Garlic for Sale
McClure Fellowship of Gardeners has garlic for sale.
100 grams sells for $2
Choose from various kinds, Red Russian, Music, Bogatyr, Siberian or Legacy.
Bags are available from the office of Robert McClure United Church 5510 - 26th Avenue NE from 10-1pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Or contact mcclurgarden@gmail.com
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
Saturday, September 24, 2011
The Garlic is Here!
We will be holding our annual garlic fundraiser on Saturday, September 24th at 3:00pm at the garden (5510 - 26th Avenue NE).
A bundle of four organic bulbs will be available for $10. The garlic will be selected from the 50 rare/heritage varieties grown at the McClure garden as part of our Seed Saving and Sharing program. Proceeds support McClure's non-profit, community outreach programs. We can accept cash or cheque payment upon pick-up.
Quantities are limited. For more information and to reserve your bundle, contact Alex at bundleofgarlic@hotmail.com. Reserved garlic can also be picked up at the church beside the garden on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9-4pm and Fridays from 9-3pm.
Garlic bulbils and rounds make for great planting stock and we have them for most of our varieties. Bulbil capsules are $2 each and a package of rounds is $3. For a list of the bulbils and rounds available, contact Alex at the email address above.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Volunteer Opportunities
Greetings from the Volunteer Department of the Calgary Horticultural Society, Happy New Year!
2011 will bring exciting relationships, amazing, fun events and many opportunities for gardeners to connect with fellow gardeners. We need your support to share your talents and time as we engage with new gardeners in the community, enhance our resource materials and celebrate gardening in Calgary.
Dig in and consider some of these volunteer opportunities:1. Community Gardens Support Team
The Community Gardens Resource Network program of the Calgary Horticultural Society has grown dramatically since its inception three years ago. We are busy with requests for information and gardening guidance. To meet the growing demand, we are building a team of people to support the program. Some opportunities include:
- Providing advice to new gardeners
- Updating the database, collection of community gardens stats
- Developing and organizing displays
- Assisting with office work, and
- Photography
We need your support to share your talents and time as we engage with new gardeners in the community, enhance our resource materials and celebrate gardening in Calgary.
2. Receive great garden discounts while raising funds for the Society!
An interesting opportunity has come our way from Cobblestone Home and Garden center, located in southeast Calgary. For Calgary Horticultural Soceity members to volunteer as‘Garden Greeters welcoming patrons, providing directional and store information. Taking a shift to be a garden greeter will help raise funds for the Society and earn YOU at 25% discount at the garden center on the day you volunteer! Cobblestone will make a generous donation to the Society based on the time volunteers contribute.
May 6 to June 12 (variety of shifts available)
If this is something that might interest you, please contact Colleen fof further details (day, time, shifts available) as we need an indication of interest before we agree to providing a roster of volunteer greeters during their busy gardening season.
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For information about volunteering, contact Colleen McCracken, Volunteer Manager at volunteer@calhort.org or 287-3469 X 222 |
Saturday, January 22, 2011
STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE GARDENING IN CALGARY
STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE GARDENING IN CALGARY
An Evening of Discovery and Discussion about what SUSTAINABILITY means for your Garden
A presentation featuring Rob Avis, Verge Permaculture
When: Friday, January 21st, 2011
Where: Unitarian Church of Calgary, 1703-1 St. N.W.
Cost: early registration $5 per person or $10 at the door
To Register: book your seats through: http://www.calhort.org/events or call the Calgary Horticultural Society office at 403-287-3469, ext 0
An event sponsored by:
Community Garden Resource Network-A project of the Calgary Horticultural Society;
Green Sanctuary (Unitarian Church of Calgary)
Apiaries and Bees for Communities &
An Alberta Community Spirit Grant
CURES FOR THE MID-WINTER BLAHS!
Even in the depths of winter there is always great things for an avid gardener to do.
The Calgary Horticultural Society hosts workshops on most Saturday mornings on a wide variety of subjects to the gardener in you.
Upcoming workshops include:
Jan 29th- The Household Jungle-How to care for your Indoor Plants
Feb 5th- Passionate for Petunias
Feb 12th- The Edible Flower Garden
Feb 26th-Plant Propagation-Know before you dig
Please check the Society's website at www.calhort.org and click on the 'Our Workshops' button for further details. New workshops are always being added so check back frequently!
An Evening of Discovery and Discussion about what SUSTAINABILITY means for your Garden
A presentation featuring Rob Avis, Verge Permaculture
When: Friday, January 21st, 2011
Where: Unitarian Church of Calgary, 1703-1 St. N.W.
Cost: early registration $5 per person or $10 at the door
To Register: book your seats through: http://www.calhort.org/events or call the Calgary Horticultural Society office at 403-287-3469, ext 0
An event sponsored by:
Community Garden Resource Network-A project of the Calgary Horticultural Society;
Green Sanctuary (Unitarian Church of Calgary)
Apiaries and Bees for Communities &
An Alberta Community Spirit Grant
CURES FOR THE MID-WINTER BLAHS!
Even in the depths of winter there is always great things for an avid gardener to do.
The Calgary Horticultural Society hosts workshops on most Saturday mornings on a wide variety of subjects to the gardener in you.
Upcoming workshops include:
Jan 29th- The Household Jungle-How to care for your Indoor Plants
Feb 5th- Passionate for Petunias
Feb 12th- The Edible Flower Garden
Feb 26th-Plant Propagation-Know before you dig
Please check the Society's website at www.calhort.org and click on the 'Our Workshops' button for further details. New workshops are always being added so check back frequently!
