[Garden] Garden Updates - September 3, 2008

Wed Sep 3 10:36:28 EDT 2008

Garden Update - September 3, 2008 (please circulate to all your gardeners!)

Media

*	Cambridge Times -The Giving Garden featured in a 4 part series on
community gardens in Cambridge August 19, 2008.
http://www.cambridgetimes.ca/news/article/139926.  There is one part left in
this series, if you have an idea to pass on let me know or contact Melissa
Hancock at the Times, (519) 623-7395, ext. 243.
*	KW Snap featured pictures from the Waterloo Community Garden Cycling
Tour that was held in August.  http://www.snapkw.com/display/53772/1058/
*	Food gardens a growing trend from the Denver Post - Seed sales are
way up. Community gardens are long sold out. Calls for help to convert
suburban lawns to lush raised vegetable beds are coming in to extension
agents fast and furious.. http://www.denverpost.com/frontpage/ci_9544778

Securing Resources/Sponsorship

*	If you are looking for items for your garden - from a shed to
fencing to planting pots - try posting an ad on Kijiji
(http://kitchener.kijiji.ca <http://kitchener.kijiji.ca/> ) or Craig's List
(http://kitchener.en.craigslist.ca <http://kitchener.en.craigslist.ca/> ).
This is a great way to find cheap or free items for your garden.  You can
search other's ads to see if there is something that you could use or you
could put your own posting on there to ask for exactly what you need.  If
transportation of the item is a problem I have a volunteer with a truck who
could help.  If you need help with this give me a call and I can walk you
through the steps.
*	There is also a Yahoo Group Freecycle. You have to sign up to be a
member with Yahoo email account but you will have access to a variety of
free items that may be of use to your garden.  Again you could post items
that you are in need of as well.
http://www.freecycle.org/group/Canada/Ontario/Kitchener/info
*	Home Depot has an extensive community give back program called Team
Depot.  Christopher Champlain garden is Cambridge has already received much
support from them!  If you need resources for your garden, help with
constructing a project they could provide you with the tools and labour to
get the job done.  If you are in need of anything let me know and I will put
you in contact with your local Team Depot leader!

Events

*	The authors of the book '100 Mile Diet', Alisa Smith and J.B.
MacKinnon, will be speaking about their inspiring year eating within a 100
mile radius.  They will be speaking:  September 16th from 7-9pm at Knox
Church at 50 Erb Street West in Waterloo, September 17th 7:30pm UW School of
Architecture's Lecture Hall, Cambridge, September 18th 1:30pm Elmira
District Secondary School, September 18th at 7pm at Kitchener Public
Library, 85 Queen St. N.   All events are welcome to the public and free.
*	There will be a series of workshops and speaking events on Local
Food throughout the month of September as part of the One Book One Community
Program.  Please see http://obocwaterlooregion.blogspot.com/ for a complete
listing of events. There are LOTS to choose from!
*	ReThink Waterloo - Friday, October 3rd , 8:30-5pm is free to the
public.  Keynote speaker Robert Kennedy Jr. will speak from 7:30-9pm and is
$35 or $20 for students.  The event is a fundraiser for All Our Relations, a
local hospice and retreat centre. This event will be to help network and
learn about environmental groups and initiatives in the Region of Waterloo!
There will be on-going seminars/lectures for ages. For more information:
http://www.environment.uwaterloo.ca/faculty/news_events/2008/rethink.html
*	Urban Agriculture/Homesteading Presentation. Learn about urban
agriculture and what it means to homestead in the city. Wednesday, Sept 24
at 7 pm, KPL, downtown Kitchener. Free.
*	Intro to Beekeeping Workshop. Sept 27, at Little City Farm (508 Duke
St. West, Kitchener) with Les Eccles of Eccles Apiares and the University of
Guelph Beekeeping Lab. Learn about starting your own beekeeping operation,
information regarding the recent losses of bee colonies in Ontario, plus
local honey tasting and honey for sale! Cost $20/person. Contact Karin to
reserve your place at info at littlecityfarm.ca.
*	I am hoping to organize an Indoor Garden Tour in the Winter.  I
encourage you all to take lots of photos of your beautiful bountiful gardens
this season so we can profile them at the event.  If you could also send me
these pictures I can add them to our Facebook Group.
*	Communities in Blooms Awards Night - Waterloo Towne Square,
September 9th, 5:00-7:30pm (awards ceremony at 6:30pm).

Check us Out on the Web

*	Check out our new Waterloo Region Community Gardeners Facebook
Group.  You don't need to be a member just follow the link:
http://www.new.facebook.com/
<http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2366233797>
group.php?gid=2366233797.  To participate by posting pictures, questions or
comments you can join Facebook, by clicking the 'Sign Up' button on the
left. Then fill in the minimum information necessary to set up an account.
Please be aware of all rules and regulations pertaining to Facebook use in
your organization. Some offices specifically ban the viewing of blogs during
work hours.
*	You can also visit our new Google Groups page at:
http://groups.google.ca/group/community-garden-council-of-waterloo-region?hl
=en.  This site is still under construction but you will be able to become a
member and use this as a means of connecting with other garden coordinators,
sharing local gardening tips and events, and finding resources in the
community.

Volunteers

*	I will be going to several volunteer fairs in the community and will
be promoting many different ways of assisting community gardens.  If you
need help with fall clean up, building a new project, or organizing an event
these are just some of the ways volunteers could be used.  If you have any
volunteer needs please let me know as soon as possible.
*	Regal Acres Community Garden is in need of a saw and rototiller and
volunteer to help clean up their garden this fall.  If any of you have
either of these and could help they would appreciated it.  If so, let me
know and I will provide you their contact.

Gardening Tip

*	Although powdery mildews are for the most part specific to the
species of plants, here's a formula to try. The Cornell Formula.
.    In one gallon of water, mix and repeatedly shake:
.    1 tablespoon baking soda
.    2 drops dishwashing liquid or insecticidal soap
.    1 tablespoon oil. You can use vegetable oil, but 'horticultural oil'
will work better, especially one of the new lighter-weight "summer oils". 
     (Cowboy Gardeners: Do NOT use motor oil or WD-40 or any other such
foolish thing.)

I'm working to provide as much relevant information to everyone as possible
in a concise and easy to read format.  I once again encourage you to pass
this along to everyone at your garden.  If you have any comments or
suggestions about this email feedback is welcome.  

Happy Gardening!

Candace

________________________

Candace Wormsbecker

Community Garden Capacity Builder

Opportunities Waterloo Region

235  King St. E., Main Floor

Kitchener, ON

N2G 4N5

Tel: 519-883-2353 ext. 5984

Fax: 519-568-8587

What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered (Ralph
Waldo Emerson).

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