June 2013 Village Vibe

villagevibeNews and views from the heart of Fernwood

June 2013

Get ready to celebrateOne weekend, two

great events

in this issueEditorial

Fernwood is open for business

page 3

Feature

FernFest Program

page 4 & 5

Buzz

Th e art of conversation

page 7

To get the Vibe digitally, sign up at fernwoodnrg.ca

›› Kathryn Juricic

This year—as FernFest and Fern-

wood Bites come closer—Fern-

wood NRG is working with

local businesses and neighbours to build a

great set of events to celebrate our neigh-

bourhood’s unique vibrant culture. A big

thanks to all of our sponsors; we couldn’t

put these on without you. Fernwood NRG

invites everybody to enjoy a weekend of

festivities—June 21st to June 23rd.

FernFest: Fernwood’s annual neighbourhood celebration

Th is all-ages music and arts festival circus

extravaganza is sure to please all stripes,

please join us on Friday night and Saturday!

Saturday morning, you’re going to want

a good breakfast for a day packed of revelry.

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Join us

for our Community Pancake Breakfast,

hosted by Th e Fernwood Inn, at 9:00am-

10:30am in the Square (by donation).

New this year—Vic High field has

been added to our range of celebrations

transforming into the FernFest Field of

Dreams. Here is where you will fi nd great

activities for every age including laughter

yoga, capoeira, archery, volleyball and our

Kid’s Zone.

The Kid’s Zone will be rockin’ with

a bouncy castle, face-painter, carnival

games, button-making station by George

Jay School, art projects & herb sale by the

Fernwood Community Centre and lots

more! Kids: Don’t forget to decorate your

bikes before 11:00am in preparation for

the Kidical Mass Bike Parade. Parents:

Take turns watching your kids while

your partner gets a massage in the ViVi

Th erapy Massage tent—proceeds donated

to Fernwood NRG.

Nearby, local crafters will be set-up on

Gladstone Avenue for FernFest’s Artisan

Market from 10:00am to 3:00pm. Th ere

will be many treasures to be found here:

radical books & zines, artwork, tinctures,

locally made jewellery, reclaimed &

recycled kitchen ware, handmade hula

hoops, crocheted hats, fairly traded

handicrafts, pet formal wear, baked goods

made with love, tarot card readings… to

name a few.

Th e party is taken to the next level with

live music all weekend. Benji Duke, host of

Th e Friday Night Quiz at Th e Fort Street

Cafe and Fernwoodian, will be MCing

FernFest’s stage. He will be introducing

the groovy beats so get ready to laugh and

bring the dance party because we have got

quite the line-up this year! Some of the

bands include Th e New Groovement, Th e

Woodsmen, BoneHoof, as well as beats

thrown down by DJ Grandpa Phunk and

Microbongo Sound System. Come down

to the Square and enjoy an ice cold brew

from Phillips Brewery and take in tunes by

uber talented musical artists hailing from

our neighbourhood. For a full schedule of

all of our activites & performers see pages 4-5.

FernFest is 18 years old and gets bigger

and better every year. Th at means we’ve

got folks from all over town coming to

check out what the ‘hood has to off er. Let’s

show them what we’re all about! You bring

yourself and community spirit and we’ll

bring the live music, BBQ, Beer Garden,

Field of Dreams, Heritage Walking Tours,

Artisan Market, Kid’s Zone, Art Stroll,

Pancake Breakfast, Senior’s High Tea,

Stilt Walker, Silent Auction and so much

more! Does that sound like an awesome

deal? FernFest takes a community. Please

join the volunteer crew if you can;

there’s something for everyone. Email

volunteer@ fernwoodnrg. ca to get

involved.

Bring your tie-dye, hula hoops,

instruments, bubbles, groovy gear and

open mind because you never know what

surprises will unfold in front of you at

FernFest!

Fernwood Bites: Local Fare in an Urban Square

Sunday morning the Square transforms

from neighbourhood celebration to an

atmosphere of locally crafted food, drink

and smooth jazz. Fernwood Bites is a

unique fundraiser for Fernwood NRG

that celebrates local taste sensations and

raises money for our sustainable food ini-

tiatives. Fernwood Bites closes Fernwood’s

big weekend in class. We have over 30 local

restaurants, craft breweries, wineries and

drink providers coming to join us.

