It was nice to see lots of people out “digging in the dirt” this past week. Boy, there are already a lot of weeds to deal with, aren’t there? But it is sure nice to get out and start planting!

I wanted to let you know that a compost committee has formed and we are wanting to assess what interest is out there in participation. What does this mean? We are looking for people who support composting, and who would be willing to assist in a pilot project this summer which would involve:

• helping to set up the pilot,
• learn about composting,
• contribute plant materials from your garden,
• turn/tend the compost through the summer,
• and thus enjoy the riches of the finished compost to add to your garden in the fall or following spring.

Please indicate your interest by a reply email back to Susanne Arndt at:  searndt03@yahoo.com

(And if you are interested in becoming part of the research / committee meetings, let us know that as well)

Thanks from your compost committee,

Susanne Arndt, Taneal Szeponski, Susan Birley, Flo Woods and Yvette Crane

Join us for some sunshine on our first group volunteer activity this Saturday 1-4pm and Sunday 1-4pm. Whether you can commit to one hour or three hours your participation is appreciated.

Your help is needed to clean up the weeds growing in the general areas of the community garden.  While the ground is still soft. the weeds should be easy to pull.  John and Cameron be onsite to provide the garbage bags and point you in direction to get started.

Remember to bring a bottle of drinking water and gloves ~ maybe even a little sunscreen.

Thanks,

Garden Operations Committee

Now that the rain has stopped and there is a promise of sunshine, we hope you will visit your garden to remove the weeds that have already grown. Even if you are not planting till later this month, you will want to get a head start on some of the more aggressively growing weeds before they plant their seeds.

Below are a few links to past articles to help you with the task of keeping your garden and paths free of weeds this season.

http://growregina.ca/2010/07/27/weedless-gardening/

http://growregina.ca/2009/08/08/weeds-common-to-yara-grcg/

http://growregina.ca/2009/07/17/low-maintenance-gardening/

Reminder that there is no garbage disposal / disposal of weeds at the gardens, and you will have to bag your weeds to take home?

Don’t forget to do a little stretching before you begin!

Grow Regina

Thank you to the newly formed Governance Committee which had a considerable task as we moved toward incorporation as a non-profit association separating us from our past relationship with the Regina Food Bank.  It was our goal to submit application for incorporation by March 1st, 2012.

We have appreciated the significant support of the Regina Food Bank over many many years which helped Grow Regina to achieve its success and independence.

Grow Regina Annual Spring Gardeners’ Meeting

April 24, 2012

Approximately 85 people gathered at St. Mark’s Church for the 2012 Spring Gardeners’ meeting. Grow Regina Chairperson, Yvette Crane, welcomed all t the meeting and stated the purpose of the meeting was to appraise gardeners of plans for the 2012 gardening season. She informed members present that Grow Regina is now incorporated and the first annual meeting, with elections, will be held a year from now. As well, Yvette informed that copies of the new by-laws will be available on the web-site.

Minutes:

Board Secretary, Robert Wuschenny, presented the highlights of the minutes of April 19, 2011.  He also moved to accept the minutes as presented, seconded by Gary Andrews. Carried.

Other Business:

Treasurer, Duane Haave, reported a bank balance of $9543.73.

John Fagan informed gardeners of the location of their garden plots.

Garden Operations Plans:

Cameron Ulledal outlined Garden Operations plans for the spring of 2012:

• The north section of the gardens where flooding occurred last year will be leveled to yield new gardens and space for Food bank gardens.
• The north side shed is to be moved as per city of Regina requirements.

Cameron also listed several concerns:

• Individual garden weeds and weeding of paths adjacent to gardens
• Keep gardens free of garbage
• Use environmentally friendly products
• Need for volunteer help
• Called for those interested in beginning a Compost Committee

Chairperson Yvette thanked those who worked on governance.

Vice-President, John Fagan, presented garden allocation numbers:

Number of plots rented = 228 (as of April 24, 2012)

10 x 10 = 26;    10 x 20 = 81;    20 x 20 = 100;    20 x 30 = 15

Plowing for People was once again present and took garden cultivating bookings.

Orchard Committee:

• Perimeter trees need mulching in May, 2012.
• The Orchard Committee requires more members.

Gazebo Progress:

Vic Cicansky is on the final stages of building a maquette.

Web-Site/Newsletter:

There is lots of information, recipes, etc. on the web-site.  Go to: grow regina.ca

Questions/Answers:

Q – Who is allowed to use orchard produce?

