Neighbourhood Conversations

Neighbourhood Conversations: Breaking New Ground for Gardening in our Community

Tuesday March 2nd 2010, 7-9pm – Peterborough Public Library

The Peterborough Community Garden Network invites you to join us for an evening of inspiration and idea germination. Throughout the evening, you can enjoy free coffee, tea, and snacks, learn about innovative community garden projects flourishing in other regions and help plant the seeds to cultivate ground-breaking gardens here in Peterborough. To RSVP, please contact jill.pcgn@greenup.on.ca

seedy saturday toronto

setting up the urbantomato booth at the beautiful whychwood barns.

clearly, i have already had a lot of coffee . . .

setting out my buttons . . . take a deep breathe &

prepare to spread my seed to the Torontonians

this is by far the most beautiful venue i ever get to be in for seed exchanges

lots of natural light

Thanks so much to everyone who came out & bought seeds, traded with me, told me about their gardens & laughed at my buttons . . . . it was a great day

by the time the sun set started to cast this luscious light,

it was getting close to closing time

my last sale was a lady who wanted a 'ho' button to give to her mother in law . . . i love seedy saturdays.


i will post photos of all the great seeds i got to exchange soon . . .

and of course many more seedy saturdays to go

Toronto Seedy Saturday

Well this is it, this week-end officially kicks off the Seed Exchange Season.

The Toronto event is always just as busy as it is fun . .. . it is at the beautiful

Artscape Wychwood Barns & I am excited . . . photos & updates to come

pack it up. pack it in. let me begin

yes, that is a house of pain reference . . .

i start with envelopes already labelled for varieties

then i count out 25 seeds (or more) for each envelope

fill the envelopes
and seal with label . . . .

so get up off your seat & jump around. jump around . .

now it's time to spread my seed

now that all the seeds are packaged up in their little envelope homes . . .

it's time to spread my seed

More new seed Packets & re-makes of old ones

So I have spent the last several weeks lost in seed packaging land . . . .

these are some of the new packs that I will have at upcoming seed exchanges (see right bar - Where to find urbantomato)



Packing seeds in Feb. makes me believe in . . . . wait for it . . . . spring . . . .

More new seed Packets

'Tis the season to put a lot of little seeds in envelopes.


Some new varieties that I have this year needed designs for their packets . . . so here they are

Peterborough Community Garden Network

Peterborough Community Garden Network
"Growing vibrant & resilient communities one garden at a time"

So, I have the greatest job ever!

Working with the Peterborough Community Garden Network, we are working to support existing community gardens & increase the number of community gardens in the City & County. We also promote gardening through educational workshops and events and work in conjunction with the City to enact strong community garden policies.

To do this we need as many community members partners & organizations involved as possible. If you are interested in getting involved, looking for a plot in a community garden, know of a great place to get a garden started, or have any suggestions or questions - contact us!
Check out the PCGN blog!http://ptbocommgardennetwork.blogspot.com or email us at pcgn@greenup.on.ca or give us a call at 705-745-3238 ex. 204

New Seed Packets

In January, I find myself within a flurry of seed madness . . . . . Here are some new packages that I have been working on

Seedy Saturday!!

Packaging Seeds

I can't believe it, but it is that time of year again . . .
I have barely put away all of my seeds for the season . . .
& now I am up at my studio packaging them for our upcoming craft show

Where to find urbantomato

Wondering what to buy your loved ones for the holidays?
How about organic heirloom vegetable seeds?
or many other wonderfully made crafts and arts?

Dagmar Baur- Learn more about a fabulous lady

Dagmar Baur is a personal mentor of mine. She has worked tirelessly for years to support gardens, naturalization projects and community arts. She is a champion of making gardening more accessible to people who live on low incomes and come from diverse cultures. Dagmar has enriched both her own neighbourhood (engaging Bain Co-op members in greening projects) and across the city. York Community Services, Black Creek Farm and the Toronto Community Garden Network have all been strengthened by her wisdom, experience and passion.

A Party In Honour of Dagmar
As many of you are aware, Dagmar is in a tough battle with cancer. Her spirits are high but like everyone at one point or another, she needs our help.

We've all benefited from Dagmar’s commitment, knowledge and giving nature.

Now it's time to give something back! Some extra money would go a long way to improving her quality of life.

Join us!

Date:
Sunday, November 15th, 2009, 4pm - 8pm
Location:
Green Barn
Address:
601 Christie Street, Toronto (map)

Macleans Magazine- photo of urbantomato booth

There was an article in the Oct. 26th Maclean's Magazine that featured a photo of my booth from Toronto's Seedy Saturday.
Click on link above to read :
"Farmers’ markets for seed savers
The latest chapter in the local-foods craze is a grassroots protest against seed ownership" by Pamela Cuthbert

Extending the Season & Growing the Harvest

Panel Discussion: How can we increase the availability of local food while supporting farmers and business in the region??

Special thanks to Martin Oates, Lisa Dixon & Lee Galley for the lively debate and discussion & information

Extending the Season & Growing the Harvest

Here are some photos from the Wildcrafting & Herbal Medicine Workshop presented by Anna Petry of Deep Roots Farms