DIGSMYGARDEN2008

INDIVIDUALOUTSTANDINGORNAMENTAL

IstartedgardeningwhenIre?red.WebuiltahouseinNorthSaanichonalotthathadneverbeendisturbed.Recognisingthattherewasacommunityofna?veplantsthere,Iwenttoacommunitycollegenightcoursetofindoutwhattheywere.Removingtheinvasivesrevealedatreasury!ThenightcourseledtotheNa?vePlantStudyGroup(www.npsg.ca),friends,andavolunteerrole.This,mythirdgarden,isagardenofplantsna?vetosouthernVancouverIsland,plus5fruittrees.Theareaisabout200sq.T.(20m2),abuUngtheGallopingGoosetrailonthewaterfront.Itconnectsmetonature,likethepoetryofWendellBerry.Ihaveneverusedpes?cides‐‐importantheretohelpcleanuptheGorgewaterway.Thegardenisalmost2yearsold.Beau?fulplantsgrowingoodsoil‐‐beforeplan?ng,Ihadahelperdigorganiccompostintotheclaysoil.Na?veshrubshavecomefromnurseries,augmentedwithbulbs,annualsandperennialsfromplantrescuesorganizedinurbansprawlareas.Therearenow70na?vespecies.Horsetailsareaproblem,andhandweedingisthesolu?on‐‐thisgardenissmallenoughtobeapleasuretokeep!

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Myloveaffairwithnatureinspiredmetotakeamoreresponsiblepartinprotec?ngourproperty.Ourgrandesteffortstarted(2004)withthechallengetofindanundevelopedpropertyonOkanaganLakewherethedeveloperhadníttakendownshorelinewillowsorpulledoutthereeds.Wefoundapropertytobuildahousetolastlongerthanwoodconstruc?on,toworkaroundshorelinewillows,nottodisturbthereeds,tolandscapewithorganicsandnaturalplantmaterial.Westuartthewild30footcityownedpropertynextdoorthatisfullofwildroses,redstemmeddogwoods,manymoretreesandberrybushesthatthebirds,quail,frogsanddeerlove.Wekeepitfreeofdebrisandasnaturalaswecanfortheanimals.Ourgoalistocon?nuetosupportanorganicandpes?cidefreelawnandgardensthatwonítleachchemicalsintoourreededwatersofspawningfishandnumerouswaterfowl.Iíveplantedsomenonna?veperennialsforcolour.Theresultisayardteamingwithlife,thisamazesuseveryday.Thisphotoisofabuberflytakingrefugeduringanenormouswindstorm.IfeelhonouredthatIhavesucceededinprovidingshelteryetforonemorebeau?fulcreature.

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This tiny bee is one of many that visits my gardens. I dont use any pesticides or chemicals in my garden because the environment is Very important to me.I work in Watershed management and I know what dmage fertilizers and pesticides can do.

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INDIVIDUALVOLUMINOUSVEGTABLES

LookingoutatmyfrontlawnIdecidedthatIwasn'tbeingaverygoodstewardofthelandIliveon.So,inanewsubdivison,Idecidedonaboldmove:IturnedmyfrontyardintoaVegetableGarden.Ithasbeenagreatexperiencewithmytwogirls,JasminandJade,becausewehavegottoprepare,plant,caretakeandharvesttogether.We'vemetmoreofourneighbours,spentmore?metogetheroutsideawayfromanythingelectronic,andbeenabletowatchourfoodgofromourgardentoourbellies!Evenmywife,Suzanne,whowasini?allyalibleskep?cal,hasseenthebenefitithashadonallofus.We'veevenstartedablogtochronicleourexperience!hbp://stevesurbangarden.blogspot.com.Thanksandtakecare!

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Foryearswehavejustmowedourfrontyardandspentnoother?meinit.LastsummerIrealizeditactuallygetsalotofsunandwewereinterestedintryingtobesomewhatself‐sufficientforvegetables.Sothisyearinthespringweroto?lledthefrontyardandplantedmanyvegetablebeds.Wehavecorn,3varie?esofbeans,appletrees,beets,squash,peasandmuchmore.Wenowspendalotof?meinourìexci?ngîfrontyard.Itissomuchmoreinteres?ngtolookat,funtowatchourlaboursdevelopintodeliciousorganicfood,andlearnwhatwemightdodifferentlynextyear.

