Our first Construction Day is coming up quickly- Saturday, May 5 will be here before we know it!!

If you are planning on joining us, please email the Garden Committee at stbarnabasgarden@gmail.com to let us know!!  We need to know how many people to expect, so that we can set up our work crews and make sure we have the right amount of food for lunch!!

Please bear in mind- if there is inclement weather on May 5th, we will meet on the backup day, Saturday, May 12.

As always, if you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us!!

We will be kicking things off at 10 am, and should be done by noon at the latest.  We will be going ahead, regardless of the weather, so come prepared!

After the common areas are weeded and cleaned, you will have the opportunity to clean up your own plots, and chat with fellow gardeners.  If you have any seeds that you would like to bring to swap or share with your neighbors, feel free to do so!!

This work day will count as one of the three Weeding days you have to attend before the fall.  If you can’t make it out, don’t worry- there are 5 more weeding days left before the end of the season!

As for tools, bring a trowel if you have one, and gardening gloves may come in handy.

Also, Janet from the Calgary Horticultural Society sent this workshop announcement to us- it is being organized by Chris Koper, from the West Hillhurst Community Garden (south of us, across the field!), as a fundraiser for their garden.  If you are interested, registration information is at the bottom!

SEED STARTER CLASS
Get your gardens started!

WHEN: April 21 6:30-8:30

WHERE: WHCA (West Hillhurst Community Associaton)

CLASS DESCRIPTION: Put on  by Janet Melrose of the Calgary Horticultural Society We will be sowing seeds in one gallon milk jugs as mini greenhouses that can be put outside and not take up space in the house. Janet will also talk about how to extend the growing season.

PRICE: $30 proceeds to go to the WHCA Community Garden Build
We will be supplying everything including snacks, but you can bring your seeds if there is something specific. We will also be giving away a beautiful flower arrangement!

How  to sign up
www.westhillhurst.com
click on the Community Garden build link and you will see where you can sign up for the Seed Starteer Class.

Please come join us and and lets talk gardening!

We look forward to seeing you on Saturday!! Let’s hope for good weather!!

What is the Difference??

A Genetically Modified seed is one which has had a piece of DNA from another source inserted into its own DNA.  This is usually done to ensure resistance to disease or pests, or to increase yields.  However, these seeds are usually sterile- the plant which results is unable to reproduce naturally, so new seeds must be purchased every year.  Because the plant cannot cross-pollinate, each seed is a clone of the original modified seed.

There are several definitions for Heirloom seeds, some more specific than others.  For our purposes, an Heirloom seed is one which has not been genetically modified in any way, and which will produce a plant that can be open-pollinated.  If it is pollinated, the plant will then produce seeds which can be harvested and planted the next year.  In the case of seedlings, they must be able to open-pollinate, and they cannot be treated with any fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides.

So…What’s The Big Deal, Anyway??

There are a few problems with planting Modified seeds.

First of all, they can be expensive, and new seeds must be purchased every year.

Secondly, because the plants are unable to reproduce, there is no mixing of genes from one generation to the next.  Without genetic recombination, each plant species will get less diverse as time goes on.

This lack of diversity can lead to even more virulent pests in the future.  In the same way that bacteria are constantly evolving to become resistant to antibiotics, plant diseases and other pests are constantly evolving to become immune to whatever means we use to control them.  And when the pest eventually becomes resistant, all the modified plants have the exact same weakness, and no ability to diversify their DNA to evolve a defense.  The only way to get around this problem would be to create yet another version of the modified plant resistant to the current pest- temporarily providing relief, but prolonging the problem in the long-term.

Finally, modified seeds can affect everything planted around them.  Even though modified plants are unable to reproduce, they still release pollen.  If this pollen reaches an Heirloom plant, it will “block” the production of seeds, essentially sterilizing the Heirloom plant.  All of the hard work the gardener put into tending their plants and collecting the seeds year after year will have gone to waste, all in one season!

How Do I Know If My Seeds are Heirloom??

The easiest way to know if your seeds are modified is to look at the packaging.  If it doesn’t say “Non-GMO” or “Heirloom” on the packaging, assume that the seeds have been modified.

