Tag Archives: Volunteers

The Toddler Irrigation Team

Tonight’s irrigation bee was quite lively, even though many of our regular volunteers couldn’t make it. Instead, we had a new team help us nurture our newly planted fruit trees. Kallie and Jack (together with Kallie’s mom, Rochelle) joined in the action with Kallie helping to irrigate the trees and Jack supervising. They had so much fun that Rochelle said she’d tell other parents to bring their kids to the park on Thursdays at 4.30 during our irrigation bees so the kids can help out and learn at the same time. Now, don’t think that Kallie and Jack are our youngest volunteers. Nine-month old Alice, accompanying her dad during an irrigation bee a few weeks ago, still has that honour. But then again, you never know who’s going to show up next week.

Kallie and Jack help water the fruit trees

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Orchard Stewardship

Our fruit trees are still very young – years away from fruiting. And yet many have asked how they can help take care of the orchard. Orchard Stewardship in these early years involves watering the young trees. And it also involves weeding around the trees which will make our park more beautiful and allow the fruit trees to thrive. This August, volunteers from Growing for Green spent a day weeding around the trees. During this year’s civic workers strike the weeds grew waist high in that area. And after we weeded that area, we moved onto the perennial bed in Ben Nobleman Park which was covered with Canada Thistle. In the coming years we’ll be looking for more folks to join our orchard stewardship crew. Email us at info@growingforgreen.ca for more information.

Orchard volunteers weeding in orchard

Orchard volunteers weeding in orchard

Quality Irrigation Time

Saturday June 6th, at 9.30 a.m., community orchard volunteers had the opportunity to spend some quality time with the 9 new fruit trees. Six of us came out for a little “irrigation bee”.  Lynn opened her heart (and her garden hose) to the fruit trees and filled up the empty buckets we had all brought from home. We hiked across the park and gave the newly planted trees plenty of water.

Many of the young trees were lightly fruiting. We plucked off the fruit so that all the energy would go into the tree’s roots as it establishes itself in its new environment. Our plans are to do this twice a week until the city’s irrigation system is activated. It’s good for the trees and it’s great for us as we get a chance to enjoy spending time in the orchard. Want to join us? Make sure you’re on our mailing list since we send out regular updates on when the next irrigation session will be.

Lynn fills up buckets of water for the young trees

Lynn fills up buckets of water for the young trees

Debra waters a very thirsty pear tree

Debra waters a very thirsty pear tree

Cliff hikes across the parks with buckets of fresh water

Cliff hikes across the parks with buckets of fresh water