February 2014
villagevibe News and views from the heart of Fernwood
Kitchen garden takes root Curbside food garden to demonstrate potential of community centre green space
›› Solara Goldwynn
T
he Fernwood Community Centre (FCC) will soon go through another food inspired transformation, this time with its very own kitchen garden. The proposed pilot project will convert the currently under-utilized front garden along Gladstone Avenue into a food producing space, to be utilized by the FCC kitchen. Kitchen gardens are traditionally the growing space closest to the house where perennial herbs, vegetables, and fruit are planted alongside annual vegetables. Many cultures have variations on the kitchen garden design, some following repeating geometric patterns (such as the traditional European potager gardens), while others are more free form. Within permaculture design, the kitchen garden is known as zone one. This is the area right outside the dwelling; it’s the zone you walk past every day. Zone one is where attention-loving plants live (the ones that need more water or protection), and where you harvest from every day. The building walls hold onto heat, and the roof overhang can provide shelter from the hot summer sun, wind, or rain, making for a perfect microclimate to grow heat loving plants. The rainwater from the eavestroughs can be utilized in rain gardens and passive irrigation. The FCC Kitchen Garden will be a place to demonstrate a variety of zone one ideas, while at the same time supplying nutritious produce to the many food programs held at the community centre. Although the area is fairly small (856 square feet), the south facing wall and large overhang will provide a unique growing space. The plan is to grow species that can be used to flavour soups, add garnish to meals, make teas, and supply
Alysha Punnett (left) of the Compost Education Centre, and Solara Goldwynn (right) of Hatchet & Seed Contracting, are ready to host two permablitzes to install the Fernwood Community Centre Kitchen Garden. Photo: Mila Czemerys
some produce to the kitchen. It will be a demonstration garden with a variety of unique plants highlighting the edible potential of urban microclimates. A mixture of perennial and annual food crops will be included within the garden. Two large raised beds will provide space to grow annuals, from salad mixes to tomatoes, while the other growing areas will have perennial vegetables, herbs, and fruit. Support species, such as comfrey – a dynamic accumulator (soil builder), and yarrow – an insectary plant (beneficial insect attractor), will be added in amongst the garden, to create a thriving ecosystem. In designing permaculture gardens, it's best to ensure that the species selected can perform at least three functions. For example, red clover has medicinal qualities, is a nitrogen fixer (fertilizes the soil), and an insectary species. That’s three functions, one plant! Check out the species list to the
right to see what will be going into the new garden! The project implementation will happen over the next few months. If you would like to be part of the process, sign up for both or either of the two permablitzes taking place on February 9th, 10:00am to 4:00pm , and March 2 nd , 10:00am to 4:00pm . Permablitzes are daylong work parties where you gain hands-on experience of applied permaculture design, meet likeminded people, and are part of fantastic projects like this one! Contact h a t c h e t n s e e d @ g m a i l . com to reserve your spot (limited to 25 people per blitz). If you have pruners, shovels, gloves, and/or wheelbarrows, bring them along. For more info about these and other permablitzes check out svipermablitz.com. Visit fernwoodnrg.ca for updates on this project.
Mark Your Calendar
Feature
Buzz
The Pub Quiz with Benji Duke page 2
1310 Gladstone Avenue page 4
Is Fernwood ready for a skatepark? page 5
Kitchen Garden Plant List P E R E N N I A L S ( F R U I T S) raspberries, strawberries, grapes, lemons, peach/apricot, Chilean guava PERENNIALS ( H E R B AC E O U S) chives, lovage, oregano, thyme, yarrow, comfrey, echinacea, bay laurel, oca, leaf celery, rhubarb, clover, Egyptian walking onions, Welsh onions A N N UA L S beans, peas, lettuce, chard, kale, parsley, calendula, nasturtiums, potatoes, tomatoes, radishes, borage (Not a complete list)
in this issue To get the Vibe digitally, sign up at fernwoodnrg.ca
editorial:
villagevibe
What were you thinking?
