VIRL Virtual Gardening Workshops

The Vancouver Island Regional Library is offering a monthly series of gardening workshops, all presented by Vancouver Island Master Gardeners (VIMG). Sessions are via Zoom, and take place between 1 – 2:30 pm on the Saturdays listed below.

Pre-Registration Required. Register by sending an email to NanaimoHarbourfront@virl.bc.ca or register via the VIRL event page. https://virl.bc.ca/calendar

Please call the Tahsis Library at 250-934-6621 if you need assistance. 

VIRL VIMG Virtual Gardening Series

03/27:  Perennial Food Crops & Edible Ornamentals

04/24:  Rhododendrons: More Than Just a Big Green Shrub

05/01:  How to Grow Squash and Pumpkins

06/05:  A Primer on Roses: Varieties, Planting and Care

07/03:  Summer Planting for Storage and Winter Feast

08/14:  Native Plants for the Urban Landscape

09/11:  Late Planted Food Crops for Winter Salads & Stir Fry Feasts

10/09:  Petal Walkers – Planting for Pollinators

11/06:  Spring Bulbs – Low Maintenance Perennials for Sun & Shade

Webinar: Planning for the Fall/Winter Garden

Planning for the Fall/Winter Garden

with Arzeena Hamir

Thursday, July 23rd, 6 pm 

via Zoom.  

Arzeena is an organic farmer in the Comox Valley and has a vast knowledge of food production.  To register click on the link below (or copy and paste the link into your browser).  Highly recommended, by donation. 

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/planning-for-the-fallwinter-garden-tickets-111879067302

Native Plants Presentation April 13, 2019

On Saturday, April 13^th, the Tahsis Community Garden Society welcomed biologist Todd Carnahan to Tahsis.  

That afternoon, Todd did a walk-around at our community garden with eight garden members.  Under the shelter of large umbrellas, we discussed invasive species (blackberries), food sources (poplar trees!), the importance of recognising our unique and rich environment, soil erosion as it relates to salmon habitat, and wildlife interactions.  

At the evening presentation ‘Gardening with Native Plants’, Todd’s knowledge, humour and suggestions were very well received by all those in attendance.  Todd shared many outstanding photographs including photos of the edible Camas lily, Oregan grape and the four varieties of wild crab apples – some of which may be found around our Leiner Estuary.   To view Todd’s photos, visit his website Todd Carnahan Photography.  

It was interesting to hear how the indigenous peoples harvested, nurtured and preserved edible plants for untold generations; a matriarchal passing of knowledge.   Living in an area rich in natural resources from the land and sea, natives had a very different way of cultivating food than the European practices with which we are more familiar. 

Participants learned that the bumble bee is superior to the honey bee in terms of pollination, and that the top three plants for pollinators are lavender, rhododendron and white clover.  Heather provides good, early season blooms for bees, and beneficial flowers of asters and goldenrod make a stunning colour presentation of blue and gold.

The topic of invasive plants was touched upon, with examples such as broom and the evil tansy ragwort.  Todd suggested a visit to the Invasive Species Council of BC website, https://bcinvasives.ca/ as a great resource about invasive species, and best practices for dealing with them.  

Of special note, Todd brought with him a very old nautical chart of Kyuquot Sound.  He presented it as a gift to the Tahsis Heritage Society, who were exceptionally pleased.  To end his visit to Tahsis, Heritage Society directors Maureen Roth and Judy Burgess gave Todd and his companion a private tour of the museum on Sunday.  When the Tahsis Museum re-opens this summer, be sure to stop in to view this chart from 1863.  

We are very grateful to Todd Carnahan for making this trip up to Tahsis, and offer sincere thanks to the Tahsis Literacy Society for funding the event, to the Tahsis Seniors Centre for making their facilities available, to the volunteers of the Tahsis Community Garden Society who organized the event, and to the villagers of Tahsis who came out on a blustery Spring night to attend the presentation.  

Thanks all, and happy gardening.

Busy Weekend!

Two events this weekend!  

Join us at the Seniors Centre on Saturday April 13 at 7 pm for the Native Plants presentation.

Sunday is the Tahsis Community Garden Society's AGM, Seniors Centre at 1 pm, April 14th.  

TLS Mushroom Seminar this Sat 17 June

SORRY - THIS SESSION HAS BEEN 

CANCELLED

Drip Demo May 28th

"Another shout out to 

Terry, Silvie, Maureen & Mervin, Bill & Catherine 

for showing off the community garden today. 

Terry and Silvie for the hands on irrigation system 

demo in the greenhouse. I think the public has a 

better understanding of how it all goes together 

and the different watering options that are 

available depending on what you are growing. 

 I know I do. Great job everyone!!"

- Kim, TCGS President

Garden volunteers were on site Sunday to demo the drip irrigation system.  Thanks to everyone who came out and sincere thanks again to the Tahsis Literacy Society for funding the drip irrigation project.  

The community garden is looking neat and tidy - thank you Terry, Kim, Maureen, Merv, Pat and Jim for stepping up and getting this done the day before.  That's one great haircut! 

The various components of our greenhouse system. 

A hole is punched into the header line to connect either a feeder line for a drip spike, or a soaker line directed to individual plant roots.  

Once connected, this soaker line is laid out 

to direct water to Catherine's tomatoes. 

Terry is growing ginger and melons in the centre bed, 

let's revisit this garden effort in a few weeks! 

