Past events

2005 season:

SEEDY SATURDAY OTTAWA 2005

What: Seedy Saturday Ottawa 2005
When: Saturday, March 5, 2005 from 10am - 3pm
Where: Algonquin College, 1385 Woodroffe Ave, Room T-102 (bus #95)

Admission is free.

Seedy Saturday is primarily a seed sale and exchange, however all businesses and associations of an organic, horticultural or ecological nature have a place. We will give out tickets for door prizes again this year.

For info: email greta@seeds-organic.com.

2004 season:

Celebration to mark the passage of Ottawa Community Garden Program Action Plan!

Please join us in a CELEBRATION to be held Wednesday, November 3, 2004 from 5:30-7:30 pm at Sandy Hill Community Health Centre (221 Nelson St). Let's mark the incrediblly committed and sustained efforts by community members who planted this seed approximately three years ago and nurtured it as it steadily grew into the Community Garden Program Action Plan. Quite a feat, indeed! Call 244-2804 for details!

October 7th 2004, at City Hall: City Set to Receive Community Garden Action Plan Recommendations at HRSS Committee

Would you like to see more community gardens in Ottawa, a community garden in your neighborhood? Would you like to see a City community garden policy that facilitates the development of sustainable community gardens in Ottawa? If you are an avid community gardener or supporter of community gardens, we ask that you take a few short minutes to:

a. review the following information
b. call your Councillor to ask that he/she also support community gardening in Ottawa.
c. come out (bring 2 friends and make it a party!) to the HRSS meeting on June 3 at 9:30 at City Hall to visibly show your support.

June 3, 2004, 9:30 AM People Services Department will present recommendations requested by Ottawa City Council's Health Recreation and Social Services Committee for a coordinated municipal action plan in support of community efforts to create sustainable community gardens.

These recommendations are the result of the sustained three-year effort of community gardeners and their supporters to increase awareness about the benefits of and barriers to community gardening among municipal officials. The recommendations were developed by a joint steering committee consisting of representatives from community garden organizations and a multi-departmental staff working group formed for this purpose.

The overall objective of the action plan is to assist community gardeners toward self-sustainability. Supporting self-sustainability recognizes the positive community building, public health, food security and environmental outcomes that occur as a result of these low-cost, grass roots initiatives.

A complete version of THE REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE JOINT COMMUNITY-CITY STAFF COMMITTEE to People Services is attached below (please note that the recommendations are currently being reviewed by senior management at People Services and may be changed before being submitted to HRSS). The FINAL REPORT will be available online a week in advance of the June 3 HRSS meeting at: www.ottawa.ca/cgi-bin/docs.pl?&Elist=3559&lang=en.

Any comments on the draft or the final version to be presented to HRSS can be provided by writing in advance, in person at the June 3rd meeting, or to the CGN at the email address listed below.

For more information on the history of this process see:
The CGN's original submission to HRSS in March 20, 2003: www.ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/hrssc/2003/03-20/acs2003-ccs-hrs-0002.htm.

and, the September 18, 2003 response by People Services Department: www.ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/hrssc/2003/09-18/ACS2003-PEO-IDP-0020%20Community%20Gardening%20in%20the%20City%20of%20Ottawa.htm.

To read the draft CG policy, Joint Community-City Staff Committee Recommendations, click here.

American Community Garden Association (ACGA) annual conference in Toronto

Date: October 1-3, 2004
Details and to register: visit www.communitygarden.org or contact Toronto Community Garden Network at tcgn@foodshare.net or 416-392-1668

BUGS AGM

Date: Saturday June 19th, 2004
Time: 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Location: At the BUGS garden, Metcalfe and Catherine (rain location will be in the YMCA)

Community Plant Sale
Are you an avid garderner or want to become one? The Jack Purcell Recreation Association is having it's second annual plant sale to raise funds for our community garden. It's also a great opportunity to find out what workshops and activities will be offered in the garden this summer. Everyone is welcome, so don't be shy and come on out and help us raise funds for a great community garden.