We are excited to present Fernwood

favourites such as The Fernwood Inn,

Cornerstone Café, Ca Va Bistro Moderne,

Stage Small Plates Wine Bar, Aubergine

Specialty Foods, Stir It Up and new to

the neighbourhood, Norte. Many more

incredible establishments will also be

in attendance to dazzle you with their

gastronomic creativity. Th is event promises

to please.

Proceeds from Fernwood Bites go to

the Good Food Box, the Community

Centre Kitchen Garden and the Fern-

wood Neighbourhood Orchard. Fernwood

NRG is committed to the visions that

were presented by our neighbours at our

last Neighbourhood Visioning Forum. A

remarkably common goal was food security.

Help us get there by attending this amazing

and delicious event. Tickets are available at

fernwoodbites2013. eventbrite. ca and

are limited—this event sells out every year.

Bring your friends!

villagevibe June 2013 News and views from the heart of Fernwood

›› Lee Herrin

Will wonders never cease? It took only

four months for Leon Zetler of Aubergine

Specialty Foods to bring the City’s attention

to bear on resolving longstanding parking

issues on Gladstone Avenue. Since January,

Leon has been a major thorn in the back-

side of both City Staff and the Council,

and ultimately, it was his initiative that

spurred them to action. Leon campaigned

through his Facebook page “Open up

Gladstone Avenue,” which obtained 382

likes, most of them in the fi rst 24 hours,

and he has been relentless with his constant

updates and commentary about the City’s

action or lack thereof.

Frankly, I’m more than impressed. As I

mentioned in my interview on CTV back

in January, the fi rst municipal politician I

spoke to about parking issues in Fernwood

was Mayor Alan Lowe in 2003. At that

time, the neighbourhood was going

downhill fast and many neighbourhood

businesses wrongly attributed the decline

to the lack of parking. As we know,

Fernwood’s problems ran deeper than that

then, but the parking issue came back to

the forefront in 2006 when things turned

around in the neighbourhood. Since 2003,

I’ve personally spoken to a dozen or more

past and current municipal councillors

including the current Mayor in an eff ort to

convince them of the need for a new park-

ing regime in Fernwood. And although

one might argue that those conversations

ultimately helped “pave the way” for this

change, it wasn’t until Leon shone a very

public spotlight on the problem that

change fi nally occurred.

Th ere are two key lessons here. Firstly,

reasonably and rationally presenting your

case to decision makers may not actually

be the way to make change—at least not

as things sit today in the City of Victoria. I

would rather we didn’t live in a world where

making a modest, simple and necessary

change requires a Facebook campaign

and some bare knuckles tactics, but there

you have it. Lee: 10 years, countless

conversations, no impact. Leon: 4 months,

1 Facebook page, mission accomplished.

If you’re trying to make change in this

City, Leon’s “Open up Gladstone Avenue”

campaign should be a case study.

Secondly, and most importantly,

Fernwood is open for business. No sooner

were the signs up last Th ursday than the

newly created parking spaces were full of

cars whose owners came to visit Fernwood

and to their surprise and delight could

find somewhere to park. While we still

encourage you to walk, take transit, ride

a bike or travel by some other conveyance

than a private automobile, at least now

you’re unlikely to face the unreasonable

penalty of a parking ticket if you want to

stop by Leon’s store on your way home in

your car.

declarationof principles

& values

villagevibePublished by Fernwood

Neighbourhood Resource Group

›› We are committed to creating

a socially, environmentally,

and economically sustainable

neighbourhood;

›› We are committed to ensuring

neighbourhood control or

ownership of neighbourhood

institutions and assets;

›› We are committed to using

our resources prudently

and to becoming fi nancially

self-reliant;

›› We are committed to the creation

and support of neighbourhood

employment;

›› We are committed to engaging

the dreams, resources,

and talents of our neighbours

and to fostering new links

between them;

›› We are committed to taking

action in response to

neighbourhood issues, ideas,

and initiatives;

›› We are committed to governing

our organization and serving our

neighbourhood democratically

with a maximum of openness,

inclusivity and kindness;

›› We are committed to developing

the skills, capacity, self-worth,

and excellence of our

neighbours and ourselves;

›› We are committed to focusing

on the future while preserving

our neighbourhood’s heritage

and diversity;

›› We are committed to creating

neighbourhood places that

are vibrant, beautiful, healthy,

and alive;

›› and, most of all,

We are committed to having fun!