Published by Fernwood Neighbourhood Resource Group Editorial Committee
Lee Herrin David Segal
Matt Takach Mila Czemerys Founding Editor Lisa Helps Contributors
Solara Goldwynn Benji Duke Chris Ward Marika Smith Josh Wagler
Lee Herrin Kimberly Dean Matt Gravel Kate Wallace Lindsay Hounslow
Art
Mila Czemerys Templed Mind Luke Connor Christine Lintott Clean Bin Project Lindsay Hounslow Alexandra Stephanson Axel Production Mila Czemerys Contact us
1310 Gladstone Avenue Victoria, BC V8R 1S1 T 778.410.2497 F 250.381.1509 vibe@fernwoodnrg.ca www.villagevibe.ca To enquire about advertising in the Village Vibe, please contact ads@fernwoodnrg.ca The views expressed in the Village Vibe do not necessarily reflect the views of Fernwood NRG.
declaration of principles & values ››
We are committed to creating a socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable
neighbourhood control or institutions and assets; We are committed to using our resources prudently and to becoming financially self-reliant;
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We are committed to the creation and support of neighbourhood employment;
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We are committed to engaging the dreams, resources, and talents of our neighbours and to fostering new links between them;
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We are committed to taking action in response to neighbourhood issues, ideas, and initiatives;
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We are committed to governing
40 people) in a neighbourhood of roughly 10,000 people according to the City’s own statistics. Our rents are affordable, but not subsidized. Our three-bedroom suites rent for between 55% and 70% of the current market rent for comparable units in Fernwood. The market rent is over $1550 per month for a three-bedroom unit, and there are less than 50 three-bedroom rental units in total in Fernwood according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. As a result, many families in Fernwood are living in very difficult and overcrowded circumstances. As a charitable organization serving Fernwood, Fernwood NRG has taken modest steps to alleviate the need for more affordable housing, and we see this project as an opportunity to do a little bit more. In 2005, Fernwood NRG purchased the derelict Cornerstone building and invested to create four commercial spaces and four units of affordable family housing. As well, many others made significant investments in the core of the neighbourhood. Since
that time, police call-outs to Fernwood (aka “crimes”) dropped 39% between 2004 and 2009, and property values went from being below-average in the City to being on par with or even slightly above the City-wide average. These facts were documented in the December 2009 and April 2010 editions of the Village Vibe (see www. issuu.com/villagevibe). As well, we have seen successful new businesses gravitate to the core of the neighbourhood in the past few years, most notably Aubergine Specialty Foods, but also the Fernwood Yoga Den, Ca Va Bistro Moderne, Studio 1313, Norte Street Food, Victoria VeloTech and others. Less crime, higher property values, new businesses opening up—hardly what you’d expect to see in an incipient ghetto. I guess we were thinking that sensitively scaled development in the core of the neighbourhood, oriented to meet the needs of the neighbourhood, would actually improve neighbourhood life. What are you thinking? As always, let us know at fernwoodfuture@fernwoodnrg.ca.
mark your calendar:
The Pub Quiz
We are committed to ensuring ownership of neighbourhood
››
At the January Community Association Land Use Committee meeting held to discuss Fernwood NRG’s proposed new building at 1310 Gladstone Avenue (see “Feature: What’s proposed at 1310 Gladstone Avenue?” pg.4), one of the participants asked “What were you thinking when you bought these properties?” We did answer that question on the cover of the October 2013 edition of the Village Vibe (see “More housing for Fernwood”), when our Board Chair Lisa Matthaus said “These properties offer a great opportunity to create additional affordable housing and spaces for local businesses in Fernwood.” However, a few of the other questions from that meeting indicate that we need to expand our answer further. Another of the participants at the meeting said “Your emphasis is too much on subsidized housing for families. You’re going to have a ghetto here.” Fernwood NRG currently houses 10 families (less than
›› Benji Duke
neighbourhood;
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›› Lee Herrin
Have you ever been to one of those quiz nights where every question seems like a foreign language? You wonder if it's just you. Did you miss something at school? Was there are class that everyone attended that you were not privy too? Are you broken? Insane? Stupid… As the depressing and humbling feeling of self doubt creeps over you like the evening frost you say to yourself, "I'm not doing that again." Well guess what? It simply turns out that most quiz nights are designed to be upsetting and bleak. It's a control thing. Keep the normal people down so the egg heads can shine. Well I say, "Bollocks to that." Join me for a genuinely amiable and
fun night of trivia and puzzle solving at the Fernwood Inn every month. I write the quiz to encourage discussion, debate, and logical thinking. Every question allows for a decent guess and the application of silliness and lunacy keeps the egg heads at bay. This isn't your regular quiz night, this is THE PUB QUIZ! Bring a team and play to win a super prize and help promote community and neighbourhood spirit. Where: The Fernwood Inn When: Last Wednesday of every month (Next quizzes on February 26 & March 26, 2014) Why: Because quizzes can be fun! How much: $3
The quiz is written and presented by Benji Duke of The Friday Quiz. Proceeds go to Fernwood NRG!
