour as the rain keeps them at bay too!

Some things I've tried in the past include:

- Garlic Spray (see recipes below)

- Wood Ashes (know someone who might have some to donate?) Just sprinkle the powder on the plants! (Must reapply after rain)

- Diatomaceous Earth (again, sprinkle on the plants)

- Mulch can also help!

Read more about flea beetles and organic control methods here:

http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/fleabeetle.pdf

A few Garlic Spray Recipes:

How to Make: Soak 3 ounces of finely minced garlic cloves in 2 teaspoons of mineral oil for at least 24 hours. Slowly add 1 pint of water that has 1/4 ounce liquid soap mixed into it. Stir thoroughly and strain into a glass jar for storage. Use at a rate of 1 to 2 Tablespoons of mixture to a pint of water. If this is effective, try a more dilute solution in order to use as little as possible.

Note: Buy a liquid soap, NOT a detergent. Health food stores have liquid soaps, such as Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Soaps.

Basic Soap Spray

1 to 2 tablespoons liquid soap

1 quart water

Combine ingredients in a bucket, mix, then transfer to a spray bottle as needed.

Garlic Variation

1 to 2 heads garlic, chopped

Enough boiling water to cover

Put garlic in the bottom of a mason jar and cover with boiling water. Put lid on and allow to sit overnight, then strain and add garlic-water to the soap spray. This will decay, so be sure to freeze leftovers until ready to use again.

Summer Solstice Farm Tour & BBQ Picnic Party!

2009-06-20T10:13:00.001-03:00

SUMMER SOLSTICE FARM TOUR & BBQ PICNIC PARTY this SATURDAY, JUNE 20th *rain or shine*!!! (If it rains, it's not supposed to be much (3mm in 24 hours) - anyone have a tarp/tent to lend?)

This is a big day, feel free to participate in any and all of the day's events!

9AM-12NOON Farmer's Market: this week we'll be selling fresh flowers, 21 varieties of exotic tomato seedlings (last day to purchase them!) and fresh-cut herbs - don't miss it!

4PM GUIDED TOUR OF NATURE'S ROUTE FARM: (785 Route 16 Point de Bute, NB) with owner Kent Coates
(MEET AT GARDEN AT 3:30 P.M. FOR CARPOOLING OPPORTUNITIES!)

-Look forward to a seeing a sizzling greenhouse, a chicken coop made out of a retired school bus, as well as meeting members of the CSA (community shared agriculture) and much more! E-Mail Vanessa at SackvilleCommunityGarden@gmail.com if you need a lift/want to carpool!

6PM-9PM BBQ & PICNIC PARTY AT THE COMMUNITY GARDEN!! (Charles Street)

-This will include face painting for kids and adults alike as well as live acoustic music and sparklers!!

-Bring something to BBQ for yourself and new friends, the grill will be waiting. You provide the food, we'll provide the cook!

-Bring a lawn chair or something to sit on in case of dampness

*FYI: asparagus, strawberries, chives, lettuce, radishes, mint, and rhubarb are all in season right now.

9PM KAELI COOK'S BIRTHDAY PARTY

-A terrific lady and gardener is starting a new year of her life and thinks it would be just swell if you'd give her the honour of your company. The party is happening at her place (37 Squire Street), which she shares with Theresa and others. Everyone welcome! BYOB.

Sound good? These events are open to everyone, please spread the word to those who you think would be interested.

Cover Up! The Benefits of MULCHING

2009-06-08T14:34:00.000-03:00

Why you don't want to have naked spots in your garden:

First of all, naked soil can make the outer layer get dried out and withered making it hard to soak the soil, and creating what's called a "hard pan", which is when the soil actually cakes into a hard, dried, clay-like outer surface. This hard pan is really difficult for delicate little seedlings to puncture.

Mulches also regulate soil temperature and moisture (mulches stay wet longer than soil,they retain the day's heat longer and keep the soil cooler in hot weather).

