An Old Ottawa East gem, the Children’s Garden and its Garden Manager Marianne are gearing up for a busy growing season in 2023. Photo by Peter Fowler
Lori Gandy
While there may still be snow on the ground when this issue of The Mainstreeter hits the streets, planning for the upcoming season in the Children’s Garden is well under way. For those of you who don’t know about this Old Ottawa East gem, it’s at the corner of Main and Clegg streets. You can’t miss it for the brightly painted fence posts and the welcoming front entrance.
Marianne, the Garden’s Manager, has purchased seeds, is planning some new and exciting vegetable varieties (think purple cauliflower) and is looking ahead to what will no doubt be another busy, boisterous and bountiful season.
What’s happening at the Garden?
As any gardener knows, there is always something to do in a garden: planting, transplanting, weeding, staking, and – the best part – harvesting.
In early May, the Garden will hold a “Spring Event” to clean out beds and plant seeds. Some seeds will be planted in ‘nursery beds’ for germination and then the seedlings will be transplanted later in June. “Children were really excited about transplanting day last year,” says Marianne.
Beginning in early May, Marianne will begin posting information on the Garden’s Facebook and Instagram sites and in the weekly newsletter. You can sign up to receive the newsletter at ottawachildrensgardeninfo@gmail.com. The newsletter plan is to include more information about what help is needed, when garden days are for that week and what tasks will be done, so you can sign up to help when you can. You can also check out the latest news on the website:ensgarden.org.
New this year
After her first season in the Garden, and thanks to those who made suggestions in the end-of-season survey, Marianne has exciting plans for this year. “We really want to encourage people to experiment in their own gardens. We’ll be growing new varieties of vegetables, including multi-coloured cauliflower and tomatoes.” As Marianne says: “Why grow red tomatoes when you can grow purple, or orange or yellow ones.” Why indeed!
Other plans include vertical gardening to maximize the use of the garden space. “We’ll be making use of trellises and also growing potatoes in bags. We’re excited to show people what they can do in small spaces.”
Education and Exploration
A key objective for the Garden is education. As in the past, the space will be open to various organizations to run their science and nature programs. Children participate in fun activities and learn about gardening and how to appreciate the natural world.
Says Marianne: “The more people we can get to come to use the space, the better for all of us. We want the Garden to be a community place for learning and fun.”
A sustainable, healthy garden
Keeping the garden healthy and sustainable is another important focus. This is something all visitors to the garden can help with. Knowing what is ready for harvesting and how to harvest it is critical to any plant’s health.For example, you should not pick the leaves from the broccoli and cauliflower plants, because they will then struggle to survive and produce their fruit.
Lori Gandy reports on the new initiatives planned for this season, including new vegetable varieties and vertical gardens, and kids’ activities. Photo by Annie Staples
“We love that people come to taste the vegetables and fruit. We just want people to be aware of how and when it is appropriate to harvest,” says Marianne. Visitors can check the large blackboard in the shed to see what’s ready for picking.
Last year, the garden had some issues with plant destruction from little critters that nibbled and grazed at will. Marianne will be taking corrective action involving netting and strategic planting of ground cherries to attract squirrels away from the other produce.
But as Marianne says: “A garden is a living space, supporting people as well as the wildlife that visit regularly. We are happy to share with the critters, but we also want to enjoy it ourselves.”
Giving back to the community
A garden is truly a delicious gift from nature and the Children’s Garden shares that gift by donating produce to the Sandy Hill Community Centre (the Garden’s sponsor) for distribution in the community. The donation harvest takes place on Thursday mornings, after which Marianne delivers the produce to the Centre.
Events in the Garden
Besides the activities mentioned above, the Garden is available for events such as home-schooling classes or even birthday parties. The Garden has a large round table, a picnic table and some benches to accommodate groups. Email the Children’s Garden and they will arrange for people to show your group the garden and help them harvest what’s ready.
When you are responsible for a garden, you are always learning, always trying new things, always growing yourself. All good things that can serve us well – in the garden, and in life.
Come to the Children’s Garden this summer and see for yourself what a wonderful place it is.
Volunteers are needed
throughout the season to help with garden tasks, and children are especially welcome to join in and learn. Marianne encourages people to come to the garden when she’s there (her schedule is posted in the newsletter and on social media). “Especially if it’s your first time in the garden,” says Marianne. “I’d like to be able to introduce you to the garden and answer any questions.” If you would like to become a volunteer, contact Marianne at: ottawachildrensgardeninfo@gmail.com
