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villagevibeJune 2008 : News and views from the heart of Fernwood

It’s the time again. Renew your Fernwood NRG

membership in time for our Annual General

Meeting in late September. Membership forms can

be picked up at the Fernwood Community Centre

at 1240 Gladstone Ave between 9am and 5pm and

dropped off at the same place.

When the shoe fi ts>> by Trish Richards

The Vic High Rugby Team recently won a

trophy of a diff erent sort: a glittery, golden high heel shoe,

replete with decorative fl owers! And it’s a trophy that they

are justifi ably proud of.

On Saturday, April 26th most of the Rugby guys of

Vic High, along with their coaches, Clayton Daum and

Matt Staples, slipped on some pretty snazzy high heel shoes

and walked down Government Street in the second annual

‘Walk a Mile in Her Shoes’ event.

Th e walk is sponsored by the Victoria Women’s Sexual

Assault Center (VWSAC). It is an invitation to men to

experience the joy of teetering along in high heels in an

eff ort both to draw attention to sexualized violence and the

attitudes that underlie it and to shift perspective through

experience. It’s that old adage at work: “Look at it through

my eyes. It looks a lot diff erent from here.”

Joining in the walk is not something you might expect

of a group of teenage guys whose fi rst love is rugby. So why

did they do it? Coach Daum explains that the idea came

from students in his Leadership class, some of whom are

involved with Project Respect, another VWSAC initiative.

in this issueLive from Cornerstone Café Page 3

Feature: Your guide to Fern Fest 2008 Page 4

Space to place charrette Page 7

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>> by Angela Moran

The Fifth Annual Organic Plant sale at

the Greater Victoria Compost Education Centre

was a huge success! On May 10th, almost 900 people

visited the Centre to purchase perennial and annual

plants from local organic growers, including rare and

heirloom varieties. Th is market-style event was a great

opportunity to raise awareness about the importance

of locally grown, pesticide-free plant propagation

and production. It also provides the Centre with a

valuable fundraising opportunity and increases our

exposure.

Visitors to the Centre enjoyed free site tours

and took in the music of Last Train, a local bluegrass

band. Th ey performed throughout the plant sale, and

they were a hit!

Th e overwhelming media interest this year

could account for the dramatic increase in numbers.

It was our biggest turnout ever. Th e CRD’s pesticide

ban might also be starting to have an impact in

encouraging residents to fi nd ecological and ethical

solutions for their own backyards. Overall, as

awareness grows around the current global food crisis,

so does the movement toward sustainable home-scale

food production.

We would like to send a special thank you to all

of the vendors that participated in this year’s event. It

is your tireless dedication to local food security that

makes this event possible. Off ering people the means

to provide food for themselves is brings us one step

closer to a local, participatory, ecological food system

in Victoria. Th ank also to Victoria High School,

Island Displays, Last Train, our volunteers, and our

neighbours for their support and assistance with the

plant sale.

Th e Compost Ed Centre will be selling more organic

veggie starts at the Centre. Call 386-9676 for more

information.

Plant sale a success

Membership renewal

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We are committed to creating a socially,

environmentally, and economically

sustainable neighbourhood;

We are committed to ensuring

neighbourhood control or ownership of

neighbourhood institutions and assets;

We are committed to using our

resources prudently and to becoming

fi nancially self-reliant;

We are committed to the creation and

support of neighbourhood employment;

We are committed to engaging the

dreams, resources, and talents of our

neighbours and to fostering new links

between them;

We are committed to taking action in

response to neighbourhood issues,

ideas, and initiatives;

We are committed to governing

our organization and serving our

neighbourhood democratically with a

maximum of openness, inclusivity and

kindness;

We are committed to developing

the skills, capacity, self-worth, and

excellence of our neighbours and

ourselves;

We are committed to focusing on

the future while preserving our

neighbourhood’s heritage and diversity;

We are committed to creating

neighbourhood places that are vibrant,

beautiful, healthy, and alive;

and, most of all,

We are committed to having fun!

declaration of principles and values

Oil prices are hitting record highs. Food

costs are following. And what are we doing in here in

Fernwood? Turning boulevards into veggie-bearing

patches, that is, we are preparing for the future.

But the idea dates from the past.

In February 1932, at the height of the Great

Depression, the Lands Committee of Victoria City

Council recommended that the Committee “remit the

registration fee of $2.50 where deemed advisable in

order to assist needy persons to avail themselves of the

opportunity of raising garden produce from home

consumption on city owned property.”

Translated from 1930s-speak, the Lands Committee

was advocating that the City foot the bill for people to

garden on City-owned property.

But it gets better than this. By 1935 the gardening on

City-owned land enterprise had turned into a full-fl edged

City Council-sponsored yearly gardening contest for

families on relief. And, the City awarded cash prizes for

the best gardens. In August of 1936, the Parks and

Boulevards Committee reported that “competition this

year has been very much keener and great credit is due to

the prize winner, one of two having won prizes despite

the fact that their lots were covered with grass and weeds

last year.”

Th e folks who created the Haultain Common at

Haultain and Asquith are far ahead of their time. But

they’re drawing on age-old practices. It is hoped that

the City Parks Department and others look to their

predecessors in the past for inspiration for the future.

editorial : Gardens of the future

| News and views from the heart of Fernwood | June 2008 VillageVibe

>> by Deryk Houston

After mounting many one man shows in Canada

and as far away as Iraq over the past dozens of years, I had a

great desire to show my work closer to home. I thought it

would be fun to bring together a group of artists within my

neighbourhood. Th e result is the Fernwood Artist’s Studio

Tour (FAST).

It didn’t take long before we had enough artists to

set June 21st and 22nd, 2008, as the dates. Th e beautiful

thing was that it brought together many artists who never

knew they lived just around the corner from each other.