Date: Saturday May 8, 2004
Time: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Location: Jack Purcell Community Centre

Visit www.jpra.ca/community_garden.php for more information on the community garden.

Come on out to Hintonburg for a celebration of Spring
What: Hintonburg Tulip Festival
When: Saturday, May 8 10am-3pm
Where: Parkdale Park (directly behind Parkdale Farmers Market)

80th anniversary of the Parkdale Farmers Market. Ottawa Community Garden Network will have a display and be available to talk about community gardens. Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer horticulture questions.

2003 season:

Introduction to Organic Gardening Course

This popular six part workshop series is about the following:
- Getting the Dirt on Organic Gardening Vegetables and Herbs
- Going Green- Organic Pest Control
- Organic Lawn Care & Alternative Ground Cover
- Tree and Shrub Care
- Eco-friendly Gardening-Using native plants for your garden

Dates: Wednesdays March 24 to April 28, 2004
Time: 7-9 p.m.
Place: Sandy Hill Community Centre, 250 Somerset Street East (2 blocks east of King Edward)
Cost: $75
Register: Sandy Hill Community Centre (613) 564-1062

Seeds of Hope Organic Gardening Course

6 week hands-on course starting March 15 at Bethany Baptist Church (west end) or March 18 at Tucker House Renewal Centre (east end). Course runs from 7-9:15 pm and costs $50 which includes seeds, soil, the "Community Garden Guide" and organic refreshments. Learn how to grow your own healthy vegetables and beautiful flowers in a people and Earth-friendly way. Learn about seed starting, transplanting, composting and permaculture principles.

To register for the Bethany course, call Zdena at 226-5023. For Tucker House course, call Jaime at 830-0310. Deadline March 5. For more information see www.TuckerHouse.ca.

Seedy Saturday -- Seed Sale and Exchange

Organic and heritage seed companies, environmentally friendly and organic products and produce will be there. Free admission.

Date: Saturday, March 6, 2004, 10 to 3 pm
Location: Tom Brown Hall, 135 Bayview, Ottawa
Contact: Greta at 613-521-8648

Advisory Committee Recruitment

We are beginning to recruit people for the CGN-RJC Advisory Committee (AC) with the new term set to start in October. If you'd like to have a say in setting direction for the CGN-RJC & determining how it is run, please get involved.

Increasing the support to new and existing community gardens in Ottawa requires your involvement. If you love to garden, then you will love the opportunity to grow with the CGN-RJC. You will learn new skills, meet new people, have fun and help others to become involved in community gardening.

The election meeting will be held Tuesday, October 21 at 7pm at Sandy Hill Community Health Centre. If you’re interested in joining the Advisory Committee, make sure you attend this meeting! Please come early at 6:30pm for a snack n’ chat.

Requirements:

- Bring enthusiasm and passion for community gardening to the table
- Work with other community members to set direction for CGN
- Attend one meeting/month
- Sit on AC for a 2 year term (that’s only 12 meetings/year folks!)
- Occasionally sit on/act as liaison between AC and sub-committees

Benefits:

- Snack n’ chat before each meeting
- Learn meeting procedures; set agendas; take and transcribe minutes; chair meetings, etc.
- Practice making decisions with other group members
- Network with other community members/gardeners
- Establish priorities and work within them
- Gain a sense of accomplishment through contributing to your community
- Have access to/exchanges of gardening expertise, equipment and supplies
- Improve quality and security of local food supply
- Help ensure a healthier environment
- A sense of accomplishment
- And last, but definitely not least: HAVE FUN!!

Roles:

- Chair/co-chair
- Secretary
- Policy Committee liaison
- Communications & Outreach Committee liaison
- Others as defined by the committee

Contact us at 244-2804 or cgn.rjc@sandyhillchc.on.ca for details on this exciting opportunity.

Let’s gather together and celebrate another great season of community gardening in Ottawa. The CGN-RJC will be holding our Fall Harvest Celebration at BUGs (corner Metcalfe and Catherine streets) on Sunday, Sept 21 from noon until 4pm. There will be workshops, info updates and a Stone Soup picnic. Please bring something to add to the Stone Soup. Also please bring your own mug, bowl and utensils as well as a salad or dessert to share. Contact us at 244-2804 or cgn.rjc@sandyhillchc.on.ca for more information. Hope to see you there!