our organization and serving our neighbourhood democratically with a maximum of openness, inclusivity and kindness;
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We are committed to developing the skills, capacity, self-worth, and excellence of our neighbours and ourselves;
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We are committed to focusing on the future while preserving our neighbourhood’s heritage and diversity;
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We are committed to creating neighbourhood places that are vibrant, beautiful, healthy, and alive;
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and, most of all, We are committed to having fun!
page 2
villagevibe
February 2014
News and views from the heart of Fernwood
artist’s aside:
buzz:
Templed Mind
Bike maintenance ›› Chris Ward
Kimberly Dean, artist, creative developer, and gallery co-owner, painting Templed Mind’s logo on their window. Photo courtesy of Templed Mind.
I knew I had to reflect inward before I could successfully navigate my outward expansion
›› Kimberly Dean The same questions persisted when I did this: Who do I really make my art for? Can I confidently call it “mine”? In every piece I paint, I feel the accumulated impressions of the people who comprise my life. Inevitably, everyone I meet shows up in my paintings. Since arriving in Fernwood and opening Templed Mind Studio Gallery with my partner, I was fortunate to reestablish the mark I wanted to leave on the world. Fernwood felt like a warm hug when we opened our doors last September. It felt like an optimal place for a heart-based business to thrive, especially being located mere steps from Fernwood’s central square. I am passionate about creating art, empowering others to embrace their own creative outlets, and holding space for people to achieve the balance they strive for in their lives. The beginning of a new year brought on a rush of fresh motivation. Similar to the effects of clearing clutter, offering rotation to how my art is hung gives it new life. I believe the energy which
is embedded in every canvas, builds up when it hangs in the same position for too long. I always rotate my work during the painting process to access a new perspective. I paint with very little idea of where the work will take me, while maintaining the intention of how I want the painting to make its on-looker and future home feel. I prime my canvas energetically with love, the most translatable, resilient, and fulfilling emotion. At Templed Mind Studio Gallery, we focus on building a collaborative community on a foundation of authentic social relationships. Our events offer opportunities to discover and celebrate growth in three domains: creative art and music, physical well-being and vitality, and spiritual awareness and sensory exploration. We believe in achieving balance to live your most vibrant life. During March, visit Templed Mind (2006 Fernwood Road) for a series of Colour + Sound events. Join us for an art and poetry showcase on March 5th (7:00 10:00pm) as we reveal Carle Hessay’s never before exhibited paintings and launch the book For Kelly, With Love: Poems on the Abstracts of Carle Hessay. All original art and books will be for sale. We will open up our gallery doors on March 8th and 9th (10:00am - 4:30pm) to further celebrate his brilliant abstract work. For more information on upcoming events and workshops, visit templedmind.com/events.