Editorial Committee

Lee Herrin Mila Czemerys

Matt Takach Azelia Serjeantson

Founding Editor Lisa Helps

Contributors

Kathryn Juricic Lee Herrin

John Threlfall Josh Wagler

Jack Derricourt Margaret Hantiuk

Kari-Anne Chobotuck

Art

Mila Czemerys Kate Wallace

Stu’s Images Charles Campbell

Alexandra Stephanson

Production Ellen Rooney

Contact us

1313 Gladstone Avenue

Victoria, BC V8R 1R9

T 778.410.2497 F 250.381.1509

[email protected]

www.villagevibe.ca

To enquire about advertising in the Village

Vibe, please contact [email protected]

The views expressed in the Village Vibe

do not necessarily refl ect the views of

Fernwood NRG.

editorial:

Fernwood is open for business

buzz:

Waste not, want notTales of food from the

Fernwood Community

Centre Daycare

›› Kari-Anne Chobotuck

Imagine a room full of children under fi ve

at lunch time. Yes, they are practicing their

independent eating skills. For the most part,

with some encouragement, they do a great

job. Th e fl oor tells a tale of what each child

had in their lunches that day. Pasta, rice,

fruits and veggies with the occasional blobs

of yogurt and apple sauce strewn about.

The unfortunate by-product of this

independence is a lot food waste. We

recycle our paper and plastics but what

about our garbages with all that food?

We realized that we needed to change.

We started with a bucket for food waste at

each of the children’s tables and then were

able to get small bins for each room. Th is

was especially great for the infant room

which you can imagine after meals is more

like navigating a mine fi eld. After a few

days we realized that by composting we

had cut our garbage in half. We started

making better choices about composting

but we needed more education about what

happens to our food while it is composting.

We are fortunate to have Th e Greater

Victoria Compost Education Centre

close to our daycare. I met with Compost

Educator Clare who explained all the

different courses available through their

organization. We decided that the Wrigglers

Series would be the most benefi cial for our

children. This series consisted of caring

for and making a Worm Compost Bin to

keep inside our centre. It so popular that

the children can hardly contain themselves

when it is their turn to feed the worms.

Th e children became very interested in

food so at the next staff meetings we talked

about more food programs. We decided that

it would be great to include the children in

the prep of some meals. We created a buddy

systems where we have an older child and

a toddler working together. We planned

out a few simple recipes and got started.

To our delight the children enjoyed our

cooking adventures and even began to

remind the teachers if we left out an ingre-

dient. We explored the smell and taste of

each ingredient and of course the choco-

late chips and sugar were never forgotten.

Soon our fabulous Fernwood foodies were

making blueberry muffi ns, Coco Energy

orbs, Cowboy cookies, biscuits, mini pizzas

and pretzels. We are working up to making

our own hot lunches for Mondays.

Staff recently took a workshop on

container gardening with Matthew from

Lifecycles Project Society which made us all

very excited about soil and food. In August

we will all be taking the second part of

the Wrigglers Series and will learn how to

harvest the black gold. Now that we will

have soil and a cooking program we want

to provide our children with healthy and

natural food from our own gardens and

provide great educational experience.

We hope that by instilling love for

nurturing and growing food we will see the

children, families and staff nurturing each

other and helping each other grow as a com-

munity. At FernFest, we will be selling a

variety of culinary herb plants from Raven-

hill Herb Farm to help raise funds for our

garden projects. Hope you can make it.

www.fernwoodnrg.ca June 2013 villagevibe page 3

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Coming Soon$425,000 $299,900 4 Bed, 1 Bath

New trees represent

growth at George Jay

›› John Threlfall

Two trees have just been planted on the

grounds of George Jay Elementary School

and it’s no coincidence that they’re maples.

They were chosen for the shade they’ll

provide to the equally new playground but

also for the balance, promise and practicality

they represent—all values shared by George

Jay teachers and families alike.

“We are always looking for ways to

connect the school community with

Fernwood as a whole,” says George Jay PAC

president Kate Wallace. “Now that so many

families are coming to George Jay to use

our beautiful new playground, we wanted

to create a shady meeting spot. Families

are lingering longer, which promotes a

stronger community.”

