Author Archives: Janina

Meticulous Mulching and Stupendous Sox!

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Mulching the trees in Ben Nobleman Park Community Orchard on June 16th finished in record-breaking time! In just over an hour, Lily, Alex, Cliff, Susan, Giselle, Marilyn, Lynn and I transported the nutrient-rich compost mulch to all the trees. Cliff and Lily handled the two wheelbarrows, while everyone else scooped and transported mulch in buckets. After depositing the mulch, Giselle and I spread the mulch around the mulch circles, taking care to leave the rootstock exposed. If the tree was on a slope, a small hill was created at the lowest part of the mulch circle to catch any water or eroding mulch. Continue reading →

Park Tree Painting Party

Children under apricot tree canopy painting trunk

Lou, Janina and Liam painting an apricot tree in Ben Nobleman Park Community Orchard

Saturday June 9th was tree painting day. A team of energetic volunteers painted all of our lovely fruit trees to protect them from the sun, and prevent insects from climbing up to munch their juicy leaves. Two local children, Liam and Lou, frequent park visitors, but first-time painters, volunteered to help. After making a 1:1 mixture of water and white latex indoor paint (water-based), we started on the apricots. Keeping an eye out for any invasive gypsy moth caterpillars, we painted the trunks, making sure to cover all the cracks. Liam and Lou painted so well that I had to make sure my own painting was up to the same standards. Continue reading →