Community Gardening – Following a Plot: Part 1

Growing your own vegetables is a great way to eat organic food, get some sunshine and maybe even make some new friends! For city dwellers, planting a beautiful organic, vegetable garden isn’t always an option due to limited yard space. But, have no fear – community gardens are a wonderful second choice to a backyard garden! Actually, from what I have learned Calgary is home to at least 30 community gardens, Edmonton weighs in with 40, Victoria has 21, and Vancouver has over 65 community gardens! This means there are tons of opportunities to get involved in your own neighborhood, no matter where you live. Plus, a common food sensitivity are preservatives and additives therefore I have been told, many times, that the best way to avoid these substances is to eat fresh, organically grown food.

My good friend Bianca recently discovered the Garden Path, the community garden in Inglewood, Calgary. For only $45 and a commitment of 5 volunteer hours she’s got herself a gorgeous 12’x 4’ plot for the short, yet long anticipated gardening season here in Calgary. Last week her and I prepared her plot with fresh soil and some coffee grounds. This being Bianca’s first attempt at a vegetable garden she wanted to do it right. Sugar Snaps and Strawberries by Andrea Bellamy was a helpful resource for her. I highly recommend this book if you’re thinking of starting your own small space edible garden. Andrea has some wonderful advice on acquiring and maintaining healthy soil which after all, is the foundation of a healthy garden. Not to mention this lovely book boasts some gorgeous pictures by Willowtree’s very own, Jackie Connelly.

Bianca chose to plant vegetables that she’s most comfortable cooking, which is a great approach to ensure none of the veggies will be wasted! Marigold is known for repelling common insects so these will live at the corners of her garden as natural protectors. The remainder of the garden will consist of a variety of delicious veggies and herbs like:

• Lettuce
• Parsley
• Beets
• Swiss Chard
• Arugula
• Green Onion
• Tomatoes
• Cucumber
• and Lavender!

Over the summer, Willowtree will be following the growth of Bianca’s garden. Stay tuned for next month’s update! I hope this has inspired you to join a community garden in your city. To learn more, here are some community gardening websites you could check out:

• Calgary, AB
• Edmonton, AB
• Victoria, BC
• Vancouver, BC
• Toronto, ON

~~~

Related posts:

2 Responses to Community Gardening – Following a Plot: Part 1