First of all, I want to thank the Fernwood community for all of the support I’ve gotten as a result of the article published in the last Village Vibe. In this article, I’d like focus on a fundamental of bike maintenance. In my experience, this is one of the most neglected maintenance tasks—anyone can perform it. It will significantly increase the longevity and performance of the entire bicycle drive train: the proper cleaning and lubrication of the roller chain. This maintenance can even be accomplished without tools, provided your chain has been fitted with a ‘missing link’ chain connector. To properly clean your roller chain, remove the chain from your bike. Place the chain in a water tight glass bottle, add paint thinner, and seal with the lid. Shake the bottle until the chain appears to be clean. Remove the chain from the bottle and allow it to dry. Replace the chain on the bike and apply new lubricant. Your chain can be partially cleaned without removing it from the bike but you will not achieve the thorough removal of contaminants from within the rollers and bushings. When you apply the new lubricant it will simply carry back with it any residual contaminants deeper into the chain. What, you may ask, is so important about thoroughly cleaning the chain and how will it make my drive train last longer? The answer of course, is diamond and sapphire. Hang on; we’re talking about
cleaning a bike chain here. What could diamond and sapphire possibly have to do with that? Allow me to explain… The vast majority of bicycle components today are manufactured with aluminum alloy. If you are fortunate, some or most of the cogs on your cassette are made from an alloy of titanium. Titanium and aluminum, like most metals, are subject to oxidation. In fact, both metals will react instantly when exposed to oxygen concentrations found in ambient air and a thin oxide film will form on the surface. Paradoxically, it is this thin oxide film that protects the metal surface from further oxidation. As you ride your bike, the friction between the various metal surfaces of the drive train wears away this thin film and forms a sludge which accumulates in whatever oil you have on the chain along with water, silica, or anything else that happens to get flung up by the tires and sticks to the chain. The reason that the thin film of oxide is so effective at protecting those alloys is that oxides of both aluminum and titanium are particularly hard and stable. The mineral corundum is an oxide of aluminum. The crystal form of corundum often containing both aluminum and titanium oxides is… wait for it… yep, sapphire, second only to diamond in terms of hardness. So, that dark grey grunge that leaves the way cool chain ring tattoo on your new khakis, or pretty much anything else it comes in contact with, is also an ideal industrial grinding compound busily eating away at your expensive drive train components resulting in diminished performance and more frequent replacement.
Carole James, MLA VICTORIA–BEACON HILL
Honoured to serve you in our community 1084 Fort Street Victoria, BC V8V 3K4 250-952-4211 Carole.James.MLA@leg.bc.ca www.CaroleJamesMLA.ca
A special thank you… To Cook Roberts LLP and Christine Lintott Architect for their generous support of Fernwood NRG’s affordable housing developments. Thanks Andrew and Christine! We would also like to thank our friends at the Fernwood Inn for their generous donation through the Neighbours for Change event and the Roger Colwill Fund for the Environment.
www.fernwoodnrg.ca
February 2014
villagevibe
page 3
feature:
What’s proposed at 1310 Gladstone Avenue? Fernwood NRG is seeking to rezone 1310 Gladstone to permit a three-storey mixed use building that will include commercial space and housing or small offices
›› Lee Herrin
T
he lot at 1310 Gladstone Avenue is situated in the relatively dense core of Fernwood Village, across from the 24-unit townhouse complex at 1315 Gladstone Avenue, and between Aubergine Specialty Foods grocery, the Fernwood Inn, and the existing office building at 2009 Fernwood Road to the west, and the 14-unit CRD Housing townhouse complex at 1320 Gladstone Avenue to the east. Although there is a single family house on the property today, it is stranded between commercial and multi-family uses. We see this lot as an expansion of the commercial activity in Fernwood Village, with housing or offices on the upper floor. A commercial space at 1310 Gladstone Avenue will extend the commercial core of Fernwood Village east along Gladstone by less than 30 feet, while adding the potential for two to four additional small businesses and three or four small apartments (1-bedroom and studio) or offices. The lot is long and narrow, with a beautiful mature maple tree at the street. It also is sitting more than four feet below street level, with the elevation falling away significantly toward the back of the lot. As such, although we are proposing a three storey building, it will appear to be two storeys high from the street. We will maintain the maple tree by setting the building back from Gladstone Avenue; this will also provide a significant buffer between the core of the village and the residential neighbourhood beyond, as the building is designed to respect the privacy of the neighbouring townhouses.
