December 2009 Village Vibe

December, 2009

villagevibe News and views from the heart of Fernwood

More on-street parking proposed for Fernwood Loading zone, crosswalk also discussed

›› by lee herrin

the City’s Transportation Division. Even more surprisingly to many of the attendees, no one spoke out against the proposal.

There was some concern from residents of Springwood Strata about the lack of a loading zone in Fernwood for commercial vehicles. Frequently, commercial trucks park in the alley between 1313 Gladstone and the strata complex. The alley is in fact private property of the strata and must be left clear as a fire lane.

Another issue that came up was the proposed work on the crosswalk on Fernwood Road. The city official stated that the Transportation Division was looking to include those improvements in the 2010 capital budget (see Village Vibe cover, October 2009).

Following the meeting, Marcelle Harapiak of the Springwood Strata said “It was a positive, productive meeting with good representation from the neighbourhood.

It shows that neighbours care what’s happening in their neighbourhood. And it looks like the City is willing to listen to the neighbourhood too.”

Mike Colwill, part-owner and operator of the Fernwood Inn, on hearing the results of the meeting, said “It’s great news.

It sounds very promising. I’m really pleased with the response of our neighbours to support the growth of our vibrant neighbourhood core.”

The City will be issuing letters to affected residents and business owners in the near future.

Photo by Steve Carey. Map courtesy of the City of Victoria.

Neighbourhood Non-Profit

Feature

Gleanings

Boys & Girls Club Services page 3

Has Fernwood Become Gentrified? page 4

Fall Foraging for Free Plant Stock page 6

A

proposal is in the works by City Hall’s Transportation Division to increase on-street parking in Fernwood. The proposal aims to address a longstanding shortage of parking in the core of Fernwood Village by converting the “Resident parking only” zones in front of Gladstone CRD Housing (1320 Gladstone) and the Gladstone side of Springwood Strata (1313-1323 Gladstone) (see map inset). This would likely increase the available parking in the 1300 block of Gladstone from room for approximately nine cars to room for 25.

The parking would be an enforced two hour parking zone Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and parking with no restrictions at other times. Retention of a small amount of “Residential parking only” in front of the affected properties on both sides of the street will allow residents to park in the remaining half block of resident parking zones.

After consultation in September with neighbourhood businesses and organizations including Fernwood NRG, Transportation Division officials came up with a plan that met the need for additional parking. A meeting, hosted by the Fernwood Land Use Committee, was held November 23 for public consultation.

Surprisingly, less than 20 people showed up for the meeting, which was also attended

by Councilors Philippe Lucas and John Luton, along with a representative from

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

editorial:

villagevibe Published by Fernwood Neighbourhood Resource Group

Revitalization and diversification

Editor Lee Herrin Founding Editor Lisa Helps

BC Assessment data show that the average house price in Fernwood’s core has

Contributors

increased considerably over the past four years, but averages can be deceiving.

Lee Herrin Johanna Henderson Sarah Hancock Stacey Curtis Margaret Hantiuk

›› by lee herrin

Art

Steve Carey (1, 4) Patrick Neilson (2) Stacey Curtis (3) Johanna Henderson Margaret Hantiuk Production

Ellen Rooney Contact us

1240 Gladstone Street Victoria, BC V8T 1G6 T 250.381.1552 F 250.381.1509 vibe@fernwoodnrg.ca www.villagevibe.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;

›› We are committed to ensuring neighbourhood control or

At a meeting a few months ago, the guest speaker stated in a “matter-of-fact” manner that “Fernwood is becoming gentrified.”

An anarchist sticker in the square urges “Resist Gentrification in Fernwood.” To me, the word “gentrification” suggests a decrease, rather than an increase in spirit.

And anyone who has lived in Fernwood for the past five years knows that spirit has increased rather than decreased. Another word might be diversity. And again, diversity has increased in Fernwood, not declined. There is a broader mix of people in the neighbourhood now than there was five years ago.

Averages can be deceiving. I used to work in statistics, and there is a joke about the statistician who drowned in a river with an average depth of six inches. Numbers can inform our thinking, but only when combined with an on-the-ground sense of what we are actually quantifying. Property values have risen in Fernwood, and certainly they have risen rapidly following the purchase and renovation of the Cornerstone Building and the Fernwood Inn. Everyone knows this. But as the photos show (see Scene: In Fernwood), even in the core of the neighbourhood there is considerable

variation in the size, configuration, age and state of repair of the housing stock. It is this variability that encourages a broad mix of residents, both homeowners and tenants.

