In June the CKE Community Garden hosted a tour of the Urban Farm School for 17 garden and community members. This large residential lot in Palliser has been lovingly tended for over 30 years and now illustrates a multitude of strategies for sustainable gardening – for food production, pollinator support, medicine, aesthetics, and family living. Those that attended were suitably impressed and had many questions about their water capture system, approach to composting, plant choices, and general gardening practices. One key strategy is to keep the ground covered to reduce weeds and conserve soil moisture. The Urban Farm makes use of plants that cover the ground, mulch and relies heavily on debris from plants that either naturally falls to the ground or is placed after cutting back or pruning. The catastrophic water main break experienced at the beginning of June is a stark reminder of how fragile our water supply system is, and how important it is to harvest rainwater, and protect soil moisture.
Each plant in the garden has multiple functions and serves more than one purpose. Spaces within the garden are highly productive but also provide the functions necessary for enjoyment of the garden. Ornamental plants, quiet seating spots, shade, shelter, a large outdoor covered lounge area, and a family-sized table all encourage the ability to spend as much time as possible out of doors.
The sense of community in this place is strong and reminds us that gardening is about more than the end result. It allows us to connect with like-minded people, share in our successes, and learn from each other. These principles are what we try to foster in the CKE Community Garden, and we invite you to visit us in our garden and join us for any of the events that we strive to offer.
Happy Gardening!
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