An artist's rendering of the proposed new building at 1310 Gladstone Avenue. Image: Christine Lintott Architect
A drawback of the lot is that we cannot make provision for on-site parking at this time (there is no on-site parking on the lot presently either). The lot is too narrow to permit access to the rear of the lot from the front, and access to the rear is through existing parking spaces at 2009 Fernwood Road. Any gain of parking at 1310 Gladstone would imply a loss of parking at 2009 Fernwood Road—at least as that lot is currently configured. Although we do not plan to develop 2009 Fernwood Road in the near term, the longer term plan for the lot will incorporate more on-site parking and will resolve some of the access issues. We are also exploring partnerships with both the Fernwood Inn and Aubergine Specialty Foods to work together to manage waste and provide bicycle storage, which has the potential to increase the amount of parking available behind those businesses.
Since receiving the unanimous approval of our membership in September 2013 to complete the purchase of 1310 Gladstone Avenue and 2009 Fernwood Road, Fernwood NRG has: •
broadcast this news through the October edition of the Village Vibe and an interview on CBC radio,
•
held a public meeting at the Fernwood Community Centre in November,
•
met with the Community Association Land Use Committee (CALUC) in both December 2013 and January 2014, and
•
added a section on our website to serve as a repository for all of our information about the project (see http://fernwoodnrg.ca/neighbourhood/ villagedevelopment).
We will also be meeting with the CALUC again in February to share more information about the overall project, with further meetings to be scheduled to address specific proposals. We are committed to sharing as much information as possible about our development plans, and to considering feedback from our neighbours. Ultimately, the project will proceed in phases to public hearings at City Hall, and all neighbours will be informed of those meetings by mail. You can let us know what you think today by sending us a note at fernwoodfuture@fernwoodnrg.ca.
PRIVATE PILATES ACUPUNCTURE PHYSIOTHERAPY MASSAGE THERAPY
ONLINE BOOKING AVAILABLE! 1358 GLADSTONE AVE / 250 590 6612 / SOMAVICTORIA.CA
page 4
villagevibe
February 2014
News and views from the heart of Fernwood
buzz:
Is Fernwood ready for a skatepark?
Fernwood has an ever growing skateboard community. A group of local residents and a couple of skaters have gotten together because they feel that creating a small established skate park could be a positive community development project. Photo: Luke Connor
›› Matt Gravel Judging by the amount of skateboarders who gravitate to the Fernwood Community Centre during the warm summer months, my opinion is yes! Though the idea is relatively fresh and there are many hoops to jump through with the City, it is very much a possibility. A skatepark in Fernwood would greatly benefit our neighbourhood. It would enhance the dynamic and creative environment that identifies Fernwood. A skatepark in Fernwood would provide a safe, all-ages environment to promote outdoor activity in a positive and interactive way. A skatepark would provide a space for kids and adults alike to learn and practice while promoting and encouraging green transportation. A skatepark provides an alternative activity for youth who don’t necessarily feel confident and comfortable with team sports, and will promote peer interaction. The positives of skateparks in small communities greatly outnumber the negatives. This being said, there are
www.fernwoodnrg.ca
definitely some concerns that cannot be ignored. Issues like graffiti, crime, garbage, and other stigmas that come attached with skateboarding, while important to address, can be controlled. From experience, 99% of these problems are not caused by the skateboarders but by passersby or lurkers who have nothing better to do and, more importantly, nothing to do with skateboarding. By building pride for our skatepark we can insure a type of self-policing of the area will ensue. These problems will no longer be problems. Another major concern is that Fernwood is a very dense community with not much 'free space' for a skatepark, especially a large concrete mess of a skatepark. Luckily, Victoria already has this—located across the Johnson Street Bridge in Vic West (2,400 square feet). This skatepark happens to be one of the best skateparks in Western Canada. Fernwood needs a small but versatile skatepark. Cities like Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver are known within the skateboarding community for their volume of
skateparks (Vancouver has 20+) and more importantly the amount of smaller parks. Mt. Pleasant in Vancouver recently built a 3,000 square foot skatepark at their community centre which for its size is very versatile and fun. Vancouver also has parks under 5,000 square feet in the Strathcona and Quilchena neighbourhoods. Seattle and Portland are incorporating ‘skate safe’ spots into the design of new city parks around their cities. These ‘skate safe’ spots incorporate skateable architecture into the design of parks. They install metal into the concrete ledges to stop the wear from skateboard trucks. By supporting and embracing the already large skateboarding community that lives in Fernwood, the dream of a safe and sanctioned place for skateboarding can become reality. Please follow the progress of this project at facebook. com/FernwoodSkateparkAssociation. If you’d like to contact me personally with questions, concerns, or to find out how to get involved, please email me at gravel.matt@ gmail.com.