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Making Lemonade
Sometimes I wonder if I’m crazy. Other times, I’m gosh darn sure I am. This is one of those times. I planted quack grass today. You heard me; I am growing this uber-noxious weed on purpose. I dug up some rhizomes, cut them up into sections, buried them in potting soil, and to add to the insanity, I even added some organic fertilizer to help it grow better.This all came about when I was watching a friend’s cat this summer. As soon as he was let out into the yard, he would make a beeline for the quack grass and start chomping away. He completely ignored the grass on the organic lawn, the fresh catnip patch and the fancy cat grass grown specifically for him. I have noticed this behavior with dogs as well. They seem to have a clear preference for quack grass. Since it doesn’t appear to do the cat any harm, I decided to pot up some quack grass for the little dude this winter. I’ll also pot up his usual cat grass to see which one he likes best.
The McClure garden has a wealth of quack grass (that’s where I got the rhizomes from), and like they say, “If life gives you lemons, make lemonade!” I think I have found the quack grass lemonade. There is a neurotoxin in quack grass that kills slugs. That’s why you won’t find slugs on these weeds. You can chop or grind up the quack grass leaves and roots and sprinkle around your plants. You can also make a tea by soaking chopped quack grass in water for 24 hours and spray/water on the soil as a deterrent. My personal favorite is the quack grass cake recipe from The Mighty Internet (www.ghorganics.com/page13.html).
Mix together 1 ounce of corn bran, 3/4 of an ounce of powdered milk, 1 ounce of cornstarch and 16 ounces of beer. Combine all of these with 8 ounces of dried quack grass to make a thick paste that will form pellets. It goes on to say you should run this through a meat grinder to create pellets which you then allow to air dry. Spread the pellets around the boundaries of the seedling bed. Slugs will be attracted to the beer bait and eat the toxic grass!
You realize what this could mean, don’t you? McClure’s biggest weed could be converted into marketable products for fundraising. Think of these value-added items:
- quack grass tea bags for easy brewing of a toxic tea
- powdered quack grass for sprinkling around your plants and because it’s powdered, you don’t have to worry about the quack grass growing and taking over
- quack grass cake – poisoned pastries for unwanted guests
- gourmet pet grass – the clear choice of discerning cats and dogs.
I’ll have to create some prototypes in the Spring and do some testing. When people ask what I do at McClure, it would be so much fun to tell them I grow weed as a cash crop.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Striking Gold in the Garden
This has been a great year for potatoes. The picture shows the yield for one Yukon Gold potato plant harvested on August 27, 2010. The monster-sized one weighed over a kilogram!Have you ever wondered if it makes economic sense to grow your own food? Today I decided to crunch the numbers for this batch of potatoes and check it out.
Costs: Total outlay $1.70
- one seed potato $0.20
- rental of two square feet of space in a community garden to grow the potato in (water, compost, and tools were included) $1.50
Yield: 4.02 pounds of potatoes at $1.49 per pound (reasonable estimated price for organic Yukon Gold potatoes in the stores) gives me $5.99 as the market value of my harvest.
Return: In just a little over three months, I’ve achieved a whopping 253% return on investment. Wow! If only the stock market was so generous.
Conclusion: My analysis confirms that it is economically worthwhile to grow your own potatoes. If I save one of these potatoes to use as seed next year, my returns could jump to 300%. Yay!
The following garlic varieties are still available.
Order at mccluregarden@gmail.com and pick-up at 5510-26th Avenue NE on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10-3:00pm when your order is ready.
Purple Stripe - The oldest group of the garlic family and closest to its wild origins. These garlics are very flavorful and good at retaining flavour after cooking. The plants are smaller, with more slender leaves, but the bulbs can grow quite large.
Belarus (Early) Starts off sweet and mild and the heat builds to medium. Lingering, warm taste.
Chesnok Red (Mid to Late) Very productive. Can grow quite large if growing conditions are favorable. More cloves per bulb so cloves are closer to regular garlic clove sizes. Good for roasting.
Persian Star (Mid) Produced very well. Has more cloves per bulb. Building heat. Very striking looking cloves. Spicy raw and good for roasting.
Glazed Purple Stripe – The bulbs have a glazed appearance with a metallic sheen. The cloves are shiny and more squat than the Purple Stripes. Glazed purple stripes have good flavour and bake up sweet.
Purple Glazer (Early to Mid) A favorite for eating raw. It’s fairly mild and the flavour and heat develops gently over time and lingers for a while. Adds a subtle richness to cooked foods.
Rocambole – Prized for flavour. These garlics produce squat cloves that peel very easily but don’t store very long. They produce scapes with 1-3 tight coils.
Russian Red (Late) Available in rounds only. A highly aromatic garlic with deep layers of flavours and a sweet finish. This garlic can grow very large in good growing conditions.
Ontario Purple Trillium (Early) Hot, direct garlic flavour that does not linger long.
Porcelain – Big, brawny plants with scapes that can grow over 5 feet tall if you leave them on. The cloves tend to be few (4-6) and large. The bulbs are usually white and symmetrical which gives them an elegant look even though they are hefty. The flavours are strong but not necessarily hot. These large plants will produce better if given more space.
German White (Mid) Best enjoyed raw. Mild to medium heat. Large bulbs with very few cloves.