City of Ottawa HRSS Committee Meeting

When: Thursday, September 18, 2003 at 9:30 am at City Hall
What: The long-awaited report from city staff on recommendations for an appropriate level and form of municipal support for community gardening in Ottawa.
Why: Come to the meeting and show your support for community gardening.
Who: To get on the speaker's list &/or to request a copy of the report, contact Monique Beauregard (Committee Co-ordinator) at 580-2424, ext. 21622 Monique.Beauregard@Ottawa.ca

The CGN's 3rd annual Urban Farmers' Festival and Community Garden Tour will take place this year on July 26 at the Carlington Community Garden, 900 Merivale Rd (just south of Carling). Community gardening is growing in Ottawa with 22 urban gardens and more than 1000 gardeners. Come and learn about community gardening. Tour some of these amazing gardens!

When: Saturday, July 26, 2003 - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Carlington Community Garden - 900 Merivale Rd. (just south of Carling)
Rainy day venue: Inside at Carlington Community and Health Services (also at 900 Merivale Rd.)

This free event is open to the general public, gardeners and the curious. Childcare will be provided to those who register by July 15. The morning will consist of Penny Reed (weekly garden columnist for the Ottawa Citizen) presenting a workshop on Companion Planting (including pest control) and Xersicaping (gardening in dry conditions). As well, local community gardeners will host workshops on "How to Make Your Community Garden Grow" and "Getting Stuff for Your Garden." In the afternoon, you are invited aboard a school bus for a tour of 4-5 of Ottawa's urban community gardens. The tour will end back at Carlington Community Garden at 4 p.m. Please bring your own brown bag picnic lunch. Everyone is welcome!

To register for childcare (by July 15 if possible), please contact Laurie at the Community Garden Network/Réseau de jardins communautaire at 244-2804 or cgn.rjc@sandyhillchc.on.ca To register for a seat on the bus, please contact Melanie Porter at 722-4000 x 246.

Here are directions on how to get there:
Carlington Community Garden at Carlington Community and Health Services - 900 Merivale Rd. (west side of Merivale)

by bus:
take 85 to Westgate Mall (Merivale & Carling)
walk South on Merivale ( 2 blocks) or take bus #151 (direction: Iris)

by bike or by foot:
bike or walk to Carling and Merivale (across from Westgate Mall)
head South on Merivale

by car:
from West:
exit Queensway (417) at Carling
turn Right onto Merivale (across from Westgate Mall)
turn Right

from East:
exit Queensway (417) at Carling
turn Left at Kirkwood
turn Left onto Carling
turn Right onto Merivale (across from Westgate Mall)

Introduction to Organic Gardening: Workshop series for novice and experienced gardeners, March 26 to April 30, Sandy Hill Community Centre, 250 Somerset St. E, Wednesdays 7:00 - 9:00 pm. $75 for 6 workshops. Registration after Feb. 24: 564-1062

Beginners Gardening Workshop: Ottawa Master Gardeners. March 1, 10:00 am - 4:00pm, North Gloucester Library, 2036 Ogilvie Road. Cost: $25 pre-registration, $35 at door; includes lunch. Fran: 741-4523

Seeds of Hope: Organic Gardening: Six week course on growing flowers and vegetables in an earth-friendly way. March 12, 7:00 - 9:00 pm, Bethany Baptist at Baseline and Centrepoint Drive West. $40 for 6 sessions. Call Isobel: 820-0598 by March 5. Highly recommended!

2002 season:

Seedy Saturday Ottawa
Saturday March 2nd 2002, 10am to 4pm, at the Glebe Community Center, 690 Lyon St.

It is time to think about gardening again, and a great place to find your seeds is at Seedy Saturday in Ottawa. Admission is free. It is a day for people to share, sell and swap their seeds and stories. The first Seedy Saturday sprouted in Vancouver at the Van Dusen Gardens in 1989, and has now spread across the country. See www.SeedySaturday.ca or www.seeds.ca.

