Newsbites Archive

Gardening and COVID-19

For All Gardeners in Ottawa

We hope you are all keeping well during this difficult time.

This newsletter is to reach out to all gardeners in Ottawa, including those in Community Gardens, to provide you with some updates, and seek your input in the face of COVID-19 pandemic.

We gardeners are creative, strong and resourceful! Did you know that there are minimum 6,000 – 7,000 community garden members in Ottawa within 100 community gardens?  Let alone the thousands of people gardening at home.

Together, we can do a lot!

If you are a Community Garden Coordinator: Please forward this email to all of your gardeners, and encourage them to sign up for community garden newsletters by clicking here.  Fill out this contact form to be sure you are on our coordinator-only emails.

CONTENTS

1. Gardening at an unusual Covid-19 time
2. SeedLing Saturday scheduled for May 23, 2020
3. Gardening workshops
4. Ordering regionally adapted seeds for your gardening needs
5. Watch Cornwall’s Seedy Saturday Online

1. Gardening at an unusual Covid-19 time.

Just Food believes firmly that all gardening, including in community gardens, in yardshare situations and in households, are essential services.  

We have asked Ottawa Public Health for their advice for gardeners working outdoors, including in a Community Garden or Yardshare setting.  We are working with other networks, compiling practices under discussions in other regions in North America, and will share with you as soon as we have it together. So hang tight!

Just Food will be hosting all meetings and training workshops through Zoom until further notice. 

What are your ideas?

With food security becoming ever more looming, and many uncertainties ahead, we are gathering tips and ideas on how communities, households and businesses are responding to food access. 

Physical distancing (not social distancing!), type of food to grow this year, online community garden AGM, volunteer days, staggered gardening schedules…

What are some of the strategies you are considering for this year’s gardening season?

What measures are you taking and are seeing as effective in this community or reading about in other communities related to gardening?

Your experience, ideas and expertise can help us plan for regulations allowed for gardens this year.

Please click here to share your information or ideas

For Community Garden Coordinators:

If your Community Garden group needs an online meeting, including an AGM, we can set that up on our Zoom platform for you…

Please click here to indicate you would like a meeting set up for your garden.

2. SeedLing Saturday Scheduled for May 23, 2020

We have previously posted about East Ottawa Seedy Saturday on April 18, 2020. 

While seeds are an essential service, this event is CANCELLED, based on the ability of people to purchase seeds online.   (Please see #4 below for a list of seed companies).

However, seedLings need to be picked up, so Just Food is hosting a

SeedLing Saturday!

WHEN: Saturday, May 23, 2020.
WHERE: Just Food Farm (2391 Pépin Court – Bus #25 and free parking)
COST: Free admission (with strict requirement to adhere to physical distancing standards)
RSVP: Keep your eyes on the next newsletter for details on time of the event, and how to sign up.

If you are a seedling vendor and would like to participate, please click here and we will send you additional information beginning of April. 

3. Gardening workshops

Online Workshops

Learn food gardening basics from instructors who are experienced.

First, we are providing BASIC gardening online recorded sessions for FREE, so everyone who is interested in food gardening can get started.

The topics include:

1. How to plan and grow a small garden on your balcony or pots/container. 
2. How to plan and grow a garden in your backyard, front yard or community garden plot.
3. Indoor Seed Starting.
4. Making compost and building soil outside.
5. Vermicompost – making compost inside and year-round.
6. Container food gardening. 
7. Natural Pest control.
8. Water-saving gardening design.

These sessions will be available online on the Just Food website.

We will send out the dates to you shortly, in our next email.

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For gardeners looking for broader topics and more intermediate skills and to get tips in an interactive way, we are going to host a series of interactive online workshops, from seed starting to harvest to food preservation to fermentation to herbalism. 

These workshops will be hosted by Just Food with community partners, and will be provided at cost ($5/person), or a free option if you don’t have the money.

COMING UP NEXT WEEK

Indoor Seed Starting Workshop for your Organic Vegetable Garden

Choose one of the two identical sessions

– Monday, March 30 at 1 PM – 2:30 PM (Event link), and
– Tuesday, March 31 at 1 PM – 2:30 PM (Event link) 

Please note that there is a link in the registration pages listed above, where there is an option to participate for free, if you do not have money.

The next newsletter coming out very shortly will have more topics and dates.

We need your input

*If you have the knowledge to be a trainer on any relevant topics, or
*If you have topics you want to see covered in an online workshop at any point during the growing season, 

please click here to let us know.

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We URGENTLY need facilitators with experience growing in the Ottawa region to teach BASIC GARDENING in French and Arabic. if you have this expertise, please get ahold of Sun Shan at communitygardening@justfood.ca

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4. Ordering regionally adapted seeds for your gardening needs

It is important to order seeds immediately if you haven’t already.

