ReThink Red Deer
It's Planted!
Hi All,
Well, we did it! The food forest is planted at the ReThink Urban Homestead and pics are up on The Centre for Urban Agriculture facebook page (Photos > "Bring Me A Shrubbery!!" album).
There was tons of site prep including spruce tree removal and root cutting, wood chopping, cinder block stacking, wood chip raking, and all the soil amending, and watering for just the right planting conditions. A truly Herculean effort was put in by ReThink Red Deer volunteers including:
Kathy Parsons (and sister Carrol)
Charity Briere
Kristin Mauro
Jonathan Mauro
Kim May
Ron Besuijen
Diane Hermary
Michelle Roth and,
Andrew Paul
And a big thanks to all and also to Darin of Vertical Limits Tree Care who provided the many loads of wood chips to form the "forest floor".
SO, as the plants and trees take root outdoors, we're also growing microgreens and wheatgrass indoors to sell at the Public (Farmers) Market with our new aeroponic growing system! This cutting edge technology project will be finished this Sunday when designer David Descheneau joins us from Edmonton for a workshop to get it up and running. We only have room for 8 people so check out the workshop info and registration details here:
http://rethinkreddeer.ca/events/2012/05/20/aeroponics-4-season-growing-workshop/
Coming up this Saturday is the season opener for the Red Deer Public (Farmers) Market. We'll be there all through the season selling worm casting ($15/bag) rock dust ($5/bag), and microgreens (when they're ready!).
Our next event is the Commuter Challenge running alongside Environment Week (June 3 - 9). So, get on your bikes and ride on down to the Public Market and have a great May-long weekend!
See you soon!
Cheers,
Rene Michalak
Coordinator
ReThink Red Deer
403-986-7981
Newsletter Sent on: Wednesday, May 16th 2012
Food Forest Permablitz - Part 2
Hi All,
OK, the trees for the food forest project came in this afternoon at the Greyhound station!
Upon getting them back to the ReThink office and unpacking them, I found everything in order except for one pear tree missing!
We'll get rolling at 5:00pm tomorrow (Monday) - see the list below - starting in the front yard with the pear tree, cherry plums and cherry. Then the blueberries and blackberries.
After that, the backyard will be the dwarf apple trees, and the third cherry and plums. If time permits, we'll plant the new and transplant the existing saskatoons. As you can see, we'll need all hands on deck so please make it out if you can!
Also, please note we'll be hosting a workshop on aeroponics this Sunday to finish ReThink's new 4-season growing system:
Aeroponics "4-Season Growing" workshop
Trainer: David Descheneau of The Farm Next Door (Edmonton)
Sunday, May 20 - 10:00am - 4:00pm
Register by calling 403-986-7981
($25/person - max. 8 people)
Location: ReThink Homestead
- for background on aeroponics visit - http://home.howstuffworks.com/lawn-garden/professional-landscaping/alternative-methods/aeroponics1.htm)
Thanks, hope to see you soon!
Cheers,
Rene Michalak
Coordinator
ReThink Red Deer
403-986-7981
www.rethinkreddeer.ca
Check us out on facebook:
- ReThink Red Deer
- The Centre for Urban Agriculture in Alberta
- The Root Cellar: ecoStore & Apothecary
On 12-05-12 07:54 PM, Rene Michalak wrote:
Hi All,
Well, the first part of the food forest planting was completed on Friday evening - thanks to the help of Diane Hermary, Kathy Parsons and sister Carol, Ron Besuijen, Charity Briere, and Kim May.
Charity took some great pics you can see on the Centre for Urban Agriculture facebook group. And I've been getting a lot of positive interest from the neighbours... including requests to remove some of their trees!
Together we spread a big pile of wood chips in the front yard courtesy of Vertical Limits Tree Care and planted:
- haskaps (honeyberries) - borealis, berry smart belle, and berry smart blue
- black currants - ben conan and ben sarek
- gooseberries - hinomaki red
The fruit trees and blueberries from Mr V's were shipped on Friday but they haven't arrived yet. I expect they'll be here on Monday when we'll do the second part of the permablitz and get them all in the ground:
- Pear trees (2)
- Plum (3)
- Cherry Plum (2)
- Cherry (3)
- Dwarf Apple (2) - espalier-style
- Blueberries (9)
- Blackberries (2)
- Loganberries (2)
- Grape (1)
So, our schedule for the coming week is:
Monday evening - 5:00pm - 9:00pm - food forest permablitz
Tuesday evening - 5:00pm - 9:00pm - McKay homestead - planting beets, carrots, potatoes and building row covers for brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts)
Thursday evening - 5:00pm - 8:00pm - Bag worm castings and rock dust for Saturday Market, put hoophouse cover on and move greens outside with tables, water food forest
Saturday morning - Red Deer Public Market (6:00am - 1:30pm)
Sunday - Aeroponics "4-Season Growing" workshop at the ReThink Homestead with David Descheneau of The Farm Next Door (Edmonton) - 10:00am - 4:00pm ($25/person - max. 8 people)
(for background on aeroponics visit - http://home.howstuffworks.com/lawn-garden/professional-landscaping/alternative-methods/aeroponics1.htm)
And the following week we'll plant the SPIN-Farming salad greens, install the gutter gardens and rainwater irrigation systems.
We're really rockin' now so call me if you have any questions and enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Cheers,
Rene Michalak
Coordinator
ReThink Red Deer
403-986-7981
www.rethinkreddeer.ca
Check us out on facebook:
- ReThink Red Deer
- The Centre for Urban Agriculture in Alberta
- The Root Cellar: ecoStore & Apothecary
Newsletter Sent on: Sunday, May 13th 2012
