Ladner Community Garden

Dear Garden Thief, I am so done with you! I am angry and if you ask others I don't get angry easy. Today I was working in the children's garden getting ready for a class on Wednesday when I couldn't believe my eyes! I wrote this morning about how I had carrots in the children's garden as they are learning about the 100 mile diet this fall. Well, not any more! The least you could have done is taken them home instead of leaving them to shrivel up in the sun. These carrots would have been tasty but I guess they weren't up to your standards. They would have been used in our fall pumpkin soup but now I will have to buy carrots thanks to you. How could you steal from the children? So far the theft has been a few items every couple of days. We know what you drive and you have been seen in the garden on occasion. Does the word 'community' mean you can help yourself? Absolutely not! We are a community garden and if you are in need all you have to do is ask. Taking...

Its been a disheartening week as I hear about the agricultural theft of 5000 pounds of potatoes in a community just a short drive away and more theft of food from the Terra Nova Sharing Farm. Its now happened to the Ladner Community Garden and I must say we are angry. We have had reports of vegetable theft over the last few weeks. Its has been quite discouraging for our new gardeners as they baby their peppers until they are almost ready to harvest only to have them picked by a stranger. At first we figured it was just an isolated incident until a member spotted someone shopping with empty bags in hand. Its only a matter of time before we get a photo of this person but for now, I hope they are enjoying the fruits of our labour. Last night I went to harvest beans for the food bank only to see a measly four beans on the vines. We had only harvested a few pounds the week before and knew more would be ready for this weeks harvest. Luckily I had an allotment holder donate 16 pounds of beets...

Last spring we opened the Ladner Community Garden, the first community garden for Ladner. If you walked by last year the rock garden in the front of the community garden looked like this. Neighbours watched as volunteer and board director, Sharon, hauled rock by rock one at the a time to complete the garden. Did you know that she used reclaimed driveways? Four Delta residents were replacing their driveways and we took their cement as long as it didn't contain any wire or rebar. The concrete was inspected before drop off to ensure it was suitable.  Here it just built and ready for planting. As gardeners there is no shortage of plants. We often came to the garden to see plants waiting for us. Thank you to those who contributed and to the garden centers who helped us out.  Sharon planted the main perennials and shrubs first, them came the colour. It has to be look good all the time according to Sharon and it does. Check out these Nasturtiums that she grew from seed...