Music (Mid to Late) Very large cloves (4-6). The most commonly grown hardneck variety in Canada. Brought to Canada in the 80’s from Italy.
Northern Quebec (Mid to Late) Available in bulbils only. Hot. Grows easily.
Yugoslavian (Mid to Late) Available in bulbils only. Hot. Heirloom commonly grown in B.C.
Unclassified Hardneck Garlics
Fireball (Mid to Late) The name refers to the colourful bulb wrappers. It’s hot, but not too hot and the heat is short-lived and there’s very little aftertaste.
Kazakhstan (Very Early) Available in bulbils only. Smells great and has a hot, lively, garlicky flavour. Blazingly fast to mature so harvest sooner rather than later.
Purple Stripe - The oldest group of the garlic family and closest to its wild origins. These garlics are very flavorful and good at retaining flavour after cooking. The plants are smaller, with more slender leaves, but the bulbs can grow quite large.
Belarus (Early) Starts off sweet and mild and the heat builds to medium. Lingering, warm taste.
Chesnok Red (Mid to Late) Very productive. Can grow quite large if growing conditions are favorable. More cloves per bulb so cloves are closer to regular garlic clove sizes. Good for roasting.
Persian Star (Mid) Produced very well. Has more cloves per bulb. Building heat. Very striking looking cloves. Spicy raw and good for roasting.
Glazed Purple Stripe – The bulbs have a glazed appearance with a metallic sheen. The cloves are shiny and more squat than the Purple Stripes. Glazed purple stripes have good flavour and bake up sweet.
Purple Glazer (Early to Mid) A favorite for eating raw. It’s fairly mild and the flavour and heat develops gently over time and lingers for a while. Adds a subtle richness to cooked foods.
Rocambole – Prized for flavour. These garlics produce squat cloves that peel very easily but don’t store very long. They produce scapes with 1-3 tight coils.
Russian Red (Late) Available in rounds only. A highly aromatic garlic with deep layers of flavours and a sweet finish. This garlic can grow very large in good growing conditions.
Ontario Purple Trillium (Early) Hot, direct garlic flavour that does not linger long.
Porcelain – Big, brawny plants with scapes that can grow over 5 feet tall if you leave them on. The cloves tend to be few (4-6) and large. The bulbs are usually white and symmetrical which gives them an elegant look even though they are hefty. The flavours are strong but not necessarily hot. These large plants will produce better if given more space.
German White (Mid) Best enjoyed raw. Mild to medium heat. Large bulbs with very few cloves.
Music (Mid to Late) Very large cloves (4-6). The most commonly grown hardneck variety in Canada. Brought to Canada in the 80’s from Italy.
Northern Quebec (Mid to Late) Available in bulbils only. Hot. Grows easily.
Yugoslavian (Mid to Late) Available in bulbils only. Hot. Heirloom commonly grown in B.C.
Unclassified Hardneck Garlics
Fireball (Mid to Late) The name refers to the colourful bulb wrappers. It’s hot, but not too hot and the heat is short-lived and there’s very little aftertaste.
Kazakhstan (Very Early) Available in bulbils only. Smells great and has a hot, lively, garlicky flavour. Blazingly fast to mature so harvest sooner rather than later.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
McClure 2010 Garlic Varieties
Pick-up at 5510 – 26th Avenue NE: Sat. Sept. 18 from 10:00 to noon or Tues. & Wed. from 10-3pm.
All of these rare, hardneck garlics were organically grown in Calgary so you can be confident they will grow in our climate. Proceeds go towards supporting McClure’s gardening programs.
How to choose your varieties - growing garlic yourself gives you the luxury of selecting based on good flavor. Since garlic changes in taste depending on where and how it is grown, the best way to select the varieties you like is to grow several and try them out in different ways in your favorite dishes Рraw, saut̩ed, roasted, etc. Or try layering two or more different varieties in the same dish. Ex) saut̩ shrimp with Chesnok Red and finish with finely minced raw German White or Russian Red. Taking the time to experiment is well worth it because using the right garlic in the right dish can elevate it from good to fantastic.
Harvesting times: Early - midle to end of July, Mid - beginning to middle of August, Late - middle to end of August or beyond
Growing instructions: Plant cloves/rounds pointy end up and 3”-4” deep. Full sun. Snap off scapes in June/early July. Dig up when half the bottom leaves have withered.
Pricing:
Bulbils – FREE packet for each person. Additional packets $2 each.
Cloves – $0.50 each
Bulbs - Wee $1, Small $2, Medium $3, Large $4
Blind Date Package: For the adventurous, an assortment of unknown/unlabelled hardneck garlic cloves. Plant them all, try them all, and keep growing your favorites. $5
McClure Community Gardens
All of these rare, hardneck garlics were organically grown in Calgary so you can be confident they will grow in our climate. Proceeds go towards supporting McClure’s gardening programs.
How to choose your varieties - growing garlic yourself gives you the luxury of selecting based on good flavor. Since garlic changes in taste depending on where and how it is grown, the best way to select the varieties you like is to grow several and try them out in different ways in your favorite dishes Рraw, saut̩ed, roasted, etc. Or try layering two or more different varieties in the same dish. Ex) saut̩ shrimp with Chesnok Red and finish with finely minced raw German White or Russian Red. Taking the time to experiment is well worth it because using the right garlic in the right dish can elevate it from good to fantastic.
