Hello all you fine August-enjoying folk!

For all those who weren't able to attend the sign-making + doc-watching event on August 19th, here's a recap of what happened and some photos for good measure!

Because of some pretty ridiculously unfortunate technical issues, the screening was not held outside in the garden but in someone's apartment (the important thing being that it still happen).  However, due to the oversight of a forgetful individual (ahem...me) the documentary we intended to screen (The Global Banquet: Politics of Food) was not shown, instead, we watched an episode from CBC's The Nature of Things (narrated by David Suzuki).  The theme was changes in modern agriculture in Canada, but was actually primarily about livestock production.  The script and tone of the doc made it clear that the target audience was not anyone with any background knowledge in agriculture or the food production industry as it is today.  Somewhat of an intellectual disappointment, however, there was lots of material for us to question and critique in or discussion after the doc.

The signs were made by painting black chalkboard paint onto small little plastic garden signs, then plant names were written with greasy "China" markers (if you were ever in a Bio/Chem lab you probably would have used these).  Interesting note, the "China" markers were actually made in Mexico...

The whole night was a lot of fun (let's not forget the delllliiiccccious vegan pizza and yummy blueberry pie...mmmm).  Thanks everyone who helped organize/attended the event!

                

  

I completely forgot motherwort was growing in the garden!
Supposed to be good for relieving muscle cramps, stress,
insomnia, preventing hemorrhages - the list goes on!

I spy with my little eye 3 little flies...

Awesome carrot sign cut from garbage-scavenged,
crappy IKEA faux-wood table.  Haven't you always
wanted to know what you would look like with the
body of a carrot? Once we get it set up in the
garden, you'll be able to find out!

Hopefully we'll be putting on another crafts/screening event once the school year gets underway - we'll let you know! :) 

Garden Sign-Making & Outdoor Film Screening!

Campus Crops is hosting a free evening of craftsy and film-watching fun times, Sunday August 19th @ 7:30pm!

To start off, we'll be making some artsy plant signs (all materials will be provided). You can help us make some for our garden or make some for your own plants at home!

Afterwards, we're going to be screening The Global Banquet: Politics of Food in our garden. The documentary "explores the politics that threaten global food security, and demonstrates

the destructive aspects of the corporate globalization of food".

Also, we'll have some home-made vegan pizza for you to snack on, made with some of our garden-fresh veg! (Potluck items would also be greatly appreciated!)

Everyone is welcome! Feel free to drop by whenever - for one or both activities!

When: Sunday, August 19th
Sign-Making @ 7:30pm
Film Screening @ 9pm
(film is approx. 50mins.)
Where: Garden behind 3534 University St.
Cost: FREE! Potluck items appreciated!

Hope to see you there!
Campus Crops 

Facebook event

Knotweed knotweed knotweed knotweed knotweed

Yes, we have a knotweed problem in the garden.

Yes, we were getting been a bit obsessed and freaked-out by it.

Yes, we spent time talking to all the happy McGill peoples about getting rid of it.

Fighting knotweed the WWI way

And yes, they recently gave us the go ahead to take care of it.

Finally, now we can get down to business. But how do deal with this knotweed.

Some people inject organophosphate herbicides to stop their knotweed, but this practice is polluting, short-sighted, and goes against our permaculture philosophies. There are also no guarantees that this dumb way of controlling knotweed will even be successful.

We looked for sustainable way of controlling the plant, searching on ze internets for guidance as well as consulting our own invasive species specialists at the McGill School of Environment for advice. The consensus among these numerous sources (be they governmental, university, non-profit, our School of Environment, and everyone else in between) of how to "control" and get rid of knotweed is in summary:

1. Pull: Pull as much of the stems out as we can over the season, which we painfully did.
2. Trench: Dig a trench deep trench beyond the perimeter of the knotweed patch to be sure the roots and rhizomes do not spread.
3. Cover: Cover the entire patch with some thick material with high tensile strength to suffocate the knotweed

With the admin's green light and our own knotweed stopping plan, a pack of us came out yesterday and began digging an earthen trench around the knotweed patch with the rest of us getting a truck and a large tarp. The weather on Sunday was warm and humid, with little or no wind where we were. The soil, although loam-like and not too clay-ish, has tonnes of rock in it (maybe literally).

How does your garden grow?

And the squash has taken over...

Despite the relatively dry summer so far, the plants have done relatively well on the Campus Crops gardens. Perhaps all that organic matter in the compost we laid down early in the season as well as the new straw mulch is helping conserve moisture and keeping the soil cool. Despite that, certain plants are doing much much better compared to others.

For instance, the winter squash is spreading over the garden and throwing it tendrils over everything. The cucumbers, which were infested by some bugs, is now doing very well and putting out glossy green fruit that appears to be ready for harvest. The tomatoes are also quite fine, filling up their growing spaces with copious leaves and the first ripe fruits. Then there are the chard... which has still not recovered from the early season attack by leaf miners. The word "mangy" comes to mind.

In other words: Squash > Cucumbers > Tomatoes >> Chard.

Well, there's still several months of growing season so we'll see how everything pans out.

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...