February 2012 Village Vibe

February 2012

villagevibe News and views from the heart of Fernwood

Good Deeds & Good Health Go Hand in Hand at Fernwood Yoga Den

›› Lilian Sue

E

ver noticed how yoga in many studios in Victoria is offered in tandem with pilates and martial arts, and it always seems to draw crowds of super athletic and fit, young men and women? Where can you find a yoga class for kids and teens, or parents with families, or people living with disabilities?

Enter Fernwood Yoga Den , the brainchild of friends and long-time social workers Lola Storry and Rachel Sadava. Lola and Rachel met while working together at a sexual assault centre at University of Victoria and they subsequently re-connected with each other in 2010 at a yoga workshop. Both women were thrilled to discover their mutual interest in making yoga more accessible and inclusive to people from all sectors of society. Due to Lola’s and Rachel’s experiences teaching yoga to specialized groups such as women at Eric Martin Pavilion who had experienced trauma and people who were homeless through BC Housing, both women wanted to create a studio where everyone felt welcome.

A vision for a studio that celebrated diversity was one issue, finding the ideal space and obtaining the proper building permits was another. In spite of the challenges, Lola and Rachel took it in stride, ultimately deciding on Fernwood as the best place for the studio, with its community of supportive, inclusive and like-minded people. It is this same inclusiveness that Lola and Rachel look for

Lola Storry (sitting) and Rachel Sadava (standing) are the founders of Fernwood’s newest and most inclusive yoga studio. The Yoga Den is located at 1311 Gladstone Avenue in the heart of Fernwood. Photo: Alexandra Stephanson

Rachel & Lola want the Yoga Den to remove the barriers to learning yoga and make everyone, no matter the age, physical ability or demographic, feel welcome and confident in participating in yoga. in their search for yoga teachers.

They hope to find teachers who are skilled in different styles of yoga and able to adapt to the diverse needs of students who walk through their door. So far they will be offering: Hatha (Levels 1 and 2/3), Vinyasa Flow (Levels 1 and 2/3), Yin, Pre-Natal, Yoga for Back Care, 50+, Restorative, Family & Kids Yoga. They

aim to have a portion of the profits from each class go towards yoga outreach for single parents, people with mental health issues, and individuals who are recovering from trauma and injuries. Their plan includes providing yoga classes for families with toddlers and older children, classes focusing on yoga and positive body image for teenage girls, and weekend workshops

Editorial

Feature

Mark Your Calendar

What next for Fernwood? page 2

Two Weeks of Wonder: SPARK page 4

Anti-Bullying Film Festival page 6

featuring teachers from across Canada and the United States.

Ultimately, Rachel & Lola want Fernwood Yoga Den to remove the barriers to learning yoga and make everyone, no matter the age, physical ability or demographic, feel welcome and confident in participating in yoga.

And by collaborating with the Fernwood community, they hope to create the most inclusive yoga studio in the country.

Their website www.fernwoodyogaden .com goes live on January 30th, so sign up by email to be notified of their grand opening date—targeted for midFebruary—and special events, or follow them on Twitter @FernwoodYogaDen for updates!

in this issue To get the Vibe digitally, sign up at fernwoodnrg.ca

editorial:

villagevibe

What next for Fernwood?

Published by Fernwood Neighbourhood Resource Group Editorial Committee

Lee Herrin Kellan McKeen

Mila Czemerys Matt Takach

Founding Editor Lisa Helps Contributors

Lilian Sue Denise Savoie David Segal Bamsey Franks

Lee Herrin Linda Chan Mark Dusseault Margaret Hantiuk

Art

Alexandra Stephanson Mila Czemerys Marianne Unger Aubrey Burke John Lauener Victor Dolhai

Margaret Hantiuk

Production Mila Czemerys Contact us

1313 Gladstone Avenue Victoria, BC V8R 1R9 T 778.410.2497 F 250.381.1509 vibe@fernwoodnrg.ca www.villagevibe.ca To enquire about advertising in the Village Vibe, please contact ads@fernwoodnrg.ca The views expressed in the Village Vibe do not necessarily reflect the views of Fernwood NRG.

declaration of principles & values ›› We are committed to creating a socially, environmentally,

and economically sustainable neighbourhood;

››

We are committed to ensuring

›› Lee Herrin On Tuesday, January 24th I spoke at Fernwood University about Fernwood NRG’s Principle #2: “We are committed to ensuring neighbourhood control or ownership of neighbourhood institutions and assets.” In particular, I spoke about the huge opportunity that sits in front of us as a neighbourhood with respect to the now bare lands west of Vic High (see www.fernwoodnrg.ca/past-lessons/). If you weren’t there, I’ll summarize.

