Hello All,

I made it out to the garden to drop off the Weed Barrier in the shed.

***Note*** It has a 5 year guarantee. I had originally requested for the 20 year guarantee brand, but it was out of stock — someone may want to look for a garden centre that carries the 20 year guarantee brand.  I think that would be a wise move. I think the compost pit should be lined with 20  year material. 5 year material is not worth the effort…..I think the  year brand can be used effectively on other aspects of the garden, just not the compost pit…

The garden is at its most charming in many ways. The native flowers are out and in full bloom (I’m kicking myself for not bringing my camera…)

The squash leaves are huge!

I tried pinching some suckers but had trouble distinguishing which stems to pinch off.

Often I was faced with the choice of pinching off the strong stem with leaves to one side or the weaker stem with buds (which will develop into flowers and hense tomatoes) in the middle.

I think pinching off suckers should instead be called thinning the tomaetoe plant. This makes a lot more sense.

I didn’t water - someone needs to do that….

Hello Everyone!

Please come out and work today and/or tomorrow because we have a lot of things to do and we need as many of you there as possible. We need to continue to work on measures to slow down the bindweed, and we need to work on some other major things before we can plant items for the fall. I will be there from at least 2pm until 6 Wednesday, and I hope to see many of you there before I have to leave. (If not, we will leave you a list.)

thanks!

–eric

Hey folks.

Yesterday’s workday was pretty productive despite the thundershower. Najat has pictures.

Thanks to (in alphabetical order):

HongMan ( I think? Please correct me if I’m wrong) + daughter
Jim
Joe
Maria
Najat
Tom
And another garden member whose name I didn’t catch / forgot (Sorry! If anyone can let me know, I can edit this post accordingly.)

We cut back the herbs, did some harvesting, some weeding (think bindweed), and Tom and Jim figured out the best spot for the incoming compost.

Please feel free to chime in about the other things that got done. I got there later so this list is most likely missing stuff.

The peas are looking productive. It looks like we’ll be able to save some pods instead of buying peas next year!

As for the bindweed, the current score seems to be Bindweed-2, He1ena-1. I’ll work on it.

Also thanks to everyone who signed the FS card, it’ll be taken down later tonight.

Hope the compost delivery went well!

Hi,

Here are some pictures I took from the garden today.

Just to let you guys know I will be leaving TO at the end of July.

It has been a fantastic time. I learned about the ecology of York

Keep up the magic

-N

Hello:

So here is the information on the Weed Barrier Product - (the black tarp
designed to keep out weeds)

Weed Barrier

-Gold -commercial grade
-Twenty year guarantee
-Stops weed growth  in all permanent landscaped areas around your home
-Stops garden mulches (stone, bark, etc) from mixing with the soil
-Keeps your landscaped area clean and tidy
-Prevents soil erosion
-The choice of professional landscapers
-3 feet x 50 feet roll

It rings in at $16.49 a roll.

I estimated the seven South-Eastern plots (excluding the far North-Eastern
plots) will need about 59 feet to cover the entire surface area which comes to
two rolls. (Total$=32.9

So I don’t know what the Maloca Exec’s view or position is on this product -
whether it is worth it to buy it or stick to the other methods for now  (mulch;
leaves, bark, etc.)

Let me know and I’ll whip out my debit card… (I already arranged with Sija
about getting reimbursed)

Cheers,
Najat

We will be getting lots of compost delivered near the garden tomorrow morning at 10, and we need lots of help moving it from the edge of the fields to the plots in the garden.  Especially those of you with individual plots should come and help because this is one of those rare times when some Maloca community material can be used in your individual plots. Tom Peace will be there to direct the delivery and spreading. Please come to help even if it is just for a bit of time, and especially if the workday is rained out today. Also, remember that I will be having a communal workday next Wednesday, and there will be lots of things to do, so please come then, too. (More on that, soon.) Many thanks! –eric

Hey folks,

Tomorrow’s workday will be led by Maria starting at about 4:30pm if
there isn’t thunder showers.

Despite today’s sun, there is the risk of thunderstorms and chance of
thunder- showers tomorrow afternoon / evening, so tomorrow’s workday
is weather dependent.

Hope the shed key issue is resolved before tomorrow’s workday or
alternatively someone with a shed key can offer to be there at 4:30pm.

I’ll be there later, but I’ll be there.

See you all then, at least the ones who can make it.

Nice pics, Najat! Thanks for posting them.

Here’s a replica of what I sent over the listserve re: yesterday:

Thanks very much to Abhi, Luke, Maurizio, Najat, Tabassum and Joe for coming out
yesterday. In summary:

-a trellis was erected in plot 1, and weeds were pulled there as well
-the maps were updated; a copy of the new version will be posted on the shed
over the next few days
-worm castings were added to most of the needy plots (though the swiss chard may
still need to be done next time)
-stray objects & leaf bags were removed from paths
-weeds were pulled in the strawberry/spinach plot #28 (east section); though the
spinach half could still use some more weeding
-the garden was watered & covered
-we harvested spinach, lettuce, swiss chard, and LOT’s of peas! (and there are
still many left to pick)

Many Steering Committee members will be away over the next few weeks, so please
refer to the detailed task list that Eric sent out, as well as the maps in the
shed. Use the listserve to ask questions, organize workday times, help each
other out, etc. Remember, each workday usually ends with watering (if it hasn’t
rained much), harvesting, and covering up sensitive plots. Send updates on what
has been done.

All the best!

Sija

Swiss Chard, Snow Peas, Lettuce and Spinach

Hi all,

I will be at the garden tomorrow from 5 to 6:30. I think the most important
thing we need to to is update the maps. As a group, we should have a good look
at the things we’ve planted in recent weeks, and revise the maps accordingly;
this way, we’ll get a good feel for what needs to be harvested, what needs to
be weeded, what needs to be thinned out, and anything else that needs to be
done over the next few weeks. As an example: in the past weeks, we’ve somehow
forgotten about the spinach/strawberry patch in the east section. It is
becoming overgrown with weeds, and we’ve missed out on ALOT of good spinach
(which is now starting to go to seed!)

-in addition to mapping etc., we can finish planting those perennials, trim the
tall grass around the garden edges, and tidy up the scraps which are lying
around (to better accommodate the mower whenever it comes)

-come with a small bag & be prepared to take home some spinach, lettuce, peas,
etc.

See you tomorrow,

Sija