Saturday Workshop: Building a Thermal Compost

Ryan Vasseur shared his expertise on thermal composting, teaching us about the roles of micro organisms for plant nutrients and growth. We were thrilled to be spending all morning outside in brilliant sunshine.

Ryan led us through the process of building a thermal compost.  Wood chips, beer mash, coffee grounds, and horse manure were thoroughly mixed and placed in a large composting container. The activity of the growing micro organisms in the coming weeks will create intense heat, breaking down the wood chips and other materials. This compost will be used to feed the trees and plants at the Orchard Garden later this spring. 

UBC Landscape Architecture Masters students on an Ecopoetry Walk to the Orchard Garden

 On January 23, Susan Gerofsky and Amanda Fritzlan were guests in professor Susan Herrington's theory course for graduate students in Landscape Architecture. After a brief introduction to learning gardens on campus and a Q&A in the classroom, we set out into the fresh snowy day to write some ecopoetry sketches on invisible gardens on campus, with three stops (at the original Orchard Garden site, at the Rhododendron Forest, and finally at the Orchard Garden itself).

Here, with the students' permission, are some of the beautiful, deeply thoughtful and contemplative photos and poems (linked here -- please check them out!) that emerged as part of our workshop. 

Bravo to these wonderful new Landscape Architects, and looking forward to many further collaborations!

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Early March Orchard Garden Workshop - Pruning, Starting Seedlings, and Growing Plants from Food Scraps

Despite snow on the ground and unseasonably cool weather, we met in the Orchard garden last Saturday to prepare for new spring growth. Daniel generously shared his expertise on pruning fruit trees. He guided us through pruning the apple, pear, and plum trees that border the garden.

In the greenhouse, we were met by two resident felines, Charlie and friend, who were happy to have our company on a quiet Saturday morning. Chris led us in starting indoor seedlings (including lettuces, mustard greens, and pak choi) that will be transplanted outside to the Orchard Garden in the next few months. 

The incredible method of growing plants from food scraps stimulated our discussions as well. Examples that I had started in my Scarfe office window of pak choi at one week and then again one month, along with beets, carrots, and lettuce - all grown from food plant ends and cuttings that would regularly be tossed out of the kitchen - inspired personal stories, conversation of food waste and security, and ideas for classroom winter gardening.

We are ready for spring!!