If you haven’t walked past George Jay’s

century-old heritage building on Princess

Avenue lately, you may well be surprised

by some of the recent changes. Th ere are

new trees and adventure playground, yes,

but also a walking labyrinth and the garden

boxes which are a part of Lifecycles Project

Society’s Growing Schools program.

Then there are the surrounding painted

telephone poles, which were Fernwood’s

first large-scale pole-painting initiative

and served as a pilot for Fernwood NRG’s

successful annual Pole Painting Project—

once again showing George Jay’s active role

in the neighbourhood.

Together these initiatives involve all

three levels of George Jay’s community—

families, volunteers and teachers—and

embody the school’s motto of “Learning

to Care, Caring to Learn.” George Jay is

a microcosm of Fernwood; a diverse and

vibrant place focused on learning, caring

and community engagement. Essential

school philosophies include a code of

citizenship that fosters self-control and

concern for others, a positive restitution

approach to confl ict, and an inclusive envi-

ronment where kids can interact based on

who they are and not what they have.

A mix of George Jay parents, teachers

and students had a booth at the recent

Quadra Village Day where current students

led activities for younger kids and former

students made a point of stopping to visit.

Whether it was the chap who graduated in

nineteen fi fty-eight (and was keen to come

back for a tour) or the girl who graduated just

last year but was excited to reconnect with a

favourite teacher, George Jay clearly continues

to hold a valued place in the community. Be

sure to drop by their table at FernFest!

Caff e Fantastico’s Ryan and Kristy Taylor

are George Jay parents, and they feel the

school refl ects their own attitudes as indi-

viduals and small business owners. “Living

local is very important to us and that also

means being a part of our neighbourhood

school,” says Kristy. “George Jay has been

an amazing place for our kids and family.”

If you’re looking for a world of learning

and caring that’s equally concerned with

instilling positive values in the next

generation, look no further than your

friendly neighbourhood elementary school.

Considering George Jay has been around

longer than Fernwood itself, it’s not much

of a stretch to say that Fernwood’s values

started here.

george jay:

Growing Change

New maple trees planted at George Jay Elementary School. Photo: Kate Wallace

Living local is very important to us and that also means being a part of our neighbourhood school. George Jay has been an amazing place for our kids and family.


Time Performer Details

5:00pm DYLAN STONE TRIOFolk-rock style music. Dylan Stone and band of merry men are Fern-ies through

and through. Think Wilco meets Bob Dylan.

5:45 pmDOWNTOWN

MISCHEIF

Super fresh 5 or 6 piece (weather dependant) Downtown Mischief is an

amalgamation of two funky feels spawning from Boots of Mischief & DownTown

HoeDown. Mixin’ it up into psychedelic concoctions of next level freestyle Oneness.

6:30 pmMASALA WORLD

PERCUSSION BAND

Masala’s goal is to use music to bring people together in celebration of

community and culture, inspired by traditional rhythms from Africa, Cuba and

Brazil.

7:00 pm THE WOODSMEN

Electoronic and prog rock mixed with blues and indie. Which is novel. Their

trademark energetic performances and critical acclaim have earned them a

place as one of Victoria’s more established acts.

8:00 pm GRANDPA PHUNKThe youthful funkster DJ with the elder’s ear from Belmont and Pembroke. (The

Soul Selector)

9:00 pmMICROBONGO

SOUND SYSTEM

Live 3-piece Electro-Brazilian dance band combining live instrumentation with

electronics. Get ready to dance!

HUNGRY?

THIRSTY?

Visit the BBQ: enjoy some tasty delights from the grill open from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Stage Wine Bar Sausages - Hot Dogs - Hamburgers & Veggie Burgers - Drinks - Treats

Visit the Beer Garden: open from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm with the best seats in Fernwood to

watch the talent & drink some local Phillips brews - Blue Buck - Hop Circle IPA

Time Activity

9:00 am -

10:30amPancake Breakfast

10:00 am -

3:00 pmArtisan Market

11:00 amKidical Mass Bike

Parade

11:00 am -

4:00pm

Field of Dreams

Activity Centre

11:00 am -

4:00pmKids’ Zone

11:00 am &

1:00pm

Heritage Walking

Tours

Noon -

10:00pmBBQ & Beer Garden

1:00pm -

2:30pmSeniors’ High Tea

Time Performer

12:00 pm THE GLEESONS

12:45 pmGEOFF HOWE

BAND

2:00 pm FOX GLOVE

3:00 pmTHE SWEET

ENDINGS

4:00 pm ESTELLA

5:00 pm GOLD & SHADOW

6:00 pmGOLDEN COUNTRY

CLAN

7:00 pm WAVES OF DAYS

8:00 pmTHE NEW

GROOVEMENT

9:00 pm BONEHOOF


Wake up with usnow open at 6:30am weekdays

Details

Get set for a full day of FernFest by starting things off right with a hearty breakfast,

brought to you by the Fernwood Inn. (By donation)