In all, there are at least 11 city lots (some owned by the School District, and some by the City) in addition to the strip of land beside the track—it’s close to 2 acres, but it may be more. According to the latest information available from the School District, some of this land will be used as a staging ground for the coming seismic upgrade of Vic High (scheduled to begin summer 2013). But after 2015, the School District has indicated it does not have a long term use for most of this property.

These lands represent a once in a lifetime opportunity for neighbourhood-driven development to shape the future of our neighbourhood.

Fernwood is a great place to live. All of the infrastructure people need is right here—schools, parks, a community centre, public transit, a neighbourhood core with services, proximity to downtown’s amenities and employment options, etc.

Vic High’s Fairey Tech building used to stand on what is now this vacant lot. Photo: Mila Czemerys

This contrasts with development in the suburbs, where little to none of this is available. Secondly, the City of Victoria is desperate for revenue (you will hear more about this in this year’s budget discussions), and vacant City-owned and School District-owned land does not contribute much if anything in the way of taxes. In short, to the extent the truly surplus lands sit bare, they are causing a higher than necessary tax burden on surrounding lands.

In short, this is a sustainability argument in favour of neighbourhood-directed development. Development contributes needed resources to the City, makes maximum use of existing infrastructure (rather than creating new infrastructure elsewhere), and brings new neighbours, new students of local schools, new

customers of local businesses, and more friends for all of us. It’s a question of intelligent density versus urban sprawl. It’s certain the land won’t be left as a gravel lot forever, but there is a risk that an ad hoc approach to development will unfold, which in the long term will benefit nobody, least of all Fernwood residents.

Last year, Fernwood NRG held a Visioning Forum, and many of the ideas that came out (more food security, more affordable housing, etc.) require land in order to manifest. I urge all who live in Fernwood to consider what they are willing to bring to the table to ensure that what ultimately happens on these lands reflects the neighbourhood vision. Please let us know how you want to be involved or what you can contribute by dropping us a line at vision@fernwoodnrg.ca.

neighbourhood control or ownership of neighbourhood

buzz:

institutions and assets;

››

We are committed to using our resources prudently and to becoming financially self-reliant;

››

We are committed to the creation and support of neighbourhood employment;

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We are committed to engaging the dreams, resources, and talents of our neighbours and to fostering new links between them;

››

We are committed to taking action in response to neighbourhood issues, ideas, and initiatives;

››

We are committed to governing our organization and serving our neighbourhood democratically

At Springridge Common … ›› Linda Chan Come and volunteer at a Springridge Common Mulch Work Party led by Ryan May, ecologist and founder of LivingLands on Saturday, February 18th from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. We will be sheet-mulching, especially around trees.

Please dress warmly. Refreshments will be provided. Donations of work party food would be greatly appreciated. Also, we are always appreciative of plant donations.

We would love any grass-suppressing bulbs like daffodils, garlic chives and tulips; insectary plants like bee balm and

lovage; nutrient accumulators like yarrow, chicory and plantain; mulch plants like comfrey and artichoke. Please visit springridgecommons.ca, livingland.org and bachwithnature.com or call Linda Chan at 250-380-6383.

Learn practical strategies and techniques for creating a productive ecological yard and garden at the workshop: Introduction to Home-scale Permaculture with Elaine Codling, a permaculture designer and teacher based in Courtenay, Vancouver Island. This workshop is happening on Saturday, March 24 from 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm at the Fernwood Community

Centre. Whatever size yard or garden you have to work with, applying basic permaculture principles will reduce the maintenance and increase the productivity.