Although the average price today is over $540,000, there is a considerable range in values within the study area. And indeed, if the increased desirability of the neighbourhood is attracting new homeowners who want to live in Fernwood because of what the neighbourhood represents (i.e. they have a choice of neighbourhoods but choose Fernwood), they will pay higher prices even for rundown property and invest (often sweat and dollars in equal parts) to

bring the property up to the level of repair that they desire. In the coming years, this reinvestment might tend to raise property values further, but will also bring more residents who are engaged by Fernwood as a neighbourhood and who want to participate actively in the life of the neighbourhood. It is hard to see this as a negative.

What do you think? Drop us a line at

revitalization@fernwoodnrg.ca and let us know how you want to be engaged in revitalizing the neighbourhood. What project do you think the neighbourhood should work on next?

Separating the fertile from the flammable in 10 words or less —

Fernwood

Dead Wood

revitalization diversity involvement thriving vitality

gentrification uniformity apathy stagnant deadness

ownership of neighbourhood institutions and assets;

buzz:

›› We are committed to using our resources prudently

and to becoming financially self-reliant;

›› We are committed to the creation and support of neighbourhood

Fernwood gets its own LifeRing ›› by johanna henderson LifeRing meetings focus on peer support and self-help

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!

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villagevibe

Until recently, options for recovery groups in Victoria have been largely limited to a twelve-step model. For those looking for possibilities beyond this, or even as a complement to it, there’s now LifeRing.

LifeRing meetings focus on peer support and self-help, “self-help meaning we encourage each member to create a recovery plan that is very individual, and the notion around that is that there’s no one way to do this; there’s multiple ways to be in recovery,” says Michael Walsh, Executive Director of the LifeRing Secular Recovery Society.

Although the group originated in 2001 in Oakland, California, the Canadian version of the group is in its relative infancy: Walsh says Victoria meetings are only now nearing their second year of operations, and the group only received nonprofit status in Canada in the past few weeks. Despite being a relatively new model for recovery in Canada, response to the meetings has been positive: there are now six groups operating in Victoria, including one group especially for women, and another offering meetings out of the Victoria Community Medical Detox.

Walsh says what makes LifeRing unique is its whole-life approach to recovery. “[We’re] trying to get people not to just

December 2009

Art by Patrick Neilson.

think about their recovery as going to meetings and groups and counsellors and always thinking about “recovery stuff,” but also including all the other stuff in their life, like their personal life, their professional life, music, art, whatever is driving them whether it’s creative or hobbies or volunteering,” says Walsh.

Meetings are peer-facilitated and include discussion and resource-sharing. “[It’s about] finding out what other people are doing in their recovery and finding out what’s working and what’s not...it’s kind of like a living

room atmosphere where people are just talking back and forth and offering feedback if that’s okay,” says Walsh. Many people use the meetings independently, while others complement them with counselling and/ or twelve-step meetings.

LifeRing meetings are offered on a drop-in basis; those interested in participating are encouraged to show up at meeting start time.

Meetings in Fernwood are held at Fernwood NRG (1240 Gladstone) at 7:30 p.m. on Mondays. Meetings are also held on Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. at Pacific Rim Alliance Church (women’s group), Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. at Pacific Centre in Langford and at 7:30 p.m. at St. Matthias in Victoria, Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. at the S.O.S. Centre in Parksville and at 8:00 p.m. at the Victoria Community Medical Detox (closed meeting), and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. at Victoria Fairfield United. For more information, check out liferingcanada.org or call 250-920-2095.

News and views from the heart of Fernwood

A gateway to healing ›› by stacey curtis On 11.11.11., at 11 p.m., Andrea Mattson announced the opening of the Red Gate Healing Space. “The choice of name was obvious,” says Mattson, “there’s a big red gate outside.” Numerologically speaking, the name adds up to 33, which is triple 11: Mattson’s favourite number. “Eleven signifies the coming together of humanity through community. Brother and sisterhood.” In Japanese, the red gate, or torii, may have acted as a bird perch; it signifies an entrance to sacred space. “Birds,” says Mattson, “are messengers of the soul.”

Mattson is all about community. Her objective: to provide an affordable space for practicing healers and resources for those seeking healing. “There’s a waiting room where there will be a library for people to borrow books. This will also be a social area, providing information about what’s available within the community and contacts for healers.”