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INDIVIDUALLUSCIOUSLAWNS

Wemovedintoour1959bungalowin2000.In2000thisspacewaslawn,itrequiredalotofwaterandweedpullingandeventhenitwasnotaninteres?ngspace.IhadthepleaseoftouringJapanandfellinlovewith

rollingstonesandwascuriouswiththesweepingritualoftheJapeneseGarden.Thesquaresarecreatedwith4x4cedar?mbers(Ididnotwantanymaterialswithchemicalsinthem)andpeagravel.Toseparatethekitchengardenfromthepa?o‐planterswerechosentomirrorthepeagravel.Thehedgebehindtheplanterswere

chosenbecausetheyaredroughtresisantandbugresistant.Sincevisi?ngJapan25yearsagoInowunderstandandlovethesimplepleasureofsweepingagardenspace.

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Ipshardforustobelievethatlastyearthiswasalldirt.Boy,diditgetmuddywhenitrained!Ithascomealongwaysincethen.Wehaveneverusedpes?cidesorfer?lizersandrarelywaterthegrass(havenítyetthisyear).Rainbarrelsprovidewaterfortheplantsinthegarden,bordersandpa?osthatweputintoincreasediversityandreducetheamountofgrasstowater.Weedingbyhandgivesusthechancetobrowsethroughtheyarddaily,enjoyingitsprogress.Wechosenottousechemicalsformanyreasons:thereisapondbehindouryardthatishometomanybirds,amuskratandfish,wehavedogs,andwewantedtoshowourchildthatthingscanbedonedifferently.Itwasrewardingtohearhimexplaintoafriendthatwewereìmakingdirqinthecompostbin.Havingachemical‐freeyardisfunbecausewearegivenmanyìreasonsîbypeoplehaveforwhyouryardisdoingsowellwithoutchemicalinputslike,ìipsjustbecauseyourgrassisnewî.Thapsalwaysgoodforaquicklessonandagigglelater.

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INDIVIDUALBALCONYBLISS

My balcony is a pesticide-free zone because a garden is more than pretty flowers. My garden includes: - chirping birds that sing me awake, - buzzing bees that pollinate, - wiggly worms that make compost, - a princely Westie who acts as host, - edible flowers that feed mouth & eye, - and organic greens to keep my spry.

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This is my garden. I do not have a backyard of my own, so until that time I will proceed to grow plants in pots on my deck. This is a picture of my green peppers, chives and my bucket of lettuce. They are all 100 per cent organic because I do not believe in using pesticides or herbicides. I feel not using chemicals on the foods we eat is important because there are enough problems in the world, then to have to worry about the effects these chemicals produce when consumed. My garden is important to me because I know that only TLC goes into the garden, not chemicals. Something so easy can create such a rewarding feeling, and tastes good too!

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COMMUNITYVOLUMINOUSVEGTABLES

Ishareagardenwithaverydearfriendofmine,mynameisAshleyPercyandIamblessedtohaveanamazingfriendnamedLoganMillerwhoshareshisgardenwithme.Wecallourgarden"LoganandAshleysOrganicGardenofGoodness",andhasbeeningrowthforjustoveramonth.Weworkedveryhardtogetourgardenupandrunning.Inthebeginningthegardenareahadnotbeentendedtoforatleast2yearssotheamountofweedswerelikenonotherIhaveeverseen.LoganandIhandpickedeverylastoneout,thatjobalonetookusawholeday.ThenextdayveryeagertoplantourseedswewenthardtoworkforanotherfullaTernoonofplan?ng.Bothofusarebeginnergardeners,soithasbeenanamazinglearningexperiencethusfar.Wearebothveryagainstpes?cidesandhavenotusedanysortofchemicalfer?lizersforourgarden.Theyarenotgoodfortheenvironmentorourbodies.Ibelieveinbuyingorganicandsuppor?ngthelocalfarmers,sohavingourowngardenIamlearningtobeselfsufficent.Wekeepourgardenbeau?fulandhealthybymonitoringthegrowthandgivingeveryplanttheaben?onitdeserves.Weusemulchinbetweenthebedswhichhelpscontainsomeweeds.Alsotwiceaweekwehandpickalltheweedsfromthegarden.Wehaveahadabitofanissuewithantssofar,tosolvethisproblemwesprinkledchilipepperaroundthesource.Thishasseemedtowork.IcouldneverimaginepuUnganychemicalintothegarden,evenifwedogetmul?plepests.Ourgardenisouroasis,towatchitgrowandbecomewhatwasinvisionedisatruegiToflife.