Permaculture design can give you more variety, more beauty, and more time to enjoy it. There will be an opportunity for hands-on activity at Springridge Common to apply techniques learned in class. The course Fee is $40.00 with proceeds going to the purchase of tools for Springridge Common. Everyone is welcome. For more information and to register, please give Pooyan Najafi a call at 250-858-5256 or email pnajafi@gmail.com.

with a maximum of openness, inclusivity and kindness;

››

We are committed to developing the skills, capacity, self-worth,

WWW.FERNWOODLOVELYHOMES4SALELIST.COM

and excellence of our neighbours and ourselves;

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We are committed to focusing on the future while preserving our neighbourhood’s heritage and diversity;

››

You may think you can’t take on the responsibility of a mortgage, but you're likely already making the monthly payment. It just happens to be in your landlord’s pocket! Isn’t it time that you owned the payments that you're making?

We are committed to creating neighbourhood places that are vibrant, beautiful, healthy, and alive;

››

Does your landlord thank you for making their mortgage payment?

Find out how at the Home Ownership Workshop.You'll learn from a mortgage specialist, an experienced realtor, and a licensed home inspector all that you need to know about becoming a home owner. Take the first step towards ownership. Call Jean at 250-858-7716 for details. Free recorded message-no obligation-no cost workshop!

/RRNLQJ IRU D *22' 7,0( "

and, most of all,

Volunteer with Fernwood NRG

We are committed to having fun!

info@fernwoodnrg.ca || 250.381.1552

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villagevibe

February 2012

News and views from the heart of Fernwood

buzz:

A Letter from Your MP ›› Denise Savoie I know that for many of you, 2012 has brought another year of uncertainty with the recovery from the global economic recession still not in sight. This is a time when it is more important than ever for Canadians to feel that their federal government is safeguarding the public interest. Unfortunately, on so many levels, the opposite is true.

The Conservative government has unilaterally cut federal health transfers, a move the Parliamentary Budget Officer warns will threaten the sustainability of our healthcare system and force provinces to cut vital services.

They have cut hundreds of jobs at Service Canada resulting in a dramatic increase in the length of time needed to process employment insurance claims for Canadians who have lost their jobs.

The Conservatives are dismissing

Climate change is a question of intergenerational equity. We must ensure that we leave a healthy planet for our children and future generations. opponents of the dangerous Enbridge pipeline as foreign-financed radicals, while the government gambles with our fragile coastline and exports value-added Canadian processing jobs to foreign refineries.

It is not in the public interest for Parks Canada to allow a private company to construct an intrusive thrill-seeking structure in Jasper National Park at the approach to the world-renowned Icefields

Parkway. And yet this is what is being considered by the federal government.

As I visited with friends and family in Victoria over the holidays, and spoke with so many of you at community events, I was encouraged by the determination to keep speaking out about the kind of society we want. Many of you have written to me to voice your opposition to the pipeline and are offended by the campaign out of Ottawa to discredit British Columbians who support a tanker ban and want to see Canada restore the strength of its environmental protection laws. I also heard from many constituents as they witnessed the loss of Canada’s international reputation at the climate change conference in Durban, South Africa, last fall.

Climate change is a question of intergenerational equity. We must ensure that we leave a healthy planet for our children and future generations. We have many young MPs in our New Democrat caucus and they understand and also

convey to the Government that climate change is one of the major issues facing their generation.

There is strength in working together, and in that vein I invite you to participate this month in a Community Services Fair that I am hosting February 11th, 1:00 to 4:00 pm, at the Monterey Recreation Centre, 1442 Monterey Avenue in Oak Bay. The event will bring together federal government agencies with community and non-profit groups that help people with issues ranging from support services for seniors, parents and new Canadians, to greening your home to accessing housing information and pension benefits.

In March, I will once again be hosting my annual celebration of International Women’s Day, and I invite you to attend, Sunday, March 11th, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm at The Belfry Theater. I also want to wish you all a Happy Chinese New Year as we embark on the Year of the Dragon.

buzz:

The Backyard Project It’s a Rat Proof Business for Everyone

›› David Segal Image 1: After separating the compostable food scraps from the ones destined for the landfill, you trudge outside to your compost bin. While balancing your bucket, you open the lid and just as you are about to dump your compost, a plump and well-fed rat jumps out, frying your nerves and resulting in your compost spilling over the side of the bin and onto your clothes. Ew, yuck!