Harvesting times: Early - midle to end of July, Mid - beginning to middle of August, Late - middle to end of August or beyond
Growing instructions: Plant cloves/rounds pointy end up and 3”-4” deep. Full sun. Snap off scapes in June/early July. Dig up when half the bottom leaves have withered.
Pricing:
Bulbils – FREE packet for each person. Additional packets $2 each.
Cloves – $0.50 each
Bulbs - Wee $1, Small $2, Medium $3, Large $4
Blind Date Package: For the adventurous, an assortment of unknown/unlabelled hardneck garlic cloves. Plant them all, try them all, and keep growing your favorites. $5
McClure Community Gardens
August 24, 2010 - McClure Garden Member Update
Workbee
A big thank-you to all the members who came out to last Saturday’s workbee. Thanks also to the three youths from the YMCA’s Y-Map program who came out to help us. We accomplished a lot, and here’s a list to update everyone on what got done.
Composting
- Patrick and his crew built a brand new 3-bin composter. Yay! The funds for the materials were mostly donated by Community Natural Foods and the rest by the Shell Environmental Fund. We will be putting up a sign shortly to acknowledge Community’s contribution. A second new composter is planned for the NE corner. This one will have a lid and will be used to store finished compost. We are looking for volunteers to build this one so please let us know if you or someone you know can help. The remaining funds from the Shell Environmental grant will cover the cost of materials.
- There are bagged leaves beside the new composter and also beside the second composter that you can use to layer with your green materials. Please remember to put all diseased plant material and weeds in the dumpster in the parking lot.
- The middle composter and the black plastic composter that’s beside it was turned and tidied up. The finished compost has been moved to the left side of the two-bin composter and the right side has new and working materials.
- Help yourself to the finished compost and please add some water to the working side when you can to help speed up the decomposition.
Weeding & Seeding
- The raspberry patch has been weeded and a cover crop of White Dutch Clover has been planted in the hopes it will help suppress the quack grass once it’s established. Please help keep the raspberry patch well watered in the next while to help the clover germinate and grow.
- A goodly amount of weeds came out of our orchards – enough to fill the dumpster. Once the weeds are cleared, the long heap of woodchips behind the cherry trees can be spread around the orchard. The mulch needs to be renewed on a regular basis because it does break down over time.
- The perennial flower bed beside the church got weeded and extra edging was added to help keep the weeds at bay.
- The weeds from between the patio stones of the handicap area were removed.
Fence Jumping Deterrent
- Ruth zip tied dead branches to the fence to increase the height at the Northeast corner where kids often scale the fence. She will be building a little bed at the bottom to grow sweet peas that will climb the branches. Better the peas than the kids.
Next Workbee
- Saturday September 18, 2010 from 10-2:00pm
A big thank-you to all the members who came out to last Saturday’s workbee. Thanks also to the three youths from the YMCA’s Y-Map program who came out to help us. We accomplished a lot, and here’s a list to update everyone on what got done.
Composting
- Patrick and his crew built a brand new 3-bin composter. Yay! The funds for the materials were mostly donated by Community Natural Foods and the rest by the Shell Environmental Fund. We will be putting up a sign shortly to acknowledge Community’s contribution. A second new composter is planned for the NE corner. This one will have a lid and will be used to store finished compost. We are looking for volunteers to build this one so please let us know if you or someone you know can help. The remaining funds from the Shell Environmental grant will cover the cost of materials.
- There are bagged leaves beside the new composter and also beside the second composter that you can use to layer with your green materials. Please remember to put all diseased plant material and weeds in the dumpster in the parking lot.
- The middle composter and the black plastic composter that’s beside it was turned and tidied up. The finished compost has been moved to the left side of the two-bin composter and the right side has new and working materials.
- Help yourself to the finished compost and please add some water to the working side when you can to help speed up the decomposition.
Weeding & Seeding
- The raspberry patch has been weeded and a cover crop of White Dutch Clover has been planted in the hopes it will help suppress the quack grass once it’s established. Please help keep the raspberry patch well watered in the next while to help the clover germinate and grow.
- A goodly amount of weeds came out of our orchards – enough to fill the dumpster. Once the weeds are cleared, the long heap of woodchips behind the cherry trees can be spread around the orchard. The mulch needs to be renewed on a regular basis because it does break down over time.
- The perennial flower bed beside the church got weeded and extra edging was added to help keep the weeds at bay.
- The weeds from between the patio stones of the handicap area were removed.
Fence Jumping Deterrent
- Ruth zip tied dead branches to the fence to increase the height at the Northeast corner where kids often scale the fence. She will be building a little bed at the bottom to grow sweet peas that will climb the branches. Better the peas than the kids.
Next Workbee
- Saturday September 18, 2010 from 10-2:00pm
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Window Farms
This system can churn-out a salad per week, but it is definitely not the place to start if you are a beginner. The window farm described in this How-To is a reservoir system. A water pump on a timer periodically pumps water and liquid nutrients from the bottom reservoir to the top reservoir. There are small holes drilled into the underside of the top reservoir. Small drip emitters with valves let out a constant drip of water and nutrients into a column of plants. Each plant sits in a grow medium in a net cup (a perforated plastic cup commonly used in hydroponics), within an inverted plastic water bottle. The cap of each water bottle has a hole in it so that the water and nutrients can drip from one bottle to the next, from the top to the bottom of the column of plants. The bottom-most bottles are connected to tubing that takes the water and nutrients into the bottom reservoir, where it sits until the pump turns on again.
Read more.....