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We are city dwellers but country folks at heart! Laughter was heard when our neighbours saw the backhoe pull into our yard and remove a paved parking space and replace it with soil. Every year, we have been planting our garden right in the heart of the city and it just keeps getting better. We do not use any pesticides of any kind, only hand collection of those pesty critters when necessary. Our five year old son is extremely helpful in ensuring all slugs are removed from our lettuces. Our garden feeds us through the Spring, Fall and last year we had lettuce in December! We grow various types of beans, which do provide a 'green screen' from city scenes, as well as swiss chard, beets, carrots, walla walla onions, cucumbers and tomates. Our lettuces are also well-enjoyed ingestants too! On the fruity side, we have raspberries, blueberries, peaches, plums and a rogue fig tree that just appeared out of nowhere. Spice it up with a little rosemary, sage, oregano, thyme and chives to round out the palate! We are strong supporters of sustainable green living and would like to encourage more country living in the city

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Thisismyfirstgarden.MyboyfriendandItookallthesodoff,?lledandplantedthiswholepatchoflandbyhand.Wewenttothelocalseedstoretogetherandchoosevegetablesweknewwouldgrowwellandoneswehopedwould.Thisgardenisabout2½hoursfromourhomeinHamiltonbecauseit’satmyGrandmother’sfarmproperty.IthasbeenyearssincetherehasbeenagardenonthepropertyandmyboyfriendandIknewitwouldbetheperfectplaceforourdreamgarden.Weplantedthreetypesofpotatoes,threetypesofcarrots,rutabagas,kale,leeks,greenandsweetonions,broccoli,beans,peas,cucumbers,zucchiniandsquash.Unfortunately,wehadsomethingeatalotofourleafyplantsbut,ontheupside,ourpeasproducedsomuchthattheyknockedoverthescrapoffencewehadthemgrowingon.Thisgardenisveryimportanttousbecausewebelieveingrowingourownfoodanddreamofbeingabletogrowallourownfood.Thisisagreatlearningexperienceforusaswellasalotoffun.

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COMMUNITYOUTSTANDINGORNAMENTALS

Ihavesentinmyentryform,andwillsendyouanotheremailwhichhasanar?cleIwrotefortheRichmondNewswhichexplainstheendeavouragroupofus(now60+strong!)haveundertaken.Weareanorganicgarden,andourstrengthisourcommibmenttothisgarden.Wewishtotopreserveitforfuturegenera?ons,forthebirdlifethatisabundant,tothecoyotethatstrolledthroughtheothernight!Tohaveanoasisofgreeninthemiddleofsuchhighdensity‐foraplaceforfolkstowalk,tothefrogpondthecityhaspromisedtobuildus‐weareacrazybunch!Wehopeyoufindourstoryofinterest‐weareadedicatedbunch!

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Inoursmallurbangardenwehaveneverusedanykindofchemicalfer?lizer,herbicideorpes?cide,asitisourresponsibilitytoprotectouryoungfamilyandtheenvironment.Ourlandscapethrivesongoodsoil&compost,bonemealatplan?ng,andathicklayerofmulchappliedyearly.Wehavenopestproblemsasareplantsareahealthyandsurvivedamagewell.Withinthis115x50spaceweharbour20largetreesandavastamountofna?veshrubsandperennials.Thedaylily(inpicture)isamuchunderratedperennial.Itisdroughttolerant,growsinanysoil&isedible.Ithasbeau?fulfoliageandflower.Thispar?culardaylilyhasbeenmoved4?mesbetweenmymothers'gardenandhere.Iimprintedonmyparentsatayoungagetorespectallthingsliving.IhavefacedmuchdifficultywiththeempathythatIfeel,ascaringforlivingthingsdoesn'tmakeyoueasilypalatabletothegeneralpopulist.Regardlessthehardship,IhopeItooamimprin?nguponmyownchildrentocareinthesameway.