Also, our best friends, worms, really don't like the sunlight, so they seek shelter further from the soil's surface when it's left bare. As you probably suspected, worms are great to have around your growing plants, (because they aerate the soil, eat decomposing plant materials and turn it into happy compost to name a few!) so by putting down a layer on top of the soil, you're creating a more worm-friendly space. A good mulch like grass clippings or leaves also actually provides food for the worms, bringing them even closer to your plants!

Reduce your workload: weeds love bare soil, and we aren't the biggest weed fans (some are pretty cool though - more on that in some future blog) A weed in one garden plot (or border!) is soon to be a weed in YOUR garden! Don't be afraid to help someone else out by pulling up that nasty dandelion or by covering up some of their bare soil.

Erosion is another issue and though it might not seem like a big deal in your raised garden beds, you'd be surprised about the amount of soil run-off that can occur during a big rain storm! Leaving the soil exposed can also "leech" nutrients from the soil as well as dislodge and disturb your seedlings, even killing them. Covering the soil by using companion planting methods and mulches can really prevent soil and nutrient run-off.

So! Start collecting SEAWEED (my favourite mulch!), bags of leaves, grass clippings, tree bark/mulch to put on top of any bare soil in your garden! If you know of a good source of mulching material, let us know and the whole garden can benefit! Of course, we only use natural materials on the garden, so make sure your grass clippings weren't sprayed with chemicals, and NO synthetic mulches allowed (plastics or otherwise).

As always, more to come so keep checking in and feel free to contact me if you need some suggestions about applying mulch on your plot.

Work Bee # 2: Preparing & Planting your Garden!

2009-06-03T13:08:00.000-03:00

Everyone is welcome! Even if you don't have a plot, this is a great way to learn and help out!

Learn how to prepare your garden bed for planting and how to plant your first seeds and seedlings this Sunday! We'll go through all the basics so that you know exactly what to do in your garden space! This is also your chance to connect with all of the other community garden enthusiasts and to give some vital time to developing the Community Garden section for vegetables grown to sell at the market :).

Summer is here and by June 7th, everything you want to plant can be planted. The Community Garden has a lot of tomato seedlings for you to use in your plot, so don't worry about purchasing tomato seedlings if you didn't get a chance to start them yourself. Otherwise bring your seeds! I encourage people to use this opportunity for an ad hoc seed exchange too!

We'll spend the first hour working and learning together in the Community Garden section and then we'll help each other get started on our own plots (some are weedier than others, don't fret!).

Bring snacks, water and sunscreen/sun-protective gear, and appropriate gardening clothes and gloves (you'll most certainly be getting "soiled" ;).

This will also be your chance to officially sign up and pay for plot. Another e-mail will be sent later this week to plot renters about what is "officially" involved. Plot rentals are $40 for the year ;).

New Sackville Resilience Coordinator!

2009-06-03T13:02:00.000-03:00

"Hi, everyone!

Really looking forward to meeting all of you and gardening side by side on Work Bees, etc. Although I'm not a seasoned gardener, I am keen on learning and strongly believe that community gardens will play (and are already playing) a pivotal role in raising awareness about issues of food security and sustainability. Plus, they're fun to boot! If there's anyway I can assist you, please do not hesitate to contact me. "

Vanessa Yu

Planning Your Plot & Companion Planting!

2009-05-21T10:17:00.000-03:00

5' X 15' may seem like a small space, but I assure you, there's an abundant harvest to be grown if you plan it properly!

As for planning out your plot, some things to consider are:

- Spacing required for each plant:

How big will this plant get and how much space should I leave around the seed for it to grow to maturity without crowding other plants or competing with the next plant of the same species?

- The direction of the SUN:

- Heavy versus Light Feeders:

-Timing:

-No empty space:

Good luck!

Companion Planting starting links:

http://www.gardentoad.com/companionplants.html

http://www.ext.nodak.edu/county/cass/horticulture/vegetables/companion.htm

http://www.homeandgardenmag.com/articles_sp06/plantpals.html

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/1992-02-01/Carrots-Love-Tomatoes.aspx (a great book resource)

Our new little Greenhouse!