April News for Community Gardeners
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
In this issue:
• April News for Community Gardeners
• First Time Food Gardeners!
• Live Webcam Q & A with Geoff Lawton April 17
April News for Community Gardeners
Garden Show This Weekend! April 10 and 11 at Spruce Meadows
A weekend packed with things to see, do, learn, smell and grow! This
annual event brings together gardening and outdoor living enthusiasts
complete with vendors, speakers from across Canada, local gardening
experts, hands-on activities, how to clinic demonstrations and more!PLEASE BE ADVISED: due to budget constraints we will not be able to offer
a shuttle service from the nearest LRT station. We are sorry for any
inconvenience. There is NO CHARGE for parking at Spruce Meadows.Directions: SPRUCE MEADOWS West Bound HWY 22X-Spruce Meadows Trail to Tournament Lane,
Parking in Lots 7 and 8.For details about the Garden Show visit:http://www.calhort.org/events/gardenshow.aspx
First Time Food Gardeners!
April 25 Encore of "Growing Food for the First Time" with Elaine Rude
Due to popular demand master gardener and market gardener Elaine Rude will be presenting her introduction to organic vegetable growing Sunday afternoon April 25 at the Unitarian Church of Calgary. Register now at:
http://growfoodcalgary.eventbrite.com/Find out about vegetable varieties that thrive locally and how to take the best care of the soil and how to amend it.
A suggested donation of $5 (proceeds to cover costs of event)
Refreshments will be provided.
Parking available on street and at Balmoral School.
Live Webcam Q & A with Geoff Lawton April 17
Permaculture Calgaryhttp://www.permaculturecalgary.org/ is pleased to
present ...'An Evening of Permaculture with Geoff Lawton'* onSaturday April
17, 2010 starting at 6pm.Geoff Lawton, Director of the renowned Permaculture Research Institute of
Australia (www.permaculture.org.au) wil join us in a *live webcam Q & A
session following a screening of his 'Introduction to Permaculture' DVD.This is a unique opportunity to learn more about permaculture and its
applications for local food security. Permaculture design empowers
individuals and communities to apply simple designs steps to grow food
locally with a minimum of effort and resources.Saturday April 17, 2010
John Dutton Theatre (616 MacLeod Trail SE - Central Library)
6-10 pm, Saturday April 17 2010
$10 at the door
Registration: RSVP to calgarypermaculture@gmail.comSee you there!
Adrian Buckley, Permaculture Designer, B. of Community Design
www.bigskypermaculture.ca
April 9 Film Screening of "Renewal"
A documentary film celebrating Christian, Jewish, Buddhist and Muslim environmental activists who are becoming caretakers of the Earth by combating global warming, promoting food security, recycling, land preservation and respect for life on earth.
Friday April 9
6:30 pm pizza, veggies, beverages. Donations appreciated.
7:00 to 8:30 pm film screening
8:30 Potluck dessert & discussionFamilies welcome!
Wickenden Hall, Unitarian Church of Calgry 1703 - 1st Street NW
403-276-2436Breaking news!
We just received confirmation today thet Rev. Bill Phipps will join us this
Friday Evening for our Film & Pizza event. Rev. Bill is formerly Moderator
of the United Church of Canada and now a leading advocate of dealing
sensibly and positively with Climate Change. He will lead the discussion
of this timely film "RENEWAL" and will be joined by
Prof. Mishka Lysack of the University of Calgary, another leading
spokesperson on Climate Change issues.Lots of free parking on-street and at Balmoral School parking lot.
Gorham Hussey, Co-chair
Green Sanctuary Committee & Community Garden,
Unitarian Church of CalgaryEmployment Opportunity
Eco-friendly landscaper looking for staff for the season (mid-May to
early November) or part of it. We do installation - lots of digging,
hauling and planting. If you love the outdoors, working with a great
group of people, are responsible and willing to work hard, contact
Laureen Rama at Eco-yards. $03-969-1176. Check out www.eco-yards.comShare Some Seedlings with Montgomery!
Montgomery Community Garden is a shared garden space and they need some
plant material to be successful in the 2010 growing season. If you can
donate any of the following please send a message to
montgomerycommunitygarden@gmail.comSeedlings:
- Rhubarb (strawberry/red variety) - 5 plants
- Broccoli - 10 plants
- Brussel Sprouts - 8-10 plants
- Curly Kale - 10 plants
- Green Sweet Peppers - 6-8 plants
- Petunias (bush type) - White, non-wave or cascading
- Basil (4-6), Stevia (1 or 2), Chives (2) Rosemary (1 or 2)
- Raspberry canes
Seeds:
- Borage (3-4 seeds)
- Ground Cherry ( Molly or Cassock variety - 15 seeds of each or 30 of one
variety)- Organic Buckwheat (2 pounds)
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208 - 50 Avenue S.W.
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Urban farmers want your land
If you've got a backyard to plant but don't have the green thumb to do it, a pair of Calgary entrepreneurs might have a proposition for you. Rod Olson and Chad Kile borrow small plots of urban land, grow vegetables on it, sell the produce to markets and restaurants and share the bounty with the landowners.
"There's a lot of interest," said Olson, who co-owns Leaf and Lyre Urban Farms with Kile. "People really love the idea. Now we're just trying to turn a little bit of that moral support into acreage."
Their business is modelled on the concept of small-plot intensive farming, or "SPIN farming", which began in Saskatoon but has caught on in Vancouver and in parts of the U.S., Olson said.
