Friday, June 05, 2009
The Spruce Harbour Sign - Before and after pictures
The beginning of the Spruce garden! The before photo was taken in February 2006 just before Sign Committee went to work on putting a proposal together. The committee was headed by Martin who was joined by Jennifer and Cheryl. The beautiful piece of cedar was donated by John's friend Denis McKamey and Cheryl designed the lettering with help from John. Nevil volunteered to carve the letters. There were other helpers of course, cutting the wood, installing the sign & lighting, donating the anchor, etc, etc. Then Bob did a fantastic job of designing the westcoast style garden. Wally was his faithful assistant! The after photo was taken in the Spring of 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
False Creek South is a unique place, where many different forms of residence and lifestyle are interwoven. Spruce Harbour has always been a close-knit community, but for years the contact with our land-based neighbours has, for many of us, been limited to the odd polite greeting (if that).
Since the uprooting of the tangled weeds in our garden has started, so have the conversations with our neighbours and with other users of the Seawall. The overwhelming majority of comments are encouraging and positive, and neighbours are now actively helping to dig and plant.
A garden, like a community, is improved by adding colour, texture, diversity, and hands-on TLC year-round. That's what we are doing - learning and growing ourselves in the process. That's why I'm in it.
Since the uprooting of the tangled weeds in our garden has started, so have the conversations with our neighbours and with other users of the Seawall. The overwhelming majority of comments are encouraging and positive, and neighbours are now actively helping to dig and plant.
A garden, like a community, is improved by adding colour, texture, diversity, and hands-on TLC year-round. That's what we are doing - learning and growing ourselves in the process. That's why I'm in it.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
The beginnings
As the earth turns was started in May of 2008. It was actually 'birthed' during a morning jog around False Creek, which was a Wednesday morning ritual for Randi, Rhonda and myself. We knew that one of our neighbours, Lisa, had been trying to free a large piece of land for a community garden just adjacent to our Marina. This process had started several years earlier, so it seemed unlikely to be approved.
There was an area, just south of our Marina outbuildings that was literally abandoned and badly in need of some TLC. We discussed creating a small garden there. Because this area surrounded Marina property we incorrectly assumed it was part of our lease.
We decided to meet at the ivy patch at 6AM Sunday morning to reclaim a small patch and try our hand at gardening.
Immediately neighbours came out to see what was going on. They were unexpectedly supportive. In fact one neighbour brought out shovels, plants and seeds to support the small initiative. Everyone seemed very happy to see the abandoned area tended.
We managed to clear a small 10ft sq area. Within a week, however, we received a notice asking us to stop our 'gorilla gardening'. This came from our Marina. We did just that. We stopped.
A few weeks later, we realized stopping at this juncture made little sense. The area was cleared. We either left it to weeds or we beautified it. We decided on the later.
We added compost to the soil, installed underground drip hose to minimize water requirements and planted an assortment of vegetables, herbs and flowers. One of the neighbours even donated a fig tree which we put up against the South wall.
During the summer the garden flourished. We grew foot long cucumbers, amazing beans, leeks, carrots and beets. Along with Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano and Nasturtiums. Every time we were tending the garden neighbours and passers by commented. Some people were thrilled to see vegetables growing; some wanted to know if it was safe to eat food grown in the soil.
One passerby said the garden was magical. We never fenced or signed anyone out. We were amazed that nothing was taken or vandalized and we were even more amazed at the care the neighbours provided. We'd find them watering, weeding and sometimes planting the odd herb or flower.
This created one of the most powerful feelings of connection to others I had ever experienced. It really was magical.
Based on this experience, we then decided to 'legalize' the garden. We applied to Green Streets after doing a bit of research. Quickly we were approved. The energy was high and the enthusiasm unbeatable. Our group grew and we created a garden club, made up of a mix of Marina and nearby local Strata residents. This group continues to grow.
We have now cleared the entire area. In the process we found several needles, broken bottles and rats nests amongst other debris. The soil has been turned many times to filter out the invasive morning glory and ivy.
During the hours in the garden we have all been uplifted by the local support; it continues to be incredible. We are, however, not without our challenges. Green Streets does not support vegetable gardening. We understand that there is a requirement to create year round green spaces, however we find it difficult to understand why the programme specifically censors annual edibles. We have written letters to the Mayor and are working on a solution.
There have been a few complaints. Concern has been expressed that we have destroyed bird habitat. As well one person does not understand why we'd vegetable garden when we live so close to a market. By far the support is overwhelmingly in favour of our project. We know that the bird habitat will be improved and enhanced as the new and diverse flowers and shrubs take hold. We equally know that the joy people have experienced as they've watched and participated far out way any concerns.
This blog will continue to update our stories and learns. Your views are encouraged as well.
We'll also keep you posted on what we plant, our successes and failures.
Stay tuned as the earth turns.
There was an area, just south of our Marina outbuildings that was literally abandoned and badly in need of some TLC. We discussed creating a small garden there. Because this area surrounded Marina property we incorrectly assumed it was part of our lease.
We decided to meet at the ivy patch at 6AM Sunday morning to reclaim a small patch and try our hand at gardening.
Immediately neighbours came out to see what was going on. They were unexpectedly supportive. In fact one neighbour brought out shovels, plants and seeds to support the small initiative. Everyone seemed very happy to see the abandoned area tended.
We managed to clear a small 10ft sq area. Within a week, however, we received a notice asking us to stop our 'gorilla gardening'. This came from our Marina. We did just that. We stopped.
A few weeks later, we realized stopping at this juncture made little sense. The area was cleared. We either left it to weeds or we beautified it. We decided on the later.
We added compost to the soil, installed underground drip hose to minimize water requirements and planted an assortment of vegetables, herbs and flowers. One of the neighbours even donated a fig tree which we put up against the South wall.
During the summer the garden flourished. We grew foot long cucumbers, amazing beans, leeks, carrots and beets. Along with Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano and Nasturtiums. Every time we were tending the garden neighbours and passers by commented. Some people were thrilled to see vegetables growing; some wanted to know if it was safe to eat food grown in the soil.
One passerby said the garden was magical. We never fenced or signed anyone out. We were amazed that nothing was taken or vandalized and we were even more amazed at the care the neighbours provided. We'd find them watering, weeding and sometimes planting the odd herb or flower.
This created one of the most powerful feelings of connection to others I had ever experienced. It really was magical.
Based on this experience, we then decided to 'legalize' the garden. We applied to Green Streets after doing a bit of research. Quickly we were approved. The energy was high and the enthusiasm unbeatable. Our group grew and we created a garden club, made up of a mix of Marina and nearby local Strata residents. This group continues to grow.
We have now cleared the entire area. In the process we found several needles, broken bottles and rats nests amongst other debris. The soil has been turned many times to filter out the invasive morning glory and ivy.
During the hours in the garden we have all been uplifted by the local support; it continues to be incredible. We are, however, not without our challenges. Green Streets does not support vegetable gardening. We understand that there is a requirement to create year round green spaces, however we find it difficult to understand why the programme specifically censors annual edibles. We have written letters to the Mayor and are working on a solution.
There have been a few complaints. Concern has been expressed that we have destroyed bird habitat. As well one person does not understand why we'd vegetable garden when we live so close to a market. By far the support is overwhelmingly in favour of our project. We know that the bird habitat will be improved and enhanced as the new and diverse flowers and shrubs take hold. We equally know that the joy people have experienced as they've watched and participated far out way any concerns.
This blog will continue to update our stories and learns. Your views are encouraged as well.
We'll also keep you posted on what we plant, our successes and failures.
Stay tuned as the earth turns.
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