let ’ s G row Together! A Complimentary Guide to Your Personal Gardening Kit
growing together
Growing Together is a project co-created by residents at Totem Lodge on the Sunshine Coast and students of Emily Carr University of Art + Design. Through our short yet sweet times together, we were able to share our life experience through the context of gardening. From our small icebreaker conversations, we were able to grow our relationship together by the end of our session. As a result of our time together, we’ve created a Growing Together kit that contains a personalized photobox, pots, soil, seed packets and plant markers.
1
growing conversations
Gardening was a recurring theme in our warm-up/ice breaker activity, as it was a space we were all familiar with. The concept of gardening symbolizes how our relationship starts off as a seed, but flowers after time and support.
We wanted to take this concept of gardening in a virtual space to gardening in a real space. After discussions with both residents and aids, we thought it would be a nice way of connecting other residents and care workers through the act of gardening and personalized plant markers that represent the residents we worked with.
2
instructions
Each seed packet corresponds with a plant marker, so that it may live outside of its packaging, in a garden or shared space where someone else may have the opportunity to read about these amazing residents at Totem Lodge, and get to know them a little better.
It’s simple! The residents can plant the seeds in the kit or work with already planted garden plots. After planting, place the garden marker corresponding with the newly planted. The blank markers are for the individual to determine what they want to say. Et voilà!
3
green onions
timing
Sow indoors in early Spring, and transplant 4 - 6 weeks later. Direct sow short rows at 2 - 3 week intervals from late Spring to the end of Summer.
seeding
Sow seeds 5mm - 1cm (1/4” - 1/2”) deep. Should you choose to plant multiple, plant 2 - 5cm (1 - 2”) apart, in rows 15cm (6”) apart.
growing
Fertile and well-drained soil is best for scallions. Bulbing types will form bulbs just at the surface of the soil. Non-bulbing types can be grown in shallow trenches, with soil added as plants mature to increase the white area at the base of the stem.
4
basil
timing
Start seed indoors in mid to late Spring, and transplant or direct sow with the arrival of warm weather. Basil does not thrive in cold weather.
seeding
Sow seeds 1cm (1/2”) deep and keep moist until seeds germinate. Thin or transplant to 15 - 20cm (6 - 8”) apart.
growing
Grow in full sun. Can be grown in raised beds, containers, or mixed with other plants. Soil should be fertile and drain freely. Once plants are 15cm (6”) tall, pinch the growing tip to encourage bushier growth. Must be harvested before colder season.
5
beets
timing
Direct sow 4 weeks after last frost to mid-summer. Beets will not produce roots if planted when the soil is too cold. Seeds will germinate in 5-12 days.
seeding
Sow 1cm (½”) deep, 5-10cm (2-4″) apart in rows 30-45cm (12-18″) apart.
growing
Harvest at any size, but for the best flavour, pull the beets as soon as they have reached full-size. Eat the greens too. Store in the ground, or in moist peat or sand just above freezing.
6
chamomile
timing
Sow seeds directly into a well drained soil in a sunny position in early Spring.
seeding
Sow seeds 6mm (1/4”) deep. If planting multiple, plant 2.5mm (1”) apart and leave 20 - 25cm in between rows.
growing
Chamomile can toloerate mild frost, and with proper care will come back each year. Keep weed free. When harvested, if left in a cool, dark place their fragrance can be improved.
7
petunias
timing
Sow seeds indoors 6 - 8 weeks before transplanting outdoors when weather becomes warm.
seeding
Requires covering with just enough soil to anchor it, about 3mm (1/8”) deep. If you would like to plant multiple, plant seeds 12mm (1/2”) apart.
growing
Chamomile can toloerate mild frost, and with proper care will come back each year. Keep weed free. When harvested, if left in a cool, dark place their fragrance can be improved.
8
sweet
timing
Start seed indoors in early Spring, 6 - 8 weeks before the last frost. Will self-seed.
seeding
Seeds should be sown 3mm (1/8”) deep. Should you choose to plant multiple, seeds should be planted 1.3cm (1/2”) apart. Blooms cluster in groups up to 15cm (6”) across.
growing
Seeds will sprout in 5 - 10 days. Blooms should appear in JuneJuly.
9
sunflower
Start seeds outdoors in mid-May in a sunny location with fairly good drainage.
seeding
Sow seeds 6 - 12mm (1/4 - 1/2”) deep. Should you wish to plant multiples, plant seeds 8 - 10cm (3 - 4”) apart. Transplant to 3045cm (12 - 18”) apart after germination.
timing growing
Sunflowers are annual, and grow back every year. The seeds in the centre of the flower can also be harvested to grom more sunflow ers. Water daily, preferably in the morning.
10
thank you betty + frances !
We’d like to thank you so much for spending time with us throughout this program. It was such a pleasure to not only learn about your life experiences, but to share our own with you as well. As we’re heading towards the summer season, we hope that the seeds provide a fruitful experience that reflects our time growing together and gives you something to look forward to.
Faye Erin Shaun
