Urban Gardens and Gardeners Wanted

Growing food in the city has never been so critical. Rural farms are disappearing and young people who want to get into growing food are having a hard time finding affordable land.

Backyard farming is one way to get around this. Many gardens in Richmond are sitting empty, waiting for someone to cultivate them.




If you are interested in knowing how to grow food in backyards, come out to O'Hare's Pub on the corner of Steveston Highway and Railway Ave on Tuesday, August 11th from 7pm on. We'll share drinks and conversation about the ins and outs of backyard farming. At about 8ish, we'll walk over next door and have a look at a newly converted backyard farm.

Hope to see you there!

Launch of the 2009 Pocket Markets

Hurray for another season of local food. The Richmond Pocket Markets will be bringing an amazing selection of locally grown veggies (and soon breads) to a location near you:

Fridays: Richmond Hospital 10-3
Saturdays: Richmond Cultural Center 10-2
Alternate Sundays: Gulf of Georgia Cannery (Steveston): 11-3










Hope to see you there.

For more coverage on the Pocket Markets, have a look at the article in the Richmond Review

The Greenhorns - so you wanna be a farmer?

What a crazy idea - leave the city (or sometimes not), grow food, and make a living!!

Garlic scapes and putting food away

Arlene Kroeker's article in today's Richmond Review reminded me that my own garlic scapes needed to be harvested.

I love using the chopped up scapes in stir fries and soups but I had so many this year that I knew I wouldn't be able to use them all before they begin going off.

Luckily, Lise Batcheller, fermenting queen extraordinaire, showed me how to ferment veggies last year.

I had some left over liquid from last year's fermented cukes that I filled a jar about 1/4 way with.



I added layers of chopped scapes and grape leaves (you can use the leaves to make dolmades afterwards). Filled the jar to the top, added 2 Tbsp of kosher salt, and filled it with water. The final trick is to use a cut out from a margarine or yogurt tub to keep all the veggies under water and voila!

In a week, the scapes will be fermented and will sit in my fridge all year round, ready to use for the upcoming 10-mile-diet.

For anyone who is looking for scapes, Jose from JPS Greenhouse at Blundell and Sidaway has them right now as will the first Pocket Market at the Richmond Hospital on Friday, July 3rd.

July Classes

Backyard Chickens


Wondering what it takes to keep chickens in an average backyard? Come learn how to keep chickens safe and healthy with Heather Havens, Animal Scientist, who will instruct newbies on how to feed, house, and ensure good chicken health. Each participant will receive resources to take home including plans for chicken coops, sources of feed, and lists of veterinarians that treat chickens. Participants will also discuss local by-laws and how they relate to keeping backyard chickens

Date: Saturday, July 4th
Time: 9am- 12 pm
Place: Barn, Terra Nova Rural Park, 2631 Westminster Hwy
Cost: $30


Beescaping

Bee conservation is widely recognised now as crucial to a sustainable future. This class is an introduction to beescaping, the sustainable art and science of integrating bees into the living landscape. We’ll look at aspects of forage and nesting needs for both native bees and honeybees with an emphasis on bee health. Creating a variety of nesting material for native bees, the basics of keeping honeybees in an urban setting, bee wrangling and other hands-on activities will be offered. This class is suitable for horticulturalists, landscape designers, farmers and home gardeners alike.


Date: Saturday, July 18th
Time: 9am- 12 pm
Place: Barn, Terra Nova Rural Park, 2631 Westminster Hwy
Cost: $30


What can I plant now?


The gardening season isn't over! There's still plenty to plant and harvest to enable your garden to produce year-round. Learn how to select varieties of vegetables that are winter hardy and time their planting so as to produce through the fall and winter. Simple season extension techniques such as raised beds, row cover, cloches, and cold frames will be discussed and demonstrated. Participants will be able to go home with a couple of winter vegetable seedlings for their own gardens.

Date: Saturday, July 25th
Time: 9am- 12 pm
Place: Barn, Terra Nova Rural Park, 2631 Westminster Hwy
Cost: $30


To register for any of the above classes, or for more information, contact Arzeena Hamir foodsecurity@richmondprc.org or (778) 297-2202

Tractor 101 & Art of Hoeing

1. Tractor 101

Ever wanted to be behind the wheel of a tractor? Miles Smart of Cherry Lane farm will host a class in Tractor 101. Learn the basics of how to operate a 70’s era Ford 4000 from starting, stopping, and throttle, to clutch control and how to safely engage the PTO. Students will be able to practice driving the tractor and will get a demonstration of how to attach machinery (rotovator and subsoiler) . Participants must be over 18 and hold a valid driver’s license.

Cost: $30
Date: Saturday, June 20th
Time: 9am-12pm
Location: Cherry Lane Farm, 2511 No. 4 Rd (off Beckwith Rd, behind Costco)


2. The Art of Hoeing

Join Dr. Kent Mullinix in a hands-on class in the art of weed management & hoeing. Learn to identify weeds and do away with them quickly without breaking your back. Try out different types of hoes including a stir-up hoe and diamond hoe. For those who are interested, participants will also be able to try their hands at managing a rototiller.

Cost: $5 (Proceeds go to the Richmond Fruit Tree Sharing Project)
Date: Saturday, June 20th
Time: 12:30-2pm
Location: Terra Nova Sharing Farm, 2631 Westminster Hwy

Payment for the classes can be made on the day of but we do ask participants to pre-register by calling (778) 297 2202 or e-mailing foodsecurity@richmondprc.org to reserve a spot.

Some Deluxe Chicken Housing

Seen some great news about businesses in Vancouver cropping up to provide housing for all the city chickens.

Not to be outdone, we have an example of some superb housing here in Richmond.

Check out Anne & Jeff's skookum digs:










Still working on Richmond's by-law. Not giving up!