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

Summer in the City - July 17

After one of the longest "springs" in memory - summer has finally decided to make an appearance!! Cucumber, frisee and parsnips have taken off - all trying to keep up with the sunflowers. We harvested some nice sized garlic bulbs and discovered a number of female blossoms on the spaggetti squash.

Summer Colours in the Garden - July 10

Crocosmia, Pot Marigold (Calendula) and another sunflower update. Calendula petals make a lovely addition to summer salads ....

New Seedlings and Wee Carrots - July 3

Garlic will soon be ready to harvest, potatoes are taking over their bed and some lovely baby carrots were a taste treat. Parsnips, cucucmbers and golden frisee have sprouted and the sunflowers continue to stretch to the sky.

Blossoms - June 26

We have tomato blossoms! The cornflowers and larkspur add wonderful colour to the garden. Sunflowers are starting their climb to the sky - and the few summer turnips were harvested. The turnips were delicious and quick to mature - hopefully we can find more seed to sow again for a fall harvest.

Lots of Green - June 19

Been away for a bit from posting - but time to catch up - here is the SPEC Cambie garden on June 19

Potatoes have a most beautiful blue flower, which should give us blue potatoes - and look at the snow pea blossoms ...... things are looking good mid June

Westside Pocket Market - Thursdays 3-7pm

With the love for food and community, SPEC and Kits Neighborhood House (KNH) are putting together ten Pocket Markets this summer to nurture the growing local food movement and boost the local economy.

Pocket Markets play an important role in supporting the production and distribution of local food. The markets help bridge the gap for local farmers, urban backyard growers and local food eaters by providing an alternative market format that adds to the current make-up of the farmer’s market world.

Join us in celebrating community and the love for local food, starting every Thursday July 7 until Sep 8, from 3 pm to 7 pm at Kits Neighbourhood House (2325 7 Ave West). In addition to tasty food, SPEC will offer workshops on Winter Gardening, Eating Local on a Budget and plenty of other workshops! (We encourage curious people to keep an eye on our website for updates).

Vendors at the July 7th market

* Cherry Lane Farm
* SOLEFood Farm
* Salt Spring Coffee Co.
* Giddy up and Grow
* The World in A Garden

The vendors will vary from market to market. If you want to become a market vendor to sell eggs, fresh produce or baked treats, please contact Sara Blenkhorn at sarablenkhorn@gmail.com.

Workshop offered on July 7
Workshop #1 - Climate Change and Year-Round Gardening.
Time: 5 pm to 6pm.
Is your garden prepared for an unpredictable climate? Explore how climate change can affect the productivity of urban farms and gardens and how certain practices can minimize greenhouse gases in small-scale agriculture. Participants will learn climate-modifying techniques to extend the season, including mulching, greenhouses, coldframes and cloches. (All workshop are free but donations are always appreciated!).

The Pocket Market Voucher Program
Eating local is unfortunately not always the most affordable option for your pocket. At the Westside Pocket Market we want ALL community members to be able to enjoy healthy food, this is why we are launching the Pocket Market Voucher Program. The vouchers program will help low income families and individuals to access nutritious food by taking the financial edge off eating local. For more information on how to access the Pocket Market Vouchers, please contact Kits Neighborhood House at 604-736-3588.

Key to Successful Organic Gardens

Compost!!

The Beds are Almost Full

Today we harvested lettuce thinnings, chives, arugula and mesclun.

The beds are almost at capacity now - empty spaces were seeded with cucumbers, dill, parsnips, mesclun, mixed lettuce and frisee.

Fruit and Flowers Too

Looks like we will have a good crop of raspberries for July munching. The Lupins are also now at their peak - good for bringing pollinators into the garden.

Time to Plant Summer Veggies

Important to keep records of what we've planted, including date sown, germination time and general progression of the crop. The June 5th planting included beans, beets, parsnips, basil, hot pepper transplants and more tomato transplants - you can never have too many tomatoes...........

More Progress in the Garden

And a few more pictures - have a look at the potatoes - amazing growth - and the strawberries are loving the company of garlic and the newly added tomato transplants

First Harvest June 5

Time to harvest! And what a great morning we had for the event .....

We cleared out the radish beds to makes way for planting summer veggies, and the spicy mesclun mix and toy choi were also shared by all