A  – Fruit trees belong to individuals. Raspberry patches and rhubarb may be shared by

everyone.

Q – How do gardeners access the tools?

A  – Tools will be set out as soon as gardening begins.

Q - When will the water be turned on?

A – This is controlled by the city.

Q – Will there be washrooms?

A – Grow Regina is trying to negotiate them in the new lease.

Chairperson Yvette Crane adjourned the meeting.

- Minutes recorded by Robert Wuschenny, Secretary

Please click on image to view or download a printable PDF version of the poster.

For more information about vendors and the location, please visit http://www.reginafarmersmarket.ca/

Please Click Here to download a printable PDF file version of the YARA-GRCG Plot Map to help you navigate in the community garden. (The image may take some time to download.)

The garden plot numbering system is based on the Saskatchewan Land Titles design. Each 40′x40′ section is located by the 1-11 and A-J (the letter I is not used to avoid confusion). Each 10′x10′ is represented by a number from 1-16. This numbering system will be permanent.

IMPORTANT: If you are planning to arrange your own rototilling, please note that Grow Regina does not permit tractor rototilling units on the site.

Starting at $15.00 per 10′x10′ plot

$20 per 10′x20′ plot
$30 per 20′x20′ plot
$40 per 20′x30′ plot

Please make your cheque payable to: Plowing for People

Mailing address is:

Plowing for People | 73 Crystal Drive | Coppersands | SK | S4L 1B3

Contact Shirley at 781-2888 or email sneuls@accesscomm.ca to schedule your rototilling request.

Did you know?

Pathway Plowing for People Corp. donated a garden shed to Grow Regina. For more information, click here.

To enjoy the Gardening and Food Preservation Manual published in 1994 that many received at the 2012 Spring Gardeners’ Meeting just click on the image and browse through the pages using the Table of Contents below.

Adobe Reader is required to open and read the manual. You can download Adobe Reader, free of charge, by clicking this link: http://get.adobe.com/reader/

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The writers of this manual would like to thank all the staff, volunteers and Board of Directors of the Regina Home Economics For Living Project for all their help in the research, writing, artwork, typesetting, editing and final production of this manual.

A special thank you to D’Arcy Schenk and Sandra Sheils of the Regina Horticultural Society for their input into the editing of the Gardening Section of this Manual.

GROW REGINA is made up of organizations that are concerned with the increasing local food security, community development and improving the quality of people’s lives.

• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
• Arcola Family Support Centre
• City of Regina
• John Howard Society of Sask – Regina Council
• Regina & District Food Bank
• Regina Health District
• Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
• Saskatchewan Social Services
• Youth Unlimited of Regina

• Al Ritchie Community Association
• Canadian National Institute for the blind
• Council on Social Development Regina
• Open Door Society
• Regina Education & Action of Child Hunger
• Regina Home Economics For Living Project (H.E.L.P.)
• Saskatchewan Water Corporation

Thank you to all the businesses, corporations, service clubs, professional associations, and churches who became partners in Grow Regina to ensure the success of the gardens by contributing services or supplies, or by sponsoring garden plots or education workshops.

Major Project Sponsors
(over $500.00)

• AAfordable Landscaping – Rainman Irrigation
• Canadian Home Economics Association Foundation
• City of Regina
• Laidlaw Waste Systems
• New Careers Corporation
• Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
• SaskTel
• SGI

• ASL Paving
• City Central Kiwanas Club
• Ipsco
• Regina Central Lions
• Regina Health District
• Saskatchewan Education, Training and Employment
• World Food Day Association Canada

REFERENCES

Baker, Jerry, The Impatient Gardener, Ballantine Books, New York March 1983.

Bernardin Guide To Home Preserving, Bernardin of Canada, Ltd., Ontario, 1992.

Beattie, Ken A., Regina, Saskatchewan, 1994.

Carlson, Gary, Regina Horticultural Society, Saskatchewan, 1994.

Demming, Sue & Bill, Canning, HPBooks, Inc., Arizona, 1983.

Food Pro Line, Food Focus, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, 1994.

Schenk, D’Arcy, Regina Horticultural Society, Saskatchewan, 1994.

Sheils, Sandra, Regina Horticultural Society, Saskatchewan, 1994.

Time-Life Books, The Good Cook Preserving, Time-Life Books Inc. Alexandria, Virginia.

Copyright 2012 Grow Regina Community Gardens, Inc.  All rights reserved.

Please click on image to view or download a printable PDF version of the poster.

