Hello Gardeners!
I hope that planting season is going well for most of you. I know that it’s been rough finding alternate sources of compost and mulch, but I hope it hasn’t slowed you down too much. I have included some updates that may be helpful to you below:
Compost/mulch update
- No word yet from the City on when it’ll be ready – I’ll keep you posted.
- Sawyers Landscaping in Sutherland will load up a truck full of mulch for free every Friday. If you have access to a truck, consider stopping by there on a Friday for a free source of wood chips.
Seeds and Potatoes
- We have seeds and seed potatoes available at Station 20 for your garden if you need them. The CHEP office is on the second floor of Station 20 – feel free to stop by during office hours or call me to make alternate arrangements.
- Seed potatoes can also be picked up from the University Horticulture Field Plots, located at 2909 14th St East (same place as the fruit sale). Just let them know you’re with a community garden and they will give you as much as you need!
Fruit tree update:
- With the University Fruit Sale coming up on Friday (http://www.fruit.usask.ca/extension.html) I am going to be meeting with the Parks Department to determine what types of fruit trees are allowed to be planted in city-owned community gardens. Once I have an update I’ll let you know.
Greenhouse Transplant Donations
- We are expecting to receive seedling donations from greenhouses in the next couple weeks. They will most likely be available for pick up at Station 20. I will keep you posted.
Rain Barrels and Compost Bins
- Check out https://rainbarrel.ca/wrsos/ for information on hosting a rain barrel fundraiser. This may be a great way to raise funds for a garden project!
- The City of Saskatoon offers a yearly $20 rebate for rain barrels and compost bins per family. Check out https://www.saskatoon.ca/services-residents/power-water/conservation/be-water-wise for more details.
Bat and Bird Houses from Lee Valley
- Through the Nature City Festival, Lee Valley hosted a workshop to build bat and bee houses to support our native pollinators. They will be donating these to CHEP, and I will pass them along to interested gardens. Lee Valley is also interested in hosting a workshop specifically for community gardeners. I’ll let you know the details as I hear more!
CTV Interview
- CTV did a short segment on community gardening, featuring the Nutana Community Garden. Check it out here if you’re interested: http://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=1129882
Jessie Best
Urban Agriculture Coordinator
CHEP Good Food Inc.
Suite #204-1120 20th St. West, Saskatoon, SK S7M 0Y8
p 306-655-4575 ext.229 f 306-668-4574
w http://www.chep.org/en/programs/community-gardens
CHEP Good Food Inc. acknowledges that we operate on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis Nation
Nutana Community Association 