Vert-à-Go

This is being posted very late; apologies. If you can possibly come out to the meeting, please do–the show of support tonight will be instrumental in whether the garden goes ahead or not! Even if you don’t want to take a garden plot yourself, if you support the plan, please come along anyway to show you are still in favour of the proposal in general.

Agenda: Park Programming change in Ashworth Holmes Park

7-7:10 pm Welcome and Introductions:
Presenters, topic, agenda

7:10- 7:30pm City of Saskatoon: Marieke Knight, Community Consultant
• Purpose of tonight’s meeting
• Review of the community garden Approval Process (use of City of Saskatoon park land)
• Purpose of a community garden? Recreational Programming change: What does this mean
• Why the Ashworth Holmes Park location?
• Garden Regulations and guidelines
• Sign in sheets to express the following: your support for the garden/your support and interest in having a plot/your objection to the garden as proposed

7:30-7:50pm Presentation: Garden Collective Representative
• Discuss site and possible design
• Potential costs involved for gardeners and why a cost
• Community use of the garden
• Why a garden?
• Next meeting for interested gardeners

7:50-8:05pm CHEP (Child Hunger and Education Project)
• brief description of CHEP’s work
• possible support CHEP could offer to the Community Garden Collective

8:05-8:20pm Power point: Operating Community Gardens

8:20pm Questions/Comments/Sign up

Caswell Community Garden/Ashworth Park site public consultation meeting

When: Monday 11 May, 7pm

Where: Caswell Hill School gym, 204 30th Street W, Saskatoon, SK (Google map)

For more information: Elizabeth Bekolay, garden committee/Marieke Knight, City of Saskatoon (975-3381)

The Saskatchewan Perennial Society will hold its spring plant exchange on 19 May. Admission to this event is for SPS members only (see below to find out how to join, or pick up your membership at the door). Attendees are asked to bring along a dessert to share.

When we think of prairie-hardy perennials, most of us usually think of flowers and foliage. But there are a number of food-bearing perennials as well: how about strawberries, rhubarb, or chives? To take part in the plant exchange, bring extra plants, properly labeled with preferred growing conditions, colour and height. Everyone will get several plants each to take home.  But don’t worry if you don’t have plants to share–just a dessert will be fine!

The SPS promotes the use of perennial plants by hosting spring and autumn plant exchanges, as well as holding garden tours during the summer so members can show their yards. It has helped create the Robin Smith Meditation Garden at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park, and also has a new test border of plants on display at the park. The SPS also has an excellent members-only library, whose books can be borrowed at the meetings and plant trades.

Saskatchewan Perennial Society spring plant exchange

When: Tuesday 19 May, doors open 6:30pm, exchange starts 7pm

Where: Forestry Farm Park Hall, Saskatoon Zoo, Saskatoon, SK (Google map)

Admission: Saskatchewan Perennial Society members ONLY–to join, get the mail-in membership form here ($10 basic annual membership/$25 membership includes 1-year subscription to Gardener for the Prairies magazine–a great deal!). You can also buy a membership at the door. The $2 park entry fee is also in effect.

For more information: Saskatchewan Perennial Society web site, or email

The Rights and Democracy delegation at the University of Saskatchewan presents its second annual forum entitled “Fair Trade Forum: Producers, Consumers and Social Change” tonight at the Frances Morrison Library Theatre.

This forum will address questions such as “Why fair trade? What are the goals of fair trade? What are the benefits of fair trade? And how does fair trade relate to issues of human rights and development?” from both a global and local perspective. Speakers will include STM sociology professor Dr Darrell McLaughlin, Marla Carlson of the organic prairie farm co-op Farmer Direct, and Carole Samdup (Rights & Democracy).

When: Thursday 23 April 2009, 7-9pm

Where: Frances Morrison Library Theatre (basement), Saskatoon (Google map)

Admission: FREE (refreshments will be served)

For more information: Facebook event page, or email rightsdemocracy.uofs@gmail.com or stan.yu@usask.ca

The Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council will be hosting two mini-classes on composting at the beginning of May. Whether you’re new to composting and want to find out how to get started, or whether you need some advice on your current composting setup, this crash course will help you out!

Composting mini-class

When: Thursday 7 May,  7-8pm

Where: Lower Auditorium, J S Wood Library, 1801 Lansdowne Avenue, Saskatoon, SK (Google map)

Admission: free, no need to pre-register, just turn up!

For more information: Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council

The Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council will be hosting two mini-classes on composting at the beginning of May. Whether you’re new to composting and want to find out how to get started, or whether you need some advice on your current composting setup, this crash course will help you out!

Composting mini-class

When: Tuesday 5 May,  7-8pm

Where: Mayfair Library, 602 33rd Street West, Saskatoon, SK (Google map)

Admission: free, no need to pre-register, just turn up!

For more information: Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council

‘Compost bin’ by Daryl Mitchell

A master composting class is being offered next weekend, 25-26 April. This class will cover everything you ever wanted to know about composting, including what to compost, how to compost, how to build a composting system in your yard or garden, and will also deal with other topics related to gardening. Part of the class will include a a field trip to the City of Saskatoon’s compost depot on McOrmand Drive.

Participants in the class will receive a manual, reference book, DVD, and the master composter certificate. Tuition is free, but in return you will be expected to share your newfound knowledge in your community or through community events (generally, you’re asked to volunteer for the Saskatchewan Waste Reducation Council). This class is a great opportunity to expand your knowledge, obtain a valuable qualification, and then pass on your knowledge to others. Don’t miss it!

