Gardening

Fairlawn Green Action:
Gardening

Objective statement

USE LESS WATER ON OUR GARDENS by composting and mulching with three carloads of mulch and at least 12 volunteers for work on the Fairlawn gardens on May 7^th from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm by spreading compost first, then 2 inches of mulch.  Then encourage individuals or groups in the church to “adopt a garden” for maintenance of the gardens on an ongoing.

Status

Gardening Event with the Earth Angels
The Gardening Action Team will once again be sponsoring a "Garden Event" this spring ~ on Monday evening, May 5th, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm.

Last year a huge team of volunteers showed up for fun, fellowship, treats and a little effort to beautify the Fairlawn gardens and cover the gardens with wood chips.  Be part of the action again this year!

Benefits of wood chips:

• Save water and labour: less watering needed, no weeding and more rain absorption
• No need for chemical weed killers or pesticides
• Nourishes the soil by adding nutrients as the chips decompose
• Keeps soil and roots from overheating in hot summers
• Stimulates growth: mulch-covered trees grow faster than non- covered trees
• Makes trees more resistant to disease and insects

See the "Green Tip" Gardening with Compost & Wood Chips for more ideas.

Composters
The team scrounged many additional SoilSaver composters, now located beside the church with the others. One was lined with a garbage bag to contain dandelions which will be put out with yard waste since they should not be composted.

Adopt a garden
The Gardening Action Team has set up an "adopt a garden" scheme, and all sections of the gardens have a sponsor now. If you'd like to help them out with the gardens, please contact us.

Adopt a lawn plot
An approach of adopting a plot of lawn has begun to address those dandelions! Peter Heinz will do the lawn under the new window from the garden to the walk. Contact us to volunteer for another portion of the lawn. Why not get your own little group together , pick a piece of lawn, and make a fun event of it on a regular basis!

Outings
A Fairlawn outing will be held again for Earth Day. In 2007, we went tree planting at Downsview Park, with our group contributing to the 2900 trees that were planted that day. This year, we're planning another great event! See the Events page for details in April.

Get your lawn off grass!
Here's one reference: How to get your lawn off grass
Let us know if you find a great web site on this topic!

Action Team

Judy McAdam, Rob Metcalf, Sue Metcalf, Peter Heinz, Carolyn Deeth, Jan Schlee