MARCH 200 9 the Dates to remember Campus Garden Food Security Research Network Grow Local GARDENING RESOURCES Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada www.agr.gc.ca The Vegetable Garden Guru www.vegetablegardeningguru.com The Backyard Gardener http://www.backyardgardener.com/veg/ Green Ontario http://www.greenontario.org/strateg y/agriculture.html Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada http://www.organicagcentre.ca/Regi onsCanada/ontario_welcome.asp “In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt” MARGARET ATWOOD Welcome Gardeners 2009! Located between the Hangar and the McIntyre River, the Lakehead University Community Campus Garden boasts 24,240sqft of planting space. With the intention to bring together experienced and beginner gardeners for the simple reason: to grow our own food; we hope to increase awareness of slow food movements, local food options, and healthier individual sustainability. Significant in our current economy, our Campus Garden offers an opportunity not only supplement a family’s food budget, but to experience the fulfillment in growing your own food. For those who don’t have garden space, or aren’t sure how to start a vegetable/kitchen garden, we have many experienced gardeners on hand to assist and advise. Experienced gardeners are welcome to share their knowledge and participate in food localism. Food Security Forum March 12 Lakehead University Agora Vernal Equinox March 20 The vernal equinox marks the first day of the season of spring. New Moon March 26 One of the earliest aids to agriculture was planting by the moon.
Transcript
M A R C H 2 0 0 9
the
Dates to remember
Campus Garden Food Security Research Network
Grow Local
GARDENING RESOURCES
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
www.agr.gc.ca
The Vegetable Garden Guru
www.vegetablegardeningguru.com
The Backyard Gardener
http://www.backyardgardener.com/veg/
Green Ontario
http://www.greenontario.org/strateg
y/agriculture.html
Organic Agriculture Centre of
Canada
http://www.organicagcentre.ca/Regi
onsCanada/ontario_welcome.asp
“In the spring, at the end of the day,
you should smell like dirt”
MARGARET ATWOOD
Welcome Gardeners 2009! Located between the Hangar and the McIntyre River, the
Lakehead University Community Campus Garden boasts
24,240sqft of planting space.
With the intention to bring together experienced and beginner
gardeners for the simple reason: to grow our own food; we
hope to increase awareness of slow food movements, local food
options, and healthier individual sustainability. Significant in
our current economy, our Campus Garden offers an
opportunity not only supplement a family’s food budget, but to
experience the fulfillment in growing your own food.
For those who don’t have garden space, or aren’t sure how to
start a vegetable/kitchen garden, we have many experienced
gardeners on hand to assist and advise. Experienced gardeners
are welcome to share their knowledge and participate in food
localism.
Food Security
Forum
March 12
Lakehead
University
Agora
Vernal Equinox
March 20
The vernal equinox
marks the first day
of the season of
spring.
New Moon
March 26
One of the earliest
aids to agriculture
was planting by
the moon.
2
MARCH 2009 THE CAMPUS GARDEN
Did you know? There are more than 1,000 species of
earthworms in our soils.
Easy Vegetables for Beginner Gardeners
Beans – Plant by seed in early June.
Beets – Plant in early May, as soon as the ground
can be worked.
Carrots – Plant in mid-May or 2-4 weeks before last
frost.
Cucumber – Plant first of June after risk of frost has
passed.
Lettuce – Plant in early May, as soon as the ground
can be worked. Sow every 2 weeks for a
continual crop.
Peas – Plant by seed in early May, as soon as the
ground can be worked.
Pumpkin - Plant in early June, after all danger of frost
has passed and when the soil has warmed to
21°C. Water deeply and often.
Radishes – Plant in early May, as soon as the ground
can be worked.
Tomato – Start tomato seeds indoors in mid-April or
6-8 weeks before last frost. Do not put
plants outside until all risk of frost has
passed.
Kitchen Herbs in the Garden Herbs are as useful in the garden as
they are in the kitchen.
Some examples of this are, for instance,
Rosemary repels cabbage flies, while
onions and garlic repel carrot fly,
aphids, and slugs.
Marigolds will deter beetles, and Basil
will attract butterflies. Consider dill
among your cabbage to keep away the
squash bugs and spider mites.
