Fall - 2010

100 Somervale Green

 

 

Before> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7ORSkjMiWs

After> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TI1mKSAa530

Recent Garden Pictures

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http://photoshare.shaw.ca/view/5211180963-1284410219-43649/52111

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Somerset Bridlewood Community Garden

The Somerset Bridlewood Community Association with sponsors and partner, the City of Calgary has established a Community Garden for the residents of the Somerset Bridlewood Community.  The garden is located at 100 Somervale Green which is on the west side opposite the C-Train Line down the pathway from the Somerset C-Train Station.

What is a Community Garden

It is any group of people who come together to garden. People of all ages who are new or experienced gardeners are warmly welcomed. Gardeners can have their own individual plot within the community garden and can also join with others to grow some crops communally, sharing in the work and the harvest. Every community garden is unique and develops from what the gardeners decide.

Why do people join a Community Garden

Some of the reasons are: to grow flavourful, fresh, organic, chemical-free food, to connect with nature, for recreation, to save money on groceries, to improve the urban environment (water runoff, noise, heat, air, soil and wildlife ecology), to practice sustainable living, to improve neighbourhood security, for mental and physical wellness and to create a friendlier community to name just a few.

The Organic Garden will have gardeners of all ages and their own growing interests. The Scout/Guide’s, Senior Citizens, Somerset Schools and Environmental Organizations have expressed a strong interest for having a plot to teach and grow their ideas.

Fall 2010 – “Where We Are Now”

The garden process took longer than anticipated, however pressing on we are positively situated and a well-built start for the 2011 spring growing season.  We have 21 cribs constructed for immediate use and with further demand the plan calls for an expansion to a maximum of 48 garden cribs, each being 12’x4’x16 ½” which is 48sf per garden crib.  The City of Calgary Parks Branch has donated a water line and hook-up for the garden irrigation.  The installation from the City for the water irrigation system will be early next spring, before the May long weekend.

The Garden Vision

Along the east pathway side will be a raspberry hedge skirting the fence.  The north east corner will feature a garden patch for food bank donations.  A small garden shed, bird houses, sponsor signage and a composter will compliment the 2011 garden.  The budget for the garden is approximately $25,000 and presently the garden team is seeking grants and donations for further development.

The goals of the Community Garden focuses on a natural and healthy sustainable environment in which a social community of all age gardeners can work and learn together, creating a quality garden operation and with yearly produce which can be donated to the food bank.

To Obtain a Personal Garden Plot

Presently we have constructed 21 garden beds and some of the plots have been secured by gardeners.  If you would like a plot for this or next year, please email your name and address to my attention (link below).  Anyone who secures a garden bed and fills their crib with soil (will be delivered before the end of September) will receive their garden bed free for 2011, otherwise there is a $25 yearly garden charge to the SBCA.

 You must be a member of the SBCA; http://www.somersetbridlewood.ca/membership/membership.htm

Garden Plot Request - Questions - or to join the garden development team, please email my attention;

 Community Garden Email.....David Zradicka

Our Carbon Footprint 

This garden project will model sustainable gardening practices by educating and illustrating the use of rain barrels, composters, mulch, solar energy and a small water-wise ornamental garden thus introducing the principles of material recycling and water conservation to the community at large. Our intention is that this demonstration, information and learning will empower community members to embrace these techniques in their own gardens.  Gardeners will learn how to grow their own food, and these lessons too will be shared with other members of the community.  These efforts will be a small step in the reduction of our reliance on food that requires high energy consumption to produce, and is transported great distances.  Eating local food reduces the global energy footprint verses foods that we import for consumption.

The garden site will provide space for community members to grow seasonal plants and will incorporate permanent and aesthetic and edible plants with a selection of shrubs such as a raspberry hedge.  The plants and garden area will create shade and reduce the need for lawn maintenance. By increasing the plant diversity of the site, the habitat for local species such as Robins, Finches and other birds will also be increased helping eliminate bug pests. 

Local food production does not require the amount of energy as does imported food.  Food is a portion of the average Calgarians’ ecoFootprint and we can encourage participants and passersby to calculate their own ecoFootprint on the City website.  With the high visibility location of the garden near the Bridlewood C-train, we have an opportunity to encourage non participants on the health and energy benefits of local food, and what are the food miles energy piece associated with that? We can connect them or encourage them thru signage to calculate their own food miles using the food miles calculator’ http://www.calgary.ca/footprint/

For participants supporting the garden we can track and collate the emissions associated with maintaining the garden.

http://www.fallsbrookcentre.ca/cgi-bin/calculate.pl

How are people getting / traveling to the event (walking, biking, etc.) and saving on emissions? Use the CO2 emissions calculator

http://www.translink.ca/en/TravelSmart/Reduce-Your-Carbon-Footprint.aspx

At year end of gardening individuals can calculate the various energy savings and show the cumulative saving result, helping to protect our environment.

Garden Sponsors

Garden sponsors will receive highly visible recognition through signage along the walkway and with the C-Train passengers.  Sponsor links will be included into the SBCA Website and regular updates with pictures will be posted on the Somerset Bridlewood Community website.

Any individual or companies wanting to sponsor or donate to the garden operation, please contact us at the email address below.

If you have questions or you would like to join the garden development team, please email my attention;

Community Garden.....David Zradicka

 

2010 Garden Sponsors

·         City of Calgary Parks Branch

·         Calgary Foundation

·         City of Calgary EcoFootPrint Program