Happy New Year to all MidSun Community Gardeners

2017 - So much going on in the world today, so it's so nice to be able to get back to our roots and start planning our 2017 Community Garden Goals.  Over the course of last year, a few changes occurred and although there were some setbacks, we have definitely been able to grow and include many new members.

Our first meeting of the year will be Monday, January 16, 2017.  Due to the renovations that are ongoing at the community centre, we will be having off-site meetings.  If you are interested in becoming part of our team, please send an email to midsuncommunitygarden@gmail.com  Everyone is welcome to attend and we will be providing an address closer to the date.

We are also looking to have a full calendar of events this year. We are inviting members of our community and the City of Calgary at large to participate in our community garden by sharing their talents and knowledge of all things garden related.

If you or someone you know are willing to come and teach a craft, a garden seminar, share your love of making herb infused oils or butters, share some garden wisdom, then please contact us so that we can start compiling a list of interested parties.

If you have any gardening knowledge that you would be willing to share, be it Tip and Tricks, identifying Pests or Partners, building a miniature garden or fairy gardens, anything along those veins, we would love to hear from you!

We are also looking for some inspiring new writers.  We are looking for anyone that might be taking journalism at school, or a hobbyist writer to help us with our blog and social media campaigns.  This would be ideal for someone who is passionate about writing and has an interest in community and gardening.  If you would be interested in possibly coming in to help out, please feel free to contact Kim Taylor at 403-466-8388 to discuss your ideas.

We also have a few key positions available on our garden board.  Specifically, we are in need of a Treasurer, a Volunteer Coordinator and a Vice Chair. If you or someone you know would be interested in assuming any of these positions, kindly send an email indicating your preference and we would love to meet with you!

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Garden last year and we are so excitedly looking forward to an even more incredible 2017!  Happy New Year Everyone and we look forward to seeing you at the garden!

Garden Clean Up

Final garden clean up Sunday October 2nd 10am-12pm

Please come and help us finish clean up around the garden and get everything ready for winter.

The Under Story

Are you finding it difficult to grow anything under that tree in your backyard? In the Under Story you will learn all about successful ways to plan and create a personalized garden under and around your trees. This program describes a variety of plant species that could be perfect for planting near your tree. We also show you real-garden examples of how an understory can evolve over time. After this program you will walk away with a wealth of information that you can apply to ‘sprucing’ up the area around your trees.

This workshop is taking place September 29th 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

You must rsvp to attend this event to midsungarden@gmail.com 

Garden Party

Garden Party

Thursday August 18th 7:00pm-9:00pm

Enjoy appetizers, wine, and live music while spending time with other gardeners. This gathering is for adults only.

Please RSVP to midsungarden@gmail.com

Tonights Garden Team Meeting

Tonight's Garden Team Meeting has been cancelled. 

Please stay tuned for a reschedule date.

Free Mulch Day

We have our Free Mulch Day on June 18 from 10am - 2pm, being run by two students Kaylee and Rebecca as part of a city-wide initiative.  There will be 40 yds of free mulch delivered to the community association for any gardeners or residents that would like to come by and get some!

ReTree Paint Nite

Don't forget to RSVP's for our RE-TREE Paint night.  Friday, June 17, 2016 from 7 pm to 9 pm.  We already have 6 people registered and we only have room for 15 people.  Please RSVP if you would like to come to this purely fun event!!!  A gardener's take on the Paint Night's that are becoming increasingly popular with people all over the city.  The first 15 people registered are the only ones who will be able to attend.

Garden Team Meeting

Garden Admin Meeting will be on Tuesday, June 14 at 7 pm, depending on the weather, we may be able to have it outside in the garden, but if not, it will be in the meeting room at the community centre. I will forward the minutes and agenda this weekend.

Soil Solutions Presentation

Just a reminder that we will be having Mike Dorion of Soil Solutions at the Community Centre this Saturday, June 11 from 9 AM to 12:00 noon, doing a presentation on Soil Solutions and Vermicasting as well as Compost Tea.  His presentation is quite fun and very interesting.  He will be spraying all of the garden, while he is there.  Please RSVP if you are planning on attending.

He will also have his famous compost tea available for sale.  It is 2.00 per 4 litre jug and you simply need to bring some milk jugs of your own to have them filled up, so that you can do your own gardens.

Spring Plant Share May 28th

Spring Plant Share

Saturday May 28th, 9am-1pm

Midsun Community Garden

50 Midpark Rise SE, Calgary

Our 3rd annual spring plant share is the perfect opportunity to thin out your existing garden or buy some great plants for your new garden. Please join us for some fun, great advice from experienced gardeners and shopping with some local businesses that contribute to our garden.

Garden Registration

The garden registration and bbq was a great success, so thank you to all the volunteers and people that came out and supported the event!

Community Mulch Day June 18th

Free Mulch

Saturday June 18th 10am-2pm at the MidSun Community Centre parking lot

The mulch is being distributed on a first come, first serve basis and homeowners are required to bring their own truck and materials for pick up.