The space comprises three rooms: the waiting area, the main room and the office.

The main room holds 15–20 seated people and 5–10 where the healing or workshop

is movement oriented. The office space is available for spiritual counselling: tarot and tea leaf readings, for example.

Mattson shares the grand and tranquil building with two other spiritual havens: the Buddhist meditation Shambhala Centre and the Victoria Miracle Centre. “I’m giving this space a facelift right off the start.

It’s such a serene place, being right between the two centres celebrating their own spirituality. The energy in here is right and now it’s just a matter of making the place look how it feels.”

This past October, Mattson hosted the first of a now annual Island Intuitive Arts Festival at the Orange Hall, here in Fernwood. To Mattson, “healing arts is a lot to do with self discovery, personal development and embracing holistic health.” The two-day festival afforded individuals connection to their community by combining myriad healers from the intuitive arts field— tarot, crystal ball and star-trek card readers, sound healers, reike, massage, shamanism and laugher yoga. The success of this festival certainly played a part in Mattson opening the centre she’d always dreamed of.

After a six-year hiatus from living in

Andrea Mattson stands in front of the Red Gate Healing Space. Photo by Stacey Curtis.

Fernwood, Mattson is returning to house both herself and her business in the area.

“Fernwood chose me,” she says of having stumbled into her new abodes. “Fernwood is so creative. Everybody is very open, very free and very relaxed…I think that this is the start of a really big healing journey for me and I’m excited to embrace the community, to meet like-minded people and to join together with people who want peace and love in their life.”

The centre’s grand opening—a social gathering to view and learn about the space over tea—is set for December 10, from 7-10 p.m. While Mattson is also a musician, her intuitive art is as a psychic. She offers 15-minute drop-in readings Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3–7 p.m. in synchronicity with massage in the centre. To learn more, drop by the centre at 2033 Belmont Avenue or contact Mattson through her website: www.psychicsong.com.

neighbourhood non-profit:

Boys & Girls Club Services of Greater Victoria A good place to be, right here in Fernwood.

›› by sarah hancock Many Fernwood residents will know us as a ‘club’ based out of the old fire hall on Yates Street, but we’re doubtful they know the full extent of our work throughout Greater Victoria. Our ‘club’ is actually a family of services, held together through a common purpose—to provide a safe, supportive place where children and youth can experience new opportunities, overcome barriers, build positive relationships and develop confidence and skills for life. Our services encompass social and recreational programming, programs for parents, care homes (supported living environments) and intensive support systems that address issues such as youth homelessness, youth pregnancy, mental health and addictions and youth justice.

Whether they are preventative programs or responsive interventions, all of our programs are positive, strength-focused, and build capacity based on where that individual is at and what they need.

Our community clubs are at the heart

BGC participants take a ride outside the society’s Fernwood office. Photo courtesy of BGC.

of our philosophy to provide youth with a ‘good place to be’. The downtown community club offers after-school drop in programs for youth from Monday to Friday and is an important resource for many families whose children attend the Central Middle School. Run by friendly and supportive staff and volunteers, the program gives youth an opportunity to engage in a

range of recreational activities, prepare and eat healthy snacks and have free time to hang out in a positive environment. Once a week the club makes out-trips to our Wilderness Camp in Metchosin or other places such as the museum or the ice rink.

Investing in our youth should be a priority for all of us—it is essentially an investment in the future of our community. Boys

& Girls Clubs believes community-based approaches hold the greatest potential for building the capacity of our youth. We have expertise and experience in doing this, but the support of local families, businesses and other organizations is a vital piece of the puzzle. We are facing critical funding challenges to keep our four community clubs running as they are now. If you feel, as a resident or business in Fernwood, that you could contribute in some way, we would be delighted to hear from you. Likewise, if you would like to know how our programs and services could help you and your family, please get in touch.

With our 50th anniversary coming up in 2010, we are looking for people to join us in celebrating our legacy and our future. Also, if you have memories or stories about Boys & Girls Clubs, please share! With regards to anything mentioned above, please contact Kate Mansell, Director of Development at 250-384-9133.

Do you know of a great Fernwood non-profit organization (society, club, church, service group, etc) that is doing amazing things in our neighbourhood? Tell us about it! Email us at vibe@fernwooodnrg.ca.

Come in from out of the cold.

