THE LATEST DIRT Spring

2010

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE GREATER VICTORIA COMPOST EDUCATION CENTRE

Soil in the City By Marion Wylie

Walking home from downtown the other night, I was thinking about how disconnected people are in the city from the food they eat and the soil that it stems from. It dawned on me as I walked that the small patches of grass and manicured lawns that line the city streets are the closest that many people get to “nature” on a daily basis. On the weekends we may go hiking and be surrounded by the vastness and beauty of the Island, but on a daily basis most of us are surrounded by asphalt and concrete. I enjoy many of the benefits of high density living, but I can still see the importance of maintaining a connection to the Earth. The feeling of being connected to the soil that provides life can be therapeutic. Have you ever felt refreshed or had more energy after working in a garden? Have you ever felt more peaceful after a walk outdoors? These are some of the therapeutic benefits we can experience by being connected to the natural landscape around us. The restorative aspects and importance of interacting with the soil have long been recognized by other cultures and civilizations. Wolf Storl, a cultural anthropologist, once wrote that many people experience a spiritual connection to the soil viewing it as “Mother Earth from which all living forms sprang and to whom they all return, eternally virgin, ever-fertile and receptive.” This relationship between people and the Earth leads intuitively to soil management practices which honour the soil as an ecosystem and living entity. Viewing the soil as an ecosystem involves realizing the importance of organic matter and biological organisms in the production of healthy soil. Organic matter and living organisms in the soil promotes healthy plants by supplying balanced nutrients for growth, assisting in the preven-tion of plant diseases and pests and storing natural nutrients for gradual release while preventing them from washing away with the rains. Healthy soils store water more efficiently, reducing runoff and irrigation needs while trapping and breaking down pesticide residues and polluted runoff. It is mutually beneficial to people and planet to learn about and nurture the soil ecosystem. Within the Capital Regional District (CRD) there are many opportunities for city dwellers to connect to the soil around them. There are opportunities for individuals to start their own backyards gardens, to join community allotment gardens and to volunteer on community farms. We offer many practical and affordable workshops here at the Compost Education Centre for individuals interested in starting their own garden and for those who want to learn more about organic gardening and soil building. We have also launched an exciting new school program to teach middle school students about the importance of soil management called ‘Soil Sleuths’. For more information on urban gardening opportunities check out these links: Compost Education Centre – Offers classes and Friday afternoon work parties http://www.compost.bc.ca/learn/communityeducation.htm Lifecycles Sharing Backyards Program – Get involved with one of the many projects lifecycles has going or search their sharing back-yards program to find a backyard near you to start your own garden. http://www.sharingbackyards.com/browse/Victoria,%20BC&welcome_box=2 Community Allotment Gardens – A list of different community allotment gardens in the CRD http://victoriagardenclubs.blogspot.com/2007/12/victoria-community-gardens.html Woodwynn Farm – Volunteer to be part of the solution to homelessness and get your hands dirty. http://www.creatinghomefulness.org/ Haliburton Farm – Volunteer to be a farmhand at Farm work parties. http://www.haliburtonfarm.org/ Providence Farm – A therapeutic community – Volunteers always welcome. http://www.providence.bc.ca/

Staff

Nadine Brodeur Marika Smith Nashira Birch Kim Watt

Marion Wylie

Contact us at

1216 North Park Street (at Chambers) Victoria BC V8T 1C9

Hours of Operation Wed. to Sat. 10 am to 4 pm Closed on statutory holidays,

long weekends, and the month of December

Phone: 386-WORM ( 386-9676)

Fax: 386-9678

E-mail: info@compost.bc.ca

Website: www.compost.bc.ca

Board of Directors

Janet Hockin Gail Snider David Neate

Natalie Cushing Wendy Dunn Thomas Maguire Tim Taylor

Bill McKechnie (non-voting)

Contributors to this issue of

THE LATEST DIRT

Nadine Brodeur Marika Smith Nashira Birch Angela Moran Marion Wylie

Newsletter Formatting

Nadine Brodeur

We gratefully acknowledge the core funding support that we receive from the CRD and the City of Victoria. Addi-tional support is provided by the Fern-wood Community Association and through the generosity of our Compost Club Members and the residents of Greater Victoria.

Befriending Weeds & Pests at the AGM!

What can your weeds tell you about your soil or your garden? Weeds are not always the enemy - learn how you can “listen” to your weeds and maybe even befriend them at our Annual General

Meeting.

This year’s AGM will be full of great information on weeds and pests taught by our “sluggers” - our youth involved with our extensive permaculture program “SLUGS”. You will also have a chance to hear about what’s new in our ongoing programs and there will be lovely food and

snacks!

