September at the Garden!

Hello fellow gardeners, 

How is it September 1st already?! August has absolutely flown by, but there’s still lots of time to grow in September! 

Here are a couple of garden updates and reminders for September. 

Reminder: Please do not use pesticides in the garden

At the garden, we support organic growing. 

Please check with your garden manager before applying any fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides or rodenticides in the garden, even if labeled “organic”. These types of products can be harmful to pollinators, birds and other animals who frequent the garden.

Use of compost, organic mulch and weeding is always acceptable. 

WATER, WATER, WATER

Remember to keep getting out to the garden to water every couple of days! The best time to do this is in the morning hours, which provides hydration for your plants during the hottest times of the day, reducing the prospects of powdery mildew and other funguses from spreading and taking hold of your plants. The second best is deep watering in the evening hours. Watering constantly throughout September will increase your yields and keep your plants happy.  

VANCOUVER COMMUNITY FRIDGE PROJECT

We thought we would remind you of this fabulous initiative in case you have some extra food to spare…

The Vancouver Community Fridge Project aims to combat food insecurity and decrease food waste by encouraging our communities to take part in laterally-directed mutual aid, starting with providing free, safe, non-policed, accessible and nutritious foods through community fridges and pantries. 

The Vancouver Community Fridge Project is a great opportunity to give back to the community by sharing some of the delicious fresh food that you grow with neighbours and community members. If you are interested in donating to the Community Fridge Project, check out their list of fridges and find a location that works for you!

Help us Grow!

Help us grow and create new garden spaces by reviewing us online! A quick Google rating will let us know how we're doing and will increase our online presence. Check out the link here to review us on Google, it's only a few clicks.

Happy Growing!

May Flowers at Cambie & 59th!

Hello fellow gardeners!

We hope you are enjoying moments of spring sunshine and longer days. 

May is a great time to get most seeds and starts in the ground so it can be a busy time. If you still need to start some seeds for your garden this month, check out this article by West Coast Seeds for what seeds to start in May.

Green Waste 

It is great to see so many of you busy in the garden and pulling up last year’s growth. Please help us out by doing a thorough job of shaking dirt off the roots before transferring to the Green Waste bins. Thanks for your help with this!

Watering System

As we start to get a few sunnier days, the watering system will continue to get increasing use. Please help us keep the system intact by handling the hoses with care and turning the water off before you leave the garden. 

There is an extra nozzle in the garden shed which can be used in a pinch if one of the other nozzles seizes up or breaks. And of course, let us know by email or phone if there are any issues. 

Volunteer Opportunity 

We have an exciting opportunity for those of you who can’t get enough time in the garden! Food4Thought for Seniors is a gardening project which pairs seniors living alone at home who have garden space with volunteer gardeners. They currently have volunteer opportunities available at Sasamat and 13th Ave. and Ontario and 59th Ave. If you are interested in getting involved please send an email to garden@communitygardenbuilders.com and we will connect you with the organizer! 

Happy gardening!

Your Garden Team