Done breaky? Head to our Artisan Market! 30 local vendors will be showcasing

their unique items and reveal the best fi nds around. (On Gladstone Avenue between

Fernwood Square & the Fernwood Community Centre)

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No... it’s a mass of kids on bicycles!!! Jump in on the fun,

decorate your bikes and ride into FernFest with style. (Meet at Field of Dreams)

NEW! FernFest has added a whole fi eld of fun to the table. Vic High fi eld will be

packed with activities. See box to the right for more info...

The best spot to entertain the little ones! (On the Vic High fi eld) See box to the right for more info...

Nick Russell & the Victoria Heritage Foundation will lead you on a guided tour of the

heritage buildings in our neighbourhood. (Meet in Fernwood Square)

Get some delicious bites at the FernFest BBQ. Our cooks are whipping up

something special just for you... And wash that down with a ice cold Phillips beer in

the Beer Garden.

Pip-pip and cheerio! Join in on some good old fashioned fun. Scones, tea and good

conversation. (At Fernwood Community Centre - 55 yrs+ please)

Main Stage - Fernwood Square

The Gleesons are a local Fernwood family band whos members range from age 11

to 27. They specialze in 70’s rock, folk and blues. Wear your tie dye and bring your

hippies. (Deadheads allowed)

Blending 60’s vocal groups, jangly power pop, whiskey tinged country and

confessional soul balladry. Geoff has just released his debut solo album “Hard Folk”

and is excited to introduce you to his band.

An amalgamation of three very different female voices. With the help of a suitcase fi lled

with instruments, this trio brings a collection of eclectic originals, as well as their own

unique twist on songs that you may or may not already know.

These guys will delight any audience with their take on post war Chicago blues and

rock ‘n’ roll.

Estella is a four piece electric folk-rock band based out of the West Shore, consisting

a guitar, bass & drums but adding counter-melodies with violin, vocal harmonies & the

fanfare of a trumpet.

This Nanaimo based band will capture your heart and mind with original, organic art-

rock that innovates and inspires. Infl uenced by the likes of Jeff Buckley, Radiohead and

Bon Iver.

Country and western from a select troupe of Fernwood’s fi nest. The always entertaining

David P. Smith leads the group.

Early eighties power pop favourites fl avoured with slide guitar. Imagine Elvis Costello

meets Hank Williams!

An eleven-piece funk machine will make you shake everything you got! Seemlessly

blending elements of R&B, soul and hip hop to create a funk-i-fi ed feast for the ears,

this is a show you won’t want to miss...

Circus blues, classic rock and psychedelia. The last 12 months have seen BoneHoof

play Riffl andia, Rock of the Woods, Campbell Bay Music festival.

[email protected]

Did youknow?FernFest is a near

zero-waste event.

Remember to use the

recycling & compost

bins provided.

FernFest Field of Dreams Activity Centre:(Located on the Vic High Field - meet at the fl ag for classes)

10:00am - 11:00am Bike Decoration Station

11:00am - 11:45am Kyudo Archery Demonstration

12:00pm - 12:30pm Laughter Yoga with Grace Gaughan

1:00pm - 2:00pm TBA

2:30pm - 3:00pm Capoeira Performance

ALL DAY Drop-in Volleyball Net

Kids’ Zone: Bouncy Castle -

Bubbles - Herb Sale - Face-painting

- Art Projects - Button-Making with

George Jay School - Games with

FortisBC - Stilt Walker - Hula Hooper -

Activities with FUN Society - Carnival

Games - Miniature Pony - Daisy the

Cow - Hair Dyeing with Studio 1284 -

Painting Bubble Man’s VW Bug - ViVi

Therapy Massage Tent (for the parents)


commons corner:

Tasty Treats

garden gleanings:

Soil Ammendments

Sweet Nectar and

Gasoline

›› Josh Wagler

Each visit to Spring Ridge Commons brings

unexpected delights. As I venture inwards

through the wood-chipped pathways, my

taste buds buzz with anticipation and I

am astounded by the depth of life which

greets me.

