Springtime in Tahsis

Warm spring weather is in the forecast for the next 10 days and gardeners are busy, busy, busy.  Beds are looking good, many already planted, some ready for seeds, and some still resting under their winter mulch.  

Thanks to society directors Kim, Rita, Maureen and Terry - who have all contributed to fixing drip issues at the community garden.  Work has been done on the leaking tap at our main water source, and we are waiting on a part to get the drip irrigation going in the greenhouse.  Sorry for the delay, please continue to hand water greenhouse beds until we get this fixed. 


CMESS students have sown seeds in the Farm to School corner, and students also helped clean up the tabletop beds and one of the raised beds.  Thank you CMESS students, Brooke and Terry for all that you do in support of Farm to School. 

We had a quarrel of gold crown sparrows, and quarrel we did.  The wee monsters stripped leaves off brassicas, peas and even the overwintered kale.  Fast acting gardeners placed protective netting over their seedlings. 

Thankfully, these birds are migratory and just passing through.  And following the theme of man against nature, Kim has placed a temporary cover over the black water barrel beside the greenhouse, as it was full of mosquito larvae.  

The community garden society will have a table at the PAC Bazaar, Sunday May 5 from noon til 3.  Many thanks to Kim who has donated a lovely hanging basket for the raffle, and to Rita who has complemented the raffle item with two potted Bleeding Hearts. Rita and Maureen have stepped up to look after the table, sell raffle tickets and welcome any questions you may have about community gardening here in Tahsis.  

There is one raised bed and two tabletop plots available for purchase, if you need more space, or if you are interested in becoming a community garden member.  

And finally, the next General Meeting will take place on Monday, May 27th @ 7 pm.  Venue to be announced.  Happy Gardening! 

Spring Work Party

March 30th - Spring Community Garden Work Party

 

The weather was exceptional and so were the four lovely, hardworking women who showed up first thing in the morning.  In alphabetical order, Cheryl, Juanita, Katy and Lynn, deserve a Big Thank You for all their efforts in cleaning up our community garden.  Of course our heartfelt thanks is also extended to Terry, man amongst men, who always works his Garden Magic for the benefit of all. Thanks Terry!!

Apologies for not having Juanita in the group photo.  Was working so hard I never saw her leave for her lunch break.

(left: Juanita Feb 2012 at the Tabletop Building Work Party)

Cheryl is one dedicated, hard-working gal and it is to her that your Executive extend special thanks for uprooting mega wicked blackberry vines and clearing a large area for future planting.  In all, there were 9 truckloads of blackberry vines/brambles & sundry debris removed from the garden and it’s lookin’ good!  Thanks also goes out to Chuck for hauling two of those truckloads away previous to the work party.

Cheryl and I were able to save the tabletop that was leaning precariously, looking like it was about to tip over.  The legs were not rotten and Cheryl literally picked it up…whoa!...and moved it to safer ground with more support to come.  Good going Cheryl!  The words, “we are women hear us roar” came instantly to mind.  Inspiring!  Chuckle.

 

A gentle reminder to those who share community greenhouse space and/or have yet to clean up their outside raised beds, please do so.  We will soon be hosting a walk-through for our guest, Todd Carnahan and want to, with pride, put our best foot forward.

In Honour of The Garden!

Rita

Vice-President

Tahsis Community Garden Society

Spring Work Party

All Members - it's time to clean up our community garden for the season.  Any and all help sincerely appreciated. :)

  

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.  

Spring Clean Up April 30th

What a great day at the garden on Sunday!  

President Kim has these words of thanks:

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

To all the members and non members that came out to the work party on Sunday. 😊  You are such a dedicated lot to brave the weather. The Green House  looks FANTASTIC inside and out.  Please do not bring anything back in, we will be installing the irrigation system as soon as it comes in Yippee!   Picnic table and bench are all cleaned as well. Terry was on brambles and planning the new F2S bed design.  All materials will be ordered early next week. So nice to have some students Brody and Seth involved in the garden this year. Oh to be young and limber again...  Was hoping to get some burning done but will have to reschedule that for a drier day 😊  Thanks again for your commitment to maintaining this gem of ours and may the Sun Gods  😎 shine sooner than later.  

Happy Gardening everyone🐝🐝🐝🌞🌞🌞 - Kimberley  

The rain held off (more or less), the greenhouse was cleaned up with avon bubblebath (!), Terry battled blackberries, Kim scrubbed the greenhouse (wash/rinse/repeat), Maureen worked with quiet dedication, Juanita came an hour early, Catherine and Bill dug right in, Silvie cleaned the bench, Cookie made her observations and sought out potential petters, Patricia chipped in and exuded peace, Debbie and Louis stepped right up looking for jobs to accomplish, and newest members Brody & Seth helped with hoses and even got a row of peas planted.  Many thanks to mom Allison for capturing the event with these photos, and for grabbing a sponge and joining in.  

Maureen and Seth

Brody is ready to plant

Kim blasts away at the greenhouse

Peas are planted

 Cleaning up bed 17

A job for our tallest volunteer

Recounting of Ubedam Theatre's great show on the weekend. 

 Long standing volunteer Cookie

Terry gives Silvie the scoop on F2S plans

Debbie and Seth having some fun, clouds held off for the most part.