Join us daily from 11:30 1302 Gladstone

www.fernwoodnrg.ca

412-2001

December 2009

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feature: ›› by johanna henderson

G

entrification. It’s a term that’s thrown around a lot, especially in Victoria. Coined by British sociologist Ruth Glass in 1964, the term is now commonly defined as “the process by which an (urban) area is rendered middle-class” (Oxford English Dictionary). Even this somewhat negative definition is a departure from Glass’ original intentions for the word, which she used interchangeably with words such as “invasion” and “colonizing”.

It can’t be denied that Fernwood has undergone considerable transformation from its George-and-Dragon days. With the restoration of the Cornerstone Building and the Fernwood Inn came increased liveliness in Fernwood Square, and the area continues to see a growing interest in community activities. Fernwood is a neighbourhood with a life-force and heartbeat. But is this newfound revitalization harming the quality of life in the community?

go up,” says Gifford. “The more that people are out on their porches in good weather and walking around, what it does is that people end up saying hello or haven’t I seen you before, or that’s a nice dog you have and connections get built, so that physical activity leads to social support, which leads to involvement, which leads to place attachment.

Does gentrification reduce quality of life or improve quality of life? Ultimately, according to Gifford, it’s up to us.

Fernwood by the numbers

It’s not who you are, it’s how you are

A variety of businesses now line the Fernwood Square. Photo by Steve Carey.

The effects of gentrification, referred to more positively as urban revitalization, depend on the kind of people who move in, says Dr. Robert Gifford, an environmental psychologist and researcher at the University of Victoria. Environmental psychology is the study of how the environment— buildings, neighbourhoods, and nature— affect the way people interact and make decisions. Gifford is currently wrapping

up research on how neighbourhood is connected to quality of life.

Whether a new resident in a neighbourhood has a positive or negative effect on the community as a whole is not necessarily determined by their financial status, says Gifford, but rather their level of engagement within the community.

“You know, a fairly wealthy couple could come and build a new house… they

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Data area for figures 1 and 2 Area shown in photos, page 8

wouldn’t have place attachment to begin with too much, but they could be involved, they could provide social support, receive social support, be active in the neighbourhood, so it depends on the people, really,” says Gifford.

Gifford’s research points to four different factors that positively affect quality of life: place attachment; involvement in neighbourhood activities; social support; and getting out into the neighbourhood.

First, one must get out into the neighbourhood. The simple act of walking or biking around the neighbourhood and saying hello to the people in the community helps new neighbours to become more acquainted with the place and the people in it. Secondly, one can give and receive what Gifford calls “social support.” This includes activities of interdependence, such as borrowing or sharing tools, offering to look after a pet or a lawn, looking in on a neighbour, and the like. Thirdly, one must become involved in neighbourhood activities, such as a block party or involvement in the community centre. Engagement in these activities is thought to produce place attachment, which in turn, improves the quality of life in a neighbourhood.

“The more that you like your neighbours, lend them tools or help look after their kids, or make maybe business connections, certainly the quality of life is going to

May Your Days be Merry and Caffeinated.

Glass maintained that the improvement of housing in London neighbourhoods currently in disrepair would reduce affordable rental accommodation to the point that low-income residents would be forced to leave the neighbourhood. However, researchers at the Universities of Colorado and Pittsburgh, in partnership with Duke University, have found evidence to suggest that in many cases, the opposite may hold true. Their study suggested that migration from gentrifying neighbourhoods by lower-income demographic groups was occurring at a similar rate in non-gentrifying neighbourhoods. The research echoes similar findings from Columbia University (Freeman, 2005). While both studies refute Glass’ theory, even those who disagree with it as a rule have admitted that it could be the exception: “We’re not saying there aren’t communities where displacement isn’t happening,” says Randall Walsh, one of the University of Pittsburgh study authors, in an interview with Time Magazine last year.

So how has Fernwood fared in terms of housing affordability? If the law of supply and demand is to be believed, we should be doing fairly well: from 1996 to 2006, the number of dwellings in Fernwood increased by over 54%, including the creation of 1,100 apartments. However, according to the Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey, Victoria as a whole isn’t doing too well: the city has consistently ranked as the second-most unaffordable market in Canada since its first inclusion in the study in 2007.

As for rental numbers, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation data suggests that from 2006-2008, the average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the Greater Victoria area increased from $681 to $764 (a 12.2% increase), while

Notice of Annual General Meeting Career Opportunity: Director of Family Programs

Coming December 1st to the Cornerstone Cafe.

