Groland Community Garden - inception to today.


Pilot Project - planted up with Chorus Frog starts, end August.


We are in catch up mode with this, our first blog entry, posted as the call for new members for Groland went out

Groland Community Garden - It’s Started

How would you like to be involved, if at all? Read on and contact John for more details 😉 


Our community garden project has broken ground with a Pilot Project, planting into 4 raised beds and a greenhouse, on a generous neighbour’s Roland Road plot.

Encouraged by our community’s success with a Salt Spring Foundations Neighbourhood Small Grant, we boldly applied for, and received, a Farmland Trust Grant ($1000) for the “Roland Road Community Garden Project”.


Our focus is:-

  • growing locally
  • sharing produce locally and via The Root
  • using existing underused resources
  • learning and sharing gardening skills (especially to encourage new gardeners)
  • building trust in our community
  • establishing pollinator-rich gardens and 
  • using water responsibly


The Pilot Project is now complete (clearing, topping up. 4 raised beds), we are ready to welcome others either to view or assist in future plans to expand the garden, with any level of involvement.


A call has gone out for construction materials for more raised beds :-

  • 2 x 6, 2 x 8 wood planks 
  • Pencil Posts off-cuts/residues
  • Cardboard without print
  • Medium-sized branches/logs for base of ‘lasagne’ bed preparation
  • Compostable Materials (especially leaves, cuttings, compostable waste, we arrange with you for collection)


Other items that we are calling for are gardening items:-

  • Watering can
  • Dustbin for rainwater catchment off greenhouse
  • Plant pots for seed starting/pricking out, larger ones for tomatoes etc for greenhouse
  • Any unwanted tools - eg., but not exclusively spade, trowel, rake etc
  • Spare plants/Young plants - eg., but not exclusively herbs (excluding chives, Rosemary)
  • Viable vegetable/pollinator seeds for spring planting


Online Community Photo Albums:

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26 August 2023 Work-Party: 

Work done

Planted out starts in newly rabbit proofed bed 2 in area A

Notes from Coffee Chat at Joel’s during the work-party

Directive from donor

Ensure hose is left tidy - ready for his use


Current work

Watering to continue Mon, Wed and Sat mornings as scheduled but will reduce  through Autumn.

Change of timing for Saturday work party now beginning at 12:30pm


Future Work

Building the New Beds

Gather cardboard for lasagne method from Country Grocer/Windsor when possible for 3 layers at least

Call for logs or branches to go in downhill side of bed

Call for composting materials


Style of New Beds

Two long beds with a cut-off corner to allow for landlord to safely navigate the area near the steps.


Next Planting

Garlic: end Oct early Nov, Broad (Fava) beans in remaining bed and start some in pots for fill-ins in spring


Purchases/ Items Required

Wheelbarrow, Peter suggested a black one which has a hard wheel from Home Hardware.

Garlic - Red Russian or Music (Cam is providing, Peter will pay him)

Slug B Gone

444 Peter can supply in spring, Foxgloves stuff is OK too

Lime Peter will supply

Tools all agree to carry in own

Tub/ Dustbin (put out a call)


Enlargement of the Groland Community

The Landlord is comfortable having more members, but they must be accompanied by one of the current team at all times


Note on Messaging

Please keep to a minimum

Once Peter has been included, then remove Lesley from general chat

Note also that even changing ones logo or avatar sends messages to all


Future expansion of community garden - The satellite grounds method

Where residents donate a portion of their land - a strip to be planted with one veg.  A Groland gardener is assigned to that area.  The donor need not be involved but assists if they wish. There should be an agreement that the vegetables grown are for community use as well as a portion for the donor.

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19 August 2023 Work-Party: 

Work done:

Further rabbit proofing beds 2

On-Site Farmland Trust discussions on community grant usage ( bed design options, FT 2-way community support)

Watering, soil moving (soil delivered 18th)  to existing raised beds (2) and to pots for greenhouse

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12 August 2023 Work-Party: 

Work done:

Watering, chopping coarser compostables, selection of preferred Site for new raised beds.

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5 August 2023 Work-Party:

Work done:

Watering, chopping coarser compostables, selection of preferred Site B locations, selected site for  soil drop off

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29 June 2023 Work-Party: 

Work done:

Bed 1. Now planted up with Autumn and overwintering starts (Chorus Frog), plastic mesh bird-deterrent.

Watering: We need a rota. Use house source = well water for hose, and a plastic container in greenhouse.

Greenhouse cleared of clematis on sunny side

Greenhouse: Seeded starts: Spinach, Choi, Beets, Tacoma Leeks, Lettuce, Scallions, Kale, Chard, Cilantro, Parsley

Using donated material Rabbit proofing was created withremovable chicken mesh on long raised bed sides, raised areas on one raised bed. Ahava.

13 person hours

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27/28 June 2023 Work-Party:

Meeting to design rabbit fence for raised beds and then purchasing items needed from Windsor P.

2 person hours

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22 June 2023 Work-Party:

Work done

Purchasing starts from Chorus Frog $84:

*4 x Cardinal Late Cabbage

*4 x Early Purple Broccoli

*4 x Danish Cabbage

*4 x Langedijker Red Cabbage

*8 x Galleon Cauliflower

*1 small tray Scallion

2 x Drunken Woman Lettuce 

2 x Reflect Spinach

2 x New Zealand Spinach

2 person/hours

Garden layout

Site A (existing) - four raised beds, raspberry fruit trellis and greenhouse

Site B (under development)

Scheduling

Mondays, Wednesdays watering by community member(s), 

Saturdays, watering and community garden works

Finances/spend

Ad-hoc community garden financing (donations),  

and grants as follows

Summary Farmland Trust 2023/08 Grant Awarded:

Item Part A Site B

Chicken wire 125 150

Soil donation 225

Plant starts 50 100

Seedlings donation

Wheelbarrow 150

Wood for beds 200

Materials for beds donation

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19 June 2023 Work-Party:

Breaking ground - Growland Community Garden Members began clearing 4 four raised beds and Raspberry canes. 

Discovery of Ground Elder on the site

6 person/hours

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June 2023: (early discussions etc)

The concept of a Roland Road community garden was floated when ideas were aired for topics relating to an application for a Salt Spring Foundation Small Grant 2023 - but the idea lost out to another suggested project.
During a Roland Road social event (called ChatnChips), the idea of a community garden was discussed again. Although it was difficult to see where we might have access to suitable ground and water, a timely offer came to our notice and we decided to take this forward.
The donor of the land requested that the location is not shared widely.

Everyone joining the group agreed to share costs.

With produce-sharing within the group, the landowner and wider community if at all possible.

General logistics 

Ensure water tap switched off

Ensure gate is always kept latched

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OUR GARDEN COMMUNITY GROUP

Founding Members:

Peter, Ahava, John, Karin, Lesley-for financial, (Past Members: Roberta)

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