Gardening planning:
It's important for me to think about how I can make the best of our short growing season. So I start planning now. Luckily, the Peterborough Community Garden Network (PCGN) is making this process easier. It is currently looking for input on how to best support all of us, keen gardeners, who want to grow food collectively or within our own individual plots.
Here is information about a survey they have just launched:
We are writing to you today to request your input! The Peterborough Community Garden Network is made of many gardeners, growers, helpers, coordinators & organizations throughout our 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: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8B7R7Z2
Preparing to grow my favourite seedlings at the height of winter is another approach that eases my longing to get back to the garden. If you are not sure how to start seedlings from seeds, you can participate in a seeds starting workshop. Transition Town Peterborough is sponsoring one on February 6th at 6:30 pm at the Old Millbrook School in Millbrook. Seeds saver extraordinaire and owner of the Urban Tomato, Jill Bishop, will be facilitating the workshop. This is a $5 or pay what you can event.
Planning for one's garden plot is also key at this time of the year. I like to map out my garden and decide what I am going to grow. There are also lots of planning tools available on the net. Check out these links for mapping your site.
Once I know what I am going to do, I make a list and shop for new seeds at Seedy Sunday. This year the event is scheduled for March 10th from 2 to 5 pm at George Street United Church, Peterborough.
If you have a garden and don't need to use all of it, you can grow a row and donate the food to a food security group in your area. If you want to grow food and don't have a plot yet, or if you know of a site and want to start a garden there, contact PCGN. The network is also developing a Garden Council and establishing a list of garden enthusiasts who want to be involved either in one specific community garden or as part of a community garden movement. For more information call 705.745.3238 xt 204 or visit the network's website.
