a compost story

Sept 18 Fall Clean Up Begins

Look at the length of this spaghetti squash vine!! Mildew had taken over the leaves and no more fruit visible - so out it comes

Compost in our three bins has really worked down over the hot weather - this is the second full bin that has been emptied into our beds - lots of eggshells, fruit and veggie peelings mixed with dry leaves saved from last autumn and dry straw .... the best amendment for your garden

Cherry tomatoes are producing well now, although we did lose a good part of our crop to unidentified taste testers, and the red mustard keeps on growing and growing

Almost time to start saving leaves again ......

Sept 11 - Flowers Aplenty - Red Mustard Takes Over

What spectacular end of summer weather we have been enjoying -

bouquets of flowers from the garden

and the red mustard planted for winter harvest has taken over its bed ... this bed was amended with a whole composter worth of compost just prior to planting seeds; the brussels sprouts transplants are also growing well, although suffering somewhat from pest damage

Sept 4 - No Glut of Squash - Winter Garden Progressing

We managed to harvest another spaghetti squash - three in total out of the original 15 or more that disappeared

And look at our winter veggies - turnips are growing well

The beans continue to provide a bountiful harvest and the sunflowers are at their best as the end of summer approaches ........

Aug 28 - Purple Beans and Yellow Tomatoes

The last weekend in August - and the beans and tomatoes are producing ........

Weather has been amazing and the warmth is just what we needed to give the tomatoes their final boost toward ripening

August 21 - First Ripe Tomatoes! and More

First Ripe Tomatoes - Sungold!!

Dahlias continue to provide colour - look at this split colour

The bean teepee is taking off, the late sown veggies (turnips and Asian greens) are sprouting and the garden is looking good in its summer spender

More to Harvest More to Sow - August 14

Another Sunday at the SPEC Cambie Garden - rather disheartened that five of our spaghetti squash have disappeared - but we did manage a rather fine harvest of potatoes

We are also trying out some seed tape - no need for thinning - hopefully we will have some lovely Little Finger carrots by mid-October

Dahlias are looking lovely and we have baby beans on our purple pole beans

More radish (China Rose) and Chinese Greens (Tah Tsai) were also seeded in hope of a bountiful fall/winter harvest

Harvest at Kitsilano School Garden

Yesterday morning we had a bountiful harvest of garlic at the Kitsilano Secondary garden. Twenty kids from Kicks for Kids Daycamp (ages 6 and 7) came by to pull up the pungent bulbs. There was a brief demonstration on garlic braiding and we discussed the importance of storing our summer crops for use throughout the year. In a couple of weeks when the garlic has cured the kids will bring their own bulbs home for planting, cooking, and amateur vampire hunting.

After the harvest, we reseeded the beds with some hardy vegetables. The kids chose turnips and spinach from the seeds provided. We then watered the garden and spent a bit of time looking at insects.

It's truly inspiring to spend time in the garden with such animated and inquisitive children. Many of whom were excited about the idea of planting their garlic bulbs and watching them grow over the fall, winter, and spring. Thanks again to Kicks for Kids for all your enthusiasm. Hope to see you all gardening again soon!

More to Sow, More to Transplant - July 31

Still time to sow some fall veggies ... Purple Top White Globe and Tokyo Cross turnips, Toy Choi and Giant Red Mustard

We harvested the garlic bed last week, added a full bin of compost and today transplanted brussels sprouts seedlings into the bed - they should do well with the lime provided by the plethorea of eggshells - if we can keep the slugs at bay!!

We also transplanted purple sprouting broccoli seedlings and did our last planting of pole beans with fingers crossed for a wonderful autumn .....

Summer's Bounty - July 31

A perfect day for work in the garden ........

Harvested golden beets, arugula, spring onions, kale, chives ...

The spaghetti squash has taken off, the sunflowers are in bloom and the Sungold tomatoes will be showing some colour soon - summer at its finest

Building a Westside Kitchen Table - A Potluck

Hey gardeners! Here is something you may want to join in on, especially if you live on the Westside and are concerned about Food Security.


Building a Westside Kitchen Table: A Potluck Conversation about Your Connections with Food and Community

The Westside Food Security Collaborative and Kitsilano Neighbourhood House invite you to a vegetarian potluck (please bring a dish to share if you can) on August 3, 6-8 pm at the Neighbourhood House Hall, 2305 West 7th @ Vine. If you grow it, eat it, sell it, make it, serve it, throw it (or just plain love it) please join us. ...The evening will be an open space; come talk about what’s important to you about food on the west side with others who share your passion as we build a west side “kitchen table”. We will have graphic recording, a children’s table, and opportunities to learn about and get involved with the Westside Food Security Collaborative. All are welcome whether you work, play, study, volunteer, visit, or live in the west side.

Westside Food Security Collaborative: http://www.kitshouse.org/p​rograms/food-security/west​side-food-security-collabo​rative/

Kitsilano Neighbourhood House: http://www.kitshouse.org/

For more information please be in touch with Zsuzsi Fodor, Westside Food Security Collaborative Coordinator at zsuzsi.s.fodor@gmail.com or 778-855-0077


- marnie

More to Harvest More to Sow - July 24

Summer has finally arrived - and the plants are loving it ...

Our harvest today included lots of garlic, spring onion, potato, golden beets and kale.

The radish seed pods are growing plump and we have both cherry and roma tomatos set -

the sunflowers are amazing - and the dwarf plants should be flowering by next week.

We also discovered something new to us - a garlic bulb setting baby cloves up its stalk -

Also sowed more beets, green beans and a first sowing of watermelon radish - these should all make for a bountiful fall harvest along with our lacinato (dinosaur) kale

A Small Bouquet in Celebration of Summer - July 17