New friendships developed and ideas and knowledge were

generously shared, soon developing an excitement about the

talent in our own community.

I also had some calls from artists who were unsure about

their work or their work space. Some wondered if their

work could be called art or perhaps a craft . Others worried

that they didn’t have a ‘real’ studio space because they only

worked at their kitchen table.

Our group took a broad approach to the defi nition

of art. We wanted to include and encourage a wide range

of expression including everything from sculpture to

photographs, fi bre art, dance, storytelling, painting, pottery,

and so on.

Artists are by nature oft en shy to show their work and

oft en lack of confi dence in what they do. Sometimes we love

our work, and sometimes we want to destroy it.

I have watched the confi dence levels of various artists

grow as the energy of the group carried us all along. It has

been very satisfying to see this happen.

Please join us on the 1st annual FAST, June 21st and

22nd. On Saturday, start our walk from Fern Fest in the

Life, Growth, Evolution, and Celebration

– words perfectly suited for Fernwood and well represented

in the symbolism of a spiral. And so, aft er several months of

open dialogue, roughly 50 excited neighbours gathered at the

May 12th Cornerstone Café Mandala Party to express their

intentions to make Fernwood an even greater place to be.

Eric Norton’s Rainbow Spiral was voted as the number one

mandala amongst 36 and will be the transformative symbol

for Fernwood’s fi rst intersection repair project at Fernwood

Rd. and Gladstone Ave. crossing.

While many questions about the logistics and politics of

the paint-in process keep some twisting and turning, dozens

of successful intersection projects in Portland, Oregon have

fi red up the collaborative problem-solving imaginations of

Fernwoodians. Everyone is encouraged to attend upcoming

placemaking meetings to share their insights and to

embrace the opportunity to create positive change through

collaboration.

We’ll soon be able to celebrate our very own rainbow

spiral as a representation of Fernwood’s inspirational

transition and continued intentions. Let’s allow our

creativity to spiral up and out from the core of each of us and

our community. Many thanks to all of you, our artists, voters

and the Mandala Committee for making this a possibility!

Get ready for an everyone-welcome Mandala Paint-in

Party Saturday June 21st at Fern Fest!

the Fernwood buzz

>> by Mark Powell

Tuesday May 6th Sol Kinnis, Resource and

Communications Coordinator for the BC Institute for

Co-operative Studies (BCICS), a director of Roofs and

Roots Housing Co-operative, and a local Fernwoodian, met

with those who had turned out for the inaugural Fernwood

Business Network (FBN) sponsored speaker series held

at the Fernwood Inn. Th e FBN is beginning the series, to

engage the public in dialogue about economics, and to

challenge the old model where business is considered

as separate from community.

Did you know that eight hundred million people

worldwide are members of co-ops? Or that co-operatives

are incorporated? Or what the diff erences are between a co-

operative structure and a group formed under the Societies

Act? Sol explained the advantages and disadvantages of

forming each kind of group. For instance, did you know

monies raised by foundations can’t be donated to co-ops

but can be given to non-profi t societies? Sol explained that

co-ops are businesses based around needs of their members,

and that although there is always one vote per member,

dividend structures can vary. For a quick lesson on the

various types of co-ops, from consumer co-ops to worker

co-ops, head to the BCICS website at www.bcics.org.

Sol Kinnis speaks at FBN

FAST in Fernwood

– continued on page 6– continued on page 3

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Turning boulevards into veggie-bearing patches

Square. Bring your children and your grandparents.

Take the time to explore and have fun.

You will be rewarded by a wide range of

interesting work and personalities. Each artist has a

story to share.

Brochures with maps locating each artist’s studio can

be picked up at the Collective Works Gallery, She

Said Gallery, the Cornerstone Café, the Fernwood

Inn, the Fernwood Community Centre, and the

Fernwood Community Association.

VillageVibe June 2008 | www.fernwoodneighbourhood.ca |

views from the street : What do you most like about Fernwood and what would you change?

I love the eccentricities this neighborhood has to off er.

Th ere is a strong sense of a diverse community coming

together with common goals. I would like to see traffi c

slow down on Fernwood Road, making Fernwood into a

people-friendly place, and take the emphasis off cars.

I like the fact that I have lived here (in Fernwood) for

about a year, and that I feel more part of a community

than I did where I was for the last 20 years! I would

really like to see more breakfast joints right in the heart

of Fernwood!

Although it is somewhat changing, I like the fact that

Fernwood has always been somewhat tucked away, off

the map, a secret garden of sorts! I would like to see less

cars and more skateparks!

Live from the Café

Don Howie Kayliah

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>> by Lisa Helps

On Friday May 9th at a jam-packed

Cornerstone Café, Fernwood musicians and friends from

around the city recorded a CD entitled “Live from the

Cornerstone Café”. A sign on the front door directed

music lovers to “enter through the back door”, as the

Café had been transformed into a music studio of the live

variety. Recording engineer, Jude Pelley, who worked for

next to nothing, coordinated with barista extraordinaire

James MacIntyre to ensure that there would be no steamy

whistle from the espresso machine clouding up this CD.

It was all about the music, an intimate musical evening in

Fernwood history.

And like so many other Fernwood initiatives, this

one came from the ground up. While some folks signed

up in advance, there were still spots available when the

doors opened at 6:00pm the night of the recording.

Th at’s right – an open-mic, of sorts, turned professional

recording. Each artist performed one or two songs. Th e

best song from each set will make it onto the record.

Additionally, there will be no cost to the artists for

production, as this is Cornerstone Collective Records’

offi cial debut release. How about that for giving young

and aspiring artists a break!

Th e evening featured regular Cornerstone Café

performers and members of Cornerstone Collective

Records. Th e crowd also got a sneak preview of two

of the Fern Fest 2008 headliners, Boxcar and Dead

Reckoning.