Friday, March 19, 2010
2010 Garden Show, April 10 & 11, Spruce Meadows
Friday, March 19, 2010
2010 Garden Show, April 10 & 11, Spruce Meadows
Tickets Now On Sale!
Early Bird Pricing - Save $2 by purchasing your tickets on-line or visit Greengate Garden Centre @ 1411 MacLeod Trail South. All guests will receive a 15% discount coupon for Greengate.
New for 2010: Weekend Pass only $18! See all the speakers (over 20!) and Jim Hole is back! Participate in many activities all weekend long!
Visit the Membership booth at the Garden Show (front entrance of Equi-plex) and enter your name in one of our membership draws and pick up a free bag of soil, compliments of Miracle Grow. Over 600 1L bags available to members ONLY. First-come-first serve. One bag per member please.
Get your hands in the soil early!
Garden Show Workshops - 9 exciting projects to choose from.
Register today! Forward this on and share with your gardening friends.
Plants that Bite Back!
Fun, family activity with Greengate's greenhouse manager, John Duncan.
Learn all about the Venus Fly Trap. Build a Terrarium with the carnivorous plant to take home.
Registration required. Only $12, includes instruction, terrarium and plant.
Fun, friendly, container garden competitions!
Start gardening early and showcase your talents! 2 Competitions to choose from: Adult and Children's categories. Get your kids involved in gardening early!
Voted by People Choice. Cash prizes begin at $250! Ribbons too! Join the fun, register now!
Garden Show Raffle
You could visit Butchart Gardens this summer. Or be sitting in a beautiful hand-crafted gazebo. These are just 2 of the 5 prizes available. Purchase your raffle tickets at the garden show or visit the Society office, 208 - 50 Ave SW.
We could use your help selling raffle tickets, stop by the office and sign out some booklets and invite your friends and family to purchase raffle tickets. All proceeds support the Society's year round activities. Our goal is to raise $10,000. If you would like to help us reach our goal please stop by and pick up some tickets. Thank you!
New for 2010 - New building added! More Food! New Food Menu in Congress Hall! More Parking! New Container Competitions! New Speakers! Outside Exhibits! Children's Activities! More Garden Workshops! Something to see, do and learn all weekend long. April 10 & 11, 9 am to 6 pm each day.
Click here to learn about all the activities at this year's garden show.
Thank you for your support.
2010 Garden Show Committee
www.calhort.org
208 - 50 Avenue S.W.
Calgary, Alberta
Canada T2S 2S1
403-287-3469This email was created and delivered using Industry Mailout
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Growing Food for the First Time Event
Here's an event that has something for everyone:
Growing Food for the First Time
They are featuring Master Gardener and Market Gardener Elaine Rude.
It is being held in collaboration with the Unitarian Church Green Sanctuary Committee and Community Garden and Green Calgary.
Growing Food for the First Time
They are featuring Master Gardener and Market Gardener Elaine Rude.
It is being held in collaboration with the Unitarian Church Green Sanctuary Committee and Community Garden and Green Calgary.
Monday, November 23, 2009
McClure Fellowship of Gardeners was one of the nominees honoured at this years YMCA Peace Awards Celebration Luncheon held on Nov. 18, 2009. Although we did not receive an award, it was an honor to be among the many recognized as contributing to the wellbeing of the citizens of Calgary. Our name and what we do was listed in the Calgary Herald and we were recognized with others following the luncheon at the presentation of the awards. The awards were presented by Grant and Angela from Global TV and the event was mentioned on the news.
Submited by Sheila Ford
Submited by Sheila Ford
Monday, October 19, 2009
Learn How to Lengthen the Food Growing Season with Lyndon Penner
Hi Garden Leaders,
Growing Sense with Lyndon Penner - November 1, 2009
Do you wish we had just one more week or two of summer to harvest more
vegetables from your garden? Or how about just a few more days to ripen
those tomatoes or get a few more beans?
Join Lyndon Penner and gardening friends at the Unitarian Church on Sunday
evening November 1st for tips and ideas on extending Calgary's food
growing season into spring and fall. Learn about hardy seed & seedling
varieties, frost protection and the best ways to use plant shelters, grow
lights, mulches, cold frames, and greenhouses and much more!
What: An Evening with Lyndon Penner
Where:
Unitarian Church of Calgary
1703 1st Street NW
(Just west of Centre St. on 16th Ave NW)
When: Sunday, November 1st @ 7:00 – 9:00 PM
What Else: Dessert & Refreshments, Questions & Participation
Park: Balmoral School & Street Parking
Kids: Bring ‘Em
Cost: Your Time @ No $$$ (Free!)
Sponsors: This event is made possible by:
The Alberta Community Spirit Program Grant to Unitarian Church of Calgary
The Community Garden Resource Network, The Calgary Horticultural Society
Growing Sense with Lyndon Penner - November 1, 2009
Do you wish we had just one more week or two of summer to harvest more
vegetables from your garden? Or how about just a few more days to ripen
those tomatoes or get a few more beans?
Join Lyndon Penner and gardening friends at the Unitarian Church on Sunday
evening November 1st for tips and ideas on extending Calgary's food
growing season into spring and fall. Learn about hardy seed & seedling
varieties, frost protection and the best ways to use plant shelters, grow
lights, mulches, cold frames, and greenhouses and much more!