To the uninitiated identifying plants

in such a system can be daunting.

Nevertheless, with patient observation, the

plants reveal themselves. Th e Bee Garden

is particularly stunning at the moment

and it appears that I am not the only one

to visit the Commons with tempted taste

buds. Th e bees are busily buzzing between

beautiful blossom; sweet nectar is in abun-

dance. Observant visitors will find tasty

borage, malva, mint, fennel, lovage and

milk thistle throughout the Commons.

Additional colour and nourishment is

provided by comfrey, calendula, rose,

camas lilies and aromatic bay leaves.

Hidden beneath a cherry tree and

comfrey we fi nd a less obvious element of

this thriving system. For this month, our

Plant of the Month is not a plant at all; it’s

a mushroom with a taste for toxins!

Plant of the Month:

Pearl Oyster Mushroom

(Pleurotus ostreatus)

Pleurotus ostreatus, or the Pearl Oyster

Mushroom certainly has an unusual palate

much to our benefit. While working

on site in late 2011, Dan Miller had an

unfortunate accident that is common to

many fossil fuel connoisseurs: he spilled

gasoline. It wasn’t much—as many of us

rationalize—but the difference between

Dan and many others is that he took action

and quickly quarantined the soil in garbage

bags. Nearly a year later to the day, Dan and

his Permaculture BC classmates dug a pit

and lined it with cardboard. Within they

mixed the contaminated soil with coff ee

grounds and woodchips inoculated with

Pearl Oyster mycelium. Digestive enzymes

released by the fungi break down the toxic

hydrocarbons, allowing them to be safely

metabolized by other organisms. Fungi

also extract and accumulate heavy metals,

concentrating them in the fruiting body.

For this reason, eating the mushrooms used

in myco-remediation is not recommended.

Nonetheless, Pearl Oyster Mushrooms are a

delicacy, providing up to 30% protein, and

a good source of Th iamine, Vitamin B6,

Folate, Magnesium, Zinc and Manganese.

Th ey are a very good source of Ribofl avin,

Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Phosphorus,

Potassium and Copper.

We are currently at the tip of the iceberg

in our understanding of the power of fungi.

Th riving on material that is often considered

waste and with medicinal properties that

appear to be limitless, their potential at the

Commons and beyond is very exciting.

Anyone interested in similar small-scale bio-

remediation or in growing their own edible

oyster mushrooms, indoors or outdoors, is

encouraged to get into touch at 250-885-

5993 or [email protected].

Spring Ridge Commons is always

looking for volunteers. If you would like to

volunteer please contact Sean Newton at

springridgecommons@ gmail . com. Any

help is really appreciated!

›› Margaret Hantiuk

Notes from a workshop given by our local

soil/fertlizier guru Dwight Pennell of

Integrity Sales:

• Introduce as much organic matter as

possible: “feed soil to feed the plant”

(if we feed the micro-organisms in

the soil, plant roots absorb the soil

nutrients better)

• Bark mulch okay, but don’t use sawdust

(it requires nitrogen to break down)

• All compost and manures must be well

rotted or they will rob soil of nitrogen

• Wood ash is potent—use lightly on

soil and in compost bins

• Organic matter also helps with soil

structure by increasing capacity to

hold air and moisture, both necessary

for soil and plant health, best used as a

mulch on top

• Synthetic fertilizers only feed the plant

(not the soil) and have a high salt index

due to sulphate bases, which acidify

the soil even more (can ‘burn’ plants)

• Heavy rainfalls here mean we do need

more nitrogen added to our soils (dark

green, healthy foliage means good

nitrogen; stunted growth can mean

a lack)

• Integrity Sales (Keating X Road) makes

their own blend of organic fertilizers

(organic, synthetic or a mix of both, to

suit the gardener and their soil)

• Best to have a soil analysis done,

then Integrity staff can recommend

amendments that are just what your

soil needs, and tell you what NOT to

use (continually adding unnecessary

fertilizers/amendments can do more

harm than good!)