According to event organizer, Fernwood NRG’s

James Kasper, “It was a thing of beauty. In some cases,

artists played only one song, knowing that this would be

a permanent record of their performance in front of

a live audience. Th ey really rose to the occasion under

that pressure.”

Did you miss the event and want to get your hands

on the CD? Or were you there and can’t wait for its

release? Either way, “Live from the Cornerstone Café”

will be released at Fern Fest 2008 in Fernwood Square

(Fernwood and Gladstone) on Saturday June 21st.

>> by Allison Power

Despite the snow on April 19th, 84

participants joined Victoria Best Babies to

celebrate Earth Day in the FCC gym and built

‘Gardens To Go’. Arriving with nothing but a

keen interest in learning, participants decorated

their ‘green bin’ and fi lled it full of soil. Th en they

planted starters like tomatoes and lettuce in the

bin surrounded by marigolds and herbs. Each

gardener was given an information package full of

tips on benefi cial garden companions, common

problems in container gardening, recipes and

other inspiring outdoor activities. Our goal was

to bridge the relationship between plant and plate

and encourage families to learn more about the

environment and where our food comes from.

It is essential for our health and that of our

planet to be responsible and take ownership for

our impact on the earth. Everyone was excited to

go away with both a nurturing experience and a

project that will grow all summer. Resources such

as LEAP BC, L.I.F.E packages and community

green maps were on hand to get families motivated

and involved. Gardens To Go also inspired

parents to plant, play, and be active with their

children. Since the project, families have returned

to programs with updates on the success of their

gardens and stories of what they are doing now to

adopt a more positive lifestyle. .

Gardens to go Coupe II

FAST | fr om page 2

May’s Coupe de Ville II was an Introduction

to Urban Chickens. Regine Klein shared her wealth

of experience with keeping chickens and led the dozen

participants on a coop tour through Fernwood. Coupe

de Ville III will likely take place in the fall.

I am saddened to

say goodbye to the Vibe

and its many wonderful

collaborators. I will

be moving to a new

community and become

a Fernwood visitor! Th is

truly has been a lovely

year of picture-taking for me! Kuddos to all the movers

and shakers in this community – our world needs more

of you! Lisa, Trish, Marianne, Susan, Roberta, Susy (and

all the ones I am forgetting to mention...) – I will miss

working with you! Véronique da Silva

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There’s plenty for kids of all ages to enjoy at this year’s Fern Fest. Check out these highlights and see the

two-day schedule for complete details.

Aft er charming audiences last

year, Shoshana the Storyteller

returns to Fern Fest for two

appearances. Shoshana’s

storytelling inspires listeners

of all ages to awaken to the

deeper joys of life. (Sat. 10:30

am and 4:30 pm)

Victoria Firefi ghters, bring

their Junior Combat Challenge

to Fern Fest this year. Th ese

professional fi refi ghters with

the City of Victoria volunteer

their time to teach kids about

fi re safety while putting them

through their combat paces

with tunnels, pylons, drop and

roll and holding back a real fi re

hose. (Sat. 10:30 am-2:30 pm)

Be the fi rst to view Fernwood’s latest aff ordable housing success story and

tour Park Place on Yukon Street. Near completion it will soon be home to six

more families. (Sat 11:00am and 2:30 pm: meet at the main stage)

Strolling makeup artist Tasha Winters will be on hand with face-painting

of the sun and the famous Fernwood fern. A proud Fernwoodian, Tasha is a

Blanche Macdonald graduate who does makeup for fi lm, photography, and

Langham Court Th eatre.

Th e Vic High Dancers “Platform 61” who recently added to their

collection of awards earning both a Creative Costume Design Award and the

Nancy Ferguson Shield bring their high energy move to the sports fi eld lawn.

(Sat. 5:00 pm)

Th e extremely popular Bouncy Castle is back! Shoes off and start laughing.

Need we say more? (Sat. 5:30-8:30 pm)

Steve Hignett is the master magician behind Rockabilly Magic. Fantastic

magic and classic illusions combined with humour and audience participation

makes Rockabilly Magic classic family entertainment. (Sat. at noon)

Take the Fern Fest Zero Waste Challenge!Th anks to the diligence of volunteers and festival goers, in 2007 aft er three

days of Fern Fest, just one measly, not-even-full, bag of garbage went to the

landfi ll. Everything else met the Zero Waste Challenge. In 2008, we aim to do

even better, and this is what you can do to help:

> Sort your garbage into the plastics, compost, paper, cardboard, and very

popular “not so sure” bins you’ll fi nd around the site

> Pack your own snacks and drinks in reusable containers that go home

with you at the end of the day

> Pick up any stray garbage you fi nd on the site and get it into the right bin

> Volunteer to help as a “waste interpreter” for a couple of hours during the

weekend

What’s a Festival without Food?Th e ongoing revitalization of our community can be seen in the fi ve great

places you’ll fi nd to eat within metres of the Fern Fest Main Stage: the

Cornerstone Café, the neighbourhood’s living room, the newly opened Green

Goddess (there are fl owers in the salads!), Stir it Up for amazing Roti and

other Caribbean specialties, the Chinese restaurant, as well as two recognized

in the Times Colonist’s ‘Best of 2007’: Stage and the Fernwood Inn. Enjoy the

fare they have to off er as well as these special Fern Fest Food Finds:

> Fernwood NRG BBQ: Enjoy veggie dogs, hot dogs, corn on the cob (if

the crops co-operate), and Alison Power’s famous yam enchiladas, all at

Fernwood-friendly prices. (Sat. noon-10:00 pm)

> Fernwood Inn Community Pancake Breakfast on the Fernwood Inn

Patio. Sat 10:00-noon: Free!

> Fernwood Senior’s Tea at the Cornerstone Café. (Sat 2:00-3:30: Free!)