Each event is unique as it reflects the history and biodiversity of the local area. In Ottawa the Seedy Saturday has been happening for 8 years now, and it is an extremely popular event for people with interest in gardening and organic food. Bring seeds you have collected to swap ( no treated or GMO seeds allowed ). A big table will be set up, each item brought to the table allows you to exchange it for another item, anything related to gardening: seeds, plants, cuttings, books, magazines, etc.

The focus of the day is on open-pollinated seeds. After years of selection, these varieties are well adapted to the local growing conditions. An other big attraction is the workshops, which this year will be:

12:00 Seed Starting by - Pat Lucey
13:00 Edible container Gardening -Fleurette Huneault
14:00 Spring garden - Gillian Boyd
15:00 Native plants in the garden - Phillip Fry

The following companies will have seeds for sale: Florabunda Seeds, Eternal Seeds, Aimers Seeds, Greta's Organic Gardens, Homestead Organics, The Cottage Gardener, Brickmans Botanical and more.

In the Organic Marketplace you will find produce, herbal and environmental friendly products and much more including yummy food. Canadian Organic Growers and Seeds of Diversity Canada sponsor this event. For more info please contact Greta 613-524-3425 or Ottawa@SeedySaturday.ca.
 

"INTRODUCTION TO ORGANIC GARDENING": an eight-part workshop series
Wednesday evenings 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. March 27th through May 15th

Co-presented by the Canadian Organic Growers and the City of Ottawa. Note that there is a fee for these workshops of $90.00.

Location: Sandy Hill Community Centre, 250 Somerset Street East (two blocks east of King Edward)
Registration at: Sandy Hill Community Centre (613) 564-1062

Registration for COG's Introduction to Organic Gardening includes a set of the COG garden reference series and the colorful 18"x 25" poster "Seasonal Guide to Gardening Organically."

Click here to see the full course outline.
 
 

2001 season:

Community Garden Harvest Celebration
Sunday, September 30 from 4:15 -8 pm at the McNabb Community Centre (180 Percy St., #14 bus, free parking).
Come out and meet fellow gardeners! Bring along your favourite homegrown vegetable (or picture of ) to display! Bring along an instrument to make some music! Displays, Workshops, Children's Activities will take place from 4:15-6:00pm on community/organic gardening related topics. Free childcare will be provided at this time.  If translation is required, please contact us and we will do our best to arrange that. A Harvest Potluck meal with Entertainment will take place from 6-8pm.  Please bring a main dish, side dish, salad or dessert to share.  Refreshments will be provided. Please note that the event will be open to the public, feel free to spread the word and invite friends. If you require transportation for the event and/or would like to receive a poster please call 244-2804. If you are interested in helping out with the event (ex.postering, set-up, clean-up) that would be great to know as well.

CGN meeting
Date and time to be announced. The CGN will soon be having the first meeting of the new 2001 gardening season.
 

 

CGN Garden Tour
Saturday, August 18th 1 - 4 pm. Tours will start and finish at Sandy Hill Community Health Centre 221 Nelson at Rideau St. Rain or shine. This was a chance to see the various gardens.

CGN Kickoff Potluck
Thursday April 5th 2001, 6:30pm. Held at the Sandy Hill Community Health Centre.

2000 season:

Organic Pest Control
Monday June 12th 2000, 6:30-8:00pm.
Join this walk and talk tour of the garden with expert gardener George Bushell, from the Gloucester Allotment gardens. George will give you advice on 'good' and 'bad' pests, all without harmful pesticides! Location: Carlington Community Garden, behind CCHSC at 900 Merivale Rd. Rainsite: inside CCHSC.
Organic Pest Control
Thursday June 15th 2000, 6:30-8:00pm.
(See above for description). Presenter: George Bushell. Location: Three Sisters Community Garden, on Henderson between Somerset East and Templeton. Rainsite: 221 Nelson St., Sandy Hill Community Health Centre.

