Maybe its increased food prices? (a 26% increase from last year alone)
Perhaps its the recession? (6.2% unemployment)
Is the desire for local organic produce increasing? (100 mile effect)
Did David Suzuki influence us, with "rip up the lawn at city hall"! (A new garden is born)
Could Michelle Obama's organic garden have influenced us? (Obama effect)
Maybe its our evolving consciousness? (Education & Awareness)
Im sure there are many reasons, but urban gardening is on the rise. If the interest is there, never fear, there is space enough for you in this city do get your hands dirty. Whether its someone else's yard or the community gardens.
West Coast Seeds owner Jeanette McCall told CBC News she had expected a busy year, shipping vegetable and flower seeds to customers, but not this busy. She says "Stocks of packaged seeds that were supposed to last all season were running out before March. Our February orders were close to three times the amount that they were the previous February,” she said. “This was certainly a surprise to everyone.”
In addition to more generic seeds, heritage seeds are on high demand as well. Staff at the Van Dusen Botanical Garden in Vancouver reported attendance at their annual “Seedy Saturday” event in February, where growers sell heritage seeds, hit 1,500, about double the number of people in past years.
I encourage you to get out there- either grow your own food or support those that will growing for you, (Community Supported Agriculture is the next blog post). Consider growing or buying less generic produce and promote seed diversity by purchases heritage or heirloom seeds or the food itself. For more info visit the Seed Sanctuary website (below).
Here are a few photos of the backyard where my garden, which I share with 3 other couples. I found my plot on the sharing backyards website (below).
I would love to see your garden and hear your story about how long you have been gardening, what you grow, how much you produce and why you do it. Please email me.
Seeds
West coast seeds www.westcoastseeds.com
Garden works www.gardenworks.ca
Salt Spring seeds (heritage seeds) www.saltspringseeds.com
The seed bank www.vancouverseedbank.ca
Two wings farm www.twowingsfarm.com/
Seeds of diversity www.seeds.ca/rl/rl.php
Resources
The city farmer Introduction to organic gardening course runs through Saturdays in march & more! www. cityfarmer.org
VanDusenBotanicalardens www.vancouver.ca/PARKS/parks/vandusen/website/capitalProject/index.htm
VanDusenBotanicalardens www.vancouver.ca/PARKS/parks/vandusen/website/capitalProject/index.htm
The seed sanctuary-www.seedsanctuary.com
Land
For a list of community gardens www.cityfarmer.org/vanccomgard83.html
Sharing Backyards- www.sharingbackyards.com
Hi Stephanie,
ReplyDeleteIn our garden, we grow Strawberries, Broad Beans, Peas, Kale, Spinach, Lettuce, Swiss Chard, Beets, Parsnips, Radishes, Carrots, Leeks, Onions, Broccoli, Pole Beans, Edamame, Cilantro, Basil, Dill, Parsley, Peppers, Tomatoes, Zucchini, Cucumbers, and Potatoes!
With two kids and a dog, staying pesticide-free is a number one priority in our garden! Aside from yearly crop rotation...
In our ‘greens n’ beans’ plot, strong scented marigolds grow to add beauty, but also to mask the delicious smells of surrounding crops and deter pests. Nasturtiums thrive along the fence, attracting aphids to their delectable leaves and leaving the veggies relatively unscathed. Alongside nasturtiums and marigolds, sweet peas climb the beanpoles to help attract beneficial insects like butterflies and ladybugs. Mason bees find a cozy home in our garden as well, and help keep our flowers pollinated.
The greenhouse shelters sacrificial basil growing in and amongst the pepper and tomato plants, limiting damage from whiteflies. Spicy peppers are interspersed with the tomatoes to detract rodents. Strong smelling herbs like parsley, basil, cilantro and dill are used to cover the heady perfume of ripening tomatoes.
In the root plot, carrots are intercropped with onions and leeks, whose pungent aromas repel carrot flies. More marigolds are nestled between the beets, parsnips and radishes.
Bird houses and feeders decorate our yard – chickadees and juncos feast away on bad bugs. For larger pests like rodents and cats, we’ve gotten creative with some recycled fencing and netting. Not pretty, but effective!
Our neighbours are also avid gardeners and we often swap seeds, seedlings and veggies to get a ton of variety!
Callie, Carmen, Keira, Jason and Bella Camp
Steph,
ReplyDeleteI love your blog. I don't have any nice pictures of a garden yet. As my nephew says "Real farmers grow food. We just grow weeds." That's true right now but wait until next year - I'll have some nice photos of a sprouting veggie garden.
:) Anne
Hi Stephanie :)
ReplyDeleteWe just found out we got the go ahead for our community garden at pandora park! I am so excited for next spring, but am hoping that we might be able to start a winter garden if the city gets things moving asap :)
I'm loving your blog and sharing it on FB with all my local friends!
suzanne