(If you or other gardeners don’t have the ability to purchase online with a credit card, or are low-income and don’t have money for seeds, please click here, and we can assist you in finding another way.)

We encourage you to use UNTREATED seeds. For community gardens, using untreated seeds is a requirement.

To ensure garden success, find seeds that are adapted to this region, either through a fellow gardener, or one of the vendors from the Organic Seed Directory put together by Canadian Organic Growers. The link to access this Directory is https://www.cog.ca/home/find-organics/organic-seed-directory/. Organic seeds are chemical-free and untreated, and they were grown under Certified Organic conditions.

In addition, check out

Bird and Bee Seeds

https://www.birdandbee.ca/
Email: info@birdandbee.ca
Phone: 613-601-9177
Address: 2391 Pépin Court, Ottawa, ON, K1B 4Z3

Richters Herbs

https://www.richters.com/
To email them, click here.
Phone: +1.905.640.6677  Fax. +1.905.640.6641
Address: 357 Highway 47, Goodwood, ON L0C 1A0 Canada

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There are other seed companies that you might be buying from that have regionally adapted seed.  If they are not listed above, please let us know so that we add them. Thanks! Email CGN Coordinator at communitygardening@justfood.ca.

Have we said to order seeds immediately if you haven’t already? 🙂

5. Watch Cornwall’s Seedy Saturday Online

This past Saturday, Cornwall hosted an online Seedy Saturday. Watch the recorded Seedy Saturday video here on Transition Cornwall facebook page (you don’t need a facebook account to watch): https://www.facebook.com/TransitionCornwall/videos/636814140475290/.

Topics covered are:

Indoor Seed Starting Workshop | Register Now!

In partnership with Capital Greens, we’re hosting this workshop where you’ll learn how to get nearly 100% germination, and how to create the ideal conditions for your seedlings to grow into strong, healthy, high-yielding vegetable crops!

WHEN: Two identical workshops: March 30 and 31 from 1-2:30pm
WHERE: Online
COST: $10 per person
(If payment is an issue, participants can attend for free at the registration pages below) 
RSVP: For March 30th, please register at http://justfood.nationbuilder.com/indoor_seed_starting_workshop_20200331

For March 31st, please register at http://justfood.nationbuilder.com/indoor_seed_starting_workshop

These workshops will be hosted by Just Food with community partners, and will be provided at cost ($10/person).

*Note that there will be a chat feature which you will be able to use to ask questions during the workshop!

The webinar will begin with a ~30-minute “classroom session” (to get you up to speed on some of the theory) followed by ~1hr demonstration in you’ll be shown how to prepare your growing medium, fill your pots, plant your seeds, and then care for your seedlings.

A hands-on tutorial with face-to-face interaction would be better in terms of education, but we feel an obligation to do our part to protect the vulnerable people in our community, and to slow the spread of this virus.

Transforming and Sustaining Local Food: Ottawa’s 2020 Local Food Networking Event

WHEN: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO COVID_19 CONCERNS AND CAMPUS CLOSURES
WHERE: Restaurant International, Algonquin College School of Hospitality
COST: $0 (Lunch included) *Parking is $4/hour
RSVP:

Join us for the Ottawa Local Food Networking Event for farmers, chefs, food retailers and processors on Monday, April 6, 2020 from 11:00am – 2:00pm (previous date March 10). 

Presented by the Algonquin College School of Hospitality and Tourism in partnership with the Egg Farmers of Ontario, Just Food, City of Ottawa and Ottawa Tourism.

RSVP required: priority will be given to local farmers, chefs, retailers, and processors.

Free lunch, courtesy of our sponsors!

Highlights

• Presentation from the Mayor on the new Rural Strategy and Action Plan
• Highlights from local food regional innovators on sustainability including a keynote by David Beking of Beking’s Poultry Farm

February 2020 Newsletter

News and Events in the Ottawa Region  

Just Food News and Events 

1. Fermentation Training – LAST CHANCE to Register for First Session  

2. Feb 28 | Agri-Art Tour 2020 Information Sessions

3. Mar 7 | Ottawa West Seedy Saturday

4. Apr 18 | Ottawa East Seedy Saturday at the Just Food Farm

5. Learn to Keep Bees with Success | Registration Open for 2020!

Other News and Events 

6. Mar 14, Apr 4, 18 and May 2 | 2020 Urban Organic Gardening Seminars

7. Permaculture Meetup Group in Ottawa

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If you received this monthly newsletter from someone else and would like to receive it directly, sign up here. If you have a food or farm-related event or issue that you would like posted on this newsletter, send a request to info@justfood.ca.         