If you have been a Compost Club member for a month or longer, you are eligible to vote for the Board of Directors and other motions. If you would like to nominate someone for the Board,

please contact Nadine at 250-386-9676. Nominations will also be accepted from the floor.

Join us to hear from our knowledgeable youth, for a chance to win fantastic door prizes, and for

the usual great conversation and refreshments to tantalize the mind and the palate!

The AGM will take place at the Compost Education Centre on Sunday, April 11 from 1-3pm.

SLUGS Update

Our exciting new SLUGS youth program launched in early February and in the first month of weekly workshops the youth delved into the world of composting, soil science, permaculture and ecological gardening. All the students entered the program with a passion for making positive envi-ronmental change in their communities and have been using their enthusiasm to design and plan their own organic veggie gardens. For many of the youth, this will be the first garden they have ever created and it has been a lot of fun exploring all the food that can be grown in Victoria! The youth had the chance to see an organic garden in action on our first fieldtrip to Ragley Farm in East Sooke. The three inspiring farmers at Ragley Farm introduced the youth to dairy cows, market gardening, a farm bakery, and the fine art of herding chickens and ducks! Everyone had a great time and we are looking forward to the next few months of workshops and fieldtrips. Thanks to generous funding from VanCity enviroFund, the SLUGS youth program now has a drop-in option! Youth aged 15-18 can check out our Thursday afterschool workshops for $5 a session or they can register for the full season for $175. Program details and a workshop schedule are available from our website: www.compost.bc.ca. Call 386-9676 or email sitemgr@compost.bc.ca to register for a workshop.

Soil Sleuths - Our New Middle School Program

Sleuthing into the past, present and future, elementary and middle school students are learning about the importance of soil to the survival of ancient civilizations and to their every day lives. This month we are pleased to announce the launch of our new school program for students grades 4-8 - Soil Sleuths! This program is interactive and proactive, getting students to think about what soil can tell us about the past, cur-rent soil practices and about what we as individuals can do to ensure that soil is pro-tected and remains healthy and fertile. This program is a two part series. Part one begins with the students unearthing the mystery behind the collapse of an ancient Polynesian civilization on Easter Island. After solving this mystery the students start an experiment of their own to learn about the different properties of soil and soil management strategies. Two weeks later in the second session, students examine the results of the soil experiment and do some soil sleuthing around the world. Finally, they take action in their own school to ensure the future of healthy soil based on what they have learned. If you are a teacher, youth leader, or parent interested in booking a program for your students, contact Nashira at outreach@compost.bc.ca or (250)386-9676. The cost is $55 for the two workshops.

Volunteer Spotlight

Kid’s Compost Corner

Welcome to the new compost corner just for kids! Look for this section every season in our newsletter— Featuring fun compost facts, worm comics, jokes, and fascinatingly fun science experiments for your compost!

Ever wonder where the magic of spring starts? Take a look down under your toes…what is that stuff?? ….Soil!This spring become a soil sleuth and investigate the soil under you feet…This is where it all begins…and ends…and begins…and …

Fun Soil Facts: One cup of soil might hold

more organisms than

there are people on earth.

Every time you take a step

in a mature forest, you

are being supported by

the backs of 16,000 bugs

and critters.

It takes the earth

about 500 years to cre-

ate 1 inch of topsoil. We

need 6 inches of topsoil

to grow food. How long

does it take to make

enough soil to grow food?

Helpful Hint: To

make a worm with

your soil, put some

wet soil in the palm

of your hand and

roll it.

Investigate Your Soil: Why is Soil Important? What things that we

use come from soil?

List them below:

_________________

_________________

_________________

_________________

How much of our

food do you think

comes from soil? (see

answer below)

What can you do to

protect soil?

_________________

_________________

_________________

Answer: 99.7% (the other 0.3% is food we get from the oceans, lakes, and rivers.

Did you know that British Columbians lead the country with the highest number of volunteer hours given annually? The work of volunteers is essential to our communities and to our social fabric. Canadian volunteers contributed over two billion volunteer hours to organizations in 2007—the equivalent of one million full-time jobs! (according to the 2007 Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participation). Volunteering brings with it so many opportunities for individual personal growth, increasing self-worth and confidence, creating additional experi-ence for career growth and simply adding to a healthier and more fulfilling life. Here at the Compost Ed Centre, our volunteers are a precious resource! Many of our programs and services would not be possible without the dedication and enthusiasm of our growing group of dynamic volunteers! We run a fabulous Compost Educator Volunteer Training Program (CEP) 3 times a year in March, June and September which teaches our core principles of com-posting and organic gardening, along with public outreach skills to enable new volunteers to spread the good word on composting out in the community! For more information about how you can get involved in the wonderful world of volunteering at the Compost Ed Centre, visit our website www.compost.bc.ca under ‘Get Involved’, email Marika at office@compost.bc.ca or call the office Wed-Sat 10am-4pm (250)-386-9676.