If you are looking for guaranteed suppliers, check out the “Seeds and Seedlings” tab at the top of the page!!  We also got a great tip at the Kickoff Meeting- Community Natural Foods and Amaranth Whole Foods in Calgary sell some Non-GMO seeds and organic seedlings!!

At the meeting, we gathered all the gardening forms and payment for the year, briefly reviewed the Garden Rules, and answered questions.

All the forms are available for download, if you click on the “Forms” tab above.  There are also copies for viewing in the “Garden Information” tab.

Here are the questions we received at the meeting, and their answers!

1) How do I know if seeds and seedlings are Non-Genetically Modified, or Heirloom??

The simplest answer is: if the package doesn’t specifically say “Non-GMO” or “Heirloom” on it, assume the seeds or plants are modified, and therefore cannot be planted in the garden.

Speaking personally, I have never found Heirloom seeds or seedlings at any of the large retail chains (Wal-Mart, Canadian Tire, Home Depot, etc.), so I ordered all my seeds from Vesey’s last season.   We received a couple of great tips at the meeting- Community Natural Foods and Amaranth Whole Foods Market both stock Heirloom, organic seeds and seedlings, and all the other suppliers we have already sourced are listed at the top of the page, under the “Seeds and Seedlings” tab.  The tab will be updated with any additional sources we find as we progress through the season!

If online shopping is not your thing, or you can’t find what you are looking for in the stores in Calgary, the next best source are your fellow gardeners!  We have some amazing growers in our community, who diligently gather seeds from their plants at the end of each season, and most are willing to share (or swap!) their extras!  Ask around at the garden cleanup day- you never know what you might end up planting this year!

An upcoming post will address the reasons why using Non-GMO/Heirloom seeds in the garden is so important!

2) Are children welcome at the  build days or weeding meets?

Of course!  The more the merrier!!

However, there are three caveats- first, if you are volunteering to complete your work requirements, the children must be of an age where they would not need your constant attention and supervision, so that you are able to work.

Secondly, St. Barnabas Church, St. Barnabas Community Garden, or any members thereof are not responsible for supervising or ensuring the safety of any children onsite.

Finally, we cannot guarantee continuous access to indoor spaces during the work days, so any children should be prepared to spend the majority of the day outdoors.

3) What about Compost?

Our compost bin was completed last year.

All grass clippings and garden material are to be placed in Bin 1 (on the left).  Larger plants should be chopped up, to help things break down faster.

For now, we would like to ask the gardeners NOT to bring any compost items from home.  In our research, we came across a lot of conflicting information regarding compost and allergens- some sources claim that allergens persist, other sources claimed that a proper compost pile would get hot enough to destroy any allergens.  We want all the gardeners to be able to use the compost we produce, and for that reason we need to keep it clear of any potential allergens or non-organic items.

Additionally, we realize that several gardeners have home compost piles, and may use a different method than we have chosen.  Last year, we had some issues with the compost being prematurely turned and flipped, so this year we would like to ask all the gardeners to leave the compost alone.  Place your items in Bin 1, use the pitchfork to turn the new vegetation into the pile, and leave the rest to the committee!  If we do need help, or need someone to take over the compost duties, we will be more than willing to ask for help!

4) What about the church lawn?

Grass clippings from the church lawn will be put in the compost this year- the lawn is not being treated with any chemicals of any kind, which ensures our compost will remain organic.  However, we will be dealing with dandelions as a result.  Each gardener is responsible for pitching in with weed control- if everyone checks the lawn and pulls a couple of dandelions each time they visit the garden, keeping everything under control will be a snap. You don’t even have to pull the whole plant- keeping the leaves in place ensures that nutrients are pulled up to the surface through the deep root system, and as long as the flowers are pulled off before they go to seed, there will be no spreading!

5) What about water?

We are going to have the rain barrels set up at the beginning of April, so water should not be a problem as long as we get some spring showers!!

There are taps on the side of the church, however we are not completely sure that the garden has permission to use them.  Jagdutt is checking into this for us, and when we find out, we will post the information here.