> Or bring your own picnic and spread out on the lawn of the Vic High

Sports Field (Remember Zero Waste and pack out whatever you pack in.)

feature : Your guide to Fern Fest 2008: Th e annual celebration of all things Fernwood

Dean FortinVictoria City Councillor

Working for strong, healthy and sustainable

communities.

[email protected]

>> by Wendy Magahay

On Friday June 20th and Saturday June 21st,

Fernwood Square will become the heart of Fern

Fest 2008, the celebration where all Victorians are

invited to become honourary Fernwoodians.

“Fern Fest is great because there are really

activities for everyone from the bouncy castle to

the seniors’ tea. And sometimes it’s surprising who

is drawn to what, “shares Fernwood NRG Chair

Lisa Helps. “Last year,” says Helps, “it was the

adults in the beer garden as well as the children

sitting in front of her who were captivated by

Shoshana’s stories.” Th is year Saturday is family day

at Fern Fest with non-stop activities for little kids

and big kids both on the main stage and in the Vic

High sports fi eld.

And what’s Fern Fest without music?

Fernwood’s own music impresario, James Kasper

– recently awarded an M award for being “the

hardest working person in local music” – has lived

up to that title by booking an extraordinary lineup

of musical talent. Not only are the artists playing

Fern Fest some of Fernwood’s fi nest musicians,

it is also a collection that does the entire Island

proud.

Th is year Fern Fest coincides with the summer

solstice and National Aboriginal Day. Both the

Fernwood Artist’s Studio Tour and the Mandala

Paint-in will be held concurrently with Fern Fest.

Th ere’s still time to volunteer and be part of the

excitement. Come celebrate community and

celebrate the sun!

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Firefi ghter Scott Mitchell assists participant through tunnel to learn about crawling under smoke.

constituency office:970 Blanshard StreetVictoria, BC V8W 2H3

telephone: 363-3600e-mail: [email protected] the web: www.denisesavoie.ca

Denise SavoieMember of Parliament for Victoria

Your voice in OttawaYour voice in Ottawa


Fern Fest headliners all heart Interviews by James Kasper

Niska Napoleon Friday June 20 8:00pm

In a Nutshell: 22-year-old Cree singer-songwriter

making her Fern Fest debut.

VV: What are your future goals?

Niska: “Singing is my life. Nothing can compare to the

high of it. I’m not trying to be a star. I just enjoy music.

I’m in no rush to sign to a label or be on TV. I know

what’s important, so I just try to take in each day as much

as I can. I would rather sing hard than sing pretty. I’m

just waiting to bust out and spread the Niska love all over

the world. I do what I can. I love. I fear. I try. What else is

there, really?”

John Gogo Saturday June 21 5:30pm

In a Nutshell: Modest music man and 10-year

Fernwood resident making his Fern Fest debut. John

has an album in the works which is 90% complete.

VV: What do you enjoy about Fernwood?

John: “Th ere are lots of artists in the neighbourhood, and

I certainly like being around artists. It’s been a great place

to raise my family.”

VV: Speaking of family, what has it been like, as a Gogo,

being a part of such a big musical family?

John: “It’s always been a real blessing to be a part of this

family. Music is a big part of what we do. Two of my

daughters are in the Vic High R & B Band.”

Boxcar Saturday June 21 8:00pm

In a Nutshell: Bluegrass/roots trio, its members with

a combined total of 25 years of Fernwood residency,

returns to Fern Fest for a second consecutive year.

Boxcar’s debut album is scheduled for release this July.

VV: What is special about being in this band?

Michelle: “We’re in love with each other’s songs. We enjoy

each other as people and we’ve become an extension of

each other’s families.”

VV: How do you feel about returning to Fern Fest as a

headliner?

Chris: “Awesome. It’s a great festival for bringing the

community together.”

Fern Fest at a glance

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Sat Fern Fest Vic High The Inn & Artists’ TheJune 21 Main Stage Field The Cafe Studio Square

10:00 am

10:30 am

11:00 am

11:30 am

Noon

1:00 pm

2:00 pm

2:30 pm

3:30 pm

4:30

5:00 pm

5:30 pm

6:30 pm

7:00 pm

8:00 pm

9:00 pm

10:00 pm Fern Fest Closes

10:00 am til Noon:

Free Family Pancake

Breakfast on the

Fernwood Inn Patio

2:00 pm til 3:30 pm:

Free Seniors’ Tea at

Cornerstone Café

10:30 am til 2:30 pm:

Victoria Fire Dept

Junior Combat

Challenge and

11:00 am til 4:00 pm:

Family Activities,

Games and Sports

5:30 pm til 8:30 pm:

Bouncy Castle

Art Studio Strolls

Meet at the

Gallery

11:00 am

til 4:00 pm:

Mandala

Paint-in

Shoshana the Story Teller

Meet for Park Place Tour #1

DJ Spins

Rockabilly Magic Show

Open Mic #2

Palomitas de Maiz

Los Gingos Locos & Park Place Tour #2

Left at the Junction

Shoshana the Story Teller

Platform 61 Vic High Dance Troup

John Gogo

The Flying Barista Brothers

CCR Showcase #2

Boxcar

Dead Reckoning

Friday Fern FestJune 20 Main Stage

5:00 pm DJ Spins

6:00 pm Open Mic #1

7:00 pm CCR Showcase #1

8:00 pm Niska Napoleon’s

9:00 pm Dead Reckoning

10:00 pm Fern Fest Closes


>> by Margaret Hantiuk

May 1st is the start of the CRD water

restrictions for Victoria (usually until September 30th).

Because of the ample water this spring, we are just in

Stage One, which means that established shrubs, trees,

vegetable, and fl ower gardens may be watered by hand

(i.e. by hose with a hand-held nozzle with a shut-off valve,

by watering container, or with a micro-drip system) at any

time of the day. Otherwise, a sprinkler or an irrigation

system that is not micro-drip can only be used at certain

times of the day and certain days of the week. See www.

crd.bc.ca/water to fi nd your day and times, and for hints

on wise watering and for gardening tips that save water.

