Community Seed Saving Workshop! Tomorrow, Saturday October 15th
Mercury Theatre (331 Brae Road)
10am-4pm
In this issue:
Saving Seeds for our Future!
As a part of the Seed Literacy Campaign, Cowichan Green Community (CGC) will be hosting a Fall Community Seed Saving Workshop on Saturday October 15th. Taking place at the Mercury Theatre, located at 331 Brae Road in downtown Duncan, doors will open at 9:30am and workshops will run from 10:00 am to 4:00pm. Featuring local seed saving experts, including Dan Jason of Salt Spring Seeds, this is the educational opportunity of the season! Covering topics from sowing and growing, to seed saving and storing, there will be tips and techniques to be learned for the novice and experience seed savers alike. Cost for the workshop is $30 for CGC members and $35 for non-members. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance from our office located at 181 Station Street, Duncan, BC. Limited bursaries are available for those in need of financial assistance. For more information, please contact the Cowichan Green Community at 250-748-8506. Participants are asked to bring their own water bottle, tea/coffee mug, a bagged lunch, pen and paper and their questions! Funded in whole or in part through the Canada-British Columbia Labour Market Development Agreement.
 Thanks to everyone who joined us for our annual Share the Harvest festival! We couldn't have hosted such an amazing event without partnering with our friends at Providence Farm and for all of those who joined us. It was a great day full of smiling faces as everyone enjoyed delicious brick -oven pizza, roasted corn, local farmers, a sheet mulching demo and of course, our annual local-ingredient pie contest. We would like to thank all of our volunteers, vendors and participants who helped make this event a fun one. Many thanks to our sponsors including the Cowichan Valley Bottle Depot, the C.V.R.D, Island Savings, Thrifty Foods at Beverly Corner, the City of Duncan, the Newsleader Pictorial, Service B.C. and M.N.P. for allowing us to make this event available to our community! We look forward to hosting this event next year!
For those of you who made it out to the Farmers Market on September 24th for our "Moving Planet 350.org" celebration, we hope you enjoyed the salsa made by a bicycle-powered generator! That's right, thanks to Leif Early and his bicycle powered generator, many people stopped by and seen man-powered salsa for the first time! Many people were educated on what Moving Planet 350.org is all about, which is a global grassroots movement to solve the climate crisis.
September 24th marked another day in which thousands of volunteers from grass-root groups throughout 188 countries came together to globally promote climate action by moving away from fossil fuel dependency. Whether it's planting trees, making art that can be seen from space, or inspiring others with demonstrations from people like Leif, there is no action too big or too small that doesn't make a difference for a collective movement to solve the climate crisis.
Click here for more information about Moving Planet 350.org and join the movement to solve the climate crisis! You can make a difference!
The News on the streets of Duncan, as of late, is a prediction of cooler winter this year. Whether the rumours are true or not, you might be wondering what precautions you could take this winter to protect you garden from damage due to hard frosts. Here are some tips:
* Mulch tender perennials/ shrubs heavily with straw, mulch or old leaves. By protecting the root zone and crown your plants will have a better chance of survival.
* If you have recently planted a new landscape, check regularly after hard frosts to make sure the root ball hasn’t heaved above ground. If it is sink the root-ball further down so that the roots keep contact with the surrounding soil.
* Move tender plants, potted plants inside or in a greenhouse.
* Wrap pot bottoms with plastic or burlap.
* Stake plants that have the tendency to break with heavy snowfall, shake limbs free of snow.
Don’t have time to prepare your yard for winter? Call Ceres Edible Landscaping for a fall cleanup and a winter prep. Call Kristi today at 250.748.8506 to book an appointment. spreading some mulch and helping prepare our community garden for another beautiful year of gardening. Please feel free to come out and help, but remember to dress accordingly for the weather and bring your work gloves! However, if the weather is completely horrid, we will have to reschedule, but keep your fingers crossed that it is a beautiful Autumn day!
Kinsmen Community Gardens:
Fall Cleanup by our friends at the Ethos Career Management Group!
The time has come for another Fall cleanup at the Kinsmen Gardens, but this time we have help from our friends at Ethos Career Management Group! Many hands means much lighter work, and we are so grateful for the amazing people we will be working with for the next month. Please feel free to come out and help when you see our friends working in the garden!
