New website

Hi Everybody: 

Although we have not officially launched our new website yet, we are updating content from there. Stay tuned for official announcement excitement! 

 In the meantime, please change your bookmarks & check out 

www.growpeterborough.org 

for updates from the Peterborough Community Garden Network!

Seed starting video

Here's a little video I made for my business ... Gives you some step by step demonstrations on starting your seeds indoors

February Newsletter

Finally, the February newsletter! Full of tips on things to do to keep your green thumb occupied in the winter!

feb2013 -

seed starting - indoors

It's almost time to get a head start on gardening season by starting some seeds indoors. Here is a factsheet created for a workshop on seed starting:

seedstarting -

You can use these great on-line tools to help determine when to start specific varieties of vegetables.
www.vegetable-gardening-online.com
www.yougrowgirl.com (Seed starting Plan) 
 Some varieties need more of a head start than others. Some will be more successful if you direct seed them.

Check out this video showing how to start tomato seeds (the same techniques can be used for most seeds)

Home Orchard Basics Workshop Today

TODAY: 

Home Orchard Basics with Michael Phillips Friday February 1^st 2013 1pm – 4pm
Millbrook Branch Library, Old Millbrook School

For more information or to RSVP contact: 

 Andrew at farm@circleorganic.ca or 705.932.9888

Seed Starting Workshop

Transition Town Presents: 

STARTING SEEDS INDOORS

with Jillian Bishop

Wednesday, Feb. 6^th, 6:30 – 8:30 pm.

Millbrook Library, old Millbrook Schoolhouse

$5 or pay what you can.

Topics will include:

-what varieties need a head start indoors and when to start different varieties of seeds

-what type of soil and containers to use

-problems that may arise and what to do about them (dampening off, legginess…. ) etc.

-needs (sunlight, water, supplies)

-specifics and how-to steps

This will be a hands-on demonstration.

Come with your questions and have them answered by a professional!

Jill is Coordinator of the Peterborough Community Garden Network and can be reached at jillpcgn@greenup.on.ca and urbantomato@gmail.com

Pre-registration is requested.

Contact Ian McQuarrie at ian@millbrookbears.com

or

Joan at 705-743-8032 or joanttp@cogeco.ca

Relocalize Reskill Resilience

www.transitiontownpeterborough.ca

also on facebook

The not-so secret garden

Check out this lovely blog post  - A Not So Secret Garden about the Lift Lock community garden from Nourish:

Quick Survey

The Peterborough Community Garden Network is made of many gardeners, growers, helpers, coordinators & organizations throughout or community. In order to best serve you, we like to continually seek out input & ideas from you. Please take a minute to fill out this brief survey to help us learn what resources we can develop to help you get growing, and how you see the PCGN, and your role within it.
There are only 9 questions, and should take only 5 minutes to complete. Thanks! 

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.

warm images on cold days

 Just a few photos beautiful days spent in community garden plots. Help keep us warm on these cold days!

Plant Part Pizza Project -grade 3 & 4

Rhema Christian School has an amazing kitchen and we wanted to help get the students excited about growing a food garden.What better way than to make their favorite food- pizza!! The grade 3\4 class learned about plant parts, their functions and types of delicious vegetables that we can grow and eat, from the different plant parts.

The experiment was to make a tasty pizza sauce by adding at least one vegetable ( that can be grown locally) from each plant part. "Pizzaria Nathan" and "Pizzaria Jared" made amazing pizzas using garlic, tomatoes, carrot, parsley, broccoli,red pepper, basil and spinach. Many thanks to Julia's mom for making the dough, and to Anne and Carolyn from the Peterborough County Health Unit for contributing supplies and assistance for these young and talented chefs!

Rhema Christian School getting ready for gardening this spring!

Rhema Christian School contacted the PCGN this winter about the possibility of creating a school garden on their property. We have been exploring growing and tasting sprouts, cooking plant-part pizzas and developing a garden plan for the Spring.

Mrs. Wilson's grade 3\4 students have started their garden journals, recording their experiences, skills and impressions of their garden journey-  from indoor sprouts, to the design and planning of their garden ideas for the Spring.

Orchard Basics Workshop

Home Orchard Basics with Michael Phillips Friday February 1^st 2013

 1pm – 4pm
Millbrook Branch Library, Old Millbrook School

*Free or by donation*

 
Successfully growing fruit for your family and community becomes
straightforward when you narrow the big picture down to getting the
basics right. Fungal disease becomes manageable with wise variety
choices and enhanced soil biology. Even major insect challenges can be
resolved safely when you perceive who, what, and when. All sorts of
fruits-from apples and pears to peaches and cherries and onward to
berries-make for a diverse home orchard planting. Confidence to
integrate tree fruits into your landscape begins with embracing
biodiversity and knowing how to build system health. This workshop is filled with practical information for growing tree fruits right!

Michael Phillips (http://www.herbsandapples.com/orchard/) is known across the country for helping people grow healthy fruit. The "community orchard movement" that he helped found at www.GrowOrganicApples.com provides a full immersion into the holistic approach to orcharding. His Lost Nation Orchard is part of a medicinal herb farm in northern New Hampshire. Michael's newest book, The Holistic Orchard, speaks for all fruits and recently received Garden Book of the Year honors from the American Horticultural Society.

For more information or to RSVP contact Andrew at farm@circleorganic.ca or 705.932.9888

Upcoming Events & Workshops

Despite the wintery (sorta) weather outside, there are plenty of garden related activities going on in our community these days. Check out these exciting upcoming workshops & events: 

 

Indoor Herb & Cold Weather Gardening

    Wednesday January 23rd - 4:30pm

     Seasoned Spoon Cafe  - Trent University. 

    Join Aimee Blyth, general manager of the Seasoned Spoon and former Trent Gardens coordinator, as she shares some tips on how to grow green and eat fresh all season long. All you need is a sunny window and a bit of know-how!

Stewart St. Community Garden Meeting

Wednesday January 30th - 6:30pm 

All Saints Anglican Church 

A new community garden is emerging. To be located in a municipal park on Stewart St. Join us if you would like to learn more, are interested in getting a plot, or would like to contribute/help-out.

Gleaning Program Community Meeting

Thursday January 31st  - 6:30pm

George St. United Church 

Come out to learn more about the Gleaning Program & to contribute ideas for the upcoming season. 

RSVP or more information? Lori Sainte: 705.749.9977

Home Orchard Basics with Michael Phillips Friday February 1^st 2013 1pm – 4pm
Millbrook Branch Library, Old Millbrook School

For more information or to RSVP contact: 

 Andrew at farm@circleorganic.ca or 705.932.9888

An Introduction to Gardening with Master Gardeners

Mondays Feb. 4th - March 25th 

6:45 - 8:45 at Sadlier House  

More information at www.peterboroughgardens.ca/courses 

Seed Starting Basics
Wednesday Feb. 6th - 6:30pm
Millbrook Branch Library
Join Jillian Bishop of urbantomato seeds & the Peterborough Community Garden Network to learn about what seeds should be started inside & when and the proper materials & techniques you'll need to start your seeds indoors. Hosted by Transition Cavan Monaghan

Seedy Sunday: Peterborough's Annual Seed Exchange

Sunday March 10th - 2-5pm

George St. United Church 

Join us for the 8th Annual Seedy Sunday. Lots of locally grown heirloom seed will be available for seed or trade. Local food & environmental organizations will also be showcasing their work. There will also be informative hands-on workshops.

To get a booth or find out more: http://urbantomato.blogspot.com