Hand watering is a great way to water – it is much

more eff ective, if done properly. Water deeply and you

will have to water less oft en. Early morning and early

evenings are the best times of day to water, as mid-

day wastes water due to evaporation, and late evening

watering promotes plant moulds and fungi. For trees and

shrubs, their feeder roots are at the dripline (where the

canopy, or outer branches leaves would drip the rainfall)

and so this is the place to water – not the trunks!

Th e best way to conserve water (and money) in the

garden is to use mulches. Th is one practice also suppresses

weeds, builds up the soil and moderates ground

temperatures. Your plants will love it. Th e best time of

year to apply an overall mulch is late winter when you are

putting your garden to sleep, or in early spring, before

everything starts popping up. You can mulch at any time,

just be careful to not cover the crowns of plants and

to leave a four inch gap around the trunks of trees and

shrubs, thereby preventing rot.

What can be used as mulch? Just about any organic

material. Th e best? Compost, as it’s full of nutrients,

live microorganisms and worms, and plenty of fi ber that

builds the soil. What else? Grass clippings, leaf mold

(that you have piled up in the corner since last fall), aged

sawdust and aged manure (fresh manure can burn plants),

straw, mushroom manure, coff ee grounds (free from the

local barista), thick pads of newspapers, and cardboard,

just to name a few.

How much to add? At least two to three inches to be

eff ective. Th e whole idea is to create the kind of porous,

well-draining soil that is also moisture retentive and

nutritious – just like in a forest. Th ere nature renews itself

with the decay of falling leaves and rotting limbs and

without the aid of fertilizers. Because there are no toxic

chemicals, there are millions of micro-organisms in each

handful of healthy soil, all helping to turn it into food for

plants in the marvelous way that has evolved over eons as

our soil’s natural eco-system. Some moisture is needed to

promote this soil activity and to keep plants healthy, but

you will need much less if you mulch than if your bare

soil is exposed to the sun and wind all day.

‘Lasagna gardening’ is a new term for layered

mulching which can be used as a natural alternative to

kill lawns and weeds when starting a new bed or veggie

garden. First, mow the lawn, leaving the clippings on the

surface and hand weed as much as possible. Th en layer

thick pads of newspapers or cardboard over top, leaving

no gaps. Water well. Next is a deep layer of mulch –

preferably compost, but it could also be leaf mold, peat

moss, coir (coconut fi ber), aged sawdust, and manure or

any mix of the above. Th e top layer can be garden soil,

seasoil or wood chips. Keep the whole area moist through

warm weather.

You may plant into the mix within two or three

weeks by cutting a hole through it and popping in your

shrubs, perennials, or veggies. Add a micro-drip watering

system to make it really easy. Th is is smart and easy

gardening, nature’s way!

gleanings : Conserving water by mulching

>> by R ainey Hopewell

Common: belonging equally to two or more; shared

by all alike; pertaining to the community as a whole:

the common good.

Imagine: lush tomatoes, exuberant zucchinis and

sprawling pumpkins soaking up the summer sun; sweet

lettuces and spinach nestled shyly in dappled shade; tidy

rows of potatoes marching from curb to sidewalk’s edge.

Imagine children coming to write their names on

a pumpkin, watching their pumpkin grow all summer,

and harvesting it in time for Halloween. Imagine a

place in your own neighbourhood where you can harvest

fresh veggies and herbs grown within walking distance

of your home.

You’ve just imagined the Haultain Common, on the

corner of Haultain and Asquith, on the edge of Fernwood

and Oaklands. Common: a garden belonging equally

to two or more, shared by all alike. Following a sheet-

composting workshop in May attended by 12 real keeners,

Haultain Common is ready for veggie starts! Two rows of

potatoes have already been planted and early tomatoes are

ready to go in when the weather is reliably warmer.

To be part of this new garden based on an old idea, you

can:

> Bring us your organic compost, to help make soil

> Bring us veggie seeds and seedlings for plants that will

be less than three feet high at maturity (a safety concern,

since we’re planting on a boulevard)

> Confer with us before planting something on your own

(as we are the Common Co-ordinators this year)

> Be willing to share anything you’ve planted with anyone

else who wants to harvest from the Common

We are Rainey and Margot, and you can contact us

anytime at 380-5055 for more information about

Haultain Common. Yea for food not lawns! Yea for the

Common Good!

Utterly Common

He took it to the team “to promote a sense of social

responsibility.” As he sees it, “Along with the privilege

of playing comes responsibility.” His logic is that the

rugby team should be using the high profi le it has in the

school to lead by example. Coach Daum also feels that

the players are in a good place to take the kind of risk that

making a public statement by donning high heels entails.

“Th rough their sports, the guys have gained a confi dence

that is not usual for their age. With the team behind

them, they could do it.” So they did!

By all accounts, they had a great time: they felt they

were contributing to the greater good, they learned a

lot, and they laughed a lot. Th e team intends not only to

walk again next year, but also to challenge Victoria’s other

high school rugby teams to show up and shoe up.

Th ese guys are playing great rugby too! Th e Vic

High team, whose proud lineage goes back to the 1940s,

was only reconstituted four years ago. Th ey made it to

the Provincial Finals this year and will be playing for that

trophy as we go to press.

All we can say is: Well done, guys! Th at was a gutsy

move. Shows the kind of attitude that should serve you

well in the scrum. Fernwood will be out cheering you on

next season.