P.S.Preparing your beds for the winter is crucial to maintain healthy winter crops and to ensure nutrient rich soil for the upcoming year. Please refer to Kristi's tips on the Ceres blog by clicking here.
Sustainable Living Centre:
Healing Soaps from Spiritwood Natural Options!
  We are proud to introduce a new line of locally made soaps that just recently found a place in our Sustainable Living Centre. Created by Wendy Ewing, these soaps serve as a catalyst for her deep reverence of the natural world and a lifelong journey into the healing arts. The principles that guide Wendy's craft, heart, life journey, and work is to honor the soul and wisdom of plants and to preserve and nurture the environments in which they are grown. Tested and loved by the staff here at CGC, we all agree that the effects of Wendy's soap is something to be experienced for yourself! You can find Wendy's lovely soaps at 181 Station Street or go and visit her at the Farmer's Market.
 Unfortunately, our storage space will no longer be available after November 1st, 2011, so if you want a window, time is running out! For those of you wondering what to do with a recycled window, a cold frame is the perfect tool for extending your growing season. Build your own with one of these reclaimed windows. Originally part of Vancouver's City Hall, your new cold frame would also be a great conversation piece! To have a look, or pick up some up, please contact: john [at] cowichangreencommunity [dot] org. Donations are appreciated.
Community Events:
Documentary Night at the Library! On Monday, November 28, we'll watch Mad City Chickens, a look at keeping backyard hens. Please feel free to come and watch these free movies at the Vancouver Island Regional Library on James Street in Duncan, B.C.
Grow Food with Joy
Learn How to Grow Great Food using Perma-Culture Techniques that model Nature in our Gardens making Gardening Easier as we age. In this 3 Part Series we will explore Designing An Edible Garden, Soil Enhancement, Water Collection and Planting Schedules. Winter gardening will also be discussed.
When: Wednesday Oct 12, 19, 26
Where: Sunflower Cafe in Duncan
Cost: $50.00 for all 3
Registration: growfood [at] shaw [dot] ca or call 250-743-1352
GROW FOOD also produces a subscription based on-line Magazine for People Who Love to Grow Food. Download a FREE copy at www.growfoodnetwork.com
Make Your Own Lacto-Fermented Sauerkraut
Sauerkraut is a fermented cabbage specialty, eaten for millennium's by cultures around the world for its flavor and its health benefits. In this hands-on workshop, we will introduce you to the benefits of sauerkraut and will help you make your own one-liter jar of flavorful sauerkraut to take home. Price is $40 + $5 for materials.
Choose a date that works for you:
Monday October 17, 2011 10:00 AM -12:30 PM
Sunday October 23, 2011 10:00 AM -12:30 PM
Pre-registration for this workshop is required as space is limited to 8 participants. Contact Holly Howe at 250-746-7824 or holly [at] naturallynourishing [dot] com">holly [at] naturallynourishing [dot] com to register or for additional details. Workshop location is the Cowichan Green Community at 181 Station Street in Duncan.
Web survey for public input on the Active Transportation Plan: We would, of course, like to generate as many responses as possible to gain information on concerns for pedestrians and cyclists in the area. Please click on the link to give your input for active transportation plans in Duncan. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DuncanATP
Veggies Available!
Delicious veggies are for sale from Growing Opportunities, a non-profit collaborative. Growing Opportunities works collectively with people of all abilities to learn and gain experience of growing food on a farming scale. To order veggies or get involved email jenandbearit [at] gmail [dot] com or phone and leave a message at 250-753-3070.
Thursday Farmers Market from 2pm-7pm: Buy some locally grown, fresh fruits and veggies every Thursday from 2pm- 7pm @ the Cobble Hill Hall Field. For all inquiries call: 250.510.8343 or email: thursdayfarmersmarket [at] yahoo [dot] ca
Casual Farm Help Available. Weeding, planting, general farm labour. Contact CGC for more information. 250.748.8506.