Master Composting class

When: Saturday 25 April - Sunday 26 April

Where: TBA (likely U of S campus), Saskatoon, SK

Cost: free–City of Saskatoon will pay tuition, with expectation of future volunteer hours

For more information: Call Dana at CHEP on 655-5322

The 4th annual fundraising gala for CHEP (Child Hunger and Education Program) will be held this Saturday, 4 April. Entitled “Think Global: Eat Local”, this lively gala will include a delicious dinner featuring unique international cuisine, live music, student entertainment, door prizes, and silent auction. In keeping with the global theme of the event, the dress code is creative international or business casual–prizes will be given out for Best Dressed attendees.

All proceeds from the evening will go towards programs helping to break the cycle of poverty and fight root causes of hunger. CHEP’s programming includes Children’s Food & Nutrition Programs and Family Food Security Initiatives such as collective kitchens, the Good Food Box, community gardening, and senior stores.

This is a great opportunity to support CHEP and its vital work in helping people living in Saskatoon. I would be there in a flash if I wasn’t completely flattened by the flu right now!

When: Saturday, 4 April, 6pm (reception, cash bar, silent auction), 7pm (dinner and wine bar), 8pm (program, music & dancing)

Where: Hilton Garden Inn, 90 22nd St E, Saskatoon (Google map)

Cost: $50 (including $15 tax receipt), or $35 for students (with no tax receipt)

For more information: CHEP web site, or call Dana on 655-5322 or email dana@chep.org

This event is presented by Health Everywhere, students from the College of Medicine, and CHEP.

Photo by Danny Pederson-Bradbury

Steep Hill Food Co-op’s next no-markup day is Thursday, 2 April. This means non-working members save 13% and non-members save 25% off their bills. Working members will get a further 10% off shelf prices. It’s a great chance to stock up.

Steep Hill carries:

• Bulk organic grains, flours, cereals, nuts, seeds and beans (some locally-grown)
• Organically-grown fruits, vegetables and juices
• Locally-baked goods and baking needs
• Organic/free-range eggs
• Organic beef, naturally-raised chicken and pork, and Saskatchewan fish
• Herbs, spices, coffees and herbal teas
• Special dietary needs
• Personal care and household items

No-markup day at Steep Hill Food Co-op

When: Thursday 2 April, 11:00am-6:30pm

Where: Steep Hill Food Co-op, 730 Broadway Avenue, Saskatoon, SK (Google map)

For more information: Steep Hill Co-op, (306) 664-4455

Members of the Saskatoon Co-op are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting, which will be held Tuesday 21 April at 7pm.

The March newsletter addressed a number of environmental issues, outlining the Co-op’s green policies and initiatives. At the upcoming AGM, We Are Many Festival (WAM) organisers will be putting forth several environmentally-friendly resolutions. You will have the opportunity to vote  on LEED-standard building for all new Co-op edifices, independent energy audits of all existing buildings, and local food procurement (aka the perennial problem of pork, pickles, and potatoes).

If you’re a Co-op member (if you’re not, you can sign up at any Co-op store), come vote for these changes–they can have a dramatic impact on our city because the Co-op is one of our biggest companies.

When: Tuesday, 21 April, 6:30 registration, 7pm call to order

Where: Commonwealth Ballroom, Hilton Garden Inn, 90 22nd St E, Saskatoon (Google map)

For more information: Saskatoon Co-op web site, WAM Facebook group

This weekend is Gardenscape, Saskatoon’s annual horticulture trade show. As always, there will be a large number of booths (420 this year) dealing with all things green and growing, as well as nine feature gardens (including ones demonstrating water-conscious gardening and vertical gardening). The auction of all plants used in the show will be held at 6:30 on Sunday evening in the main theatre.

The feature speaker for 2009 is author, journalist and environmental activist Des Kennedy. He will be giving two talks daily, one on ‘Garden Artristry’ and another on ‘The Exquisite Artistry of Chinese Gardens’ (check the schedule for exact times). For those with a particular interest in food gardening, you may also want to check out the following talks and demonstrations:

Friday, 27 March (Speakers’ Theatre)

• 4pm Best Vegetables for Saskatchewan (Doug Waterer, U of S Plant Sciences)
• 6pm Fruits of Saskatchewan (Forrest Scharf, Provincial Fruit Specialist)
• 7pm Growing and Processing Herbs (Connie Kehler & Helga Halfinger/Helga’s Herbs, Herb Spice Association)

Saturday, March 28

Speakers’s Theatre

• 12 noon Drinking Your Garden: a primer on home wine making (Cedric Gillott, 2007 Gold Medalist, International Cider Competition)
  3pm Living Roof Tops (Goya Ngan, Saskatoon)
• 4pm The Buzz Around Bees Will Chalmers (Saskatoon Area Bee Club)
• 6pm Organic Gardening & Pesticide Alternatives (Patricia Hanbidge, Saskatoon School of Horticulture)

Demonstration Theatre (Hall D)

• 11am Growing and Using Edible Herbs (Fran Eldridge, Fran’s House of Herbs)
• 2pm Ask A Horticulture Expert (Spencer Early/Early’s Farm & Garden Centre, Rick Van Duyvendyk/Dutch Growers Garden Centre, Patricia Hanbidge/Saskatoon School of Horticulture. Vic Krahn, Lakeshore Garden Centre)

Sunday, March 29 (Speakers’ Theatre)

• 2pm Garden Insects: The Good, The Bad, and The (not necessarily) Ugly (Cedric Gillott, Professor Emeritus U of S Biology)

Get the full schedule here!

Gardenscape 2009

When: Friday 27 March (noon-10pm) , Saturday 28 March (10am-9pm), Sunday 29 March (11am-5pm)

Where: Prairieland Park Trade Centre, 503 Ruth Street West, Saskatoon  (Google map)

Cost: $8 ($12 for 2 days), Students 15 & under FREE, Butterflies & Blooms Exhibit $3

For more information: Gardenscape web site