• Soil analysis costs $55 and takes 10-14

days (sent to US). To get a sample: take

a slim profi le of soil about a spade deep

in the 4 corners of your yard and from

spots along the diagonals (1 cup of

dry soil in total taken from full spade

depth)

• PH analysis can be done for free at

Integrity; soil must be damp

• Again, due to our heavy rains, lawns,

most veggies and many shrubs/

perennials need liming every 2nd year

• Dolomitic lime best (pH of 6.5 is con-

sidered ideal for soil microorganisms)

• Best to rotate crops so that soil is not

depleted in a particular nutrient profi le

• Calcium is best added as calcium

sulphate (gypsum)

• Proteins increase nitrogen in soils:

blood meal (now sterilized) and bone

meal (now a certifi ed organic source),

alfalfa and seed meals

• Rock phosphate: a natural source for

phosphorous

• Greensand: a natural source for

potassium micronutrients

• Dolopril: ground calcium, use less—

it’s heavy and doesn’t blow/wash away

• Fertilize once in spring and then

in June. Not later in the season.

Best before a rain. Scratch into the

soil around the drip line of trees or

broadcast around shrubs, hedges (use

a 18-5-10) and beds. Follow directions

carefully for amount.

• Fruit trees are heavy feeders: drop into

holes at drip line (use a 10-20-10)

• Blueberries: lots of compost and pH of

5.8 (likes acidic soils)

• To rid lawns of moss: spread iron

sulphate first when dry (it stains so

be careful) then 1 week later, rake out

moss, lime and seed new lawn

• Never lime and fertilize at the same

time. Wait 1 day if it rains, 1 week if

dry.

• ‘Milorganite’: by-product of brewing

industry and sterilized sewage sludge

cleared of toxins, certifi ed organic


Holiday closures on July 1 & August 5

(Reg) Registration Required (DI) Drop In

MAY - AUGUST 2013

FERNWOOD NRG

For more in format ion &

to reg is ter contact :

SUMMER PROGRAMS

Because I am a Girl Fundraiser - June 1

Ursa Handmade Market - June 8

FernFest 2013 - June 21 & 22

4th Annual Fernwood Bites - June 23

Neighbours for Change Block Party - July 28

WORKSHOPS / SPECIAL EVENTS

f e rnwoodnrg .ca / fe rnwood-n rg-p rograms/ rec rea t ion /

Fernwood Community Centre

1240 Gladstone Avenue, Victoria, BC

T 250.381.1552 F 250.381.1509

[email protected]

MONDAYParent and Baby Play Group (DI) Ongoing 9:30am - 11:30am

NEW! Fernwood Family Dinner (DI/Reg) Ongoing 5:00pm - 7:00pm

LifeRing Alcohol & Drug Peer Support (DI) Ongoing 6:45pm - 8:00pm

TUESDAYParent and Tot Play Group (DI) Ongoing 9:30am - 11:30am

NEW! Male Caregiver Support Group (DI) Ongoing 4:00pm - 7:00pm

Kids Capoeira (Reg) May 7 - Jun 18 4:00pm - 5:00pm

Iyengar Yoga (DI/Reg) May 7 - Aug 27 5:30pm - 6:30pm

Dancing Lotus Hatha Yoga (DI/Reg) May 7 - June 25 7:00pm - 8:30pm

The Transformative SitCom (Reg) May 7 - Jun 25 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Youth Drop-in (14-17 yrs) (DI) Ongoing 7:00pm - 9:00pm

WEDNESDAYBest Babies (Reg) Ongoing 12:00pm - 3:00pm

Good Food Box Pick Up Every other week 12:00pm - 5:30pm

Dancing Lotus Hatha Yoga (DI/Reg) May 8 - Aug 28 5:45pm - 7:15pm

Nuu Chah Nulth Drumming (Closed) Ongoing 7:00pm - 10:00pm

Homospun (DI) Every 2nd & 4th Wed. 7:30pm - 9:30pm

THURSDAYParent & Tot Play Group (DI) Ongoing 9:30am - 11:30am

Best Babies (Reg) Ongoing 12:00pm - 3:00pm

Victoria Sport & Social Club (Reg) May 9 - June 27 7:00pm - 9:30pm

FRIDAYAutumn Glow Senior’s Lunch (DI) Ongoing 12:00pm - 2:30pm

Youth Drop-in (9-13yrs) (DI) Ongoing 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Victoria Meet-up Group (Closed) Every other week 7:00pm - 9:00pm