Compost Educator Volunteer Training (CEP) is offered three times throughout the year: The dates for 2010 are Mar 18-20~June 10-12~Sept 30-Oct 2

Thursday and Friday 6:30pm-9:00pm~Saturday 9:00am-4:00pm Space is limited to 20 participants. Cost is $100 (sliding scale available) with $85 refunded upon completion of 30-hour practicum; volunteering at community events, assisting with the school programs and helping in our or-ganic gardening and compost demonstration site.

Congratulations to our CEP graduates on the completion of their Practicum: Kathleen Donison & David Stone

Many hands make our centre and community

thrive! Photo courtesy of Mel Shea

Upcoming Events DATE EVENT TIME COST

Mar 6 Composting Basics 10-12pm FREE Mar 6 Planning Your Year Round Veggie Garden 2-4pm $15 (Members refer to policy) Mar 13 Wriggling Worms for Kids 2-4pm $15 (Members refer to policy)

Mar 18-20 Compost Educator Volunteer Training Thurs & Fri eve, Sat $100, $85 refundable after practicum Apr 10 Composting Basics 10-12pm FREE Apr 10 Advanced Composting 2-4pm $15 (Members refer to policy)

Apr 11 Annual General Meeting 1-3pm FREE May 1 Composting Basics 10-12pm FREE May 1 No Dig Veggie Gardening 2-4pm $15 (Members refer to policy) May 8 Grow the Best Tomatoes 2-4pm $15 (Members refer to policy)

May 15 7th Annual Organic Plant Sale 10-1pm FREE

May 29 Winter Veggie Gardening 2-4pm $15 (Members refer to policy) June 5 Composting Basics 10-12pm FREE June 5 Grow the Best Brassicas 2-4pm $15 (Members refer to policy)

June 10-12 Compost Educator Volunteer Training Thurs & Fri eve, Sat $100, $85 refundable after practicum

June 19 Build the Best Soil 2-4pm $15 (Members refer to policy) June 26 Gardening in Small Spaces 2-4pm $15 (Members refer to policy)

MUST PRE-REGISTER FOR WORKSHOPS BY CALLING 386-WORM OR EMAILING info@compost.bc.ca

Organic Plant Sale !Organic Plant Sale !Organic Plant Sale !Organic Plant Sale !

Prepare yourself for our 7th annual Organic Plant Sale! We will have another large selection of plants including annual and perennial vegetables, ornamentals, and medicinal and herbal plants grown by local organic farmers. There will also be live folk music with Dick Pollard & friends and free mini-courses throughout the event!

Come early as the plants sell quickly...

When: Saturday, May 15th; 10 am When: Saturday, May 15th; 10 am When: Saturday, May 15th; 10 am When: Saturday, May 15th; 10 am –––– 1 pm 1 pm 1 pm 1 pm Where: Compost Ed Centre, 1216 North Park St.Where: Compost Ed Centre, 1216 North Park St.Where: Compost Ed Centre, 1216 North Park St.Where: Compost Ed Centre, 1216 North Park St.

THE LATEST DIRT is published quarterly. The deadline for submissions for the summer issue is June 20th, 2009. Submissions to the newsletter can be sent to the Compost Education Centre. Unless other-wise noted, articles appearing in this newsletter may be reprinted only in other not-for-profit publications, with the credit given to the author (when named) and

THE LATEST DIRT.

Printed on-post consumer recycled paper

Giving

Goes

Green!

Giving to the Compost Ed. Centre is easy! Save time and paper by offering your donations on-line through Canada Helps.org. Simply surf over to www.canadahelps.org and type in “Compost”. Our name is on the top of the search results. Or, visit our website and click the Canada Helps link. And of course, donations are still happily accepted at our office.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR DONATIONS

E. Nuse J. Stewart Stellar Seeds P. Rowand L. Vibert G. Seabrook C. Pattison L. Hilderdrandt

Growing Gardens Word Search

y t w o n l s m w r l

l c d i g a r d e n i

f n s d e e w n n g o

r e g g i d g n i w s

e k u i l e v o h s m

t c l c o m p o s t r

t i s h c l u m n s o

u h w o c m s g u b w

b c f l o w e r s e o

u c a r r o t s o e r

r a i n b s e e d s g

bees broccoli bugs

butterfly carrots chicken

compost dig flowers

garden grow mulch

rain seeds shovel

slugs soil sunshine

weeds wingdigger worms