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villagevibe

December 2009

Reporting to the Executive Director, this position will provide leadership and direction to the supervisors of our childcare, recreation and family support programs including Best Babies.

With a staff of 24, and an annual budget of nearly $1M, this is a significant management position for an experienced leader.

We are the change we want to see in the world. If the idea of building and growing an excellent front-line service delivery organization excites you, perhaps we are the change you want to see in your world.

Visit fernwoodnrg.ca/job-posting-director-family-programs for a detailed job description. Please apply with a resume clearly stating your qualifications and a letter outlining your experience and commitment along with your salary expectations to the attention of Lee Herrin at lee@fernwoodnrg.ca before 9am on December 11th.

Fernwood Neighbourhood Resource Group will be holding its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, December 9th at 7:30pm in the Cornerstone Cafe (1301 Gladstone Ave).

Not a member of Fernwood NRG? All residents of Fernwood are eligible for free membership.

Visit fernwoodnrg.ca and click on “Who We Are” to download a Membership Application.

News and views from the heart of Fernwood

Figure 1: Difference in House Prices: City of Victoria vs. Fernwood Core assessed values based on market value July 1st or prior year

$10,000 $5,000

Integrated Safety Enforcement Team evicts remaining tenants from Cornerstone

Cornerstone Building boarded up

Fernwood more expensive

$4,507

-$10,000

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

-$5,000

2000

1999

$0

Fernwood less expensive Last commercial tenant leaves Cornerstone Building

-$15,000 -$20,000 -$25,000 -$30,000

Fernwood NRG buys Cornerstone Building in August 2005

-$35,000

-$37,242

-$40,000

Source: BC Assessment

Editor’s Note: Fernwood NRG has a mortgage of nearly $1 million outstanding on the Cornerstone building after the purchase and renovations— any of our neighbours who would like to contribute some of their new-found wealth toward helping us retire the mortgage should contact Lenore Rankin, Director of Development, at 250-381-1552 ext. 103. Make a charitable donation before December 20, 2009 to receive a tax receipt you can file with your 2009 taxes. Your investment in Fernwood NRG will allow us to do more good work in the neighbourhood.

Figure 2: House Prices: City of Victoria vs. Fernwood Core assessed values based on market value July 1st or prior year $600,000 $550,000 $500,000 $450,000 $400,000 $350,000

Victoria Price

$300,000

Fernwood Price

$250,000

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

$200,000

Source: BC Assessment

rent for a one-bedroom in the Fort St. Area (a CMHC boundary which includes Fernwood) showed only a slightly higher increase, from $672 to $758 (12.7%). This figure is particularly surprising when this figure is considered in its historical context: 2006 marked the year that the Cornerstone opened. It also marked the year that housing prices in Fernwood’s core were most disparate from the Victoria average; houses in the Fernwood core were assessed an average of $37,000 lower than the rest of the city. As indicated by Figure 1, this irregularity had corrected itself by 2008, but the increase in assessed value was not passed on to renters in an appreciable way. Additionally, the creation of ten affordable housing units by Fernwood NRG has provided housing especially for modest-income families in the neighbourhood.

Got a talent you’d like to share with the neighbourhood?

Fernwood NRG is currently accepting Recreation Program Proposals for the Winter/ Spring 2010 Semester (JanuaryApril).

If you’re interested in offering a course, please drop by the Community Centre at 1240 Gladstone Ave. and pick up a program proposal package.

www.fernwoodnrg.ca

Of course, the aforementioned increase in house prices has also benefited home owners in Fernwood who have owned since 2005 or earlier. These owners have seen their property values increase 42% from 2006 to 2009. On average, this has added over $160,000 to their assets. By comparison, homeowners city-wide saw their property values increase only $120,000.

The difference of $40,000 per property could be attributed to the revitalization of the neighbourhood. This represents nearly $7.5 million in increased value just in the study area of four square blocks (see map).

The lag in pricing between Fernwood’s core and Victoria as a whole (see Figure 2: House Prices) parallels the decline in the Cornerstone Building, which lost its last tenant in 2002. In 2005, when Fernwood Square was in danger of becoming a ghost

town, prior to the opening of the Fernwood Inn and the purchase and revitalization of the Cornerstone Building, the average house in Fernwood sold for nearly $40,000 less than the average price city-wide.

