Food

Winter Gardening

Linda Gilkeson has been writing a series of articles on Winter Gardening. You can contact her by email to be added to her mailing list or visit her website: www.lindagilkeson.ca.

Here is an archive of past articles...

(Please note that some of the information is time sensitive)

2013

June 17, 2013 - Winter Brassicas, carrot day and so much more (pdf)
May 22, 2013 - Thinking of Winter Yet? (pdf)
May 2, 2013 - Heat Alert (pdf)
April 23, 2013 - Spring Planting, Starting Squash (pdf)
March 29, 2013 - Strawberries (pdf)
March 8, 2013 - Chitting, Digging & Sprouting (pdf)
February 20, 2013 - Move mulch, start seeds, learn beekeeping (pdf)
February 1, 2013 - Bug your local garden centre (pdf)
January 22, 2013 - Seeds, pruning, new book (pdf)

2012
December 30, 2012 - Cold snap; the coming season (pdf)
November 22, 2012 - Leaves, a question and upcoming events (pdf)
October 11, 2012 - Garlic, Pears, Leaves (pdf)
October 1, 2012 - Tomatoes and a correction (pdf)
September 29 2012 - When the rains come... (pdf)
September 10 2012 - The Fungi of Fall (pdf)
August 22, 2012 - Corn Salad, Feeding for Winter (pdf)
August 9, 2012 - Last chance to fill every space (pdf)
July 20, 2012 - Winter greens, winter squash, garlic rust (pdf)
June 24, 2012 - Good Heavens! Carrot Day is nearly here (pdf)
May 30, 2012 - Planning for Winter's Harvest (pdf)
May 10, 2012 - Sweet Corn & TCs (pdf)
April 17, 2012 - Haskap, olives & veggie starts (pdf)
March 25, 2012 - Spring planting signals (pdf)
March 7, 2012 - Chitting potatoes & pre-sprouting peas (pdf)
February 23, 2012 - Cool Roots & Starting Seeds (pdf)
February 3, 2012 - Spring Fever (pdf)
January 23, 2012 - Everything Seedy and those pesky tent caterpillars (pdf)

2011
November 18, 2011 - Getting Colder! (pdf)
October 30, 2011 - Mulching, Bracing & Apple Trees (pdf)
September 28, 2011 - Garlic & Sprouts (pdf)
September 6, 2011 - Cover crops & fall planting (pdf)
August 15, 2011 - Last plantings; garden question forum (pdf)
July 30, 2011 - Last chance winter crops; new gardening classes (pdf)
July 18, 2011 - Planting for winter, reconsidering summer crops (pdf)
July 1, 2011 - Pollinating Squash (pdf)
June 24, 2011 - Celebrate Carrot Day (pdf)
May 31, 2011 - TCs and BSs (pdf)
May 3, 2011 - Tomatoes for 2011 (pdf)
April 19, 2011 - Fruit Pollination and Peas (pdf)
April 2, 2011 - Picking and planting right now; book launch invitations (pdf)
March 13, 2011 - Backyard Bounty starts now (pdf)
February 21, 2011 - Cold alert! Cover the veggies (pdf)
February 1, 2011 - Seeds and Seedy Saturdays (pdf)

2010
November 18, 2010 - Button up for cold (pdf)
November 1, 2010 - Gardeners, start your mulching! (pdf)
October 8, 2010 - Garlic planting, sprout pinching and last harvesting (pdf)
September 15, 2010 - Diseases (again), apple trees, gardening workshops (pdf)
August 17 2010 - Last winter greens, squash, seed savers (pdf)
July 28, 2010 - Sowing winter greens (pdf)
July 23, 2010 - Seeding Winter Greens, Plant & Seed Sales (pdf)
July 19, 2010 - Winter veggie plant sales on SSI (pdf)
July 4, 2010 - Garlic rust strikes - and maybe some heat (pdf)
June 26, 2010 - Carrot Day is almost here. Tomato warning (pdf)
June 15, 2010 - Time for winter broccoli and cauliflower (pdf)
May 25, 2010 - Coping with a cool spring; get ready for winter (pdf)
April 19, 2010 - Honey figs, tea bushes and other fruit (pdf)
March 25, 2010 - The last frost mirage (pdf)
March 7, 2010 - Timing is Everything when Starting Seeds (pdf)
Feb 17, 2010 - Haul in the Carrots (pdf)
Feb 7, 2010 - What's shredding the Kale? (pdf)
Jan 31, 2010 - Starting leeks; heading for Seedy Saturday (pdf)

2009
Dec 17, 2009 - Last chance books, Seedy Saturdays and food gardening courses (pdf)
Dec 4, 2009 - Last chance mulch (pdf)
Nov 2, 2009 - Do you know where your mulch is? (pdf)
Oct 10, 2009 - Garlic & Last Harvests (pdf)
Sept 19, 2009 - All things sprouty (pdf)
Aug 30, 2009 - It's not too late (but act now); curing winter squash (pdf)
Aug 16, 2009 - Seeding salads; Veggie starts are in at Foxglove (pdf)
Aug 6, 2009 - Last call to sow winter greens; pollination troubleshooting (pdf)
July 23, 2009 - Seeding Winter Greens, Plant & Seed Sales (pdf)
July 12, 2009 - For Salt Spring gardeners - Winter transplant sale (pdf)
July 7, 2009 - Last Call for Carrots & Get Ready for Greens (pdf)
June 19, 2009 - Bring on the Broccoli, Prepare for Carrot Day (pdf)
May 31, 2009 - Thinking of Winter - Believe It or Not (pdf)
May 7, 2009 - Successful Succession (pdf)
April 17, 2009 - Hardening off Tender Transplants (pdf)
April 1, 2009 - Give [Your] Peas a Chance (pdf)
March 23, 2009 - Dig Your Carrots (pdf)
March 9, 2009 - Vernalization and Your Veggies (pdf)
February 23, 2009 - Celeriac (and Celery): Now is the time to start seeds (pdf)
February 12, 2009 - Leeks, Onions and Seedy Saturday (pdf)
February 6, 2009 - Seed Sources (pdf)
January 19, 2009 - Seedy Saturdays (pdf)
January 3, 2009 - Signs of life under the snow (pdf)