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COMMUNITYBALCONYBLISS

MyhusbandIanandIrecentlymovedbacktoTorontoandandarecommibedtofindingwaystoreducethecarbonfootprintofournewlyacquired"old"housenearthecentreofthecity.Twothingswewouldreallylovetodoistoturnourbackyarddeckintoavegetablegardenoasisandtoinstallagreenroof,ideallywithsolarpanels.

BalconyBliss:Canwemakeavegetableoasisinourbackyard?

IgrewupinPuslinchandmyItalianparentsbroughtmeuplearningtorespectandlovethecycleofgrowing,harves?ngandea?ngfreshorganicvegetables.Mymomanddad(nowintheirseven?es)aremyecoinspira?on.Forthepast35yearstheyhavehadanacresizedgardenthatproducesenoughvegetableforthemselvesandourlargeextendedfamilyallseasonandevenintothewinter.Askids,theyencouragedustolearnaboutgardeningbyenrollingusintheGuelphHor?culturalSociety.Whilemostofmyfriendsweretakingswimming,balletandpiano,Ilearnedhowtoplantseedsandgrowthingslikezucchini,tomatoesandcarrots.

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ThisisourorganicbalconygardeninWinnipeg.Wehavebeengrowingitfortwosummersnow.Wehavetomatoes,peppers,lebuce,andpeas.Wearealsoworkingonaherbgardenwithseveralfunherbs.Youcanalsoseeourprairiegrassbinwhichisinit'ssecondyear.Alloftheplants,seeds,soil,andwormcas?ngswerepurchasedatvariousorganicstoresinWinnipeg.Wealsousedwormcas?ngsfromourownvermicompostbin.WinnipeghasagreatorganiccommunitywithSageGardenHerbs,HumboltsLegacy,andOrganicPlanethelpingusgetstarted.Wehaveagreatsouthfacingbalconythatgetssunalldaylong.Wejusttastedourpeasandtheyweresogood.Tomatoesandlebuceareontheway!

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Thisisourbalconygarden.Ratherthanbuyingnewpotstoplantinweusedanoldheadboardanddrawerthatwefoundinthewastepilebehindaswellasafewpotswehadlyingaround.Wehavepiecesofstringhangingfromourwindowdowntotheheadboardforthepeastogrowupandoldstripesofclothfromasetofpantsaretyingourtomatoplantsup.Wehaveonions,peas,tomatoes(threekinds)andkalegrowingouthere,alongwithalonewild‐strawberryplantthatwehadweededoutofourothergardenanddidn’twanttoletdie.ThecompostweusedinthegardencomesfromtheCityofHamiltoncompostgiveawayandfromourworm‐bin(vermi‐composter)wehaveinourkitchen.Thewaterthataccumulatesinthebobomofthebinalsomakesagreatfer?lizerforourgarden.ThemesharoundthegardenistokeepthepigeonsfromsiUngonandea?ngourveggies.Wehadproblemsearlyonwithpigeonskillingourbabyplantsandsowedecidedoncompletelyblockingoffthegardenfromtheirinvasions.

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COMMUNITYLUSCIOUSLAWN

I live in a triplex in Outremont, Montreal QC. The only green space to work with is in the front of the building. For years my late aunt used to scatter grass seeds but only weeds would thrive. When we moved in we decided to take spade in hand and try our luck. My mother was an early crusader against pesticides such as DDT so we never even considered using chemicals. The most powerful mixture we have ever used is water mixed with garlic to deter pests. Yes we do get insects who feast on the plant leaves but we wouldn't have it any other way. Because of the maple tree we have planted a nice variety of hostas and shade and dry soil tolerant flowering plants As you can see at the back of the photo we have good size composter. The rich compost nourishes our garden. It gives us so much pleasure to eat out on our balcony during the short summer season, overlooking our little urban oasis. Bees and small birds enjoy it as well.

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