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Volunteer Gardeners’ News - Summer 2010 |
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Written by Rose Dudley
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Sunday, 27 June 2010 |
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Dirt May Be Good For Your Brain
A few years ago, in this column, I wrote about The Green Gym, a programme that has been so successful in Britain. This programme is designed to get people out of gyms into the countryside to do physical volunteer work which not only improves the health of the participant but ultimately benefits everyone in the community through an enhanced environment.
After reading the article, I expected new volunteer gardeners to rush forward in droves but, sadly, our numbers have been steadily declining over the years.
Spending time outdoors has always offered health benefits for the body and the mind but now, it turns out, even the dirt may be good for you.
Scientists at The Sage College of Troy, N.Y. have discovered that exposure to certain kinds of soil bacteria can reduce anxiety and increase learning capability when ingested or inhaled. Just imagine! Joining the Volunteer Garden Group could now make you smarter as well as healthier.
Recently, while I was planting the annuals in the pots, ingesting and inhaling all that beneficial soil bacteria, Peach Akerhielm, out walking her dog, stopped to compliment us, as many people do, on the display in Grant Prior’s bridge boxes. I told her that the other great benefit of our position is that we get only compliments but no abuse whatsoever. She laughed good- naturedly, knowing full well what I meant and then contributed a sizeable sum towards the purchase of more flowers. The following afternoon Mr. Oldridge, bless his heart, did the same. Thanks to the generosity of these two individuals, we can all look forward to a wonderful display this summer.
In the meantime, please call or email me at : 604 922 9842 or
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if you are interested in becoming healthier, more tolerant and smarter.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 27 June 2010 )
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Volunteer Gardening News - Fall 09 |
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Written by Rose Dudley
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Monday, 28 September 2009 |
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By now most people will have admired the magnificent new flower boxes
along the bridge rails over Harvey Creek, the work of one amazing
resident.
I had only really ever known Grant Prior as a nice neighbour with a
wonderful sense of humour that could have easily got him into show
business if he had not chosen to become an engineer but, in my book, he
has now risen to the realms of sainthood.
On July 21, at a dinner party, I told him of my dream to have planter
boxes on the bridge. Two days later he had produced extraordinarily
detailed plans that were presented to council, and by August 20th the
boxes were completed, and the first one was attached.
Only an engineer can truly appreciate the hours of work that have gone
into this project. They are beautifully constructed right down to the
metal supports and even the nuts that had to be custom made because of
the angle of the bridge rails.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 28 September 2009 )
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Volunteer Gardeners’ News - Summer 09 |
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Written by Rose Dudley
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Friday, 19 June 2009 |
Did you know that you, too, could become an honorary member of the Volunteer Gardening Group? Sandy Mutrie recently achieved this status just by going for a stroll on a balmy summer evening. She came upon me and the long suffering John who, incidentally, was never ever going to get involved in another of his wife’s crazy schemes, mapping out the ground for The Olympic Rings. Within minutes, she reappeared with trowels, worked like a whirling dervish and in two sessions the rings were in place to enthusiastic honking whistling and great applause.
Now, therein lies a saga. Permission had been granted by VANOC and after the flowers had been purchased and the work begun with Brenda’s blessing, another department of VANOC decided that it was illegal. After a fight, and once the work had been completed, The Ministry of Highways informed us that it was not their policy to have annuals planted beside highways or to have their schedule interrupted in any way. So far we have managed to prevail but for how long we know not; our idea may yet fall victim to bureaucracy.
The Rings were actually the initiative of the gardeners on The Olympic Torch Committee who are in fact the original volunteer gardeners with the addition of Sabine Jones and Neil Berman.
In other news, Steven Ross has rejoined our group this spring for regular Friday weeding sessions and is finding that while gardening may be good for the soul it is terrible for the back, but coffee breaks at the cafe more than compensate for the pain.
We hope that you gained much pleasure from the daffodils in the spring and are now enjoying the pots. Credit is due to Donna, from The Works Crew for planting the perennials this year. We have just added the annuals and begun the watering schedule, our free weightlifting and cardiovascular workout. We may be the only people who are praying for rain this summer.
Happy Gardening!
Rose Dudley
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 20 June 2009 )
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Written by Lisa Turpin
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Monday, 01 June 2009 |
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The Gardening Extravaganza and Backyard BBQ were a great success this year. It is too early to give a precise fundraising achievement but we feel safe to predict it was about $1500 raised to beautify the village municipal property. We can't do these events without residents coming out to support and the helpful hands who find time in their own busy lives to help out.
With that, thanks to those who helped on the day, the Fire department, the Works Yard, Rose and John Dudley, Fran McNichol, Steven Ross, Ken Miskin, Sheila and Philip Bromiley, Rudy and Trudi Luethy, Laura Fleury, Susan Rolfe and Susan Loutet.
We pushed the event back a few weeks anticipating that Mother Nature would be late, but she spoiled our plan by catching up on her longer than normal
winter. That didn't dampen the spirits of the die hard gardeners from waiting or coming back to pick up plants from us. We also kicked off with an earlier than expected Pre - order which was the best yet. Rona at 915 West First Street North Vancouver, Lions Bay Scholarship Society, Leong's and Windward Nurseries all contributed special pricing to make the preorder a great success. Special thanks to all who unloaded 400 flats of plants, John and Rose Dudley, Steven Ross, Wendy Conway Mair, Diane Burke, Joan McCullough, Susan Loutet, Rudy and Trudi Luethy, Laura Fleury and Philip Bromiley. And thanks to the works yard for arranging a good location to deliver to.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 10 June 2009 )
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Composting and the Worm Factory® |
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Written by Lisa Turpin
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Wednesday, 08 April 2009 |
Worm composting is an incredibly efficient to convert kitchen scraps, junk mail and cardboard into nutrient-rich compost for your garden. Master gardeners agree that compost produced by worms will produce the best results and help your plants thrive!
The Worm Factory's® unique stackable, multi-tray design makes it the most efficient composter around. Worms begin eating waste in the lowest tray, and then migrate upward as food sources in that tray are exhausted. By allowing worms to migrate upward, the worms separate themselves from the finished compost that is ready for the garden.
Besides the worm castings that are produced through this process, the Worm Factory® also produces a second type of compost. As waste is broken down, moisture filters through your composter, dragging nutrient-rich particles with it. This liquid fertilizer, know as "worm tea" is gathered in the special collection tray of the Worm Factory® and can easily drained from the spigot.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 09 April 2009 )
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