Image 2: You throw all of your food scraps into one bin, never blinking an eye regarding whether things are cooked, if there is meat, or questioning what can go in again, and walk confidently to your food waste decomposer. Opening the lid is a joy, as you have never had an encounter with a furry uninvited visitor, and in go your food scraps as you pride yourself on your contribution to lessening the burden on the landfill and the planet. Yay! Only a few short years ago, image 1 was

all too common for 9 year old Olive Unger, her mother Marianne and Lisa Helps. In fact, an incident in which a furry critter ran over Marianne’s foot as she was tending to the Earth Machine composter, provided the impetus for these three to start The Backyard Project. The business provides pest-free food waste solutions and other earth sustaining activities that people can implement right in their own backyards.

The Backyard Project, formally known as Camosun Street Compost, aims to inspire people to experiment with simple sustainability solutions right in their own backyards. Firmly planted on a foundation of care for their neighborhood and planet, they focus on increasing food security, self-sufficiency and small-scale closed loop solutions to large-scale problems. The one they are currently most excited about is the digester, or food waste decomposer.

According to Marianne,“it’s an extremely simple product that is revolutionary. The Backyard Digester is dug into the ground, you throw ALL your food scraps in it and the food does what it’s meant to do–it decomposes.” Lisa chimes in, “there’s no

A digester in action—it's an easy and effective way to compost in a backyard. Photo: Marianne Unger

big apparatus needed to haul away your food waste.” Unlike a typical compost bin, it does not require the addition of browns, nor does it require aeration or harvesting the finished compost.

The Backyard Project is about finding creative solutions to managing food waste in your own backyard. They also have composting solutions that are both rodent proof and able to produce rich organic

matter for your garden. Finally, their own integrated system of backyard chickens are a wonderful example of what’s possible.

Olive, Marianne, and Lisa are passionate about their vision to assist Victorians to nourish their soil, food, flowers, themselves, and their earth, and they are eager to meet and talk solutions with people at the upcoming Seedy Saturday on February 18th at the Victoria Convention Centre.

You’re invited to my Annual Celebration of International Women’s Day Sunday, March 11, 1-3 pm At The Belfry, 1291 Gladstone Avenue An afternoon of inspiring discussion and an exchange of ideas for building the kind of society we want.

Please RSVP at 250-363-3600 Call 250-363-3600 for more information, or check my website – www.denisesavoie.ca

Denise Savoie, MP for Victoria www.fernwoodnrg.ca

February 2012

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feature:

Two Weeks of Wonder

›› Mark Dusseault

Cast of Goodness. Photo: John Lauener / Part of SPARK Festival 2012 at the Belfry Theatre

Ingrid Hansen, co-creator and performer in Kitt & Jane by Ingrid Hansen, Kathleen Greenfield & Rod

(Goodness - March 13 - 18)

Peter Jr. Photo: Victor Dolhai / Part of SPARK Festival 2012 at the Belfry (Kitt & Jane - March 14 - 18)

Coming soon to Fernwood, the Belfry announces its line up for the 2012 SPARK Festival.

Three years ago the Belfry transformed its March programming when it introduced its annual SPARK Festival. Prior to SPARK the company presented three shows in its Studio space over six weeks, and while the work was first-rate, the programming lacked focus and a community feel.

All that changed in 2009 when the Belfry compressed the festival into just two weeks, doubled the number of shows, added dozens of free events and reached out to local artists.

SPARK is broken up into five components: big shows, miniplays, new play readings, professional development workshops and one big party right in the middle of the event.

The festival will kick off on Monday, March 12th with a free new play reading of My Memory’s Not So Good by Matthew Payne from Victoria’s Theatre SKAM. Inspired by the late great arts maven Joan Mans (she was a character), Matthew and

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villagevibe

a group of Victoria artists recently spent a week in Banff developing the script for a future production.

The first week’s big shows, Goodness and Kitt & Jane, will start on Tuesday, March 13th. Goodness, from Toronto’s Volcano, has played Edinburgh, New York and Rwanda, stunning audiences at each theatre. While the play examines genocide through a series of concentric stories enveloping each other, we are never told where the genocide has occurred, leaving us all to question what we believe. Goodness is about what happens in the gaps between experiencing, telling and hearing. If you are interested in social justice issues, Goodness is sure to challenge and engage you in ways you never thought theatre could.