Wild Herb Walk, Thursday June 22nd 2000, 6:30-8:00pm.
Take a walk with herbalist Judy Henry. Judy will walk you through the BUGs garden and share the edible and medicinal uses of common 'weeds.' Location: BUGs Garden, Catherine and Metcalfe St., next to the YMCA. Rain or shine. Please call 244-2804 to register, limited space.

Walkabout the Garden, Tuesday June 27th 2000, 6:30-8:00pm.
Take a walk and talk tour about the Mechanicsville garden and ask any questions about planting, growing, weeding, pests, etc. to organic farmer Myra Palmer. Myra will use her expertise to help you with your gardening questions. Location: Mechanicsville Community Garden, between 58 & 78 Carruthers Ave. Rainsite: 151 Parkdale Ave.

Walkabout the Garden, Thursday June 29th 2000, 6:30-8:00pm.
(See above for description). Presenter: Organic farmer Donna Broadhead. Location: To be announced. Please call Brenda at 244-2804 to ask about location.

Walkabout the Garden, Tuesday July 4th 2000, 6:30-8:00pm.
(See above for description). Presenter: Master Gardener Fleurette Huneault. Location: Bethany Community Garden, Nepean, behind Bethany Baptist Church, 382 Centrepointe Drive West at Baseline. Rainsite: in the Church.

Walkabout the Garden, Thursday July 6th 2000, 6:30-8:00pm.
(See above for description). Presenter: Master Gardener Fleurette Huneault. Location: Strathcona Community Garden between 430 and 440 Wiggins Ct., walk through parking lot towards Lees Ave.

Cooperation in the Garden, Saturday July 15th 2000, 10:00am-12:00pm.
Learn how to work best with fellow gardeners. Conflict resolution techniques will be taught by trained gardeners. Presenters: Community gardeners Laurie Anderson and Elicia Wernikowski. Location: Somerset West Community Health Centre, 55 Eccles St.

Extended Season Gardening: making the season last, Wednesday July 12th 2000, 6:30-8:00pm.
Don't despair, the season is not half over! Organic farmer, Denise Séguin will talk about how to make your growing season last longer. Location: Sweet Willow Community Garden, Rochester and Primrose. Rain or shine.

Extended Season Gardening making the season last, Thursday July 20th 2000, 6:30-8:00pm.
(See above for description). Presenter: Denise Séguin. Location: Jardin communautaire de la Basse-Ville, behind the Patro at 40 Cobourg Street. En français. Rain or shine.

Save those Seeds! Monday August 28th 2000, 6:30-8:00pm.
Learn how to save seeds with organic farmer and seed supplier Greta Kryger of Greta's Organic Gardens. Greta will talk about proper techniques as well as open-pollinated and heritage varieties. Location: 221 Nelson Street (Nelson and Rideau), Sandy Hill Community Health Centre.

Save those Seeds! Tuesday August 29th 2000, 6:30-8:00pm.
(See description above). Presenter: Organic farmer and seed supplier Greta Kryger. Location: Location: Mechanicsville Community Garden, between 58 & 78 Carruthers Ave. Rainsite: 151 Parkdale Ave.

Gardeners' party potluck and Street Theatre! Thursday September 14th 2000, 6:30-8:00pm.
Join this party with fellow community gardeners. Bring a dish for the potluck and enjoy street theatre performance Learn to Eat Seasonally, puppets, prizes and more!!! Location: Laurier and Bronson Garden on the northeast corner. Rainsite: To be announced. Please call Brenda at 244-2804 to ask about rainsite.

Closing the Garden, Thursday September 21st 2000, 6:30-8:00pm.
Learn how to prepare your plot for the fall and winter. Master Gardener Ruth Cooper will talk about different mulching techniques to protect the soil and plants and various fall and winter plantings. Location: Three Sisters Garden, Henderson between Somerset E. and Templeton. Rainsite: 221 Nelson St. (Nelson and Rideau)

Closing the Garden, Monday September 25th 2000, 6:30-8:00pm.
(See description above). Presenter: Master Gardener Ruth Cooper. Location: Blair Court Community Garden, south of 1566 Station Blvd., Community House. Rainsite: inside Community House.