Shoes | fr om page 1

When she was asked about why co-ops fail, Sol

listed the following off the top of her head:

1. No understanding of what is involved or

willingness to run/own

2. No fi nancial plan

3. No business model (reliance on grants)

4. Undercapitalization

5. No realistic feasibility study (pilot project)

6. Ideologically driven (instead of practicality)

7. Over inclusiveness (afraid to say no)

8. No reasonable expectations (not knowing when it

won’t work)

9. Can’t sustain the number of people who want in

10. One person vision (everyone else just wants a

job)

Th e Fernwood Business Network wishes to thank

Sol for coming out and starting the series off so well.

Come to the next FBN speaker series discussion

– events scheduled for the fi rst Tuesday of each

month at 10am at the Fernwood Inn.

For more info see Co-op by Design, edited by

Sol Kinnis, Lyn Cayo, Kathleen Gabelmann;

Eff ective Practices in Starting Co-ops, edited by

Joy Emmanuel and Lyn Cayo. Available fr om New

Rochdale Press online at, www.bcics.org

Co-op | fr om page 2

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>> by Tara Wells

You know those places that you walk right by and

don’t even notice? Such are the two vacant lots on the

1500 block of Pembroke Street. I like to think they

are like remnants of what Victoria was like before

colonization: rocky, strewn with Garry Oak and

Camas, covered in that wild grass that goes yellow and

scratchy in summer.

Beside one of the vacant lots is the Church of

Miracles, which off ers a free dinner every Th ursday.

An average of 120 community members arrive every

week, in summer upwards of 200 people come. Some

diners don’t have a place to sleep, and the wild-looking

stretch of land next to the church parking lot is an

appealing place to bunk down. It’s not the sleepers who

are a problem; it’s what they leave behind. Neighbours

note an increase in garbage, human and pet feces, drug

paraphernalia and stolen property on the lot.

Just a few blocks away, another vacant space has

recently been transformed. For the last fi ve years

Ludo Bertsch and other community members have

been creating a greenway up the Ryan Street hill near

Oaklands School. Recent funding, including a grant

from the City of Victoria, has seen the culmination of

Bertsch’s work. He notes that “land without a defi ned

purpose gets used by whoever needs it. Before the

berms, mulch and native plants were in place, this was

a gravel lot used for parking. Th e space had no purpose,

so cars took over.”

Th e vacant lots on Pembroke have no defi ned

purpose, so they are being used by a group in need: the

homeless. Unlike the city-owned greenway area, the

lots on Pembroke are privately owned. When asked

about plans for development, the up-Island owner

replied that he’d “build a house, I guess,” but that he

had no specifi c plans or date in mind.

Most Fernwoodians value the green space in

our community. We also understand the pressing

need for housing in our rapidly growing city. Th e

big question is: Can we fi nd a solution that refl ects

the needs of our neighbourhood through creative

community action?


Vacant lots Space to place charrette

>> by Trish Richards

Fernwood Place Makers are at it again!

On Monday, April 28th, the Cornerstone was once

again brimming over with neighbours gathered to work

on revitalizing Fernwood’s Village Centre. Leading the

evenings’ dialogue was Victoria architect, Ayrie Cunliff e,

who had integrated Fernwood’s Placemaking work to date

into his broader vision of green way connectors between

village centres around the city and presented a series

of maps and watercolour impressions of what could be

created along these corridors.

Ayrie’s vision addresses the question “What’s it like to

create an infrastructure that supports us for a sustainable

future?” His proposed food forest/green ways between

village centres are intensely local pedestrian zones, which

also support local food production.

Ayrie placed Fernwood within a corridor that runs

from Capital Iron north along the length of Caledonia

Rd. to Chambers St. where it jogs to meet Gladstone and

continues onward through Fernwood Square

eventually through Jubilee and then to Oak Bay. Taking

his cue from the Placemaking group’s delineation of

Fernwood Square and surrounds, Ayrie guided the group

through a series of beautiful renditions of our

collective vision for Fernwood Village.

In Ayrie’s conceptual work, Fernwood’s Village

Centre is layered. Th e square itself – the inner sanctum

– is accessed through gateways at Spring Ridge

Commons/the Caledonia and Chambers intersection

on the east, Stanley and Gladstone on the west, Gower

Park at Pembroke and Fernwood on the north, and the

intersection of Vining and Fernwood to the south. At

each of these gateways columns and green space are used

to clearly delineate the entrance to Fernwood Village.

Ayrie’s work also poses some exciting possibilities for

the corridors leading into the Square. His ideas include

integrating the Community Centre into the Gladstone

greenway through plantings along the roadway and

extension of greenspace from the Gladstone curb over to

the Vic High fi elds, expanding the use of Gower Park by

creating gardening space and a tea house, and relocating

the aging tennis courts to create an urban park centre that

would include the current problematic corridor behind

the Belfry.

Ayrie’s concepts for Fernwood Square are similarly

exciting. To really acknowledge the Square as the Village

Centre and to integrate it fully with the Fernwood-

Gladstone intersection, he proposed changing the

pavement surface in Fernwood Road, lift ing the surface

gradually from the gates. He also suggested greater

integration of the Belfry with the Square, and changing

the transition from the Vic High playing fi eld into the

Square to a long set of broad stairs that could also be used

as either seating or performance platforms. Th e Square

needs to be de-cluttered, greened, and to have welcoming

seating arrangements. Ideas abound for innovations like

increased bike parking using interesting metal sculpture

racks, ‘rain catcher’ art features and vertical ‘green walls.

Ayrie’s vision as articulated in his enthralling artwork

is currently on display at the Cornerstone Café. Take

a look and please send comments to placemaking@

fernwoodneighbourhood.ca. Or join Fernwood’s

placemakers at our regular Space to Place meetings

on the third Monday of the month at 7:00pm at the

Cornerstone Café.

North Park Village update>> By Alex Kerr Chair Unity Committee, NPNA

Welcome to North Park Village!