Creators from Victoria’s SNAFU Dance Theatre, Ingrid Hansen, Kathleen Greenfield and Rod Peter Jr. will premiere their latest work, Kitt & Jane. Kitt & Jane is the Belfry’s 2012 Incubator project; every two years we commission local artists to develop and produce a new piece for SPARK. SNAFU’s work has been described as fresh and daring, provocative and engaging—and, at times, wonderfully silly. Kitt & Jane is an unofficial sequel to Little Orange Man, their sold-out hit at the Vancouver and Victoria International

February 2012

Fringe Festivals this year.

While SNAFU’s work is inspired by a radical collection of ideas. It includes Viewpoints, a creation practice that provides a vocabulary for thinking about and acting upon movement and gesture; Butoh, a Japanese avant garde performance art; as well as found-object puppetry, clown, ritual, fables, politics, children, history, and lore. It is always surprising and delightful.

Each Wednesday through Saturday, prior to these big shows, we’ll present a series of free miniplays. These quirky pieces, performed throughout the Belfry will feature new work from local artists Missie Peters, Dave Morris, Krystal Cook, Theatre Inconnu and, in a unique collaboration with Judd Palmer from Calgary’s Old Trout Puppet Workshop, Puente Theatre.

Miniplays run each night at 7:20 and 7:40 pm. While they are free, attendance is first come, first served. Trust us, you’ll need to be there early as capacity is limited; last year we had a show in a closet with one actor and one audience member. You could see a musical in a washroom, a dance piece on the roof or a comic monologue in an office.

For the past eighteen months, the Belfry has been working on a new play, now titled Home is a Beautiful Word, about homelessness in Victoria. On Monday and Tuesday (March 19 & 20), we’ll give this

Shane Koyczan - When I Was A Kid 2 / Part of SPARK Festival 2012 at the Belfry Theatre (When I Was A Kid - March 21 - 24 - 18)

play its first public reading. Home is a Beautiful Word is a piece of verbatim theatre; the script is created entirely from transcribed interviews that playwright/journalist Joel Bernbaum has had with a wide spectrum of people from Victoria. It’s the community’s voice on stage and the story is fascinating.

We would love to have you there to hear what others have said and to hear your thoughts about the play.

The big shows in the second week of SPARK are Shane Koyczan’s When I Was A Kid and Fish Eyes by Anita Majumdar. You probably know Shane. He’s best known for the piece “We Are More,” which he performed at the 2010 Olympic Opening

News and views from the heart of Fernwood

Anita Majumdar in Fish Eyes / Part of SPARK Festival 2012 at the Belfry Theatre (Fish Eyes - March 21 - 25)

Ceremonies, but he was an established and well-respected artist long before that.

Accompanied by his band, The Short Story Long, Shane explores what it means to grow up - what we learn, what we forget, what we gain and what we give up. When I Was A Kid is a quest to rediscover our silliness and to embrace our wonder, to let go of our fear and spark our imaginations.

You only have to hear Shane Koyczan once to be hooked. He is humane, furious, sexy, political, tragic and so funny you’ll be laughing through your tears.

Anita Majumdar will just have you laughing. Her piece, Fish Eyes, complete with Bollywood dance moves, tackles

imperialism and cultural misappropriation, with a sly nod as she struggles to find herself and her cultural identity. This comedic “east meets west” story celebrates the joy of youth and heritage.

The second week of SPARK will also feature a new round of free miniplays and Belfry 101 Live. Belfry 101 is our program for local high school students (public, private and home schooled) from around Greater Victoria. Each Spring Break we throw these intrepid students into a rehearsal hall with a huge mission – to write, create, rehearse and mount a new show in just one week. The results are always astounding. We have been running

Belfry 101 for over ten years now and it has been very satisfying. We have had graduates tour the country with their own shows and this year former student Rod Peters Jr. has a show, Kitt & Jane, in SPARK. There will be much more happening at the Belfry during these two wonderful weeks – much of it free. Tickets, on sale now, are $20 for the big shows. If you are a University or College student you get $5 off; if you’re in high school you’ll get $10 off.

To learn more please visit www.belfry. bc.ca or www.sparkfestival.ca. Our big thanks to everyone in Fernwood and at Fernwood NRG for your ongoing support.

