Our friends at Saanich Community Food Bank Garden (SCFBG) on Vancouver Island always have a bountiful garden. SCFBG is a regular contributor of fresh organically grown vegetables to their local food bank in Victoria, BC donating hundreds of pounds of produce each year, since 2007. Wonder what is the secret to their success? Here are a few:
- amazing volunteers
- annual manure spreading
- irrigation, and….
- organic fertilizers
Here are 2 recipes used to feed their vegetable crops that you can use in your garden. One is a granular mix and the other is liquid and involves fish and molasses. See the photo for the recipes!
The Granular Organic Fertilizer can be simply made with supplies available at larger gardening shops. It is slow release because it will provide nutrients to your plants as microbes break down the ingredients. The Liquid Fertilizer can be applied to give plants an instant boost. If plants are in the flowering and fruit set phase you want to limit sources of Nitrogen (N) in your liquid fertilizer and have adequate ratio of Phosphorous (P) and Potassium (K) to ensure good crop development.
A good reminder for this time of year is to take your time to let your watering penetrate the soil deeply. This way you will encourage stronger root development and need to water less frequently. Water promotes microbial activity to ensure they do the hard work of making nutrients available to your plant roots.
Want to learn more about this ministry based out of Saanich Community Church? Read more below.
A Growing Mission:
The Saanich Community Food Bank Garden is a practical project that provides fresh, nutritious food to the Mustard Seed Food Bank in Victoria BC. The idea to plant a garden arose from a desire to be good stewards of our church property, to create a place to learn about sustainable food production, and to provide people with a practical way to help others in need.
Each year about 20 types of vegetables, fruits, and herbs are harvested, including carrots, beans, onions, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, asparagus, rhubarb, squashes, beets, turnips, oregano, parsley, chives, grapes and apples
Relationships are nurtured as people labour together, caring for both people and plants. The garden is tended entirely by volunteers who decide what, where, when and how to plant. Volunteers come from our church and the broader community. Consultant expertise comes from garden volunteers and ‘friends of the garden’.
Since its inception, the garden has produced thousands of pounds of produce that are delivered to the Mustard Seed Food Bank in Victoria weekly or biweekly from May to October. The Saanich Community Food Bank Garden is one of the few places that donates fresh produce to the food bank. The nutritious produce goes into the hands of needy folks (usually families with children) as soon as it is received at the food bank.
Excerpt from their Facebook Page: Saanich Community Foodbank Garden
Website: http://saanichcommunity.ca/ministries/