What: An Evening with Lyndon Penner
Where:
Unitarian Church of Calgary
1703 1st Street NW
(Just west of Centre St. on 16th Ave NW)
When: Sunday, November 1st @ 7:00 – 9:00 PM
What Else: Dessert & Refreshments, Questions & Participation
Park: Balmoral School & Street Parking
Kids: Bring ‘Em
Cost: Your Time @ No $$$ (Free!)
Sponsors: This event is made possible by:
The Alberta Community Spirit Program Grant to Unitarian Church of Calgary
The Community Garden Resource Network, The Calgary Horticultural Society
Sunday, October 18, 2009
The numbers are done!
All the garden boxes have now had their numbers re-painted, mostly on the west side. You can click on this picture to enlarge it. This should make it much easier for you to locate your plot. Don't forget to sign up for next year by printing out the Membership Agreement and sending in your money. The deadline is coming up fast.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Plot Rental Renewal Notice
McClure Fellowship of Gardeners
5510 – 26th Avenue NE, Calgary, AB T1Y 6S1 www.mccluregardeners@blogspot.com
Plot Rental Renewal Notice
Deadline: November 30, 2009
Dear Gardeners:
As existing garden members, you have the first option on renewing your existing plots for next year. To renew, we must receive your signed membership agreement (attached) and payment in full before November 30, 2009 to guarantee your plot for next year.
Please read the new membership agreement carefully and be aware of the following changes:
1. The plot rental fee is $30 per plot with 13 hours of volunteering commitment.
2. The volunteering requirement has changed from the mandatory attendance at the Spring and Fall Clean-up (approx. 12 hrs. time commitment) to 10 hours of volunteer time put in throughout the season. The reduction in the volunteer time required and greater flexibility in when you can put in the time was designed to make it easier for members to meet their volunteering commitments.
3. Returning members have until November 30, 2009 to renew their plot(s) for the following year. If a plot rental is not renewed by November 30, 2009, it will be made available for rent by people on the waiting list and by the general public.
4. No refunds will be issued after Feb. 28, 2010.
Payment can be made out to: McClure Fellowship of Gardeners
Signed membership agreements and payment can be mailed to or dropped off at 5510 – 26th Ave. NE, Calgary, AB T1Y 6S1. If you have any questions or would like to request a second plot, contact us at McClureGarder@hotmail.com.
Sincerely,
Board of Directors
McClure Fellowship of Gardeners
5510 – 26th Avenue NE, Calgary, AB T1Y 6S1 www.mccluregardeners@blogspot.com
Plot Rental Renewal Notice
Deadline: November 30, 2009
Dear Gardeners:
As existing garden members, you have the first option on renewing your existing plots for next year. To renew, we must receive your signed membership agreement (attached) and payment in full before November 30, 2009 to guarantee your plot for next year.
Please read the new membership agreement carefully and be aware of the following changes:
1. The plot rental fee is $30 per plot with 13 hours of volunteering commitment.
2. The volunteering requirement has changed from the mandatory attendance at the Spring and Fall Clean-up (approx. 12 hrs. time commitment) to 10 hours of volunteer time put in throughout the season. The reduction in the volunteer time required and greater flexibility in when you can put in the time was designed to make it easier for members to meet their volunteering commitments.
3. Returning members have until November 30, 2009 to renew their plot(s) for the following year. If a plot rental is not renewed by November 30, 2009, it will be made available for rent by people on the waiting list and by the general public.
4. No refunds will be issued after Feb. 28, 2010.
Payment can be made out to: McClure Fellowship of Gardeners
Signed membership agreements and payment can be mailed to or dropped off at 5510 – 26th Ave. NE, Calgary, AB T1Y 6S1. If you have any questions or would like to request a second plot, contact us at McClureGarder@hotmail.com.
Sincerely,
Board of Directors
McClure Fellowship of Gardeners
New Membership Agreement
McClure Fellowship of Gardeners
2010 Community Garden Membership and Plot Rental Agreement
Name:
Additional users: Plot number(s)
Address:
Postal Code:
Phone:
Email:
Fee: $30 per plot with 13 hours of volunteer commitment (including three hours watering)
I, the undersigned, on behalf of myself and the users listed above, do agree to follow the conditions below:
1. Pay for my plot in full before using it. Payment is due prior to November 30th for returning gardeners and prior to May 15th for new gardeners. No refunds will be issued after Feb. 28, 2010.
2. Plant my garden plot(s) by June 5, 2010. If I have not done so, the Garden Board has the right to reassign my plot.
3. Help in the joint maintenance of the garden by:
- Properly maintaining my plot(s) and common areas assigned to me. This includes keeping all pathways and areas surrounding my plot and the common areas assigned to me clear of weeds. A neglected plot, as identified by the garden committee, will be assumed to be abandoned if I have not attended to within seven days of notification, and will be reassigned.
- Participating in the garden watering schedule by signing up for at least 3, one-hour long watering sessions for the common areas as assigned.
- Completing 10 hours of volunteer work on the common areas or on projects assigned by the Garden Board. Working on your own plot(s) does not count as volunteer time. Volunteer hours must be recorded in the volunteer binder in the shed or reported online through the blog (www.mccluregardeners.blogspot.com).
The common area(s) assigned to you correspond with your plot numbers. A map and description of the common areas will be posted in the binder in the shed.
Volunteering opportunities will be posted from time to time by the Board. You can the descriptions of these opportunities in the binder or online on the blog.