Get Fit and Functional with Feldenkrais in Fernwood 2 classes per week Tuesday 5 PM & Friday 9:30 AM Register before Feb 1st and save on weekly classes and receive discounts on private lessons.

Instructor Roxanne Derkson RMT, Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner. Classes taught at Pembroke and Belmont.

Find out more and Register at www.vivitherapy.com Accepted

Call to Book 250.298.4484 | e info@vivitherapy.com | 1608 Camosun Street visit us online at www.vivitherapy.com

www.fernwoodnrg.ca

February 2012

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artist’s aside:

mark your calendar:

The Ministry Rolls On…

Reeling in Bullying New film festival encourages youth to get creative with an anti-bullying message

›› Victoria Community Centre Network

Artwork by David Granneman in the Ministry of Casual Living’s new window gallery in Odeon Alley.

This is one of the three new locations MOCL is curating. Photo: Aubrey Burke

›› Bamsey Franks Many of you have probably noticed that The Ministry Of Casual Living is no longer living at 1442 Haultain Street in Fernwood.

The once flagship enterprise of how wacky Fernwood was, is now gone. Why you ask?

Was it the building for sale? The bizarre parties and neighborhood complaints?

Or, most likely, the aliens coming and abducting the chosen ones for the 2012 awakening… some things will never really be clear.

So where will the Ministry go now?

Underground! Master minding new plans, creating new opportunities… and writing grants! Something that has traditionally been taboo for the centre is now part of the future model of total art dissemination in contemporary reality. You could say we’re growing up a little, but really, we will always be a wild child! Three new windowfront galleries downtown have recently been installed: 768 Yates Street, 407 Government Street and 625 Johnson Street.

These windows continue our tradition of publicly accessible art exhibitions and showing up-and-coming artists. All these changes have given the opportunity to

rethink approaches to art and the role of the gallery. This might be art on billboards, curating beaches, street installations, popup galleries, as well as combining forces with other socially engaging groups.

So what is going to happen to that big ol’ building we used to live in? Dreams and schemes are being laid out with other partner organizations to buy back the whole complex, including “Adams Groceries” and upstairs, so maybe you can help us. Imagine Fernwood’s very own artist-run center starship enterprise? It would consist of four storefront not-for-profit community groups, which could possibly involve art, a local produce stand, community space, and a “Haultain Square” or community garden.

It would also be able to support an artist residency program and subsidized housing for artists upstairs. So what’s the catch?

Basically all we need is to raise $1,000,000 to buy the building and turn it into an artist run center or community co-op. Yes, we know this is farfetched, but maybe you have some spare coin to back a massively innovative art and culture centre?

Oh and one last thing….

Thank You Fernwood! We couldn’t have done this without you!

Victoria’s Community Centre Network is launching a new film contest designed to address the serious issue of bullying.

Youth groups at each community centre will make a 30 second PSA that creatively conveys an anti-bullying message. All entries will be screened on February 24th, 2012 and reviewed by a panel which will include local media personalities. The winning PSA will be aired on CTV to help raise awareness of Anti-Bullying Day (February 29th, 2012).

“Our Community Centre Network (CCN) works together to create shared initiatives, events and programs for local youth. The suggestion to organize

an anti-bullying film festival was put forth by one of our committee members in November, 2011 and since then we’ve received tremendous support from local businesses and media including CTV, 107.3 KOOL FM and C-FAX 1070.” says Ryan Lance, Child & Youth Recreation Programmer for the City of Victoria and spokesperson for the contest. “It’s clear that bullying is an important issue and we want to give youth a chance to express and share their feelings on the topic.”

In last year’s Victoria’s Youth Vital Signs, youth said they want to see the community working to reduce all forms of bullying with more education. The film contest engages local teens in educating their peers and the wider community about the negative impact of bullying and gives them a chance to see their film on TV or win other great prizes.

The deadline for submissions is February 22nd, 2012 and youth can enter through their local Community Centre. Go to www.bgcvic.org/stopbullying for more details.

