The SACY (Supporting and Connecting Youth) group had lots of fun painting the garden signs last Thursday and digging up the two areas where the ground cover was planted (where the blue berries will be going plus part of one of the veg beds). They completed painting the new veggie signs for the common areas we are planting. Lots of fun was had drawing veggie faces. Thank you to Anya, varouj and Susan for making this happen.
Renewable Energy Demonstration on the Shed
Working with SPEC and their Renewable Energy team, we have a solar panel and wind turbine on the shed. On the ‘information board’ to the right side of the door, are the 4x volt/amp/watt meters for each of the energy sources. The UBC Environment Studies students we are working with this year will be putting up an information poster. There is more to come to support our garden including rainwater collection and an irrigation system for the espalier orchard.
Early Pollinators Activity In the Garden
Did you know that the Garden’s border is composed of pollinator friendly plants and most perennial plants, trees and shrubs in the garden were chosen because they provide pollen and nectar for native bees and other pollinators? The biodiversity of these plants supports a large number of species of native pollinators from early spring to fall. This bee was seen recently in on the Pulmonaria “Mrs Moon” in our woodland area. Our Madame Beespeaker, Lori tells us that this is a queen Vosnesenskii Bumble Bee (also known as yellow-faced bumble bee). When you visit the garden, what other pollinators do you see?
We will be hosting Lori Weidenhammer, Madame Beespeaker in our garden as she leads us on a Pollinator Walk and artful mapping. She will share with us the importance of bees for food production and the types of plants that support our bees. Check our event calendar for more information and be sure to subscribe to our newsletter and like/follow us on Facebook.
Farmers Market Donation Station Saturday, Feb. 16 10am-2pm
Join our Neighbourhood Conversation
General Garden Meeting Feb. 21 6:30pm at LMNH
Let’s get together and plan season 3 in the Garden. Let’s connect with our community members who are food insecure and vulnerable. Share ideas on garden beds, workshops, neighbourhood small grants and our New Horizons for Seniors grant project!
What's On at the Garden: Fall Compost Workshop is Saturday, October 27
Fall Compost Workshop from 11:30 - 12:30pm in the Riley Park Community Garden (30th and Ontario)
Read MoreApple Festival in Riley Park Community Garden!
Saturday, October 20. 12:30-3pm.
Taste, Show and Tell: 12 types of apples to sample. Stay for lunch featuring apples and dishes from the various cultural groups we have in the community and in the garden. Try your hand at apple cider pressing.
Everyone is welcome! Join us in the Garden (30th/Ontario) beside the Riley Park Farmers Market.
What's On at the Garden: Saturday, Sept. 29
Growing Great Garlic Workshop with Master Gardener Selina Pope. Everyone Welcome!
What's On at the Garden: Saturday, September 22
This Saturday, head down to the garden for our usual work party (10:00 am - 12:00 pm), drop some donations off at the donation station (10:00 am - 2:00 pm) and settle into the Three Sisters Potluck lunch (12:30 pm - 3:00 pm). Everyone welcome!
Don't miss out on other garden events. Check out our events calendar here.
What's On at the Garden: Thursday, September 13
This Thursday, come down to the garden and bring a dish from your culture using potatoes. Over dinner and fresh tea, we'll discuss how neighbourhood small grants from the Vancouver Foundation have helped us grow connection in our community. Everyone welcome!
Wondering what else is on at the garden this month? Check out our events calendar, here.
What's On at the Garden: Saturday, September 1
This Saturday, skip down to the garden for our annual Mad Hatter Tea Party from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm. We'll be serving up garden-inspired teas, snacks and curiously crafty activities.
Don't forget to check out our other events here.
What's On at the Garden: Saturday, August 25
This Saturday, mosey over to the garden for the morning work party (10:00 am - 12:00 pm) before tucking into a tasty tomato potluck (be sure to bring a dish!). Shirlene from Earth Apple Farm will also lead attendees through a tomato tasting, revealing the rich tomato varieties grown in the region. Everyone welcome!
Curious about our other upcoming events? Check out the event calendar here.
What's On at the Garden: Saturday, August 18
This Saturday, the garden will host its usual work party from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, followed by a Chinese lunch (catered by the Little Mountain Neighbourhood House line dancers) and informational walk through the garden. Led by our master gardeners, Selina Pope and Tamara Litke, and illustrated by graphic designer Masahiro Kojima, the event will teach old and young about our garden's unique ecological identity.
Don't forget to stop by the donation station from 10AM-2PM too! All proceeds this month go to Little Mountain Neighbourhood House's preteen youth program participants.
Don't forget to check out our other upcoming events here.
Calling all creative types!
On beautiful sunny July 14th, Lori Snyder, guided us throughout Riley Park Garden to introduce us to some of the native plants growing here. Thank you Lori for sharing your native plant stories, as well as your deep sense of connectedness with these plants! As we learned from Lori and the plants, we were inspired to illustrate the plants we observed. Many of the drawings will become a part of a Native Plants of Riley Park Garden Map.
We hope to gather more native plant drawings from community members of all ages! Our Native Plants of Riley Park Garden Artful Mapping Project is continuing throughout the summer and if you are interested in contributing please do. We will have art supplies and easels for you at the garden during our work parties and on Saturdays 10:00 am - 12:00 pm. Perhaps you have native plants growing near your home? The Native Plant Society of BC has put together a list of resources, including field guides that could inspire drawings and further exploration.
https://npsbc.files.wordpress.com/2017/12/native_plant_gardening_resources.pdf
For a list of which plants have yet to be drawn please email Anya: anyachase@yahoo.ca
Or feel free to illustrate whichever plant you are drawn to!
We have about 70 native plants in the garden and we are presently compiling a list.
Here are some of them.
What's On at the Garden: Saturday, August 11
This Saturday, mosey on down to the garden to pitch in at the work party (10:00 am - 12:00 pm) and stay for a corn boil potluck (12:30 pm - 2:00 pm)! Bring a dish from your culture that celebrates zucchini and we'll provide the corn (and butter). Sit back and relax until 3:00 pm when Chris from One Love Farm will lead volunteers in planting a bed for our (soon to be) new neighbours at the Little Mountain temporary modular housing development.
Check out our other events here.
General Garden Meeting this Thursday, July 26
Our next general garden meeting will be held on Thursday, July 26. Open to all community members, we’ll discuss garden decision making and decision makers. Come provide your input and help shape the future of Riley Park Community Garden!
When: 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm | Thursday, July 26
Where: Room 320 | Hillcrest Community Centre
What's On at the Garden: Wednesday, July 25
Dance, dine and help water the garden with the Latinx community this Wednesday, July 25. You won't want to miss out on the empanadas and live music so come on down and bring the kids. See you there!
Check out our other upcoming events here.
What's On at the Garden: Saturday, July 21
This Saturday, the day starts off with a work party from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm. From there, wander over to the Farmer's Market and drop off a donation at the donation station (running until 2:00 pm). This month, goods are going to Syrian drop-in program participants at Little Mountain Neighbourhood House.
Bonus points if you donate lettuce!
Check out our other events, here.
What's On at the Garden: Saturday, July 14
It's nearly mid-July and the garden is lush! This Saturday, get a little dirt under your fingernails at the work party (10:00 am - 12:00 pm), lunch and learn with the Syrian community from 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm, and tap into your creative side with Indigenous Herbalist and Educator, Lori Snyder, as we map the garden from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm. Don't forget to bring the kids!
Be sure to check out our other upcoming events at our Events Calendar.