2008
December 10, 2008 - Arctic outbreaks and your garden (pdf)
November 5, 2008 - Mulch, Cover & Brace (pdf)
October 3, 2008 - Last harvest for summer crops (pdf)
September 18, 2008 - Last minute plants and pests (pdf)
September 7, 2008 - Thining, Pinching, Curing and Garlic (pdf)
August 29, 2008 - GVM Plants update (pdf)
August 25, 2008 - Last Chance Plants (pdf)
August 18, 2008 - Corn Salad and Plant Sales (pdf)
August 10, 2008 - Sources of Winter Crop Seeds and Seedlings (pdf)
August 04, 2008 - Winter Lettuce and Spinach (pdf)
July 18, 2008 - Leafy Greens (pdf)
July 07, 2008 - Winter broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage starts (pdf)

Sponsored by the Salt Spring Energy Strategy.
Download the Winter Gardening Table (pdf)
Download the Winter Gardening Table (back) (pdf)

July in the Garden (pdf)
May in the Garden (pdf)
April in the Garden (pdf)
March in the Garden (pdf)
February in the Garden (pdf)

For the Love of Leeks (pdf)

Winter Gardening Press Release (pdf)

Have you ever wondered how people produce those amazing cauliflower in March or how to grow your own salad greens throughout the cold winter months? Organizers are excited about this series which provides practical information for successful winter gardening. Growing winter vegetables is fun, provides increased food security, and reduces Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions.

~Past Events ~

PRESS RELEASE - January 25, 2007
SEEDY SATURDAY

The demand for locally grown food is ever expanding as consumers become increasingly aware of the benefits that local food productions has for health, the environment and the local economy. It is difficult these days to open a newspaper or turn on the radio without hearing concerns over the disposition of ALR lands, how to integrate farmer’s needs into official community plans, or how to ensure the vibrancy of local food markets.

Among the numerous activities underway here on Salt Spring to address these types of concerns, Island Natural Growers has organized another series of workshops aimed at supporting growers to feed our community. The four workshops, which will be held on the February 10th/11th weekend, are full of valuable information for farmers, market gardeners or anyone interested in starting commercial food production. The topics to be covered are: tools for small scale farming, community supported agriculture (box programs), cover cropping and conservation tillage, as well as the logistics of organic certification.

For more information or to register, contact Cora 537-0824 or smeecat@telus.net

PLAN TO FARM
Setting the Table for Food and
Agriculture on Salt Spring Island

Community Dialogue Session #1: Issues
Saturday, January 20, 1.30 – 4.30 pm
Location: GISS Multi-purpose room
Background for Dialogue 1
Dialogue 1 - Summary

Community Dialogue Session #2: Opportunities
Saturday, February 17, 1.30- 4.30 pm
Location: GISS Multi-purpose room
Background for Dialogue 2

Community Dialogue Session #3: Vision
Saturday, March 10, Time and Location: To be confirmed

The Salt Spring Island community is embarking on a process of developing an Area Farm Plan.  We are seeking the involvement of all groups and individuals who have a stake in Salt Spring Island’s food and agriculture system: eaters, farmers, retailers, restauranteurs, food processors, community organizations, tourism operators and others. The purpose of this letter is to invite you to participate in the planning process and to provide you with some further details.

 The goal of this project is to develop an Area Farm Plan for Salt Spring Island that will re-establish agriculture and associated activities as a social, cultural and economic priority on Salt Spring and facilitate the growth of associated farming activities. The final plan will make recommendations with a particular focus on local policies, planning and land use and will provide input into the OCP Review process.  Our goal is to have a final plan that clearly reflects the issues, opportunities and vision of our unique community.

The process is sponsored by the Island Natural Growers, the Islands Farmers Institute and the Islands Trust with funding support from the BC Investment Agriculture Foundation, the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands and the CRD.  

A key part of the process will be three Community Dialogue Sessions that we hope you can attend. The Dialogue Sessions are designed to provide you with the opportunity to discuss a variety of issues related to the future of agriculture and food on Salt Spring Island.  The meetings are designed to build on each other, so we hope you can attend all three.

The input and feedback received at the Community Dialogue Sessions will play a critical role in shaping the final Area Farm Plan, which will be completed late in 2007.

While everyone is welcome to participate, we do ask for advance registration. Please RSVP for the first Community Dialogue Session by January 15, 2007. A background document and other information will be sent to you a week prior to the meeting. 

Thank you in advance for your participation. We look forward to working with you.

Anne Macey
For the Steering Committee, Salt Spring Island Area Farm Plan
RSVP to macey@saltspring.com or 537 5511 

Other information:

Eating local - by Maggie Ziegler (pdf)
Food and the One Tonne Challenge - by Erin Harper (pdf)
Island Natural Growers
The Island Agri-Food Initiative