Garden workbees are held on the third Saturday of each month from 9-3pm. Workbees offer gardeners an opportunity to get to know one another, to enjoy a potluck lunch and to receive guidance on how to care for common areas. If a workbee is cancelled due to inclement weather, it is automatically rescheduled for the following Saturday.
4. Strictly adhere to organic gardening principles and
- Not use chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and insecticides on the site
- Adequately dilute liquid organic fertilizers before application
- Use compost, mulching materials and soil amendments supplied by the Garden Board as required
- Follow the garden’s composting guidelines (no meat, fats or dairy) and compost weeds in the appropriate bin.
5. Respect the garden and the rights of other gardeners by:
- Planting crops which grow over 4 ft. in height where it won’t shade neighbouring beds.
- Put away all equipment used, shut off the pump, and ensure that the shed is locked.
- Take responsibility for any non-gardeners accompanying me to the site and ensure children are supervised and dogs are kept on a leash.
- Harvesting only out of your own plot(s) and community beds (where permitted). Do not harvest from program plots.
This Tenancy Agreement covers a maximum time between November 1, 2009 and October 31, 2010.
Plots will be assigned in the following order:
1. Existing plot renters will have first option on renewing the rental agreement on their assigned plot(s) from year to year, provided they have abided by all of the conditions above.
2. People on the waiting list (in the order that they were added)
3. The general public
Failure to comply with the above conditions may void this contract.
The information on this contract will only be used for community gardening contact purposes and will not be given out or sold.
SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT ABSOLVES McCLURE FELLOWSHIP OF GARDENERS AND ROBERT McCLURE UNITED CHRUCH FROM ANY LIABILITY, FINANCIAL OR OTHERWISE, WHICH MAY RESULT FROM NEGLIGENCE OR THE INAPPROPRIATE USE OF POWER AND HAND TOOLS EITHER BY OTHERS OR MYSELF.
Gardener’s Signature Garden Board Member Signature
Date: Amount received: $ Form of payment: Cash / Cheque
2010 Community Garden Membership and Plot Rental Agreement
Name:
Additional users: Plot number(s)
Address:
Postal Code:
Phone:
Email:
Fee: $30 per plot with 13 hours of volunteer commitment (including three hours watering)
I, the undersigned, on behalf of myself and the users listed above, do agree to follow the conditions below:
1. Pay for my plot in full before using it. Payment is due prior to November 30th for returning gardeners and prior to May 15th for new gardeners. No refunds will be issued after Feb. 28, 2010.
2. Plant my garden plot(s) by June 5, 2010. If I have not done so, the Garden Board has the right to reassign my plot.
3. Help in the joint maintenance of the garden by:
- Properly maintaining my plot(s) and common areas assigned to me. This includes keeping all pathways and areas surrounding my plot and the common areas assigned to me clear of weeds. A neglected plot, as identified by the garden committee, will be assumed to be abandoned if I have not attended to within seven days of notification, and will be reassigned.
- Participating in the garden watering schedule by signing up for at least 3, one-hour long watering sessions for the common areas as assigned.
- Completing 10 hours of volunteer work on the common areas or on projects assigned by the Garden Board. Working on your own plot(s) does not count as volunteer time. Volunteer hours must be recorded in the volunteer binder in the shed or reported online through the blog (www.mccluregardeners.blogspot.com).
The common area(s) assigned to you correspond with your plot numbers. A map and description of the common areas will be posted in the binder in the shed.
Volunteering opportunities will be posted from time to time by the Board. You can the descriptions of these opportunities in the binder or online on the blog.
Garden workbees are held on the third Saturday of each month from 9-3pm. Workbees offer gardeners an opportunity to get to know one another, to enjoy a potluck lunch and to receive guidance on how to care for common areas. If a workbee is cancelled due to inclement weather, it is automatically rescheduled for the following Saturday.
4. Strictly adhere to organic gardening principles and
- Not use chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and insecticides on the site
- Adequately dilute liquid organic fertilizers before application
- Use compost, mulching materials and soil amendments supplied by the Garden Board as required
- Follow the garden’s composting guidelines (no meat, fats or dairy) and compost weeds in the appropriate bin.
5. Respect the garden and the rights of other gardeners by:
- Planting crops which grow over 4 ft. in height where it won’t shade neighbouring beds.
- Put away all equipment used, shut off the pump, and ensure that the shed is locked.
- Take responsibility for any non-gardeners accompanying me to the site and ensure children are supervised and dogs are kept on a leash.
- Harvesting only out of your own plot(s) and community beds (where permitted). Do not harvest from program plots.
This Tenancy Agreement covers a maximum time between November 1, 2009 and October 31, 2010.
Plots will be assigned in the following order:
1. Existing plot renters will have first option on renewing the rental agreement on their assigned plot(s) from year to year, provided they have abided by all of the conditions above.
2. People on the waiting list (in the order that they were added)
3. The general public
Failure to comply with the above conditions may void this contract.
The information on this contract will only be used for community gardening contact purposes and will not be given out or sold.
SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT ABSOLVES McCLURE FELLOWSHIP OF GARDENERS AND ROBERT McCLURE UNITED CHRUCH FROM ANY LIABILITY, FINANCIAL OR OTHERWISE, WHICH MAY RESULT FROM NEGLIGENCE OR THE INAPPROPRIATE USE OF POWER AND HAND TOOLS EITHER BY OTHERS OR MYSELF.
Gardener’s Signature Garden Board Member Signature
Date: Amount received: $ Form of payment: Cash / Cheque
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