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!