Many of you may have noticed the banners along

Cook St. between Pandora and Caledonia and wondered

exactly what is going on. Here goes: North Park

Neighbourhood Association with the blessing of the FCA,

Fernwood NRG and the cooperation of the businesses

in the Cook St. area, has started to work towards setting

up a village concept for Cook St. between Pandora and

Caledonia.

Th e idea of the village is to promote the area as a

destination for shopping and as a gathering place that the

neighbourhood can be proud of.

To this end we applied for and received a neighbour-

hood enhancement grant for banners, benches and bike

racks. We held a banner design competition and chose two

designs. We also applied for and received a special projects

grant to hold a placemaking workshop. We held the

workshop February 16th, 2008 and there were many good

ideas brought forth. Th e report it is posted on our website

at www.npna.ca.

To date we have had meetings with the Parks

Department and we have started to rebuild Franklin

Green Park located behind Wellburn’s Market. Th ere is a

new playground, there will be a new path, lighting, pickle

ball and bocce courts. Completion date is June 2008.

Th e banners were hung in early April. Th e next step is

to have the three bike racks and two benches installed as

per the recommendations of the placemaking workshop.

We are also creating www.northparkvillage.ca for the

use and promotion of the area.

Our plan is to have a bulletin board installed in the

village this coming year as well as establishing a merchant’s

association. Generally we will be working with the

merchants and residents on a tidy-up program. We are

working towards having more activities in the Franklin

Green Park when it is fi nished.

Th is is an ongoing project and will take several years

to complete. We’ll keep you updated on the progress.

Remember that this is your village too and it needs your

support to fl ourish.

North Park Neighbourhood Festival will be held

August 16th, in Franklin Green Park from noon until

4:00pm. Come on out and enjoy the food, entertainment,

demonstrations and games.

Roselyn Caiden, B.A.R.Ac.

Acupuncture & SpiritualCounselling

~The Inner Body Meditation~6 week class June 10, 7-10

Fernwood Studio ~ 250-889-8717www.sacredpath.ca

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what’s on in FernwoodArts, Theatre, and EntertainmentBelfry Theatre.

The return of MOM’S THE WORD 2:

UNHINGED. by Jill Daum, Alison Kelly, Robin

Nichol, Barbara Pollard and Deborah Williams.

June 4-22. 1291 Gladstone Ave. For info

contact Belfry Box Offi ce at 385-6815 or www.

belfry.bc.ca

Bluegrass Wednesdays.

Fernwood NRG and the Fernwood Bluegrass

Association present Wednesday night

bluegrass jams at the Cornerstone Café. 7:30-

10pm. FREE!

Bohemian Open Mic at 8pm hosted by

James Kasper.

Saturdays. Cornerstone Café. 1301 Gladstone

Ave. For concert booking info contact: 381-

1552 ext.25. FREE!

Collective Works Gallery.

“The Medium and the Machine” (works by

Arlene Nesbitt). May 30-June 19. “Towards the

Sun” (group show). June 20-July 10. Gallery

hours>11am-6pm Tues-Thurs; 11am-8pm

Fri+Sat; 11am-6pm Sun. 1311 Gladstone Ave.

www.collectiveworks.ca

Cornerstone Collective Records Drop In.

Cornerstone Collective Records (Fernwood’s

own non-profi t community-driven record

label) - Welcomes new members Sun, June

15. 2:30pm. Drop-in to “talk shop” with us and

launch your music career! For info call James:

381-1552 ext.25.

Erynn Marshall and Dave Clarke.

New duo debuts: Fiddler Erynn Marshall &

Guitarist Dave Clarke – Building On Tradition.

Fri, June 6. 8pm. Orange Hall. 1620 Fernwood

Rd. Tix $10, available at Old Town Strings.

www.hickoryjack.com and www.daveclarke.ca

Live Music at Fernwood Inn.

Open Mic Thursdays. 8:30-11:30pm. 1302

Gladstone Ave. FREE!

Live Music at Logan’s Pub.

1821 Cook St. www.loganspub.com

The Vic High Neighbourhood Choir.

Presents its 3rd annual spring concert “With

One Voice”, featuring guest soloist COLLEEN

ECCLESTON (lead singer of Victoria’s

favourite Celtic trio “The Ecclestons”), in an

evening celebrating all things a capella! Fri,

June 6. 8pm; Victoria High School Auditorium.

Suggested Donation: $7/$5, Children Under

12 FREE. Info: 382-7048

Victoria Bluegrass Association Jam.

Tuesdays 7:30-10pm. Orange Hall. 1620

Fernwood Rd. $2 to play. FREE to listen. www.

victoriabluegrass.ca

Victoria Folk Music Society.

Sundays. 7:30pm Open Stage. 9pm

Feature Performer. (June 1>THE FLYING

ACCUSATIONS, June 8>TARKIN, June

15>EARLE PEACH, June 22>PHIL

O’FLAHERTY AND ANNIE BROWN, June

29>TOM LEWIS). Norway House. 1110 Hillside

Ave. $5 feature performer nights/$3 all open

stage night. www.victoriafolkmusic.ca

Vic High Photography Students Exhibit.

May 30-June 30. Cornerstone Café.

Kids and Families at the Fernwood Community Centre (FCC)Family Community Day.

Family Fun directed and facilitated by the

participants. Snacks, crafts, play equipment

and varied themes. Mondays 9:30-11:30am.

FCC Gym. FREE!

Parent and Tot Playgroup.

Snacks/Crafts/Circle Time. Tuesdays and

Thursdays 9:30-11:30am. FCC Gym. $1 per

family.

Youth, Adults and SeniorsEar Acupuncture at the FCC.

Treatments 15-20 min. Thursdays 2:30-

4:30pm. FCC MPR. By donation.

Falun Gong.

Peaceful meditation practise. All welcome!

Wednesdays 5-7pm. FCC MPR. FREE!

Family Floor Hockey.