Although all volunteers and community partners of Just Food want to ensure Ottawa has a vibrant, accessible, sustainable food system, we have many diverse perspectives on how to get there. Just Food welcomes this diversity and believes that it is through working collaboratively with different opinions that we will arrive at a healthy food system for all. Any information that Just Food sends can include information from different community members and community partners and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Just Food.  If you ever have a question about any information listed here, please do not hesitate to e-mail info@justfood.ca or call 613-824-7771.

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1. Fermentation Training Sessions    

Last chance to register for the first session starting March 4 (postponed from Feb 26 due to weather). Registration for Second Session is still open.

WHO: People who sell food or are planning to sell food
WHEN: First session is three Wednesday evenings:
March 4, March 11 (and the third date TBD together with participants on March 4) – 6pm to 9pm  
Second identical session is two weekends:
April 25 and May 2 – 10am to 3:30pm
WHERE: Just Food Farm (2391 Pépin Court – Bus #25 and free parking) 
COST: $110            
RSVP: Click here to register

Topics include:

• Non-alcohol fermentation and its potential for incorporating into your existing food/farm business
  
• Lacto-fermentation such as making kimchi and tabasco style hot sauce
  
• Fermenting beans and peas for making miso and tempeh
  
• Grain fermentation varieties, including no-sweetener-added desserts such as sweet rice ferment or jiuniang, and using grains in vegetable lacto-fermentation
  
• Daily ferment such as kefir
  
• And many more…

Please contact chigarden2015@gmail.com if you have any questions about the event.

2. Feb 28 | Agri-Art Tour 2020 Information Sessions

WHEN: Friday, February 28, 7-8:30 pm
WHERE: Just Food Farm Red Barn, 2391 Pépin Court, Ottawa

Join the Eastern Ontario Agri-Food Network and Just Food for an information session that will interest farmers, processors, food producers, artisans and artists across Eastern Ontario. The Agri-Art Tour 2020 will take place from September 3-5 across eastern Ontario, if you are interested in hosting or being a vendor at a host location, come to the info session above.

For more info contact phil@justfood.ca and see the poster here.

3. Mar 7 | Ottawa West Seedy Saturday 

Come and stop by the Ottawa Seedy Saturday on March 7! 

WHEN: Saturday March 7 from 10am to 3pm
WHERE: Ron Kolbus Lakeside Centre, Britannia Beach, 102 Greenview Ave
RSVP: For more info, please click here

There will be plenty of fun to be had with a day of garden talks and seed sales, and seed exchanges. 

4. Apr 18 | Ottawa East Seedy Saturday at the Just Food Farm

New in 2020—a second Seedy Saturday event is happening in East Ottawa, brought to you by Just Food in partnership with Greta’s Organic Gardens!!

WHEN: Saturday, April 18
WHERE: Just Food Farm (2391 Pépin Court – Bus #25 and free parking)
COST: Free admission – free workshops
RSVP: Keep your eyes on this newsletter for details

As a complement to the long-running, always bustling Ottawa Seedy Saturday in Britannia in early March (see above), this East end event will give you another chance to find, buy or swap seeds as well as many seedlings.  

If you are a seed vendor and would like to participate, contact info@justfood.ca

5. Learn to Keep Bees with Success | Registration Open for 2020!

Capital Bees is now accepting registration for their Hands-On Natural Beekeeping Program.

The course runs from April through October and is held in the apiary at the Just Food Farm in Blackburn Hamlet. Capital Bees provides the support you need to keep your bees alive and thriving.

To register or for more info, please click here.

6. Mar 14, Apr 4, 18 and May 2 | 2020 Urban Organic Gardening Seminars

The Urban Organic Gardening Seminars are back for 2020!

WHERE: Hintonburg Community Centre, 1064 Wellington St
WHEN: Saturday mornings 9:30am-12:30 pm
March 14th, April 4th, April 18th, May 2nd
COST: One session $20, all four sessions $70
(Discounts are available for students and those facing financial barriers)
RSVP: To register or for more info, please click here

Whether you are new to gardening or a seasoned horticulturist, there’s always something to learn from Canadian Organic Growers’ gardening seminars. Each session has two seminars touching on a different gardening skill such as seed starting, planning, composting and seed saving. 

7. Permaculture Meetup Group in Ottawa 

Learn about permaculture with the new Meetup / Facebook group for the Ottawa-Gatineau area!

This is a discussion and skill-sharing group for all things permaculture including mushroom hunts, local permaculture tours, looking at permaculture applications in our daily lives, experiencing local food, geo/solar greenhouses, etc.

Check out their Meetup group here and their Facebook page here.