The Garden Sprouts!

Starfleet Chief Engineer Scottie, part-time bike riding urban gardener

The Campus Crops gardens are slowly starting to green up ever so slightly after that intense day of gardening 2 weeks ago. The larger seedlings that were planted are growing even larger and becoming more established.

Some of the plants seeds that were sown directly into the garden soil are now also sprouting up, including some of the lemon cucumbers, assorted peas, and a few of the squash. As for the rest of the sowed seeds... well, only time will tell.

Weeds were also starting to sprout, and thus lower garden and the terrace containers were weeded for the ubiquitous maple tree seedlings, dandelions, and broadleaf plantains.

Japanese Knotweed Chutney Recipe

Knotweed, oh knotweed, who staunchly survives,
Despite our attempts to kill, by poisons and knives.
Many will vilify,
And say that an invasive weed like you must die,
Though in chutney you taste so great, no one cannot deny.

Okay, enough bad poetry...


Knotweed Chutney
2 tbs oil 
0.5 stick of cinnamon
4 pods green cardamom
5 cloves
10 peppercorns, crushed 
0.5 tsp mustard seeds

1 tiny onion, finely chopped
1.5 cups sugar
0.5 tps salt
1 cup white vinegar

2 pounds Japanese knotweed, with leaves and tough part removed and chopped

A)Fry first 6 ingredients until fragrant
B)Add next 4 ingredients and cook until sugar has dissolved and onions are translucent
C)Add chopped knotweed and cook until knotweed has softened and mixture has thickened

Eat as a jam on bread or with assorted viandes.

Epic opening up of massive cropness

The garden opening up was truly massive, with so many people showing up to help last Saturday! Thanks a bunch!

Everything came together flawlessly; the seedlings were purchased, the bucketfuls of compost procured, the knotweed patch was cleared, the lower garden was cleaned-up, the terrace garden planters were weeded and setup, compost was spread everywhere and raked into the top layer of the soil, bordering stones were rearranged, and all the seeds and seedlings were sowed and planted. A long day, but lots of things got done. Whew!

   
Here are few more photos of what went on during this great day of the Campus Crops garden opening...

Garden opening in 2012!

Gardening season begins! After the long long winter and the rather crazy spring, the temperature should be settling down nicely in the next week with spring frost well behind us. With that, we will be opening the garden next week on Saturday 1pm, mixing compost into the rather clayish soil of the lower garden and weeding the bins in our upper terrace gardens and raised beds.

Then there is that patch of ground with the ever invasive Japanese knotweed, which appears to be slowly creeping towards the garden. To control them we will need to cut them many many times and disposed of the stalks safely for fear that it might take over everything. From the numerous online sites, our organic attempts at controlling them will likely be a long and multi-yeared struggle.

Lots of things to do and elbow grease needed so bring your friends and your friends friends to come dig with us!

Meeting is on Saturday May 12, 2012 1:00pm behind 3534 University (Dept. of Environment building). See you there!

Migrant Labour & Food Production: A Discussion

Migrant Labour & Food Production: A Discussion with members of the Immigrant Workers Centre and Dignidad Migrante about Temporary Foreign Worker Programs

Presented by Campus Crops, the Midnight Kitchen, the Immigrant Workers Centre and Dignidad Migrante

July 29, 6-8 pm
Lev Bukhman, 2nd floor of SSMU building, 3480 McTavish, Peel Metro

Every year thousands of foreign workers pour into the farm lands of Canada, admitted into the country as "temporary foreign workers." Working under exploitative conditions, often denied access to the same rights and privileges of Canadian citizens, these workers produce the food that ends up in the grocery stores of Montreal, the food that we eat.

Members of the Immigrant Workers Centre and Dignidad Migrante will discuss the intersections between food production and the racist and exploitative nature of Canada's immigration policies.

This workshop will offer information and testimonials about Canadian Temporary Foreign Worker Programs (focusing particularly on the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP)) with the aim of uncovering a side of "food politics" that often goes under-examined.

*Workshop presented in English, French and Spanish, with live translation towards English.*

Room and bathrooms are wheelchair accessible

Snacks will be provided by the Midnight Kitchen

Please contact campuscrops@gmail.com for more information or for accessibility needs.

