May 12, 2015

Upcoming Events!

Posted by ICGS under Announcements, Greenhouse, In Our Community, Operations Volunteers | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
[2] Comments 

The snow is melting and the greenhouse is heating up! It’s almost time to plant.

Things always get busier this time of year. Don’t forget to check out our online calendar. We’ll be adding more events as the summer approaches.

For now, here’s what’s on the agenda…

Saturday, May 16, 11 AM to 1 PM – Work Party

It’s our first work party of the year! Come out to help us prep the soil for planting. We’ll be cleaning up what we can around the greenhouse and working to thaw out our compost in the outdoor bins. You can also sign up for proposed committees and we’ll chat about what we’ll be planting. Become a member if you haven’t yet, too. The temperatures inside the greenhouse are warm enough so that we’re hoping to get some radishes in the beds.

Tuesday, May 19 – Trivia Night (tentative)

We’re still confirming a venue, but we have loads of questions ready to stump you. Help us raise funds to assist with our operating costs. Always a great time and we definitely also think it’s a worthy cause.

Saturday, May 30, 11 AM to 1 PM – Work Party/Full Greenhouse Plant

We’re aiming for our earliest planting in the greenhouse ever. We’ve been monitoring our temperatures for the past couple of seasons and have decided to make this our day. There will be lots of work to do, so come out with your families and join the ICGS this year. We have so many exciting things planned!

 

June 13, 2014

We’re Planting and Car Washing…Come on Out!

Posted by ICGS under Announcements, Greenhouse, In Our Community, Operations Volunteers | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |
Leave a Comment 

It’s going to be an exciting and fun-filled greenhouse weekend!

Saturday, June 14 – come out to the greenhouse between 11 AM and 1 PM.  Let’s get the season started.  We have soil. We have water. And now, we have seeds. We’re ready to get things moving and will be planting until we can’t plant anymore. Still not a member? Sign up online right now!

Sunday, June 15 – still need a gift for your father that will be useful and help a local organization? We are holding a car wash and barbecue fundraiser at the fire hall between 10 AM and 2 PM. Our first attempt at a car wash this year was postponed due to low temperatures, so get on your dancing shoes and start your anti-rain dance for the day.

We still need volunteers for the car wash and barbecue.  Can you help? Sign up here! Every minute you can help counts.

carwash poster

 

May 28, 2014

What We’re Planting

Posted by ICGS under Greenhouse | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |
Leave a Comment 

Thanks to everyone’s input last year, the ICGS was able to sort out a good starting plan for how to plant community-style.  This year, we’re looking for your input again.  The Board has come up with a list of seeds we’d like to purchase for this year’s growing season.  Let us know if we’re missing anything or if we need to change our percentages.  This list is based on the plants that grew successfully last year, as well as the types of produce that people were interested in.

First Plant

  • Radish – 10%
  • Carrots – 5%
  • Lettuce (includes spinach) – 45%
  • Beans – 15%
  • Peas – 15%
  • Kale – 10%

Second Plant

Many crops will require the full growing season, so only the radish and lettuce percentages will change.  Last year’s radish harvest was very successful on the first plant, moderately successful on the second plant, and unsuccessful on the third plant.  This season, we plan to decrease the second plant of radish to 5% (increasing the lettuce plot to 50%) and will not plant a third time.

Types of Seeds

The seeds we plan to purchase include:

  • Bok choy
  • Red radish
  • Daikon radish
  • Carrots
  • Leaf lettuce (red, green)
  • Swiss chard (rainbow)
  • Kale
  • Spinach (baby)
  • Bush beans
  • Snow peas

In addition to these seeds, we will be testing out a few other plants in small quantities:  beets, parsnip, and turnip.  We will also be planting potatoes in the cold frames again this year.

If you have any comments on this plan, please email us.  Don’t forget we’ll also have the pots on the shelves for planting your own seeds as well (herbs, small plants, etc.).

Keep an eye on the website for more information about upcoming events.  We’re tentatively scheduled for a greenhouse weekend on June 14 and 15 – Saturday is the plant day and Sunday is a car wash/BBQ fundraiser!  Stay tuned…

 

June 26, 2012

Call for Members

Posted by ICGS under Announcements, Greenhouse | Tags: , , , , , , , , |
Leave a Comment 

Looking to dig in the dirt a little this summer? There is still plot space available in the Iqaluit Community Greenhouse Society for active gardeners this year. Grow your own veggies and herbs and join this wonderful community. Plots are shared between four individuals and each portion is available for $90 (includes society membership) or you can become a Friend of the Iqaluit Community Greenhouse Society for only $25!  We have space in approximately four more plots, so hurry!

Planting starts Saturday, June 30 at 9 AM. You can download the membership forms here at  http://www.iqaluitgreenhouse.com and find out more about the greenhouse and society.

Come grow with us!

 

June 6, 2012

Seeds!

Posted by ICGS under Greenhouse | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |
Leave a Comment 

Every growing season, the Iqaluit Community Greenhouse Society places an order for seeds based upon previous growing successes and requests from the membership.  Here’s a sneak peek at what you could have in your plots this season!

Don’t forget…you can start your own plants at home.  But please have them inspected by a Board Member prior to planting on orientation day (date to be announced).

Greens & Lettuce

  • ‘Great Lakes’ Crisphead Lettuce
  • ‘Early Green Moss, Curled’ Endive
  • ‘Dwarf Curled Scotch’ Culinary Kale
  • ‘Salad Bowl’ Leaf Lettuce
  • ‘Bloomsdale Long Standing’ Spinach
  • ‘New Zealand’ Spinach
  • ‘Bright Lights’ Swiss Chard

Herbs

  • ‘Dark Opal’ Basil
  • ‘Sweet Dani’ Lemon-scented Basil
  • ‘Siam Queen’ Thai Basil
  • Rosemary
  • Sage
  • Thyme

Veggies

  • Blue Lake Pole Beans
  • Kentucky Wonder Yellow Wax Pole Beans
  • Bulls Blood Beets
  • Baby Finger Carrots
  • ‘Alaska’ Heirloom Peas
  • ‘Easter Egg II Blend’ Hybrid Market Radish
 

July 20, 2011

Pictures from May’s Meet and Greet

Posted by ICGS under Greenhouse | Tags: , , , , , |
[2] Comments 

With the greenhouse growing season well under way, we thought it would be nice to share some pictures with you of our Meet and Greet event back in May.  We had a great turnout with lots of the Greenhouse Board and society members and their families out to pick up seeds and get their plots ready for the summer of 2011.

 

May 28, 2011

Welcome!

Posted by ICGS under Greenhouse, Operations Volunteers | Tags: , , , , , , |
Leave a Comment 

Welcome to the new blog for the Iqaluit Community Greenhouse Society!

The 2011 planting season is about to begin!  Today we will be opening up the greenhouse to our members for a Meet and Greet event.  Come out to see your plots, meet your plotmates, pick out your seeds and learn about what grows well in a northern greenhouse.

Thanks to our operations volunteers that have come out to help with preparations in the past couple of weeks.  The plots are looking wonderful.  You’ll notice a few changes have been made.  We’ve converted three of the four rows from bins to bed-style plots.  We anticipate that this will help with drainage and mold issues that may have been seen in the past.  We are also keeping one of the rows for bin style planting – we are aware that there are a number of members interested in planting deep root vegetables, beans and potatoes – all of which thrive in the bins.  Please let us know if you prefer one or the other and we will try to accomodate your request.

We expect to have water available in the next week, so keep checking the blog and watch for emails with updates.  Until then, feel free to begin planting in your plots – you’ll just need to bring your own water to do so.

Just about ready to go!