Integrated Pest Management Techniques

Volunteer Thompson Shuswap Master Gardeners use Integrated Pest Management techniques with regular monitoring of the MacDonald Park Public Produce Garden. They've been monitoring the aphid damage on the currants, hoping that lady beetles might lay their eggs.  Tonight Vicky blasted the aphids with a strong spray of water to dislodge the aphids from the underside of the currant leaves.

Master Gardeners Charyle & Vicky transplanting donated mint plants. Mint is set out in bottom-less pots to stop it  from spreading.

Public Produce, Growing Food in Public Spaces: A start Up Guide is now published

Public Produce, Growing Food in Public Spaces: A start Up Guide is now published.
Thank you to the Farm2Chefs for their generous grant that allowed the Kamloops Food Policy Council to print a number of copies.
www.farm2chefs.com
The print version of this publication will be available to our stakeholders.
The web version is available as a free pdf download at the Kamloops Food Policy Council's website.
http://kamloopsfoodpolicycouncil.com

Planting McDonald Park Garden today

We had a great time planting the McDonald Park Public Produce Garden today. A huge thank you to  all our volunteers!

Thank you to the Thompson Shuswap Master Gardeners, Bill, Barb, Elaine & Marvin and to Kyle Kapsha, Urban Agriculture Coordinator, who demonstrated various gardening techniques and tips.

Kyle arrives on his bike with the Mulberry & Plum trees.

Barb demonstrates how to transplant a seedling.

Kyle planting our new columnar apple tree while Barb gives some gardening advice. 

Marvin demonstrates how to tease out roots that are pot root bound before transplanting.

Elaine demonstrated how to thin apples & various ways to bag them against  codling moth damage.

Haskaps are ready to eat! 

The Big Public Produce Plant-In

Kamloops Public Produce is inviting everyone to THE BIG PLANT-IN at the McDonald Park Public Produce Garden
Sunday June 1st at 9:00 AM.

*Learn all about Public Produce.
*Learn about attracting natural enemies of garden pests. It’s all about flowers!
*Planting demonstrations by Thompson Shuswap Master Gardeners.

Bring your gardening gloves & trowels & help transplant & seed this lovely space.
Refreshments provided.

For more info contact: publicproduceproject@gmail.com

Mixing things up at MacDonald Park Public Produce!

Happy March everyone! We're 9 days from Spring, but these passed couple of days feel like it's here already!

This season is going to be an interesting one with big expansions to the Elm St. Public Garden (such a big space, it's time to use some more of it!) and a big shake up at the MacDonald Park Public Garden.

The Thompson-Shuswap Master Gardeners have offered to take over the care and maintenance of the MacDonald Park Public Demonstration Garden and have already had their first meeting at the Garden to discuss some changes to be made. Plants are going to be growing legs and moving all over the Garden! If you're interested in taking part in the Great Replanting send me an e-mail - publicproduceproject@gmail.com to volunteer. The Master Gardeners and I will need all the help we can get moving the cane fruits, fruit shrubs and herbs to more appropriate places in the Garden to make room their rapid growth. Expect more Permaculture Design practices to be discussed and implemented!

The Great Replanting will coincide with the Pruning and Planting Workshop, which you shouldn't miss, as Greg is a fountain of knowledge! (see below)

Can you believe this photo was only taken a week ago!? (Master Gardeners and I discussing plans for changes to the MacDonald Park Garden) The snow is all melted again now and my green thumbs are getting itchy!

On March 29th Greg Houghton (City of Kamloops Arbortist) will be doing a Pruning and Planting Workshop where he will demonstrate the proper planting of a young fruit tree (two of the Garden's apple trees are going to be transplanted into new spots in the Garden). Check out the City of Kamloops Activity Guide for more information on how to register (although, if you show up to the event without registering or to volunteer for the Great Replanting I wouldn't worry about being turned away!)

Looking forward to a great season, and I hope to see you out enjoying the North Shore's Public Produce Gardens.

Veggies ready to pick

Veggies are ready to harvest!

We have lots of veggies ready to harvest: shown are bush beans, also kale, lettuce, tomatoes, zucchini! Please cut the veggies off the plants to not disturb the roots. Thanks!