In 2005, the Cornerstone and the Fernwood Inn changed hands. Investment returned to the commercial core. Fernwood became desirable again. And house prices began to rise—quickly. Two years later, by 2008, the gap between city-wide prices and prices in the core of the neighbourhood had shrunk to nothing. In January of this year (although these figures may not be accurate due to the B.C. government’s decision to freeze assessments), houses in the core of Fernwood actually sold at a 1% premium to prices city-wide.

Who else has benefited from the changes in Fernwood’s core? Residents (both hom-

eowners and tenants) who want to live in a safe and vibrant neighbourhood, due to the return of social and economic life to the neighbourhood core. The few businesses that were hanging on in the square have more customers and a healthier environment for doing business. New businesses have opened and are thriving. Neighbours greet each other on the streets and in local eateries, celebrate neighbourhood events and accomplishments, share resources and look after one another. All in all, it’s a pretty great place to be.

Interested in what other Fernwood residents have to say about the changes in the neighbourhood? Check out our Views From the Street section of this paper. Want to add your opinion? Email revitalization@fernwoodnrg.ca and let us know what you think.

Denise Savoie

this autumn with Fernwood NRG Recreation!

Member of Parliament for Victoria

constituency office: 970 Blanshard Street Victoria, BC V8W 2H3 telephone: 363-3600 e-mail: Savoie.d@parl.gc.ca on the web: www.denisesavoie.ca

Your voice in Ottawa

Mondays - Kundalini Yoga Tuesdays - Hatha Yoga & Floor Hockey Wednesdays - Falun Gong Thursdays - Floor Hockey Fridays - Beginners’ Yoga & Fairuza Fridays Sundays - Karate & Women’s Soccer visit fernwoodnrg.ca for more information

December 2009

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views from the street:

Fernwood: revitalized or gentrified?

Keah: I feel that the café here is really key. I think that in order to keep the diversity here, there needs to be somewhere for all the different groups of people, whether it’s the high school students or the eclectics or the

artists, the punks, or the “upper class” to come. Without this space, you might drive some groups of people out.

As well, I feel that any true intentions [of development] will be proven. If something is a positive revitalization, then it’ll really be there. And if it’s based on money and based on profit, you’ll start to see that.

Sarah: I’ve lived in Fernwood for thirteen and a half years, and I’ve seen it transform from an old neighbourhood that didn’t have very much life in it into a thriving community. I think that the Cornerstone and the revitalization of the square is a big part of that. There was a time when you could walk along here and there were abandoned buildings, an old dingy inn that not too many people liked to go to, there was a bak-

Jennifer: I think Fernwood has always had vitality and character. And we’re just experiencing a different expression of that vitality and character.

ery and a pizzeria that were short lived that brought the neighbourhood together, but then the buildings were empty again. What I’ve seen over the last couple of years is that Fernwood has a heart—and it’s a thriving heart, and it’s bringing more people in.

The other nice thing about this neighbourhood is that it’s a very sustainable neighbourhood with pocket markets and local businesses. It’s definitely an improvement for the better.

gleanings:

Fall foraging for free plant stock ›› by margaret hantiuk In olden days, there were no nurseries or garden stores to buy plants, and few had extra cash, so people saved seed, traded plants or foraged for them. We can still forage, as long as we follow a few sensible and prudent rules. First is that we should not remove plants from the wild if they are precious or in a designated park, sanctuary or protected area. By precious, I mean if the plant seems to be scarce—only one or two, or a small isolated cluster, or if in a fragile eco-system. It is in fact illegal to remove plants from public parks, protected areas, and public gardens.

(Many public gardens now have annual plant sales to raise funds).

Sometimes it’s heroic to remove plants that are rare, if they are about to be excavated. Otherwise, it is illegal to remove plants from private gardens without permission, but many seasoned gardeners are often happy to give a clump of a perennial, a cutting or some seeds to an admiring passer-by—it is not harmful to the parent plant if done properly. (Do watch out for any uninvited pesky weeds coming along, though). It is upsetting to see evidence of someone having hastily plundered—often ripped off, literally—your garden when you would have been flattered to be asked for the plant.

Taking cuttings is actually quite easy

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Many gardeners are more than happy to share a cutting with a neighbour. Photo by Margaret Hantiuk.

and successful if handled correctly. The best time of year to do this is in the early spring and late fall. Shrubs that are vigorous and hardy are the easiest for gardeners without greenhouses or fancy propagating set-ups. Old stand-bys such as lilacs, roses and forsythia are examples. Many heritage varieties can be found in derelict yards, old cemeteries, churchyards, or abandoned rural gardens and hedgerows—still surviving after years of neglect. You may have family roses that you would like to bring to your new home to grow as heirlooms.