For more information please contact:

Dr. Sanela Begic, BSc, PhD
Cancer Control Coordinator
Canadian Cancer Society
1910 McIntyre Street
Regina, SK S4P 2R3
(306)790-9881
email: sbegic@sk.cancer.ca

Adobe Reader is required to open, read and/or print the Garden Guidelines. You can download Adobe Reader, free of charge, by clicking this link: http://get.adobe.com/reader/

Grow Regina

If you have been waiting for your chance to join the community garden at 3500 Queen Street, now is your chance to submit a Garden Application for this season.

Please take a moment to read the Click Here Garden Guidelines carefully prior to downloading a printable YARA-GRCG Application form. Don’t forget to return it with a cheque or money order.

If you are interested, please send us an email at contact@growregina.ca or phone 352-4813 to leave a message.

Mark Your Calendar!  Spring Gardener’s Meeting will be held on April 24th at St. Mark’s beside the garden.

Grow Regina Membership Committee

Please click on the image to view or download a printable PDF version of the Grow Regina 2012 Spring Newsletter.

Adobe Reader is required to open, read and/or print the Garden Guidelines. You can download Adobe Reader, free of charge, by clicking this link: http://get.adobe.com/reader/

At our first Grow Regina Board Meeting held on February 1st, the following Executive positions were filled:

Chairperson – Yvette Crane

2012 Treasurer – Duane Haave

Secretary – Robert Wuschenny

Vice President – John Fagan

Louise Arndt

Don Fenwick

The above Board members will participate on one or more committees below to deliver all our programs.

The Communications Committee is responsible for newsletters, web updates, and Facebook administration. Submissions of photos, stories, videos and recipes to the committee are welcome.

The Construction and Maintenance Committee is responsible for coordinating construction projects in the garden.  Front entrance signage, composting stations and raised beds are examples of the project coming this year. Anyone with carpentry or construction experience is welcome!

The Fundraising, Planning and Development Committee is responsible for developing a master garden plan and nurturing sponsor partnerships.  To facilitate this goal, Grow Regina is seeking professional design assistance to develop a Master Site Plan and architectural theme, to complement the existing garden layout, pathway, and irrigation infrastructure. This will be the blueprint for future garden development and will be used to support necessary and an aggressive fundraising campaign.

The newly formed Governance Committee has a considerable task ahead of them as we move toward incorporation as a non-profit association separating us from our past relationship with the Regina Food Bank.  It is our goal to submit application for incorporation by March 1st, 2012.

The Garden Operations Committee is responsible for the daily garden/compost maintenance activities and coordinating the care of the Food Bank plots including planting, watering and harvesting. The committee is developing a long term plan to ensure the garden maintenance procedures are adequate and that the fee structure covers the operating costs and provides for any contingencies. Grow Regina has reserved up to 15% of the YARA-Grow Regina Community Garden to grow crops for donation to the Food Bank. Everyone with a ‘green thumb’ is encouraged to participate!

The Membership Committee is responsible for garden plot application and allotment management. This committee is restricted to Board member participation.

The Orchard Committee is responsible for approving species selection and assumes operational management of the orchard. The committee is developing a long term plan to ensure the orchard maintenance procedures are adequate and that the fee structure covers the operating costs and provides for any contingencies. Planning for orchard expansion is occurring in conjunction with the development of a long range master plan for the garden as a whole.

The Social and Education Committee is responsible for education programs like Plant a Row • Grow a Row, garden tours, workshops and the summer/fall BBQs, plus much more.

People are encouraged to bring their open-pollinated garden seeds to trade at our community garden seed exchange table.  Also, gardeners are invited to bring their unwanted gardening magazines and books for our gardener’s swap table.

Eat Healthy Foods organic grocery store will have lunch and snacks available for purchase.

When: March 3, 2012, 10am – 2pm
Where: St. Mary’s Anglican Church, 3337 15th Ave, Regina

Sponsored by: The Weston Price Foundation, Regina chapter, The Regina Horticultural Society, and Seeds of Diversity Canada admission by donation– all proceeds donated to Seeds of Diversity Canada (www.seeds.ca) call (306) 586-0887 for more information.

