The TELL-3C cohort of teacher candidates visits the Orchard Garden

The tents, buckets and sit pads on our soggy Friday

 On a cold, rainy Friday last week, the UBC TELL-3C (Teaching English Language Learners) cohort of
elementary and middle years teacher candidates visited the Orchard Garden, with their instructors Michelle Blown and George Whitehead. The weather didn't dampen our spirits! We had an introduction to the garden (and each other), a garden tour, an introduction to Hemachandra/ Fibonacci numbers and Fib poetry and to the idea of sit spots. Then everyone found a sit spot that called to them, and gave attention to their sensory observations from their chosen spot -- and wrote a Hemachandra/ Fib poem. Back under the tents, we shared the poems as a group. Finally, the TELL-3C group planted their generous gift to the garden of four berry plants. Long may they and we grow, learn and find joy in the out-of-doors in our school gardens! 

Another gift that the class gave to the Orchard Garden: their lovely photos and reflections on the day, that you can read here. Thanks again to Michelle, George and everyone in the cohort for your inspiring and thoughtful work!

Spring Approaches in the Orchard Garden

Wowww a lot has happened in the garden since my last post. Here's an attempt to get caught up on what's growing on now that it's starting to feel like spring outside...

The garlic we planted in October is doing amazing!! There's still lots of growing to do before harvest time is here but I'm already looking for ways to use the scapes. The fava beans are also coming up, they're not thriving as well as the garlic but they should pull through. We also planted a whack of tulip bulbs in the fall that are popping up all over the place!

We had a visit from the TELL-3C teacher candidate class last week and they gifted us with two currant and blueberry bushes that we planted together. It was a cold and rainy day, but spirits were high and it's great to have some more berry bushes in the food forest!

Spring planting began last week with corn salad (a super cool leafy green that has nothing to do with corn), and today I seeded the first of our indoor starts in our new greenhouse tent! It may be small but it's very cozy in there and so great to have a greenhouse right on site. We currently have two trays of lettuce, tomatoes, cabbage, and some back-up beans in case the favas don't make it. Tray seeding can be tedious, but I find it very relaxing :)

There's lots of work to do in the next few months as it warms up and everything starts GROWING, so I'm very glad to have such an awesome team of volunteers helping out in the garden. I couldn't do it without them! 

Recently: corn salad bed prep, greenhouse seeding, red elderberry leaf flush, and baby garlic 🧄

Wassailing Apple (and Pear) Trees with the Tiddley Cove Morris Dancers

 This past weekend we held our second Saturday workshop of 2026. We were joined by members of the Tiddley Cove Morris team, who taught and demonstrated Morris songs and dances before leading us in a procession through the garden to "wassail" the apple trees, wishing them good health and an abundant harvest. We hung tags on the trees with encouraging wishes and I wanted to share some of the thoughtful messages that were written! 

Our second 2026 workshop: Wassailing the apple trees, with guests Tiddley Cove Morris Dancers & Musicians!

 

Our first 2026 workshop: Sprucing up the garden signs, printing leaves & making *anthotypes*!

At our first workshop of the season, we'll be doing some sprucing up of the Orchard Garden signs and standing blackboard -- and then printing, making rubbings, and making *anthotype photos* with plants!

First layer of four of cucumber peel emulsion

Here's a link to a great, free book from the first World Anthotype Day: https://sites.evergreen.edu/expphoto/wp-content/uploads/sites/293/2023/06/Anthotype-Emulsions-Volume-1.pdf

Anthotype comes from the Greek words for 'flower' and 'print'. It's one of the earliest forms of photography, from the early 19th century, where plant juices  were used as the emulsion for creating a monoprint photo. For example, you could coat a piece of watercolour paper with the juice from a cucumber peel, then place objects (like leaves, petals and stems) on the paper and expose it to the sun for many hours (or often, days). The bleaching power of the sun will eventually lighten the background, and the part that was covered up will retain its more intense colour, creating a contrast print.

Anthotypes are not stable or longlasting, and I don't think there's a way to fix them (fixatives were developed later in the 19th century with the chemistry for silver-based and other analogue photographic films and prints). So if we want to keep a more permanent image of them, we have to take a more conventional modern digital or analogue photo! They are very cool though, in allowing for experimentation with different plant materials and thinners (water, alcohol, ...), and with variations. For example, did you know that a turmeric mixture will change from deep yellow to pinkish red if baking soda or soda water is added to it?

Here are process photos for my 'technique' in making the cucumber peel emulsion we'll use today: peel, chop, blend, strain, and then paint onto watercolour (fairly absorbent) paper, in several laters. Each experimental emulsion works a little differently, but this is a basic method. Looking forward to seeing how our prints come out!

And here are a few photos of a quick experiment with the powerful technique of leaf rubbings -- and a similar technique used for a famous New Yorker cover!

Wintertime in the Orchard Garden!

So much has happened in the Orchard Garden since I started in September! I feel so lucky I get to tend to this space as it changes through the seasons. The garden is starting to go to sleep now that winter's approaching, and all the beds are covered in a nice warm blanket of leaves. 

At the end of October we started up with bimonthly Sunday volunteering sessions. It has been so nice to have others come and help with big garden tasks, and I hope the volunteers are having as much fun as I am. With the help of these amazing volunteers we planted: garlic, broad beans, tulip bulbs, saffron crocuses, and Garry Oak Meadow companion plants! The big leaf piles around UBC campus have been useful sources for mulch to keep everything warm over the winter. We also harvested all the fruit from the apple and pear trees, and donated a large quantity to the UBC Sprouts community fridge. 

The past few weeks I've found I have less to do in the garden, and have been focused on pruning, staking, and other little tasks for overwinter preparation. I've been spending more time planning for our upcoming monthly Saturday workshops (starting in January, stay tuned!) and have been doing some research into expanding our food forest with vines, root crops, and more berry shrubs. 

Though there's not much growing right now, there's still lots of beauty in the garden and I look forward to watching how things continue to change as the season carries on :)

Guarding the Garden: Month 1

My first month of work in the Orchard Garden is wrapping up, and it's been very exciting learning and seeing so much happen in the garden.

A few weeks ago, I picked lots of tomatoes and a single (HUGE) cucumber. It's been an interesting adjustment from working in an urban market garden to the OG, harvesting now requires a much keener eye as veggies are hidden in the grasses and weeds.

Another highlight has been... apples!! The bulk of the harvest has been done, and I would guess we have 40-50 lbs (or one grocery store banana box's worth). The apples have a very nice tart flavour, and once we get our hands on a cider press the ones that aren't so good for snacking will make some delicious juice.

Last Wednesday, I decided to tackle the weeds in our radish/kale/spinach bed (planted by Emma!). The main weed I've come across is called Lady's Thumb, and it was EVERYWHERE. I felt very accomplished by the end of the morning as I cleared out most of the weeds and finally uncovered the little spinach sprouts I was worried weren't growing. I'm hoping my weeding attempts will encourage the leafy greens to get nice and big.