First, pick a firm, young piece of stem and

December 2009

cut at least one or two feet at a 45-degree angle. Wrap the end immediately in wet tissue, and put it into a plastic bag. Keep it damp until planting, which should be as soon as possible. When planting, remove all but a few top leaves, and then trim off the top and any side branches. Make a wound at the base, and if you have it, dredge the bottom in rooting hormone. This growth promoting powder is not necessary for vigorous shrubs, and it’s expensive. If you plan on doing many cuttings, it could be a worthwhile investment and is found at any good gardening store.

Your cutting can be put into a pot of moist sand mixed with potting soil, or out into the garden. In the garden, mix some compost into the hole if your soil is heavy.

Place the cutting into the soil at least about 4" to 6", pack it gently and keep it moist.

If potting inside or in warmer weather, you may want to loosely place a plastic bag around the plant. If you’re planting cuttings in the spring, shade the plant when the sun gets hot until it’s well established.

All plants need to be watered well throughout their first two summers. You’ll know if it has taken when new leaves sprout—it should take about two to four weeks in the spring, and four to eight weeks in the fall.

Overgrown and congested perennials can be separated in the spring or fall. This means digging the clump out and either pulling or cutting apart the roots. A knife may have to be used, and often the older, tired core should be thrown into the compost heap: usually the outer edges are the newer and worthwhile part to either replant or give away. Throw some compost and bone meal into the new hole to rejuvenate the soil, pack in the teased out roots gently to the same level of soil it originally grew at.

Some perennials need to be divided every two or three years, others require it much less often if at all—each one is different.

The indicator is how well they are flowering and growing, (other needs met).

News and views from the heart of Fernwood

what’s on in Fernwood: December Sunday

Monday

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Saturday

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Where’s that event?

Parent & Tot Playgroup 9:30-11:30am

Parent & Babe Playgroup 9:30-11:30am

Parent & Tot Playgroup 9:30-11:30am

Fernwood NRG 1240 Gladstone Ave.

Fernwood Inn 1302 Gladstone Ave.

Hatha Yoga 3:30-5:00pm

Falun Gong 5:00-7:00pm

Drop-In Co-Ed Hockey 7:00-9:30pm

Seniors’ Exercise, Lunch and Activities 11:00am

Work party 3:00pm @ Springridge Commons.

Cornerstone Cafe 1301 Gladstone Ave.

Orange Hall 1620 Fernwood Rd.

Drop-In Co-Ed Hockey 7:00-9:30pm

Bluegrass Jams 7:30-10:00pm @ the Cornerstone Cafe.

Open Mic 8:30-11:30pm @ the Fernwood Inn.

Victoria Bluegrass Association Jam 7:30-10:00pm @ Orange Hall (1620 Fernwood Rd.)

Belfry Theatre 1291 Gladstone Ave.

Fernwood Youth Fridays 7:00-9:30pm Music 7:00-11:00pm @Cornerstone Cafe.

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Sunday Storytime 9:30am @ Cornerstone Cafe.

Kundalini Yoga 7:00-8:30pm

Parent & Tot Playgroup 9:30-11:30am

Parent & Babe Playgroup 9:30-11:30am

Parent & Tot Playgroup 9:30-11:30am

LifeRing Secular Recovery 7:30-8:45pm

Hatha Yoga 3:30-5:00pm

Green Drinks 4:50-6:50pm @ The Belfry Theatre.

Drop-In Co-Ed Hockey 7:00-9:30pm

Seniors’ Exercise, Lunch and Activities 11:00am

Outrageous Recycling Day 10:00am-1:00pm

Fernwood Youth Fridays 7:00-9:30pm

Work party 3:00pm @ Springridge Commons.

Drop-In Karate 1:00-2:30pm Drop-In Soccer 5:00-6:30pm

Drop-In Co-Ed Hockey 7:00-9:30pm Victoria Bluegrass Association Jam 7:30-10:00pm @ Orange Hall (1620 Fernwood Rd.)

Victoria Folk Music Society Open Stage 7:00pm @ Norway House (1110 Hillside).

Falun Gong 5:00-7:00pm

Open Mic 8:30-11:30pm @ the Fernwood Inn.