February 2014
villagevibe
page 5
mark your calendar:
george jay:
The Clean Bin Project Value of recognition movie screening Being recognized for good work & good
deeds doesn’t always happen... but it’s happening today
›› Kate Wallace SOAR Certificates presented to (from left to
Grant, one of the filmmakers, behind the scenes during the filming of The Clean Bin Project. Photo courtesy of The Clean Bin Project.
February 21st, 7:00pm 1240 Gladstone Ave. Admission by donation
›› Marika Smith Is it possible to live completely waste free? Find out by attending our first documentary film screening of the year, presented by Fernwood NRG in partnership with the Compost Education Centre. Described as An Inconvenient Truth meets Super-Size Me, The Clean Bin Project features laugh out loud moments, stop motion animations, and unforgettable imagery. In this multi-award winning festival favourite, partners Jen and Grant go head to head in a competition to see who can swear off consumerism and produce the least garbage. Their light-
hearted competition is set against a darker examination of the problem of waste. Even as Grant and Jen start to garner interest in their project, they struggle to find meaning in their minuscule influence on the largescale environmental impacts of our “throwaway society.” Captivating interviews with renowned artist Chris Jordan and TED lecturer Captain Charles Moore make this film a fun and inspiring call to individual action that speaks to crowds of all ages. The filmmakers will be at the screening to give the back story of the film and to answer questions. They’ll also be giving us a sneak peek at their new film, Just Eat It: A Food Waste Story coming out later this year. Join us for this entertaining and educational night and get inspired to reduce your waste! Get your tickets at eventbrite.ca; search ‘Clean Bin Project’— suggested donation $5.
At George Jay, we have a SOAR (Safe Organized Accountable Respectful) assembly every month. This is a time for teachers to recognize the good behaviour, hard work, dedication, imagination, and all-around good human-ness of our students. Each teacher spends time figuring out who in their class should be recognized for their awesome-ness. By the time the last SOAR assembly rolls around in June, every student in the school has been recognized for their various great improvements—be it academically, socially, behaviourally, or just for being the fabulous kids they are. This past month, both my kids were standing up in front of the whole school body along with parents who were invited to attend their child’s day of recognition. The teacher introduces the child by name and tells us all why she or he is being recognized; then comes the applause while the teacher hands the child their SOAR Certificate. Here’s what my kids’ certificates say: “Ruby is recognized for her great work ethic and effort to always produce amazing work!” and “Shane is recognized for his incredible imagination and creativity!” Wouldn’t it be great if we could all get a certificate for the good work we do as adults? What a boost to our self-confidence, and a great way to keep smiling throughout the day. Now I wish to recognize our community donors for their help in making our annual Holiday Emporium a success. Thank
right): Shane, Jackson, Ruby and Gracie.
you to our donors: Aubergine Specialty Foods, Belfry Theatre, Caffe Fantastico, Cornerstone Cafe, Crystal Pool, Fernwood Inn, Floyd’s Diner, Gemi Hair Salon, Larsen’s Music, Market on Yates, Nando’s Restaurant, North Park Bikes, Patisserie Daniel, Status Hair, and WIN. These are neighbourhood businesses who donated gift certificates to our silent auction. Thanks to our community volunteers from Central Baptist Church, Glad Tidings, and Oak Bay High who came for the set up and the event. There were volunteers who came out to wrap the gifts, and who have done so for years—thanks for coming! The funds raised are going towards activities for our students: clubs, field trips, bringing in theatre programming, and more. I hope you all experience some new business from our families because of your generous donations. Thanks to Tyee Swim Club and Jumpstart for helping our families with affordable swimming lessons. Thank you Kaleidoscope Theatre for offering some of our students the opportunity to experience live theatre by donating tickets to The NeverEnding Story. And finally thanks to Mila, the editor of the Village Vibe, for graciously letting us have a spot to promote the great work that George Jay School does—within the school walls and the community.
