Spring is here and our seedlings are furiously breaking through the soil and reaching for the sun... In order to better bring this along, while protecting our large collection of seedlings from the elements, we have constructed a coldframe from an old skylight and bricks. The result are a group of thriving plants teeming with life.

This summer season is going to be very exciting. In preparation for the coming months, we have been hard at work preparing several different projects.

Berkeley Rapid Compost Pile

On the corner of Bellevue St. and Nassau St., you can find our first Berkeley Compost Pile. This labour-intensive method of composting creates soil very quickly (18-22 days) and is proving both sucessful and intruiging. This method of rapid compost is highly exothermic and does not produce unpleasant odours; within the first 10 days, our first pile has a rich and earthy aroma of soil. Find the pile and our sign for a full explanation at 61A Bellevue Ave.

We next turn the pile of compost this Tuesday @ 12pm

Reclaiming Space

Having garnered a great deal of positive attention from our neighbours, we have found some new spaces to claim for this year's adventures in growing food. To accompany the growing network of gardenspace that we are working with, we have also gone to great lengths to reclaim some unused residential space in the neighbourhood. Working with the property owner, we now have a 200 sq ft space to produce compost on a regular basis. Having space to produce soil is the first step in creating an economy of waste diversion and soil restoration.

Sheet Mulching

We bgean our first sheet mulching project on Sunday April 10th, when we filled the bottom of a claw foot tub with leaves and sticks, soaked the carbon base with water and then spread a thin layer of  some green surplus from a local market vendor.  Next up were layers of newspaper, and we proceeded by soaking each layer as we laid them down.  We added another green layer and then a foot of leaves also pleasantly moistened.  Atop it all, a layer of mushroom compost and then another layer of leaves to slow evaporation.

Using some of the surplus materials in our neighbourhood and diverting waste converge in creating healthy soil. Sheet Mulching is one of many tools in the toolbox of permaculture.

Interested in more? Tuesday April 20 we're going to try it again in a raised bed on Nassau St.  Check the events calendar for details if you would like to participate.