Mints will keep the ants away, plant it
near your lettuce ~ but be careful, they
can be invasive.
Companion Planting Many plants benefit from one another, while others
prefer some distance. With careful planning you can
increase your chances of successful crops, lessen the
need for watering, and decrease the number of pests.
MORE ON COMPANION PLANTING ON PAGE6
3
MARCH 2009 THE CAMPUS GARDEN
Preparing the Soil Healthy soil makes a sustainable garden.
The soil of the Lakehead University
Campus Garden has endured years of being
a sporting field. It is primarily clay and in
some places heavy and shallow. The space has been plowed and tilled with composted
manure and has had triple mix added to it.
The Food Security Research Network has
grown green manures (i.e. alfalfa, clover) in
the area for two seasons, along with a few
vegetable crops the soil. With additional garden crops over the coming years, the soil
will continue to improve and build on itself.
Organic matter added to the soil helps
modify the structure. Individual gardeners
are welcome to amend the soil within their
beds as they desire. We ask only that
amendments be organic and
environmentally sustainable.
Building nutritious soil in the garden is an
ongoing process, and is affected by the
plants grown in it. While some plants give
to the soil, others take away. Legumes are
an example of a nitrogen fixing plant.
Mulch on top of the ground slows water evaporation from the surface, and slows the
growth of unwanted plants (weeds).
Organic mulch made with composted
materials will build healthy garden soil
while maintaining moisture balance.
Putting Peas By
1/2 CUP OF COOKED SNAP PEAS:
CALORIES: 34
DIETARY FIBER: 1.4 GRAMS
PROTEIN: 2.6 GRAMS
CARBOHYDRATES: 5.6 GRAMS
VITAMIN C: 38.3 MG
IRON: 1.6 MG
POTASSIUM: 192 MG
MAGNESIUM: 21 MG
To determine when to pick shell peas, check the pods by eye and feel. If the
pod is round, has a nice sheen, and is bright green, it is ready. If the seeds
have made ridges on the pod and the pod is a dull green, it's past its prime.
You can pick snap and snow snap peas at any time, but they're tastiest
when the pods still have some play around the peas when you squeeze the
pods.
Pick snow peas before the peas start to enlarge in the pods.
Frequent harvesting increases yields. Pick every other day to keep the
plants in production. Pick any pods that are overly mature; if left on the
vine, yields will diminish.
Peas keep best in the shell; so don't shell them until just before cooking.
GGrroowwiinngg VVeeggeettaabbllee SSoouupp By Lois Ehlert
Voyager Books, 1990
ISBN-10: 0152325808
ISBN-13: 978-0152325800
Together, a father and child share the joys of planting, watering,
and watching seeds grow. Now available as a lap-sized board book,
this beloved Lois Ehlert story includes a mouthwatering vegetable
soup recipe.
Nothing gets children more
interested in gardening than
colourful things to eat from
the earth. The Campus
Garden welcomes all children to participate with their
families, and enjoy exploring
our Children’s Garden for fun
varieties of plants.
When planting for children’s
interest, include fast growing plants like lettuces, and
varieties of vegetables that
boast short phases to
maturity.
Consider colour when
choosing varieties of beets, which can be red, white or
striped; carrots that come in
deep shades of red, or purple
beans that turn green when cooked.
For easy to pick garden varieties consider sugar snap peas
and grape tomatoes for small hands to harvest.
Plants can be included for their name, such as wee
Thumbelina carrots, or Green Goliath broccoli.
Sneezeweed and sweet peas can be planted for the
pollinators. Other favourites for attracting interesting and
helpful insects to your garden are:
“Whirlybird” Nasturtium
“Queen Bee” Sedum
Monkey flower (Mimulus)
Pig Squeak (Bergenia)
Lamb’s ear (Stachys)
Bee balm (Monarda)
5
MARCH 2009 THE CAMPUS GARDEN
Compost bins are strongly
encouraged in the Campus Garden.
We hope to have a few large bins
constructed on site throughout the
summer for everyone to use.