SUNDAYIntro to Kyudo (+16yrs) (Reg) May 5 - May 26 1:00pm - 3:00pm

Intro to Kyudo (+16yrs) (Reg) July 7 - Aug 25 1:00pm - 3:00pm

buzz:

A Festival of Th oughtsChristopher Bowers is

an artist of conversation

›› Jack Derricourt

Bowers is a lifelong advocate of the r elaxing

quality of a fresh question: “What’s the

twist?” “What is a moment that stood out

in your enterprise?” “What is your opening

line?” Th ese are the kinds of direct, inspi-

ration-seeking queries that he will bring to

the people at this year’s FernFest—along

with some slick looking, pro-conversation

buttons.

While some may shake their heads and

mourn the transition towards tweets and

blogs in this digital age, there are signs that

the art of conversation is alive and kicking

harder than ever. The overwhelming

popularity of story and conversation-based

podcasts like This American Life or The

Moth demonstrates that people want to

branch out from their understanding of the

world by hearing diff erent experiences and

perspectives. Th e Fernwood community is

lucky to have their own digital conversation

champion in Bowers.

As a hardworking school teacher bound

in weary marking and testing, Bow-

ers says he fell under the “tyranny of the

immediate,” and was unable to give his

students a full picture of the real world.

To remedy this, he sought out community

members to contribute to the classroom

with their thoughts on life. Bowers found

the process so enlightening that he started

hosting courses on the power of personal

story for adults.

Now, out of the classroom and

accompanied by a digital camera, Bowers

looks to record controlled moments of con-

versation, whether it be at a music festival or

an art crawl. He has captured the thoughts

of aboriginal elders, chocolatiers, urban

sketchers, the genius behind Star Wars (the

one-man version), and so many more. Each

clip is a restrained—under two minutes—

exploration of a person, a moment, plain

and simple, but full of insight.

It’s not always easy. Bowers is quick

to praise Fernwood’s wonderful atmo-

sphere of conversation, but he sees room

for improvement. When it comes to the

average person on the street, he says, “It’s

pretty hard to access them.”

To make it easier on attendees at this

year’s FernFest, Bowers has organized a

delightful solution. Buttons will be on hand,

ready for would-be conversationalists. Th ey

read simply “Open to a Conversation.”

Bowers wants to help people indicate

that they are “safe and ready to go” for

hearty talks, stories and thought-sharing.

It’s another small gesture in Bowers’ long

career of moving people towards a central

realization: “Th e solution to your challenge

is often one conversation away.”

Check out more of Christopher Bowers’

clips at conversationworks.ca—and don’t

miss out on the wonderful conversations at

this year’s FernFest on Saturday, June 22.

mark your calendar:

Fernwood Art Stroll

Th e 7th annual Fernwood Art Stroll is being held on Saturday, June 22 and Sunday, June

23 from 11 am to 4 pm. Twenty-one local artists and artisans will open their studios to

the public. Original works of art will be on display including paintings, furniture, fashion,

photography, fl orals and pottery. It is a chance to walk the tree-lined streets of Fernwood,

purchase unique pieces of art and meet local artists. Come and join us! Check us out at

www.fernwoodartstroll.ca for a downloadable map and more information. Brochures

will be available at most local businesses, art stores, coff ee shops and local galleries.

PLUS: Pandora Arts Collective is holding a silent auction at 1923 Fernwood Road

featuring art by local artists and great products and services from local businesses.

Bagasse, 2009, acrylic on panel, 300” x 78”—painting by Charles Campbell, one of the twenty-one

artists in this year’s Fernwood Art Stroll. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Fernwood in 2070. Can we reach forward and touch

the future? Yes, we can!Join facilitators Lehna Malmkvist & Sarah Adams for an evening of me travel, imagina on, and future thinking about the Fernwood neighbourhood in 2070 and beyond. We are looking for a small group of crea ve thinkers to join this experimental and interac ve workshop on June 17 from 6:30 to 9:30pm at the Fernwood Community Centre. We want to give you the opportunity to think deep and wide

about the future.

This is a free event, but space is limited. Register

at FutureThinkForFernwood.eventbrite.ca.

Refreshments will be provided. 250-661-2823

Scene in Fernwood : Our living room

June 2013 Village Vibe

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Transcript of June 2013 Village Vibe