Evening Work Bee- Sunday, July 12 6:30-9pm

Please join us for a work bee this Sunday July 12 from 6:30-9pm. We'll tidy up the gardens & then rest with a handful of berries and a bedtime story at 8! We hope to see you there…

This week at the garden...

The goumi berries are positively dripping off the tree just begging to be eaten, the blackberries are coming around and a there are a few currants are ripe to pick. Look further afield and you'll find saskatoon berries. The cultivated bush isn't really producing much this year (looks like a pest beat us to it) but the wild ones at Porter Park are delicious. 

Goumi Love

A delicious afternoon snack in the food forest. These Goumi berries just keep getting sweeter! 

Fresh Berries

This week on my daily walk home from preschool, my daughter proclaimed that she had tasted a Goumi berry, and if I'd like she could show me how to tell a "perfect yummy berry" from a "not ready berry". To my delight, she led me to a bush and proceeded to point out the various characteristics that cue us to a berries optimal ripeness- colour, size, sheen, etc. I was delighted at the pleasure and pride she took in educating me, and excited to try one myself.  They are delicious!

When picking Goumi berries, look for translucent red fruit. Patience is key here as the berry plumps up just before harvest for a juicy, slightly tart berry likened to a pie cherry or black current. 

Also ripe in the garden is the Haskap berry (also known as 'Blue Honeysuckle', or 'Honeyberry'). I have yet to try this berry, but according to Haskap Canada, this fruit boasts a "sweet tangy zing flavour that most people say is a cross between blueberry, raspberry and black current". This fruit is high in Vitamin C, Vitamin A, fibre and potassium.  When picking this berry, look for a dark blue hue. 

It's so wonderful to have these plant producing. Next time you're enjoying Porter Park, look for ripe Goumi and Haskap berries and have a taste! 

Thank you

What happens when you mix hard working volunteers with a few yards of mulch, cardboard, happy plants, pizza & sun? A super productive and fun weekend in the garden. Thank you to all of our volunteers who helped out. The garden is looking very well cared for, and the additional plants have filled out the space beautifully. Stay tuned for the next work party!

Work Party- this weekend!

May 23rd & 24th from 11-4 at the FGCA Community Garden (on Thurlow)

Please join us this weekend as we plant another 16 or so fruit trees and bushes. Snacks and refreshments will be provided, as well as tools and gloves. We encourage you to pop by any time to lend a hand or say "hello".  Tasks will be available for all ages and stages of help- experience is not necessary!

This is an exciting time to be in the garden- we hope to see you there.

Luscious Gardens

The community food forest is looking pretty lovely and lush these days. Stay tuned for an upcoming work-bee.