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Les travailleurs et travailleuses migrants et la production alimentaire:

Une discussion avec des membres du Centre des travailleurs et travailleuses immigrants et Dignidad Migrante à propos des Programmes des travailleurs étrangers temporaires

Presenté par Campus Crops, le Midnight Kitchen, le Centre des travailleurs et travailleuses immigrants et Dignidad Migrante.

29 juillet, 18 h - 20 h

Salle Lev Bukhman, 2e étage de l'édifice de l'AEUM (Campus de McGill), 3480 Rue McTavish, Métro Peel

Chaque année des milliers de travailleurs et travailleuses venant de l'étranger se déplacent vers les champs agricoles du Canada, admisEs au pays en tant que travailleurs et travailleuses ''étrangers temporaires''. Travaillant dans des conditions de travail aberrantes et abusives, ils et elles se voient souvent refuséEs les droits et privilèges des citoyens et citoyennes Canadiens. Ces travailleurs et travailleuses produisent les aliments qui se retrouvent dans les épiceries

de Montréal, dans nos assiettes.

Des membres du Centre des travailleurs et travailleuses immigrants et de Dignidad Migrante discuteront de l'intersection entre la production alimentaire et les politiques d'immigration enracinées dans une culture d'exploitation et de racisme.

Au cours de cet atelier, des témoignages et de l'information à propos des Programmes de travailleurs étrangers temporaires (surtout des Programmes de travailleurs agricoles saisonniers) seront offerts, dans le but de dévoiler un aspect de la «politique alimentaire» souvent oublié.

*L'atelier sera présenté en anglais, français et espagnol. La traduction simultanée vers l'anglais sera offerte.*

La salle de rencontre ainsi que les salles de bains sont accessibles par fauteuil roulant. Des collations seront fournies par le Midnight Kitchen.

SVP contactez campuscrops@gmail.com pour plus d'information ou pour exprimer des besoins d'accessibilité.

URBAN GARDEN BIKE TOUR!

(le français suivra)

Be it through different agricultural, political or organizational models, there are so many ways to grow food in an urban setting.

Join Campus Crops for a bike tour of gardens in Montreal to check out just a few of the initiatives taking place in our big urban backyard!

The tour will stop at a rooftop garden in the Plateau, a squat garden in the Mile End, a community garden in NDG, a land-share garden in NDG and at Campus Crops’ very own terrace garden on McGill Campus.

Tour begins at the Campus Crops garden, behind 3534 University at 1 pm. And will end back at the garden around 4 pm.

++ It's not too late to add your garden to the tour! contact campuscrops@gmail.com ++

***

Il y a tant de manières différentes de faire de l’agriculture dans un milieu urbain. Joignez-vous à Campus Crops pour un tour de vélo de quelques jardins urbains ici au centre-ville de Montréal.

Le tour s’arrêtera à un jardin sur le toit dans le Plateau , un jardin « squat » au Mile-End, un jardin communautaire à NDG et finira au jardin de terrace de Campus Crops sur le campus de McGill.

On se fait rencontre au jardin de Campus Crops, derrière le 3534 Université. Le tour devrait se terminer vers 16 h, à Campus Crops.

++ Il n'est pas trop tard d'ajouter votre jardin à l'itinéraire! Contactez campuscrops@gmail.com ++

Increasing the garden's accessibility

Campus Crop's terrace garden behind the James Administration building on McGill Campus is being set up this week to be wheelchair accessible for its gardeners.

Growing on the terrace this summer are many containers of peppers, tomatoes, beans, peas, eggplant, cucumbers, kale, and colourful flowers. Come learn about urban agriculture and go home with veggies all summer long!

If you or someone you know would be interested in joining Campus Crops during its work sessions, contact campuscrops@gmail.com for more info or to express any accessibility needs.

Garden hours are Tuesdays from 5-7 pm, Thursdays from 1-3 pm, Sundays from 3-5 pm.

The terrace garden can be accessed by wheelchair in many ways:

1. Enter campus by the Milton Gates and go up the first road to your right, past the James Admin building. The terrace will be on your left.

2. Enter campus by one of the many wheelchair ramps along University street, north of Milton, and head south on campus towards the James Admin building. The terrace will be on your right.

3. Enter campus through the McTavish or Roddick gates and head east on campus towards the Milton gates. Head north before the gates, past the James Admin building. The terrace will be on your left.