Squamish CAN Grow Community Garden

The Squamish CAN Grow Community Garden turns a bare lot into a lush green oasis in the heart of town.

To apply for a garden bed in 2013, please download and complete the CAN Grow Garden Application 2013. The application form also contains the garden guidelines and rules.

A Letter from the Manager

Hello CAN Members,

The CAN Grow Community Garden is abundant with vegetables, smiles, and people reconnecting with the source of their food! The gardens are growing really well, and the adopters are so happy with the food they are harvesting. Each day, new people stop by and share their delight in this community project. Tourists take pictures, gardeners ohh and ahh at each other’s harvest, and friends stop to chat in the central Thunderbird Garden.

Over the past month, the straw bale garden shed has been built with the support of some fantastic volunteers! Deb McQueen and Patty Heintzman led the building project, and with a sturdy frame and solid walls, we hope that this garden shed will last a very long time!! The final stages of the garden shed include its artistic decoration, and the planting of its ‘green roof’, which we hope to complete within the month.

The garden is in the process of establishing a 3-bin, palette compost station.  We are working with Rod MacLeod and Meg Toom from the District of Squamish and Bear Aware to create signage and use it as an opportunity to educate on municipal composting that doesn’t attract wildlife. We hope that this will inspire many Squamish residents to establish composts in their backyards – reducing waste and feeding their sustainable gardens!

Thanks everyone who pitched in to support this community garden. We look forward to many more workshops, gatherings and harvests to come!

We have added some new photos to our website.

If you have any questions, comments or would like to be added to the wait list for next year please send an email to: cangrowgarden@gmail.com.

Carolyn Morris ~ Your CAN Grow Community Garden Manager

About the Garden

The garden beds are adopted on an annual basis and upon maintaining good standing in the upkeep, may be renewed each spring.

As part of this project, we hope to inspire the community with the potentials of ‘urban farming’, as well as the importance of supporting locally grown food for the purpose of health and sustainability.  Healing herbs and companion flowers are welcomed.

Along with the edible benefits, we hope to foster a nurturing and inspiring community space. This garden space is free of chemical pesticides and fertilizers with the intention of supporting ecological and holistic health for all.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact us!

Gardening 101

We hope to make the CAN Grow Garden a supportive and educational space for new gardeners.  Here are some basic guidelines to help you get started on your gardening adventure!

  • Start with the Soil.  Before planting, ensure that the soil is well mixed and healthy.
    • Soil needs to be able to drain, so water does not ‘drown’ your plants, while simultaneously maintaining appropriate moisture for the plants.  If it’s too ‘wet’, add some sand.  If it’s too dry, add some compost and/or peat.
    • Soil amendments are used to enhance and maintain the health of the soil.  Amendments include: compost, organic fertilizer, manure, egg shells and sea weed.  The timing of the application is key to its success.  Know the amendment and the appropriate time and method to apply it to the garden.
    • A key indicator of soil health is the presence of worms.  Worms are a fantastic attribute for mixing the soil and further decomposing nutrients.
  • What to plant?  As a beginning gardener, it is essential that you set yourself up for success.
    • Know what is best to plant from seed, and what is best to plant from starts or tubers.
      • Seed starts include: salad, kale, squash, cucumbers, peas, radish, beans, beets, carrots, spinach, parsnips and Swiss chard
      • Plant starts include: broccoli, tomatoes, cabbage, fennel, leek, squash, cucumbers, bok choi, basil and parsley
      • Tuber starts include potatoes and sunchokes
    • Choose plants that grow well in this region.  Our season is quite long, but lacks the intense heat that allows certain plants to thrive. Melon, for example, will grow well, but may be challenged ripening. On the other hand, kale can be planted throughout the season, and may even continue to grow through the winter.
    • Timing is everything.  Spinach grows well in the early spring and fall, but doesn’t like the hot summer.  Use garden charts for guidance in planning and planting.  Many plants, including lettuce and radish, require re-seeding throughout the season to allow for continuous harvest.
    • Plant starts on a cloudy day or later in the day so the intense sun doesn’t shock them.
    • Many plants, such as peppers and eggplant require great attention and are best grown in a greenhouse. Tomatoes grow well if started early and experience a hot and sunny season to ripen.
    • Plant ‘em right the first time
      • Give plants room to grow.  Look on the package for distance recommendations.
      • Rule of thumb for seed planting depth: Plant a seed 3x deeper than the width of the seed.  Cover with a loose layer of healthy soil- no heavy lumps on top. Water immediately, and maintain moisture while seeds germinate.
      • Label plants and include the specific variety. This allows us to remember what grows well, and learn from the gardens around us.
    • Ideas for a delicious and successful garden include:  Peas, kale, arugula, baby greens, zucchini and radish
  • Take care of the plants.
    • Water them as needed. More thorough watering less often encourages healthy root development
    • Thin them to allow for root health
    • Keep weeds under control
    • Provide plant supports as needed

Observe your plants on a regular basis and pay close attention to their growth.  They have much to offer — from tips to care for them, to a delicious meal!!

Seeds

We regularly order bulk seeds, which you can purchase. We are also producing a seed exchange. Our recommendations include:

  • Snap Peas
    • Super Sugar
    • Sugar Ann
  • Spinach
    • Olympia
  • Kale
    • Red Russian
  • Lettuce
    • Cimmaron
    • Rouge d’Hiver
  • Squash
    • Starship
  • Cilantro
    • Santo Monogerm

Thank you for your support in developing this community project as a living example of practical skills and inspiration for a sustainable food system.  Be proud of your commitment and enjoy its bounty!