March's Guest Speaker

This months guest speaker will be Dr. Katherine A. Frego.Professor and 3M National Teaching Fellow,Dept. of Biology, University of New Brunswick.

Her topic will be on POSITIVE bug/plant interactions – basically roles bugs can play, including some that may be unexpected. 

February's Guest Speaker Jude Carson-Community Garden Project

Jude Carson is a retired writer and keen gardener.

 While she was writing, gardening was one of her main subjects. It was also during that time that she and other interested people conceived the idea of the Greater Saint John Community Garden. She'll tell us about the beginning days and the status of the Garden today, still thriving in its 13th year, and bring photos to show its progress.

What is the Community Garden Project The Greater Saint John Area Community Garden (G.S.J.C.G.) is a volunteer project working with the Leisure Services Department of the City of Saint John. It was established to provide an opportunity for citizens to have a place to garden. The Community Garden is located on the former site of the Rockwood Elementary School.

Meeting place is at regular meeting location - New Date Feb-8 

Seasons Greetings

Tony Rickett - Dunham's Wharf Vineyard -Nov's Guest Speaker

Tony Rickett has been developing Dunham's Wharf Vineyard for seven years located in Gorham's Bluff on the Kingston Pennsula. With five acres of land where 3,000 grape vines grow in rows. Rickett has spent seven years planting a variety of grape vines on his property and tending to them until they are ready to pick, crush and turn into wine he says tastes "absolutely fabulous.Grapes, some white, some purple, and some shades in between, drip in bunches off the vines and provide a lunch for the hungry birds that visit the property. A loud bird sounds in the background and Rickett explains that it is a sound-machine used to scare off the vultures. His love of fine wine inspired him to grow wine grapes - a challenge he says has been tackled by few, if any, on the Kingston Peninsula. "I hope people get encouraged to say it can be done and try it," Rickett said. He explained that the climate on the peninsula teeters on the edge of being suitable to grow wine grapes.  With the large amounts of rainfall, he said this summer has not been great for the crop. But the way his property gradually slopes towards the river helps fend off frost for one to two weeks longer than other areas of the peninsula. Seven years ago he planted his first vines and has grown the crop steadily each year. He said vines take about five years to produce grapes. Each of the five acres of vines on his property produces one to two tonnes of grapes, half of which he shared with the raccoons and birds in the area. The grapes he grew last year were used to make about 100 bottles of wine. Rickett is not licensed to sell the wine and he makes no money off his efforts. It is a project he says he does because he loves it.Two years ago Rickett decided to take on a new project - growing hops. He said hops grow on vines and produce bunches of small cones that hang off the plants that wrap around stakes on the edges of his property. He said it grew about six inches a day - so fast he could watch it. "When you cut it (the cone) open it looks like yellow traffic paint," Rickett said. "It is what gives beer the aroma it has"They are used to flavour beer and the ultimate test for a brew master is to use fresh hops to make a beer." Rickett said he passed the hops he grew this year on to brew master Wendy Papadopoulos. She used them to make a beer called Indian Beach Nut Brown Ale that is being sold at the Big Tide Brewing Company in Saint John.

Wreath Making Nov 15,2011

REMINDER – Fundy Gardeners Greenery Workshop will take place this Tuesday, November 15th from 6:00 to 9:00 PM at the Rothesay Arena –upstairs meeting room. The focus will be on making a wreath, however if you choose you can also create a seasonal centerpiece. The workshop will be led by Fundy Gardener Chris Crowley who will supply wreath forms, wire pallets and lots of greenery. All you have to bring is:


 pruners (if you have some)

 ribbon -2 to 3 inches wide

 decorations such as pine cones, rose hips, bells etc. that you might want to use

 container if you’re making a centerpiece

 Optional is - skin-so-soft to take off the sticky greenery residue.


If you haven’t yet registered it’s not too late - the class can accommodate 20, and there are a few spots remaining. If interested please call Pat McGill at 849-4353 ASAP. Workshop cost: $10.00/pp

Oct's Guest Speaker Dave Product Pack -Kredal's Hampton

WHAT IS DAVE’S PRODUCE PACKS?: We are six university students who share a passion for sustainable, local farming. Under Dave’s guidance, the team will plant, weed and harvest the largest variety of vegetables possible. No chemicals,




pesticides, insecticides, herbicides or chemical fertilizer will be used. Each week, beginning in mid-June, they deliver a pack of veggies, artisan bread and a dozen of free-run eggs to a pickup point in your area. Our season lasts from the second or third week of June until a week or two after the first hard frost, usually the second or third week of October.
MORE THAN VEGETABLES: If available, we will always try to provide seasonal berries such as strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. We understand that our packs include a lot of vegetables, so as added variety, we also want to start occasionally including other SFL approved LOCAL food products such as cheeses, meats, fish, preserves and more. For example, one week could include a pack of Bruce’s SFL sausages, which are so popular or a bottle of homemade jam, which we would make. Of course, with these products we will have a selection and/or a choice, as well as an option for vegetarians and vegans.

September Meeting

FUNDY GARDENER’S MEMBERS NIGHT

“Show and Tell”

 

Bring something from your garden that you would like to” show and tell” about for 2-3 minutes.
“People’s Choice”

 3 categories

 1.Miniatures Six inches or under, including container

 2. "Harvest Happening”

 3.“Anything Goes”

 Prizes will be certificates from Fundy Gardeners 

This is meant to be a FUN night for sharing your garden high and low lights

  

Please have exhibits here by 6:45 p.m. People will vote before the meeting and during the break, with votes being tabulated during the “show and tell”. Certificates will be handed out as soon as the votes are tabulated.

  

FOOD

 

If you have something yummy from your garden you would like to share (jams, jellies, etc.) please bring it !!