Congratulations to Kaylee and Rebecca on making it to the top ten finalists for the City of Calgary's Caring For Our Watershed Contest and for making this happen.

All Things Tomato

All Things Tomato

Mid-Sun Community Garden

Tuesday May 10th 7:00pm

Learn all things tomato, pls rsvp to midsungarden@gmail.com

Garden Registration

This year's Garden registration/meet the team will be on May 7th 9am-1pm at the Midsun Community centre along with a BBQ. There will be a compost information session as well as sign up for gardeners to pick the team they'd like to volunteer on. A minimum 4.5 hour volunteer commitment from each gardener, over the course of the gardening season is required.  This ensures that our garden remains healthy, clean and viable year to year.  This volunteer commitment does not include the hours that you garden in your own plot.

Garden Team Meeting April 13th

Next Garden Team Meeting is on Wed, April 13, 2016 at 7 pm at the Community Centre. We will be discussing the upcoming Garden Registration, the Spring Plant Share and The All Things Tomato presentation that will be put on by Richard G and Cheryl G... Everyone is welcome! Hope to see as many people there as possible!!!

Calgary - Free Spring Waste Drop Off

With the mild winter and above-average temperatures this spring, many Calgarians are ready to tidy up their yards and get their gardens ready for the new season. Spring cleaning means plenty of yard waste that can be given a second life as compost. Calgarians are encouraged to drop off their yard waste for free at City landfills so it can be composted instead of thrown away.

From April 1 to May 29, all three City of Calgary landfills will waive fees for residential loads of leaves, branches, plants and other garden material. The yard waste will be composted at the sites, turning it back into a useful resource. 

“Yard waste makes up over a third of household garbage at this time of year,” says Sharon Howland, Leader of Program Management at Waste & Recycling Services. “Fallen leaves, branches and plants are all materials that can be composted instead of thrown away. By composting this material, it will help reduce greenhouse gases and turn it into a useful product that helps new plants grow.”

Here are four tips for Calgarians to know about the spring yard waste drop-off program before they come to the landfill:

• Make sure your load only contains yard waste like leaves, branches and plants (no sod – it can’t be composted at City sites). Charges will apply if the load contains other items.

• Residents are encouraged to leave their yard waste loose or put it in paper yard waste bags, which can be composted as well. If yard waste is loose, residents should make sure to secure and cover loads before transporting them.

• City landfills are open seven days a week from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.:

o Spyhill Landfill – 69th St. and 112th Ave. N.W.

o East Calgary Landfill – 17th Ave. And 68th St. S.E.

o Shepard Landfill – 114th Ave. and 86th St. S.E.

• For faster service, visit the landfill on a weekday or before 9 a.m. on Saturday or Sunday when wait times are shorter.

This program is for residential customers only. 

Click here 

Trees and Shrubs this weekend

This Saturday April 2nd 9:30am we have the City of Calgary hosting an information session on their Re-Tree program at the community centre. A $2.00 donation will get you an entry ticket to learning about gardening with trees and shrubs.

Please RSVP if you are planning on attending as there is a limited number of participants.

Garden Registration 2016

This year's Garden registration/meet the team will be on May 7th 9am-1pm at the Midsun Community centre along with a BBQ. There will be a compost information session as well as sign up for gardeners to pick the team they'd like to volunteer on.   

Returning Garden Members

Please make sure to advise the Garden Team that you are returning to save your plot, any members that have not confirmed their return by April 30th will lose their garden plots.

Next Meeting

Our next Garden Team Meeting will be on March 22nd 7pm-9pm at the community centre- everyone welcome!

Spring Plant Share

Spring Plant Share

Saturday May 28th, 9am-1pm

Midsun Community Garden

50 Midpark Rise SE, Calgary

Our 3rd annual spring plant share is the perfect opportunity to thin out your existing garden or buy some great plants for your new garden. Please join us for some fun, great advice from experienced gardeners and shopping with some local businesses that contribute to our garden. 

Upcoming Workshop: Starting Tomatoes From Seed

Starting Tomatoes From Seed: The Basics

Tuesday March 1, 7-9pm

Midsun Community Centre Boardroom

Join us as Mid-Sun Community Gardener Richard Glew shares the secrets to growing tomatoes in Calgary from seed. His presentation will cover the following topics: Why bother?; Planning and dates; tomato variety selection; light concepts; set up(lights, trays, pots); seed starting mix versus soils; damping off; planting, germination, and heat mats; watering and fertilizer; and hardening off. He will also discuss plans for plot 32, which will remain a tomato sampling bed for all community gardeners. 

Please RSVP to midsungarden@gmail.com 

2016 Garden Meeting

The first Garden team meeting of 2016 will be this Tuesday February 9th in the Midsun Community Association building from 7-9pm. Anyone interested in volunteering on the garden team is welome to attend. The meetings will be fun, informative, and a great opportunity to meet like-minded gardeners and community members.

Please RSVP by email or on our facebook page.