About Anti-Bullying Day: In the fall of 2007, two Canadian young men became aware of a Grade 9 student who had been bullied for wearing a pink polo shirt to school. Instead of retaliating with violence, these remarkable young men went to their local dollar store and purchased 50 pink shirts, distributing them to their high school friends the next day to wear in a show of solidarity to the young man who was bullied. This simple act of kindness garnered the attention of many, including Christy Clark, who was inspired to find a way to leverage their actions into something bigger, and “Pink Shirt Day” was born. Now in its 5th year, Pink Shirt Day has grown into a national public awareness campaign.

In 2008, former Premier Gordon Campbell proclaimed the fourth Wednesday in February as the Anti-Bullying Day across BC.

Zamian Sells Fernwood For more information on buying and selling real estate in Fernwood please visit ZamianSellsFernwood.com

250.514.1533 (direct) FERNWOOD’S REAL ESTATE EXPERT

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villagevibe

February 2012

News and views from the heart of Fernwood

garden gleanings:

Truth and Tips About Plants ›› Margaret Hantiuk I recently read a book by University of Washington horticulturalist Linda Chalker-Scott called The Informed Gardener Blooms Again. She is a research scientist and explains the latest information regarding growing plants. Here are some of her tips.

On ‘Companion Planting:’ The most effective approach to companion planting is to group plants with similar needs and where one may benefit another, for example, ‘The Three Sisters’ of American native farming, beans, corn and squash.

All three require full sun and are drought tolerant. More than that, beans fix nitrogen and climb up onto the corn stalks, shading minimally (vertical gardening), while the squash grows in between the rows, preventing weeds, erosion and shading the soil so there is less moisture loss. Other nitrogen fixers include poplars, willows, peas, birch and alder. Another approach is to plant spring blooming bulbs under deciduous trees, as they will be up before the leaves are out. Bulbs need summer drought to harden, and the tree canopy will provide this, with the tree roots taking up moisture around the bulbs.

On pruning: Do not use bleach to clean your pruning tools or to dress the wound.

Lysol or Pinesol are good for cleaning tools.

Remove dirt first and rinse off. Cut a tree close, but not into, the ‘collar,’ and leave it

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to heal naturally; no dressing is best.

On foliar feeding: This should only be done on cool, overcast days for short-term gain only. Some plants respond better than others. Chalker-Scott is convinced that generally it is better to feed through the roots, so use compost as mulch and water it in. In fact, plants can be injured if foliar feeding is done with fertilizers, and without testing the soil first.

On pruning young trees: ‘Heading’ back a sapling tree to make it full limbed is a mistake, with the exception of fruit and bonsai trees. Purchase a tree or shrub that is the shape you want and the size that is correct for your spot. Do not plant too close to walks, drives, roofs or neighbours.

Then let the tree grow naturally. It is okay to ‘raise the canopy’ after a few years (remove the lower limbs) and to remove dead, diseased and damaged wood.

On tree/shrub size estimates: So many factors will indicate eventual size, they can only be estimated. Besides genetics, factors include geography, climate and micro-climates in your yard, soil and drainage, watering, amount of light and shade, and injury. Trees tend to grow taller in Victoria, so look for trees whose tag/size is smaller than you eventually want.

On when to plant trees/shrubs: In the west, the fall is the best time to plant, because of our moist winters and too dry summers. In the east, the spring is better.

A great example of `informed gardening` is the TLC`s Abkhazi Garden. Prince and Princess Abkhazi worked on this garden together for over forty years. Photo: Margaret Hantiuk

On winter hardiness: Temperate plants naturally harden off as temperature and light decrease. Keep watering in the fall, just enough to avoid drought, but not as much as summer. Succulents and desert plants should be grown in pots with drainage or under eaves, or with other drought tolerant plants. Pots can then be moved under eaves or shelter, as these plants will die from soggy roots in our winters. Tender plants should be grown in sheltered spots or in pots that can be moved inside, or wrapped in burlap,

conifer branches, or even newspaper if the forecast is for extreme cold or wind. Plants will always do better with snow cover.

On pressure treated lumber in the garden: Don’t use pressure treated lumber

in food gardens or in children’s playgrounds.

Use rot resistant wood like cedar or juniper, synthetic lumber made of recycled plastic, or stone or concrete blocks. Lumber treated with boron or plain copper is not as bad; it is the chromated copper arsenate that is really toxic.

February 2012

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Scene in Fernwood : Control or Ownership?