1294 Gladstone Ave by appointment only 250•388•6886 info@tonicspatique.com facebook.com/TonicSpa “There's more to life than cheek bones.”
Kate Winslet
The Local General Store 1440 Haultain Street (Haultain Corners) | 778-265-6225 9:30am – 6:00pm Monday to Saturday
Organic produce + groceries Sustainable household and gardening supplies Locally-sourced and fair trade cards and gifts AN OLD-WORLD, 21ST CENTURY GENERAL STORE!
thelocalgeneralstore.ca
page 6
villagevibe
February 2014
Photo: Alexi Lubomirski
News and views from the heart of Fernwood
commons corner:
Wild salad greens ›› Josh Wagler As I shook off the last winter rust and walked towards Spring Ridge Commons, I was nervous that there would be little to write about this month; I wondered if there would be anything to harvest on this frosty January day. I could not have been more wrong! The trees and shrubs were bare, and the sky was grey, but along the pathways, surrounding the trees, and throughout the beds, a blanket of green was bursting forth from the earth! I was accompanied by Tanya Devine, a former Fernwoodian and owner of Sage Garden Design, and she helped me identify the wild greens and edible groundcovers sprouting up around me. Spring Ridge offers an abundance of earth medicine in the form of chickweed, clover, cat’s ear, dandelion, mint, cleavers, miner’s lettuce, milk thistle, and cress—please harvest responsibly and treat yourself to an incredible wild greens salad! I encourage anyone who is interested in wildcrafting to purchase the book Edible Wild Greens: From Dirt to Plate by John Kallas. This is a great introductory book that even includes recipes!
Plant of the Month:
buzz:
Medicine in your kitchen ›› Lindsay Hounslow All kitchen herbs have medicinal value. Many of them were incorporated into food not only for their flavour, but for their ability to assist digestion. For example, Sage helps us to digest fats, making it ideal to eat with meats (as with traditional turkey stuffing). Others simply help us secrete saliva which starts the digestive process. The most common medicinal quality of kitchen herbs is the carminative action or “anti-spasmodic” effect on the smooth muscles of the intestines. Carminative herbs make the contractions of the muscles more efficient so we experience less gas, cramping, and bloating. Carminative herbs include many of those in the mint family, such as, thyme, sage, rosemary, basil, and oregano as well as many culinary spices, like cumin, coriander, turmeric, ginger, and cardamom. Carminative herbs can be added to food or taken as a tea after a meal. Another medicinal quality of culinary herbs is their anti-microbial action. Plants produce volatile oils to protect themselves from insects and other predators, and those volatile oils also impart an anti-microbial action when ingested. Many herbs protect from bacterial infection and some are also
The spices shown are (top center, clockwise): turmeric, cumin, cardamom, black pepper, mustard seed, sage, cumin seed, coriander seed, and paprika, with cinnamon and garlic in the centre and parsley and rosemary on the top outside. Photo: Lindsay Hounslow
active against viruses, fungi, and worms. This was particularly important historically before modern refrigeration, as it reduced the risk of contamination in food. Thyme is a useful anthelminthic, meaning it can treat parasites in the gut, and sage is known to be active against E. Coli and Salmonella. Most culinary herbs have medicinal properties beyond the digestive system. For example, thyme’s anti-microbial action is active in the urinary tract and its antispasmodic action can be applied to treat
coughs. Sage is widely used to reduce hot flashes in menopause, and cinnamon helps to balance blood sugar. As a herbalist, I often suggest these remedies to people who are unable to travel to the apothecary for customized blends. Knowing the diverse properties of the herbs you have on hand could help you and your family heal, minimizing travel and expense. Be sure to buy good quality herbs and keep them sealed in jars in a dark cupboard to maintain freshness.
