Yard Conversions

The grunt work that is converting a yard to raised beds is coming to an end for us.

Our MO is as follows:
1. Remove sod or weed area
2. Add soil amendment
3. Roto-till (only once, we are mindful of soil structure and tilth)
4. Dig beds
5. Let sit for a week or two before planting

Here are a few process pics.

Alfalfa and Buttercup

Here comes the sun

Holy Horsetail!

Intern Claire dominates the equisetum

Weeded, amended, tilled.

Hot stuff!

Vancouver Sun Editorial Cartoon

This editorial cartoon in the Vancouver Sun must be a sign that Urban Farming is entering pop culture!

Here's an image of our actual "Harvester"

 We refer to it as the Farm Corolla, very reliable (thanks Allison).

2012 CSA Shares Still Available

We still have a limited number of CSA shares available to the general public for this season.

Shareholders can expect to receive a wide variety of fresh produce from as-early-as-possible in June to late October (weather dependent of course!). Check out our website for more details on signing up and browse through our older blog posts to get an idea of what to expect each week.

Here are 3 of our showcase boxes from last season...mouthwatering, nutritious and sustainable...value you won't find in a grocery store.

 Week 5

 Week 16

Thanksgiving Box 2011

Vancouver Sun Article

Thanks to Randy Shore and team at the Vancouver Sun for their article on Urban Farming and Chafer Beetles. Check out the images below for a closer look at larvae and beetle.

Larvae

Adult Stage

The little white specs are larvae in a small strip of lawn. The urban wildlife (racoons, skunks and crows) root through the sod in order to feast on the grubs. Lawns end up looking like war zones, making a veggie patch a much more attractive alternative (if it wasn't already!).

Our first response team

The alternative

Trafalgars Greenest Restaurant Award

Congratulations to Trafalgars Bistro for receiving the Green Award 2012 from Vancouver Magazine!

Inner City Farms has partnered with Trafalgars to help manage their GG-50, an in-vessel composter that enables the 2 businesses (Trafalgars and Sweet Obsession) to manage their organic wastes on-site...all of it! No meat, bones, shells, cakes, table scraps or any other organic material goes to the landfill. And it's all reincorporated into growing spaces within the city.

Here are some pics of the machine at work.

Will loading food waste from the restaurants

 

The view from the inside!

For more info, check out these three videos from CBC.

Cheers!

ICF