,

Terry loops the soaker line around and Bill adds finishing touches to the bed. 

Locally milled cedar from Bill VS will be used

for the Farm to School garden upgrade - it smells wonderful.  

Next whole work project is the F2S beds. We have all the lumber and just waiting for a few more bolts to come in at Tahsis Building Supply. 

Terry will keep us all posted as to when he is ready for our hands on help.

Village administrator Janet stops by to check out our system and tour the garden.  Many thanks to Chuck St. Denis for providing all of these wonderful photographs. 

  

Learn about

Drip Irrigation

at the

Tahsis Community Garden

Sunday, May 28th

from 1 til 3 pm

Everyone Welcome

With great appreciation, the community garden recently received funding from the Tahsis Literacy Society for two drip irrigation systems, one for the Community Garden greenhouse and the other for the Farm to School (F2S) garden area. 

The greenhouse system is operational.  For any community members interested in learning about drip irrigation, garden volunteers will be on hand this Sunday to demonstrate its benefits and provide information on installations.  Drop by anytime between 1 and 3 pm. 

The Farm to School garden is currently ‘under construction’.  Its drip irrigation set up will use three different types of systems, and the installation will provide more of a ‘hands on’ learning experience for community members.  Date of this event to be determined.  A sign-up sheet for the F2S installation will be available on site on Sunday.  

Bokashi Compost Workshop

A huge thank you goes out to Terry Fassbender, Organic Master Gardener (and one of the newest directors of the Tahsis Community Garden Society) for putting on an interesting and informative workshop on Bokashi Composting.

One challenge in our area is that good soil is hard to come by, so for us to learn about how to build our own nutrient rich soil using table scraps is invaluable.

18 people came out to learn about EM, or effective microbes.  With Terry's help, the CMESS school kitchen is already producing some excellent soil additives with this interesting method, which will benefit the school garden bed at the Tahsis Community Garden, and also the new herb garden at the school kitchen door.

For more information, you can read up on the subject at:  mycrobz

Thanks to the Tahsis Senior's Society for allowing us to use the Over 55 club space for the workshop, it was great to be able to have a coffee and enjoy the presentation in such a comfortable room.

Bokashi Composting Workshop

Bokashi Composting Workshop

Tahsis Community Garden Society
invites the community to a
BOKASHI COMPOSTING WORKSHOP

Lead by Terry Fassbender, Organic Master Gardener

Bokashi composting is a safe, quick, and convenient way to compost in your kitchen, garage, or apartment, using a specific group of microorganisms to anaerobically ferment all food waste (including meat and dairy).  Since the process takes place in a closed system insects and smell are controlled.  The process is very fast, with compost ususally read to be integrated into your soil or garden in two weeks.  

If you want to build your own composter bring two 5 gallon buckets and one tight-fitting lid.

Wednesday, April 1, 10:00 am

Seniors' Centre Room at CMESS School

299 Alpine View

Sincere thanks to the Tahsis Seniors' Society for hosting the event

 

Cob Oven Complete!

Many thanks to the people who came out to work today, and thank you Silvie for the amazing lunch!  Sweet and smoky roasted vegetable and brown rice wraps with pesto mayo, smoked salmon arugula pasta salad (so lemony and bright!) and a rich blackberry crumble.  In other words, pretty much the ideal Tahsis meal.  (Can't wait until you open your restaurant, by the way!)

 A huge thank you to everyone who volunteered behind the scenes, helping gather sand and clay, or bringing bricks and supplies from town, lending buckets or the countless other ways that people support us.  And we appreciate our workshop leader Traci, who brings enthusiasm, fresh artistic ideas and a strong back to every project.  Kudos Traci!

Can't wait for our pizza night!

 

And the harvesting continues, G pulled out beets, carrots and green tomatoes today, well done!

Upcoming Cob Oven Seminar

Cob Oven Seminar Poster

Childrens' Summer Garden Program

Day one and everyone had alot of fun!  When I dropped in they were all throwing their hand made "Seed Bombs" in the field behind the garden, and plotting where to throw the extras they were all taking home.  The kids were also munching on the herb chervil to try something new and tasty.  They tell me it has a bit of a licorice flavour.  Thank you so much Traci for running this program!  

LEARN ~ CREATE ~ GROW!

LEARN ~ CREATE ~ GROW!

Have you registered for the CHILDREN'S SUMMER GARDEN PROGRAM yet?

This is a free program for CMESS students 6 and up, preregistration required as class ...size is limited.

Runs every Wed starting July 11th to Aug 29 from 10 - 12 noon at the Tahsis Community Garden.

Outdoor activities, environmentallly friendly arts & crafts AND garden fun.

Msg traci.ann.berg@gmail.com for more info.

Canning Seminar

They say canning is becoming a lost art, however, Kim Anderson is fighting the good fight to revive the knowlege of canning and preserving inTahsis. About 15 Tahsis women and one man gathered together for an informational session on canning and preserving.Kim graciously displayed all the equipment needed to preserve fruits and veggies, as well as informational literature,examples of properly canned produce and tasting samples.Needless to say, all the jams and preserved cherries were a big hit, as well as the scones provided by Jean Sanderson.
Kim was selected to represent the Village at a " Train the Trainer" canning tutorial in Prince George , over the Summer. She brought back canning equipment, books and a host of ideas of how to capture the abundance of wild and cultivated food available locally.
Classes will start in October.