FERNWOOD NRG WINTER PROGRAMS JANUARY - APRIL 2014 (Reg) Registration Required
(DI) Drop In
MONDAY Hot Mama Health & Fitness (Reg) Fernwood Family Dinner (DI) LifeRing Alcohol & Drugs Support Group (DI) Victoria Street Soccer (DI)
Jan 6 - Mar 24 Ongoing Ongoing Jan 6 - Feb 24
9:45am -10:45am 5:00pm - 7:00pm 6:45pm - 8:00pm 7:30pm - 8:30pm
Ongoing Ongoing Jan 7 - Apr 22 Ongoing Jan 7 - Apr 22 Jan 7 - Apr 22 Ongoing
9:30am - 11:30am 12:00pm - 1:00pm 4:00pm - 5:00pm 4:00pm - 7:00pm 5:30pm - 6:30pm 7:00pm - 8:30pm 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Ongoing Every other week Jan 8 - Apr 23 Ongoing
12:00pm - 3:00pm 1:00pm - 8:00pm 5:30pm - 7:15pm 7:00pm - 10:00pm
Ongoing Ongoing Jan 9 - Apr 24 Feb 6 - Apr 24 Ongoing
9:30am - 11:30am 12:00pm - 3:00pm 5:30pm - 6:30pm 5:30pm - 6:30pm 7:00pm - 10:00pm
TUESDAY Family Resource Program (DI) LifeRing Alcohol & Drugs Support Group (DI) Capoeira for Youth(Reg) Male Caregivers Group (DI) Victoria Bootcamp (Reg) Dancing Lotus Hatha Yoga (DI/Reg) Youth Drop-in (13-17yrs) (DI)
WEDNESDAY
Chickweed, Stellaria media
This sweet tasting wild green is in abundance in early spring and late fall and contains more iron and zinc than any of the domesticated greens. Chop it up with fresh garlic, lemon, spices, and olive oil, and you are blessed with a wild green pesto! Spring Ridge Commons is always looking for volunteers who would like to give back! If this sounds like you, or if you have an idea for the Commons, please contact Sean Newman, at springridgecommons@ gmail.com! You can also find us on Facebook, or at sc.conscious-choices.com! ‘Bee in the Garden’ continues every Sunday at 1:30 to 3:30pm at Spring Ridge Commons (at the corner of Gladstone Avenue and Chambers Street). All are invited to attend, be in nature, join the conversation, enjoy tea, play an instrument, create art, volunteer in the garden, and gather food!
www.fernwoodnrg.ca
Best Babies (Reg) Good Food Box Pickup Dancing Lotus Yoga (Reg) Nuu Chah Nulth Drumming (Closed)
THURSDAY Family Resource Program (DI) Best Babies (Reg) Victoria Bootcamp (Reg) Iyengar Yoga (DI) Victoria Sport & Social Club (Reg)
FRIDAY Kinder Gym (DI) Ongoing Mother Goose (DI) Contact for dates Lunch n’ Play (DI) Ongoing Autumn Glow Seniors Program (55+yr)(DI) Ongoing Youth Drop-in (9-12yrs) (DI) Jan 17 - Apr 25
9:30am - 11:30am 10:00am - 11:00am 10:30am - 12:00pm 12:00pm - 2:30pm 7:00pm - 9:00pm
SUNDAY Table Church( Closed) Kyudo (Closed) Floorball (Reg)
Jan 12 - Mar 23 Jan 19 - Mar 30 Ongoing
11:00am - 12:00pm 1:00pm - 3:00pm 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Holiday closures on January 1, February 10, and April 18 & 21.
WORKSHOPS / SPECIAL EVENTS February Fox Fair - Feb 7, 5 - 9pm & Feb 8 10am - 4pm Kitchen Garden Permablitz #1 - Feb 9, 10am - 4pm Clean Bin Project Movie Screening - Feb 21, 7pm Vintageous Fair - Feb 28, 1pm- 9pm Kitchen Garden Permablitz #2 - Mar 2, 10am - 4pm Vinyl Supernova - Mar 15, 10am-4pm Jean-Martin Fortier Market Gardening - Mar 16, 10am - 5pm
For more information & to register contact: Fernwood Community Centre 1240 Gladstone Avenue, Victoria, BC T 250.381.1552 F 250.381.1509 info@fernwoodnrg.ca
fernwoodnrg.ca/fernwood-nrg-programs/recreation/
February 2014
villagevibe
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Scene in Fernwood : Family Dinner