Bluegrass Jams 7:30-10:00pm @ the Cornerstone Cafe.

Music 7:00-11:00pm @Cornerstone Cafe.

Fernwood NRG AGM 7:30pm: @ the Cornerstone Cafe.

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Sunday Storytime 9:30am @ Cornerstone Cafe.

Kundalini Yoga 7:00-8:30pm

Parent & Tot Playgroup 9:30-11:30am

Parent & Babe Playgroup 9:30-11:30am

Parent & Tot Playgroup 9:30-11:30am

LifeRing Secular Recovery 7:30-8:45pm

Hatha Yoga 3:30-5:00pm

Bluegrass Jams 7:30-10:00pm @ the Cornerstone Cafe.

Drop-In Co-Ed Hockey 7:00-9:30pm

Seniors’ Exercise, Lunch and Activities 11:00am

Work party 3:00pm @ Springridge Commons.

Community Wellness Clinic 10:00am-4:00pm @ Alembic Centre (235 Market Square.)

Food Security Collective Meeting 7:00-9:00pm

Drop-In Karate 1:00-2:30pm

Drop-In Co-Ed Hockey 7:00-9:30pm

Drop-In Soccer 5:00-6:30pm

Victoria Bluegrass Association Jam 7:30-10:00pm @ Orange Hall (1620 Fernwood Rd.)

Victoria Folk Music Society Open Stage 7:00pm @ Norway House (1110 Hillside).

Open Mic 8:30-11:30pm @ the Fernwood Inn.

Fernwood Youth Fridays 7:00-9:30pm Music 7:00-11:00pm @Cornerstone Cafe.

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Sunday Storytime 9:30am @ Cornerstone Cafe.

Kundalini Yoga 7:00-8:30pm

Parent & Tot Playgroup 9:30-11:30am

Parent & Babe Playgroup 9:30-11:30am

Parent & Tot Playgroup 9:30-11:30am

Fernwood NRG Closes for Holidays

Fernwood NRG Closes for Holidays

LifeRing Secular Recovery 7:30-8:45pm

Hatha Yoga 3:30-5:00pm

Bluegrass Jams 7:30-10:00pm @ the Cornerstone Cafe.

Fernwood NRG Closes for Holidays

Drop-In Karate 1:00-2:30pm Drop-In Soccer 5:00-6:30pm Victoria Folk Music Society Open Stage 7:00pm @ Norway House (1110 Hillside).

Food Security Collective Meeting 7:00-9:00pm Drop-In Co-Ed Hockey 7:00-9:30pm Victoria Bluegrass Association Jam 7:30-10:00pm @ Orange Hall (1620 Fernwood Rd.)

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Fernwood NRG Closes for Holidays

Fernwood NRG Closes for Holidays

Fernwood NRG Closes for Holidays

Fernwood NRG Closes for Holidays

Fernwood NRG Closes for Holidays

Like the work of Fernwood NRG? Go to CanadaHelps.org and make a donation.

mark your calendars:

The 2010 Fernwood Art Stroll Call-out to neighborhood artists and artisans The Fernwood Art Stroll is a two-day event that coincides with FernFest, our annual neighbourhood festival, which happens around the summer solstice in late June.

The Art Stroll is a self-guided tour presented by participating artists and artisans. We open our studios to show our work and sell it to interested people. We advertise this studio tour all over the city. Many interested Fernwoodians tour our studios and get to know their neighbours and neighbourhood better. This event also attracts people from all across the city and even tourists from out of town have come into our studios and enjoyed our community too.

We are now meeting to plan the upcoming 2010 Art Stroll. It is not juried and open to any artists/artisans whose www.fernwoodnrg.ca

studio is in Fernwood. (We use the larger neighbourhhood borders: Cook St., Hillside, Shelbourne and Pandora).

Participants must also be willing to work on a committee level as we put this on ourselves. The entry cost this year has been set at $50, which is due in January. This will cover the cost of our brochure (with a map of all the participating studios, list of these addresses and thumbnail photo of the artist’s work). As well, this year we have booked the Fernwood Inn for a group show in the month of June, with an opening booked for Sunday afternoon, June 6.

For more information and for upcoming meetings, please contact Margaret Hantiuk at mmhantiuk@shaw.ca or 250-595-1684.

December 2009

villagevibe

page 7

Scene in Fernwood : GentriďŹ cation or Revitalization?