2009-05-15T12:26:00.000-03:00

August Film Screening: The Garden

2009-05-14T09:13:00.000-03:00

Film Screening of 'The Garden'
co-hosted by Sackville Cinema Politica and The Sackville Community Garden.

When: Monday August 31st @ 7:30 p.m.

Where: Room 108, Dunn Building, Mount Allison Campus (at York St. and Salem St.)

All are welcome to attend. Entry is by donation or PWYC.

'The Garden' is an award-winning documentary that chronicles the struggles of the South Central farmers in Los Angeles. For more information about the film please Click HERE.

Click HERE to see the trailer for 'The Garden'!

For more info about Cinema Politica please visit: http://www.cinemapolitica.org/sackville

Good Grounds Cafe a Huge Success!

2009-05-11T12:17:00.000-03:00

We had over 60 people attend the Community Garden's Good Grounds Cafe fundraiser, where we raised just over $400! We promise to make this money grow and we invite everyone to see it in action this summer by visiting the Community Garden :).

Attendees enjoyed selecting their favourite dessert from over 15 different delectable delights (chocolate mocha cake, several different cheesecakes, cupcakes, and apple torte to name a few!), where they were then able to relax with a cup of tea or coffee in the cozy cafe setting--candles, flowers and all!

Thank you so much to all of our donors; your donations (big and small) helped the Community Garden become more visible in the Community and helped us raise money to allow us to continue our work as busy bees: learning to grow our own food, enrich and spread the local gardening spirit and supply Sackville with fresh, chemical-free veggies!

Special thanks to Alicia Steeves who beautifully organized the entire thing and Janine O'Reilly for her continuing support and ideas!

Plots Still Available for the 2009 Gardening Season

2009-05-05T16:51:00.001-03:00

Would you like a Community Garden plot?

Email Theresa at sackvillecommunitygarden@gmail.com to reserve a plot (there aren't many left, so hurry!). Please use "PLOT" as the subject line, and include your full contact information.

Theresa can give you more details about what's involved in renting a plot - the time commitment, the cost, Work Bees, expectations about garden up-keep, how to volunteer and give back to the garden, and regulations regarding the ban on genetically modified seed or products and chemical pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers.

If you've already requested a plot, please email Theresa to confirm your interest and indicate if you have a preference for any plot in particular (priority-choice goes to those who had that particular plot last year).

Remember, no experience is necessary (only curiosity and enthusiasm are required!) and you can always consider the option of sharing a plot with a friend :)

We will do our best to accommodate everyone who has an interest!

May 10th: First 'Work Bee' of 2009!

2009-05-05T16:41:00.000-03:00

Seed Planting and Seedling Transplanting:

Sunday, May 10th from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

@ 37 Squire Street

We will plant seeds into pots and transplant seedlings into bigger pots. Bring your own seeds to be planted - we have soil and some trays/pots available for you to use too.

If you can host a tray of the Community Garden plot seedlings that we will be planting/transplanting, it would be much appreciated. This requires South/East facing windows and someone to water them carefully and take them outside on particularly hot, sunny days until they’re ready to be placed in the Greenhouse or planted - pretty soon!

'Work Bees' are an excellent way to learn how to garden - in fact, that's what they're all about! They're also a great way to get involved (whether you have your own plot or not) and support the garden - we usually work on the Community plot of the garden as a way to demonstrate the necessary skills and accomplish the necessary Community plot work. Work bees build community as folks come together to teach, share and learn in the full gardening process including bed prep, planting, weeding, harvesting and pruning, and preparing for winter.

Everyone is encouraged to attend!

May 8th: Community Garden Fundraiser

2009-04-30T15:45:00.000-03:00

Sackville Community Garden’s 2nd Annual Fundraiser

In conjunction with The Rotary Club of Sackville’s ‘Wine Tasting Evening’

The Good Grounds Dessert Café - Delicious Homemade Desserts, Coffee and Tea
Friday May 8th 9:00-11:00 PM
Tantramar Veterans Memorial Civic Centre

Questions? Contact adsteeves@mta.ca