Can you hang up a copy of our poster at your workplace or in your neighbourhood?  Our poster is available for download at this web site:

http://wapfregina.wordpress.com/

You can also help by inviting people on Facebook.  The event page is here:

http://www.facebook.com/events/353852671308366/

Free talk : Fri Feb 24 ,7-9 pm, Cathedral Neighbourhood Centre, 2900 – 13th Avenue, Regina

Workshop : Sat Feb 25 , 9 am – 4 pm, Room 106, U of R College Avenue bldg., 2100 block College Ave., Regina

See our Facebook page: “Permaculture Regina”

Workshop Fees

Before Feb  10: Student – $50, Regular – $90

After Feb 10: Student – $75, Regular – $115

Register by Feb 21 to ensure your spot.

By phone: (306) 535-9570

By e-mail: permaregina@gmail.com

In-person at: Eat Healthy Foods, 3030 12th Ave, Regina (306) 522-4167

Is cost an issue? Don’t let that stop you – we’d love to talk to you about  ways to make this work for you.

PERMACULTURE: A FAST GROWING MOVEMENT FOR POSITIVE CHANGE

Many people today are keenly aware of a need for change and care deeply about the planet and their communities but feel powerless to do anything to make a difference. However, when informed about a diverse and deepening scope of positive, practical & effective solutions people become inspired and empowered change-makers in their communities.

Permaculture Regina is pleased to present  Rob Avis of Verge Permaculture. He will discuss the fundamentals of permaculture ethics, principles and design methodology and how it can be applied to:

- improve your home & backyard while saving resources and building a healthy place for family, friends and community;

- build resilient communities patterned after ecological principles; and

- assemble landscapes that clean water, use less energy, provide healthy organic food, save money and contribute to a healthy ecology.

Whether your interest is gardening, building homes, community work, economic regeneration, education, health, planning, business or green lifestyles, the application of permaculture design provides positive solutions towards a sustainable future.

Rob Avis

Rob Avis and his wife Michelle run the Calgary-based consulting & education company, Verge Permaculture which specializes in creating sustainable human environments using whole-systems philosophies and working with nature.

For more information about permaculture please visit:  http://www.vergepermaculture.ca

WHAT IS PERMACULTURE?

(from Introduction to Permaculture by Bill Mollison with Reny Mia Slay)

“Permaculture is about designing sustainable human settlements. It is a philosophy and approach to land use which weaves together microclimate, annual and perennial plants, animals, soils, water management, and human needs into intricately connected, productive communities.” (cover)

“Permaculture is a design system for creating sustainable human environments. The word itself is a contraction of permanent agriculture but also of permanent culture, as cultures cannot survive for long without a sustainable agricultural base and land use ethic. On one level, permaculture deals with plants, animals, buildings and infrastructures (water, energy, communications). However, permaculture is not about these elements themselves, but rather about the relationships we can create between them by the way we place them in the landscape.

The aim is to create systems that are ecologically-sound and economically viable, which provide for their own needs, do not exploit or pollute, and are therefore sustainable in the long term. Permaculture uses the inherent qualities of plants and animals combined with the natural characteristics of landscapes and structures to produce a life-supporting system for city and country, using the smallest practical area.

Permaculture is based on the observation of natural systems, the wisdom contained in traditional farming systems, and modern scientific and technological knowledge. Although based on good ecological models, permaculture creates a cultivated ecology, which is designed to produce more human and animal food than in generally found in nature.

Permaculture is a system by which we can exist on the earth by using energy that is naturally in flux and relatively harmless, and by using food and natural resources that are abundant in such a way that we don’t continually destroy life on earth. (page 1)

Permaculture Ethic: Care of Earth, Care of People, Return of Surplus

Permaculture at home: Situating homes and buildings to make use of solar energy and provide protection from winds, storms and fires. Using rain barrels, cisterns and grading land so that water is retained for productive use. Reducing water and energy consumption. Turning lawns into gardens. Planting perennials that provide food for humans and/or animals. Composting. Using mulch to retain moisture and prevent erosion. Using foods grown locally.

Permaculture on the farm: Using landscaping techniques such as swales, dams and ponds to retain water for multiple productive uses. Incorporating animals and aquaculture into the landscape to contribute to the nutrient cycle. Using perennial plants and agricultural crops in a way that improves the health of soils. Planting orchards, woodlots, and shelterbelts.

Permaculture, nature and community: Planning land use in zones that place resources used most frequently closest to home. Making the best use of areas already inhabited by humans and leaving natural areas alone. In city parks plant edible understorey species and useful pine-nut and fruit species. Creating community gardens. Planning new suburban subdivisions for food production and energy self-reliance. Setting up recycling programs. Using systems that support individual livelihoods and community economies. Investing ethically. Engaging in cooperative productivity and community responsibility.