Sundays 3:30-5pm, FCC Gym. $5 per family.**

Fernwood Autumn Glow.

55+. Gentle exercise, lunch and activities.

Monthly special guest speaker. Fridays 11am.

FCC MPR. $5.50 for lunch.

Floor Hockey.

Drop-in Co-ed. Adult (18+). Tuesdays and

Thursdays 7-9:30pm. Saturdays 2:30-5pm.

FCC Gym. $4, or get a punchcard: $40/11

sessions.**

Hatha Yoga.

With certifi ed instructor Elke. Focus on gentle

poses, breathing practice, deep relaxation and

meditation. Tuesdays 3-4:30pm. FCC Gym.

Suggested donation $5.

Indoor Soccer.

Drop-in Co-ed. Adult (18+). Mondays 7-9pm.

FCC Gym. $3.**

Internet and Computer Access.

Register and get online through the

Community Access Program. Monday to

Friday 9:30am-5pm. FCC Community Room.

FREE!

Junior Youth Empowerment Program.

Sundays 2-5pm. FCC MPR. For info call

381-1552 ext.25

Nintendo Wii Fridays.

Drop-in Co-ed. Ages 13-16. Fridays 7-9:30pm.

FCC Gym. $2 per youth. Concession open.

Scrabble Saturdays.

Ages 13-adult. Saturdays 2-5pm. FCC. Drop in

and meet fellow Scrabbleheads. FREE!

Tot Soccer.

Ages 3 to 5. Instructor Bobby Kenny. Sundays

11am-noon. Rain or shine. Learn the basics

and have fun. Whether you call it soccer or

football, this game is great for one and all.

Please bring a kickable ball. In the fi eld behind

FCC. By donation.

**We accept Sports Trader Bucks and

Canadian Tire Money at face value!

Special EventsBlueprint for a New Earth: Inner Body

Meditation.

Six week evening class, starts Tues, June 10.

7-10pm. Studying Eckhart Tolle? This class is

for you. For info contact Roselyn at 889-8717

or [email protected]

Fernwood Business Network.

Everyone welcome. Tues, June 10. 10am.

(second Tuesday monthly!) Fernwood Inn.

For info contact Ryan Rutley at ryan@

rutleyventures.ca

Fernwood’s Outrageous Recycling Day.

Bring your CLEAN plastics, styrofoam packing

and food trays, electronics and foil-lined

coffee bags. Sat, June 14. 10am-1pm. Back of

FCC. By donation.

Green Drinks.

An inclusive gathering of the sustainability-

minded for refreshments and conversation.

Tues, June 10. 5-7pm. Canoe Brewpub, Marina

and Restaurant, 450 Swift St. For info see

www.greendrinksvictoria.ca

Fernwood Placemaking Troupe.

All Welcome! Bring your ideas for the square

and the neighbourhood. Mon, June 16. 7pm.

Cornerstone Café.

Fernwood NRG Food Security Collective –

Monthly Meeting.

All welcome! Tues, June 17. 7-9pm. FCC MPR.

[email protected]

Fernwood Community Kitchen.

Cook nutritious, creative meals with your

neighbours! For info contact Tracey at

[email protected]

Come one, Come all!! Fern Fest ‘08.

June 20 and 21. Fernwood Square. Music,

Arts, Food and Games! Come out and

celebrate our wonderfully eclectic and ever-

evolving neighbourhood! FREE! VOLUNTEERS

NEEDED! To get involved call 381-1552 ext.25,

sign up at the Cornerstone Café or online:

www.fernwoodneighbourhood.ca.

Fernwood Pocket Market.

Local organic produce and baked goods.

Tuesdays 2-6pm. Fernwood Square.

Fernwood Sharing Gardens.

Have a garden but no time? Time but no

garden? Contact Rainey at 380-5055 or

[email protected].

Our Place – Grand Opening!!

Tues, June 24. Come out and help celebrate

the grand opening of Our Place’s new facility,

providing healthy community building services

for Victoria’s homeless and those in need.

Tues, June 24. 9am-5pm. Speeches between

2-4pm. For info contact Emily: emily@

ourplacesociety.com

Spring Ridge Commons Workparties!

Come and get your hands dirty in Fernwood’s

only public food garden. Thursdays from

5-7pm. Please bring tools if you’ve got ‘em.

The Fernwood Commons: A Fernwood

Community Communication Forum.

For info on Fernwood comings and goings

and neighbourhood news and views, check

out The Fernwood Commons on line: http://

thevillagevibe.ning.com/

Published by Fernwood NRG (Fernwood

Neighbourhood Resource Group)

1240 Gladstone Street

Victoria, BC V8T 1G6

T 250.381.1552

F 250.381.1509

villagevibe@fernwood neighbourhood.ca

www.fernwoodneighbourhood.ca

Editor: Lisa Helps

Assistant Editors: Aaron Ellingsen,

Trish Richards

Photographers: Pete Rockwell,

Veronique da Silva

Contributors:

Margaret Hantiuk

Rainey Hopewell

Deryk Houston

James Kasper

Alex Kerr

Wendy Magahay

Angela Moran

Allison Power

Mark Powell

Greg Smthye

Tara Wells

The views expressed in the Village Vibe

do not necessarily refl ect the views of

Fernwood NRG.

villagevibe

Under new ownership!

Open For Lunch!

From 11:30 Daily

Check out our new

Lunch Specials

1302 Gladstone 412-2001

If you have a workshop or special event idea for

the FCC or the Cornerstone Café email james@

fernwoodneighbourhood.ca

If you have a Fernwood event you would like

listed in the Village Vibe calendar please send

an email with the subject line “vibe calendar” to

[email protected]

vibe_june2008 v3

Documents

th e walk

victoria high school

high heels

annual walk

th ank

local food security

rugby guys of vic high

shoes event