In the meantime, we will set up
smaller compost bins throughout the
garden for the disposal of plant
materials. Gardeners are welcome to
place individual composts on their
site.
Garden Foes, Woes, and Hoes
Deer John, It’s time to end our relationship with campus deer.
The FSRN will be installing a heavy-duty deer
fence around the perimeter of the garden. Deer are an increasing challenge to semi-rural agricultural
projects due to urban centers infringing on their
natural habitats; and have been extremely
problematic to the garden project.
Fencing within the garden is permitted and can be
installed by individual gardeners, should there be
a need.
Watering
Composting
Tools and Equipment
A small tool shed is located near the south end of
the garden. Because space is limited, only a few of
the most necessary tools will be available.
Gardeners are welcome to leave bins on their plots
to store tools.
By watering deeply, roots of plants will grow deep; and by watering less often
but for a longer period of time allows
the water to really saturate the ground
deep. The deep moist soil will force root
systems to grow down and anchor in to
search for natural water better. The
roots will also stay cooler in the deep soil making them able to fend off
periods of drought.
There are a few rain barrels spaced
throughout the LU Garden; and all
gardeners are welcome to add a barrel
to their own plot. A rain barrel with a proper connection for a soaker hose
becomes an efficient way to seep water
into planting beds.
Water is also available by hose from
the LUSU Hangar, but will be limited
to use when Garden staff are on site.
6
MARCH 2009 THE CAMPUS GARDEN
MORE ON
CCOOMMPPAANNIIOONN PPLLAANNTTIINNGG When planning your garden consider relationships between plants. We can rely
on nature rather than chemicals if we pay
attention to properties of plants, and how
they can benefit or repel one another. In
many ways, opposites attract in a garden:
sun lovers can provide shade for those who
require it, nitrogen-fixing plants can be paired with heavy feeders to balance soil
nutrient, and deep-rooted plants together
with those with shallow roots can work
together in the same space.
Drawing from the wisdoms of sustainable
indigenous and traditional cultures we gain forms of companion planting such as The
Three Sisters which combines beans,
squash, and corn. The beans provide
nitrogen to the soil for the corn to thrive,
while the shade from the squash leaves
prevents soil erosion for all.
By creating beneficial habitats, these
symbiotic relationships will allow gardeners
increased success in both the health and
yield of their plants.
COMMON COMPANION RELATIONSHIPS
INCLUDE:
� Horseradish planted near potatoes to
deter the potato bug.
� Beets like lettuce and onion, but prefer
not to be near the beans.
� Carrots do love tomatoes, and also rosemary and sage.
� Spinach and peas and beans please.
� Peppers like tomatoes but prefer not to
be near cabbage or brussel sprouts.
� Goldenrod, wild roses, Marigolds, Asters
and Nasturtiums are among the many
beneficial flowering plants. They repel
pests such as aphids, and beetles while
attracting pollinators to your vegetable
plants.
� Dill will attract the honey bees and keep
away the squash bugs. Garlic guards
your roses, and also your cucumbers.
Add some chives to fend off spider mites.
SUN
•The Campus Garden has FULL SUN
EXPOSURE
SHADE
• Shade can prevent soil erosion, and maintain
soil moisture.
• Uselarger plants on the south side to provide shaded space in your
bed.
WIND
•Consider wind when
constructing trellises.
Carrots Love Tomatoes: Secrets of Companion Planting for Successful Gardening LOUISE RIOTTE Storey Publishing ISBN-10: 1580170277 ISBN-13: 978-1580170277
ssuuppppoorrttiinngg aa ssttrroonnggeerr llooccaall ffoooodd ssyysstteemm..
OUTGROWING THE EARTH: THE FOOD SECURITY CHALLENGE IN AN AGE OF FALLING WATER TABLES AND RISING
TEMPERATURES Lester Brown This groundbreaking work documents how human demands are outstripping the earth's natural capacities and how the resulting environmental damage is undermining food production. It outlines the steps needed to secure future food supplies.
FOR HUNGER-PROOF CITIES
Sustainable Urban Food Systems
Edited by Mustafa Koc, Rod MacRae, Luc J.A. Mougeot, and Jennifer Welsh
