Quadra ICAN sells 250 gallon water storage tanks at cost ($200 each).
According to Kris Wellstein, from the ICAN water security team, they have sold about 200 so far. She connected Cortes Currents with two Heriot Bay residents to get further details about their installations.
Continue reading Rainwater harvesting: A more responsible way to water your gardenFour articles from qathet Living, via the Local Journalism Initiative
By Pieta Woolley
Even though she lives on a shallow well, Cathy Ickringill kept her garden going strong last summer. It flourished through the record-setting June heat dome and even the drought that followed.
It helps, of course, that Cathy is the nursery manager at Mother Nature – so she knows a thing or two about gardening in weird weather. One key, she said, is shade cloth. The black, see-through fabric is suspended above the outdoor nursery at the gardening store, partially covering the plants. This year, the store will add more, to protect the whole nursery.
Continue reading Food sustainability strategies for the West Coast’s weird weatherBy Mike Gall
Quadra Island’s demo wicking bed system is up and running. This educational demonstration gardening system explores how small landholders, senior citizens needing raised beds, or renters may experience growing abundant, nutrient dense food within the smallest possible footprint while using the least amount of water. The technique is widely used in Australia and other low rainfall regions or where access to water is restricted during dry summer months. The beds themselves are constructed from reused Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC) totes and integrate a passive water storage technique eliminating water evaporation. Plants draw water from their root systems instead of soaking in from surface watering.
Continue reading What Wicking Beds Offer water challenged gardeners
Michael Ableman started farming organically in California during the 1970’s and is considered to be a pioneer of the organic farming and urban agriculture movements. He is the author of four books: From the Good Earth, On Good Land, Fields Of Plenty and Street Farm; Growing Food, Jobs, and Hope on the Urban Frontier. Michael has been the head farmer at Foxglove Farm, on Saltspring Island, B.C.,for close to twenty years. I recently asked him about going beyond organic farming.
By Roy L Hales
Permaculture is a way of seeing and thinking that reveals the beauty, balance and patterns in the natural world. In the podcast below, Maria McKenty talks about Permaculture
Continue reading Maria McKenty Talks About Permaculture