In the meantime, if the rainbarrels are empty, please plan ahead and bring some water from home!

6) What about garbage?

Dandelions and other weeds are NOT to go into the compost heap.  There are several black garbage bins lined up between the Church Hall and the Scout Hut, any weeds or other garbage can be deposited there.

7) Saturdays are very busy for me, and I don’t know how many of the workdays I will be able to attend.  Can I set up another time to come to the garden to fulfill my work requirements?

Unfortunately, no.

We chose Saturdays for our workdays for several reasons- we would be able to work without worrying about disturbing those inside the church, easily arrange for supply delivery, maximize the daylight hours, minimize the number of mosquitoes bothering us, and park on the street!  We have laid out a schedule for garden construction and maintenance, and it is important that we keep up with that schedule and complete all the tasks we have set out for the day.  Any delays will push back completion of other projects in the garden, and if we have any raw materials delivered (mulch, soil, etc) they cannot remain on the ground overnight, they must all be in place by the end of the day.

We do understand that our gardeners have busy lives, and we also understand that some commitments cannot be rescheduled.  This was the reasoning behind our Proxy Rule.

If a gardener is unable to attend a mandatory work day, they may appoint a Proxy to attend in their place.  A Proxy can be anyone who would be a reasonable substitute for you on the work day- a friend, family member, coworker, neighbour or fellow gardener.  They will be expected to stay for the entire length of the work day, and will have access to the same amenities as all the other gardeners.

Please note- if you are a gardener who is acting as a proxy for another gardener, the work hours cannot be counted towards your commitments as well as theirs.

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There are other Questions and Answers in the “F.A.Q.” tab above, and if you still don’t find the information you’re looking for, feel free to send us an email!

And don’t forget to join our St. Barnabas Community Garden Facebook Group to keep in touch!

This is the place to find everything you need to know about the garden- meeting times and locations, announcements, special events, and workshops.

This is also the place to find and share gardening information- what you’re planting, how you found your seeds and seedlings, and how you’re dealing with pests.

At the top of the page, you will notice several tabs, which house and organize all the information pertinent to the gardening season.  Here is a brief summary of what is contained in each tab:

About: This tab has two parts- information about St. Barnabas Church (as this garden wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for their generosity!), and information on the Community Garden and the basic principles it was founded on.

Garden Information: This tab has three parts- a 2012 Garden Map, with all the correct plots and the improvements we are hoping to make this season; a list of all the 2012 Garden Meetings and Construction Days, as well as some common questions and information on choosing a proxy; and a list of all the Garden Rules.

F.A.Q: This tab houses the most common questions we have received and their answers.

Seeds and Seedlings: Here is where you can find a list of approved seed and seedling vendors.

Pest Control: Since we are an organic garden, pest control isn’t quite as easy as grabbing the nearest bottle at a garden centre!  This tab has tips and tricks for controlling pests in your garden, and being environmentally friendly at the same time!

Downloads: Did you lose your registration form?  Do you want a copy of the Meeting List to post on your fridge?  This tab has links to all the Garden Documents for the season, allowing you to save and print as many as you need!

The information contained in these tabs is by no means exhaustive- if you have a tip that we missed, or if you notice a correction that has to be made, you have two options:

Send us an Email- our contact information can be found in the right sidebar; or

Leave a Comment- at the bottom of each post there is a “Leave a Comment” link.  Click on it, enter the necessary information, and hit “Post Comment”.

This website will be regularly updated with gardening news, photos, recipes, and much more, so add us to your bookmarks and check back often!

Please contact us at stbarnabasgarden@gmail.com

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There are a couple of special “thank-you”s that need to be sent out:

To our friends and family who came out to help with the build. We couldn’t have done it without you.

To Wild Rose Brewery for providing spent hops & grain to enrich our garden beds,

To Metro News Calgary and Central Web Calgary for donating newspaper for our beds and pathways,

To the University of Calgary for donating cardboard and other materials.

and Lastly, to Paul Hughes for dropping by at the end of the day to encourage us.

Thank you so much!