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Post by ottawagardener on Mar 12, 2009 7:14:44 GMT -5
Yup, I live in a lovely urban oasis, near enough the town centre that I don't feel stranded in the suburb and unlike some modern developments, I was given lawn to spare for gardens. The thing is that my gardens are in danger of bursting out in the neighbour's yards.
I have fantasies of growing numerous trees from seed including some useful ones that I have found reports of that grow nearby (great library book about ottawa greenspace, I'll try to post a link when I can). There is more, so much more but I'll try to keep the message short.
So folks, I need land. Michel, any old farms nearby?
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Post by PatrickW on Mar 12, 2009 13:12:17 GMT -5
What ever happened to your community garden?
I tried to get a second plot this year, in a different garden complex. I got on their waiting list, and my name came up. I looked at it during the winter solstice, so I couldn't tell exactly where the sun was, but I was pretty sure I had a good sense of north and south and it was in a good spot. I asked about drainage, because wet ground is a problem here, I was assured there were no drainage problems with any of the plots, but I was encouraged to choose one plot in particular.
Now that spring is here, I see my new plot is in the shade. I also notice that most of the other plots that aren't in the shade are underwater. I guess I'm supposed to be grateful they helped me pick the dry one. The only plots that are dry and in the sun are occupied by the garden's management. The community garden exists because of huge government subsidies, so it will continue regardless of if it makes any money and they don't care if any of the plots are usable. Because this community garden exists, and there are usually plots available, it's justification for the government not opening another community garden. In fact, since community garden plots are hard to come by, almost all the plots are in use, apparently either by people who are content to have a place to go and sit during the summer, or by hard working gardeners who don't understand why nothing is growing. Not really people I'm going to get into interesting conversations with.
At my current plot, there are problems too that I won't get into here, and I may need to move on after a few years.
I'm tired of having to hunt for land, and start over every few years. Anyone know of any land near Amsterdam for sale!
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Post by ottawagardener on Mar 12, 2009 16:20:36 GMT -5
That's still in the works. I have to look at the plots at the end of March so fingers crossed they won't be shady swamps.
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Post by americangardener on Mar 12, 2009 22:36:47 GMT -5
Hey... i resemble that remark.. what's wrong with shady swamps? I kinda like mine. Mosquitoes not so much.. but great land to have a garden in.
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Post by macmex on Mar 13, 2009 8:52:49 GMT -5
Man, we've been there and done that, though fortunately not had problems with shade, nor swamps. When I was in grad school we found a trailer park which rented out garden plots. They were about 65 by 40 feet for ten dollars a year (wonderful deal, even back in 1983). I got in on it at the end of all the other requests and the remaining area had extremely poor sandy soil, on a slope. No one was permitted to water unless by bucket. My plots were far away from any faucet. The trailer park owner felt sorry for me and for $10 rented me TWO plots of equal quality. I promptly offered to clean his barn and mulched with lots of old manure and rotted hay (the barn leaked terribly). What a great garden! That was in Northern Indiana.
I hope you can find some land. That seems like one of the chief necessities in life, and yet so many don't have it.
George
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Post by pugs on Mar 13, 2009 11:31:28 GMT -5
I want land too! There is a home across the street and a few house up which has been empty for 4-5 years. The owner died and her son isn't in a hurry to sell it. It has a nice, big backyard that isn't shaded!
I'm going to see if I can rent the yard from him this year. Maybe I can get him to sell me the place on contract and I'll just buy it. I'll then have a place for my mom to live when she gets sick of the heat in Arizona.
Pugs
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Post by ottawagardener on Mar 14, 2009 14:37:25 GMT -5
Pugs: sounds like a plan
AM: You're right, there are lots plants that love shady swamps but I see my allotment for growing some traditional storage crops that prefer sunny evenly moist well drained soil on average.
However, I'm happy to get a hold of some land that includes a sunny meadow, lovely forest and a shady / sunny swamp!
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Post by americangardener on Mar 14, 2009 16:28:27 GMT -5
Yeah.. my swamp is mostly sunny anyways. Only that part that used to be our garden thirty years ago is all shady now from the woods growing up so much. I can't possibly go and cut down the whole forest so i just gave up on that section.. too much shade! But the clay.. which is what i have in my swamp.. well the plants just love it! So, if you can find some clay.. maybe i can give ya some tips on how to use it.
Just an idea here... but, i've been reading the gardening discussion groups on Craigs list these past couple weeks. I've noticed several people from all over the place offering to let people use their land in exchange for part of the harvest. One just today in toronto. Might be something to consider if you're just looking for some place to plant.
Dave
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Post by PatrickW on Mar 14, 2009 17:16:56 GMT -5
I really liked the clay in my last garden. What you said was also the arrangement I had with this owner, where I shared some of my harvest with him. Just remember, the first few years of any garden are spent getting it into shape, and the harvest is not always that great.
You also want to make sure you have a clear understanding you will be there a few years. Land owners also don't always make the best gardening companions, often more worried about how things look that how much work it is for you to do something and can get caught up in a lot of micromanagement. Sometimes there's a bit of confusion over the difference between landscape designer and vegetable gardener, that can lead to a lot of mismatched expectations.
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Post by ottawagardener on Apr 5, 2009 8:52:33 GMT -5
Got myself a city allotment that is 30by40 feet. I could have got the one next to it so I had 50x40 feet but I felt that I should share (now I am feeling less generous but I"m reminding myself, everyone should get a chance). I scoped the land beforehand in the spring flood so I managed to get one that was relatively dry.
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Post by PatrickW on Apr 5, 2009 12:35:35 GMT -5
That's a nice size! It's about 110m2. You'll be able to do a lot with that much space. Are you allowed to have a tool chest or other structure or storage possibilities? Are you allowed to put up a greenhouse? These are always the big issues here.
What about water and proximity to a road for getting things in and out?
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Post by ottawagardener on Apr 5, 2009 14:39:32 GMT -5
You're not supposed to have permanent structures but people do. I am using it for my storage crops so hopefully won't need it. Water is close, so is the road though it is one plot off the road so I do have to walk 20ft. Not easy for dumping loads of stuff but easy enough with a wheel barrow.
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Post by PatrickW on Apr 6, 2009 1:14:10 GMT -5
Sounds pretty good!
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