Midday solar stir fry, seedlings, experimental worm bin in the greenhouse – like being in Nevada (Photos via Sunny Lam)
Sunny gives a quick overview of the greenhouse, the farm field, the visitor and how you can offer some warm spirited assistance to the movement at this stage of the game.
THE HOT HOUSE
Ladies and gents,
It’s been one hell of a ride so far. I’ve biked over 580 km in the last 10-11 days to the greenhouse from Beaches-East York just to take care of things while our site manager is taking a rest. The greenhouse is seeing a lot of temperature fluctuation even with the three powerful fans that we have running. The temperature yesterday was as high as 43-45 C in there.
It looks like I’ll have to go over soon to check on the condition of things. Shelli Wild and Rebekka have said they’ll cover Sunday’s shifts – still I must say I enjoy the intense heat of the place. The squash seedlings are taking a beating and some of our cold loving plants run the risk of bolting. I had to add extra water heat sinks around the squash as a precaution.
The herbs, peppers and flowers however are doing splendidly. So are those tomatoes for the pesto. ChocoSol will definitely enjoy the fire of the peppers and herbs (particularly sage and thyme) for their raw cacao (chocolate) drink mixes. If you’ve ever had their drinks it is absolutely soul warming stuff. A lot restaurants including Camros Organic Eatery (Yonge and Bloor, Saeed is the man!), The Beet Organic Cafe (Dundas St W and Keele), the Hot Yam and Quince have also expressed interest in using our vegetables in their kitchens.
If you need an excuse to get a suntan with little effort you can join me for a few hours – you’ll get one in 4 (I’ve spent 4 hours x 10). Bring sunscreen.
THE FIELD O’RILEY
We’re working as fast as we can to ready the outdoor space and get John Slack’s compost onto the outdoor field space (unavoidable delays alas). This year we’re learning about, experimenting and connecting with the rich soil at our Downsview site (you’ll know more when you come visit). Apparently it’s the second highest point in all of Toronto.
The first year is always tough and this year is the test year so we thank you for your patience and understanding. It is tougher than we ever imagined (logistical and other challenges) however we’re taking it head on and setting it up so you can have the experience of growing in the city, friends. This is definitely the behind the scenes nitty gritty. Many of you have been dying to get out here and grow (we know, we know, please don’t sock me).
THE PLANTING DAY HATH COME WE PRAY
We’re anticipating that the weekend of June 20-21 (+ 22) will be the big field work day. Full confirmation to follow soon. The possible activities include:
plant seedlings from the greenhouse.
directly seed fruits and vegetables.
directly seed the cover crops.
setup the planting beds with the roto-tiller.
maybe setup the shed on the SE end of the acre.
set up trellis’ for the beans and tomatoes.
have someone take a lot of pictures of the event!
cooking up food for the potluck lunch (that’s everyone)
have musicians do some playing (invite your maestro friends! I’ll bring my flute and mandolin)
stake out the locations of the beds
video tape a few tid bits (well probably us, bring a recorder for your own home video!)
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO IN THE MEAN TIME?
In addition if you just want to hang out and kill time, you can find one of us (usually me for the next little while) at the greenhouse Monday through to Friday.
Here are some tasks you can enjoy:
sifting barley husks for sprout trays, compost tea
sifting rich, black compost first nurtured in the basement of David Wild
prepare compost tea for a pseudo experiment tree
watering the plants that are drying out from the heat
Yesterday, volunteer and Toronto Cyclist Union Ward Captain Louis Fliss said he “found it most peaceful” at our site. He also graciously sifted a several cups of barley husks under the midday sun. We had quite a conversation about biking to Parc Downsview Park and fervently agreed that a path through the airport would really help to spur some traffic onto the site. I also learned about the e-bike vs. bike debate (which shouldn’t be one) from Louis.
Louis Fliss, Ward Captain 26 of the Toronto Cyclist Union and drop in FoodCycles volunteer stands proudly behind the e-bike that he used to get to the greenhouse from Flemingdon (the e-bike was primarily for his wife Diane). Louis also has experience working in a greenhouse – what a coincidence?
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AT THIS STAGE O’ THE GAME
Any level of generous assistance, advice, suggestions or donations relating to the following would be greatly appreciated. This is as much your movement as it is ours, friends. Let us know how we can help you in return!
- construction, carpentry or design masters to speed up the building of worm bins, multi-level shelves, pulleys and the works. Our current designer Jane Hutton is super busy and would welcome any or all assistance with making things strong as oak.
- heating/cooling (extra barrels for water heat sinks)
- watering (irrigation, drip hoses, hoses, drip tape, the works)
- milk crates/recycling bins to jury rig temporary growing tables, seating until the internal greenhouse infrastructure can be designed
- finding, getting or driving up wooden pallets to serve as seedling and sprout tables in the mean time
- hemlock or cedar wood (2×4, 2×6, etc.) donations or sources to guarantee there’ll be enough wood for the multi-level growing tables, worm bins and aquaponic systems. If you know of any reclaimable wood with no chemical treatment that would be fantastic!
- 4-6 person tent and fly to create a mobile office space and volunteer headquarters (unless you like working in the heat of the greenhouse)
- 50 ft long extension cords, 4-6 outlet power strips, spray bottles for compost tea
- baking good will cakes and cookies for our community outreach to local community centres in the area (Northwood, Grandravine, Ancaster, Roding and Oakdale Community Centres)
- a real good wheel hoe (alas, Ken Lang is out at this point)
- additional monetary support of any amount for operations
If anyone knows how to calculate the amount of water needed to create a more effective heat sink, I’d love to hear from you.
SUNDOWN, KIDS
It seems that we live in interesting times. Right now many are walking through a trial of fire – economic, environmental and social. It’s a test, I tell ya. Yet I think only of the future – one full of emeralds in an ever warming world – able to take the heat.
Let us renew the land upon which we stand even as the rest of the world knows the touch of fire. If all of us get past this point, we’ll be like a grove of flowering cacti in the desert – tough skin on the outside with sweet water on the inside.
For more information on FoodCycles feel free to check out the FoodCycles Facebook page, FoodCycles on Twitter or friend me on Facebook (just give me an idea of who you are) or Twitter.
For more information on biking, Flemingdon and the Toronto Cyclist Union give Louis Fliss a shout on Facebook.
Wind and fire,
Sunny Lam
Communications, Outreach and Social Development, MES
FoodCycles
t: 416 845 0818
http://foodcycles.org
Twitter: @foodcycles
Email: foodcycles@gmail.com
Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/1Gjgd
”Growing vibrant soil, food and community.”
Join the MAILING LIST
Join the FACEBOOK group
Read the TWITTER timeline
Volunteer with FoodCycles and spearhead urban agriculture in Toronto
See our FoodCycles EVENTS calendar
Check out our PHOTO GALLERY
Join the FoodCycles Google Group
{ 1 trackback }
{ 0 comments… add one now }