Garden Spaces/ Greenhouses & Rental Suites:
Big Brothers Big Sisters needs a new office location by December 1st. We have a small staff, but do need storage for files and children's activities. We would also appreciate use of a board room. Please do let us know if you know of any space that would suit our needs and please feel free to forward this message to your contacts. Please contact Cammy Lockwood (Development Coordinator of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Cowichan Valley) by calling: 250-748-2447 or emailing: www.bbbscowichan.ca
Home for Rent: Large 3+ bedroom home in duplex on small organic farm in Cowichan Station. Looking for community minded family interested in gardening and farming. Rent $1000. Mostly wood heated. Call Jan at 743-5420
Needed: Home to rent in rural setting. Two respectful, responsible and hardworking adults w/young child looking for bright, cozy, private space w/ wood stove, land to keep chickens and create a market garden. Also willing to share labour on an existing farm. Excellent references available. Please call Steph @ 250.815.5488 or email: takkojak [at] hotmail [dot] com
Hope Farm has two tubing benders for loaning out to local growers wanting to make covered growing areas. We have one 4' low tunnel bender and one high tunnel bender. Please contact Michael Burdge at mike [at] hopefarm [dot] ca or 250.510.2111
Job Opportunities: (Note: Please reply directly to the job posting)
Cowichan Neighbourhood House Association is hiring a part-time Program Coordinator. Full job posting at www.cnha.ca Organic Fair is looking for a chocolate maker: Please contact them by visiting their website. www.organicfair.com
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Events: Community Seed Saving Workshop: Saturday, Oct. 15th 10:00am-4:00pm Mercury Theatre (331 Brae Rd., Duncan)  Featuring local seed saving experts, including Dan Jason of Salt Spring Seeds, this workshop will be the educational opportunity of the season! Covering topics from sowing and growing, to threshing and storing, there will be tips and techniques to be learned for the notice and experienced seed savers alike. Cost for the workshop is $30 for CGC members and $35 for non-members. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance from our office. Limited bursaries are available for those in need of financial assistance. For more information, please contact us.
Participants are asked to bring their own water bottle, tea/coffee mug, a bagged lunch, pen and paper and their questions! Mystery of Seed: A Seed Saving Workshop for Kids!
Wednesday, Oct. 26th
2:00pm- 3:00pm @ Vancouver Island Regional Library on Lewis Street
Do you know a young detective who is curious about seeds, where they come from and how they grow? If so, the Cowichan Green Community will be hosting an investigation to uncover these mysteries and more, on Wednesday October 26th 2011 from 2:00 – 3:00 pm, at the Vancouver Island Regional Library, Cowichan Branch (2687 Lewis Street, Duncan). Participating detectives will be given clues and evidence to where seeds can be found - learning that seeds really come from plants, not packages. In addition, participants will plant seeds to take home for their continued observation. Parents and care-givers are encouraged to attend and to take-part in the fun! For more information on this event, please contact Debra at 250-748-8506 or info [at] cowichangreencommunity [dot] org
Jean Crowder Petition:
Mandatory Labelling on Foods containing GMO's
(Genetically Modified Organisms)
We are happy to inform you that Jean Crowder's office has initiated a petition you can sign for the implementation of mandatory labeling on food products that contain genetically modified organisms. Show your support by either coming into our store front at 181 Station Street to sign the petition, or you can click on the link below and print off a sheet that you and your friends, family, neighbour's, co-workers, etc can sign. Please get involved because this petition could radically change the health of our future, as well as our choice to eat GMO Free Food!
http://www.jeancrowder.ca/petitions
Support CGC through the Peninsula CO-OP!
Would you like to support CGC, but aren’t sure how? An easy way to donate to CGC could be the next time you go to fill up with gas. If you stop at your local Co-op gas station, just tell them you want to donate your gas purchase points to Cowichan Green Community's account (#49620)! It will quickly add up for us, we can put the points to great use, and the Peninsula Co-op is a Vancouver Island based co-operative! Awesome!
Thank You's:
We would like to send a big thank-you to the Community Kitchen for the donation of canning jars for our series of canning workshops. And, on that note, many, many thanks to our friends at the Somenos Women's Institute who directed our hands-on canning and preserving workshops! (Check out our next newsletter for a full recap on our preserve the harvest series).
A BIG thank-you to all of our FruitSave pickers and homeowners who have helped us throughout the summer. We couldn't collect fruit without the home owners generous donations, or without those who have been out there, collecting fruit to be donated to local food banks. You are truly doing a great service for our community and alongside the food banks, we truly appreciate your time and effort! If you would like to know more, or get involved with our Fruit Save program, please click here!
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