As the Garden Grows

    Used coffee grounds can be used in the garden as a fertilizer, compost ingredient, and soil amendment to improve drainage and add nutrients like nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. They can also help deter some pests and are a favourite of earthworms. How to use coffee grounds in the garden ·          Compost: Add used coffee grounds to your compost bin. They are considered a "green" or nitrogen-rich material, so balance them with carbon-rich "browns" like dried leaves and newspaper. ·          Fertilizer: Sprinkle a thin layer on the soil surface and gently work them in. This is best for acid-loving plants like blueberries, azaleas, and hydrangeas. ·          Soil conditioner: Work coffee grounds into the soil to improve its structure, drainage, and aeration. ·          Attract earthworms: Earthworms are attra...

  I’m pleased to tell you that 81% of the gardeners from the 2025 season have chosen to return for the 2026 garden season. Some have kept their original plots, some have exchanged plots for different ones, and some have simply added more plots to increase their holdings. Thank you all for choosing to continue gardening with us. Of the 19% remaining plots, 8% have already been rented to new gardeners. Welcome! Some have taken advantage of the early rental and have fall planted some of their crops. (Garlic especially comes to mind) That leaves us with 11% of our original plots available to rent for the 2026 growing season. There are a few single plots available, and several multiple side by side plots available should you wish more than one together. We are accepting new applications anytime from now to next year. A completed lease agreement with a $50 refundable damage deposit per plot will hold your plot choice(s) until you are ready to plant next year. Should the dem...

I’m pleased to report that Strathcona County has completed the culvert replacement underneath Range Road 221 at Highway 16. You no longer are required to detour around by using Range Road 222 or Range Road 220. You may resume your regular route to come to the garden.

  If there was any doubt in your mind that our gardening season is over for this year, this should convince you… At about 5 am this morning, the temperature had dropped to a staggering (in my mind anyway) -8°C !!!!! It is predicted that the temperature will not rise above zero until about 10am this morning. This means that we will have had a hard freeze for at least 10 hours. For the few of you that have yet to harvest some of your crops,   here are some facts that you should know… The status of garden vegetables after freezing varies: many frost-tolerant root vegetables like carrots and parsnips actually improve in sweetness, while others, especially fruiting vegetables like tomatoes and peppers, suffer irreversible water-soaked, mushy damage. While some vegetables can be salvaged by harvesting and cooking, others are completely ruined and should be discarded.  HARVEST FROST-TOLERANT VEGETABLES Root crops : (carrots, beets, potatoes, parsnips, turnips) can remai...