Greetings Fellow Gardeners!
Let’s begin with a note from Dietrich about the construction near Goldenrod:
Construction crews have blocked access to the garden from the direction of Parkdale Avenue, and most critically, the accessible pathway to the garden is fenced off. We did not have any advance notice of this, and no information about how long it will continue, but we will try to find out more and update everyone when we can. Meanwhile, for any members who are having difficulty accessing their garden plot because of the construction, please email us to let us know and we will do our best to assist you. Put “help” in the subject line.
It is hard to believe that this is Goldenrod’s first season. The space has filled out, plots are bursting with foliage, zucchini season is well underway, carrots, peppers and corn are not far behind.
Corn. I cannot believe how well the corn is doing…
And the rain barrel has been installed! Not sure why this makes everyone so happy but rain barrels are like that.
Goldenrod Committees
The Goldenrod Community Garden is currently managed by an interim Board of Directors. Until the visioning session and AGM (planned for autumn 2021) can take place, the GCG is being coordinated by an interim board of 9 volunteers:
Al Webb - Build Committee Allegra Newman - Membership Committee and V. P. of the Interim Board Amanda Joy - Secretary Bryn Lander - Fundraising Committee
Carmel Boosamra - Membership Engagement Committee Dietrich Sider - Build Committee and Chair of the Interim Board Diane Morin - Registrar Sara Chen-Wing - Communications Committee Tanya Salewski - Treasurer
Our amazing, stupendous, dynamic (and humble) Communications Committee is still looking for a volunteer with a talent for graphic design, some website design and a soupçon of social media savvy.
Please reach out to our fearless Comms leader, Sara C. by email at goldenrodgarden@gmail.com. Just put “Comms volunteer” in the subject line.
Wondering what to do with all that zucchini? Well, you can donate some to the Kitchissippi Community Fridge or you can make a chocolate zucchini cake! Please find the recipe at the bottom of this newsletter. Recipe and photo courtesy of Barbara Brown.
Official Opening of the Goldenrod Community Garden
The video celebrating the Official Opening of the Goldenrod Community Garden can be found on the home page of our website. Please view it here.
Getting to know you
Come rain or come shine, Sharlène works hard in her plot #19 at Goldenrod.
A longtime apartment/condo dweller, this is the first time she has had a real garden. She planted according to “Square Foot Gardening” guidelines, a link she found online at our website, and everything is thriving: peas, carrots, leeks, broccoli, brussel sprouts, kohlrabi plus 2 types of tomatoes.
Like many of us, the pandemic forced Sharlène to work from home and that can be lonely. Goldenrod has offered her a welcome opportunity to get outside and meet other members.
Once upon a time, Sharlène’s paternal grandfather owned and operated a very successful nursery. Maybe that’s how she got her green thumb!
Another Gardening Tip
Prune your onions says Diane M.!
Topping onions apparently ensures larger bulbs. Each stalk rising from an onion represents one layer of the onion bulb. If you cut off your onion stems to 10 cm (4”) from the bottom, it will force the energy into the bulb.
Please go to Goldenrod’s Gardening Tips webpage for more information and links to an instructional video.
Tunney’s Pasture redevelopment
What happens at Tunney's Pasture will have a significant impact on the residents of our neighbourhood; the housed and the homeless, the advantaged and the disadvantaged.
The community associations representing Wellington Village, Champlain Park, Hintonburg and Mechanicsville have formed Neighbours for Tunney’s to focus on these and other Tunney’s Pasture redevelopment-related issues. Click this link for more information.
Community Resources, Responding with Compassion
As we continue to educate ourselves on sharing the public space that is Goldenrod, members have found these 2 links very helpful.
Thank you, Linda, for sending this poster!
Reminders
Remember to visit the Kitchissippi outdoor Community Fridge. The rules of community fridges are simple: take what you need, leave what you can. Please find more information here.
Add your name to the Plot Waitlist for 2022
Please find further details here
Become a Friend of the Goldenrod Community Garden
Anyone can become a Friend; you don’t have to have a plot or even live in Kitchissippi. Please find more information here.
Reach out anytime to share stories, sightings or gardening tips for inclusion in the newsletter: catherine(at)ibtype.com
Chocolate Zucchini Cake
Ingredients:
½ sour cream
½ cup vegetable oil
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 teaspoon baking soda
1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
3 large eggs
½ cup buttermilk
1 ½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
¾ cup Dutch-process cocoa
3 cups grated zucchini, squeezed out
Glaze (optional)
1 1/3 cups bittersweet chocolate chips
7 tablespoons half-and-half or whipping cream
Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
Butter an angle food tin or bundt cake pan and then dust with flour.
Cream the oil, sour creme and sugar.
Add in 3 beaten eggs, vanilla, buttermilk, mix well.
In a separate bowl mix flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking powder and baking soda.
Stir flour mixture into wet mixture, just until combined
Fold in the zucchini.
Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and smooth so cake batter is uniform.
Bake the cake for 90 mins or so.
You’ll know it’s done when you lightly touch the top and it springs back and a toothpick comes out clean.
Remove from oven to cool completely.
While the cake cools, prep the ganache frosting. Combine the chocolate chips and half-and-half in a small saucepan, and heat over low heat until the chocolate softens. Stir to melt the chocolate, and spread over the completely cooled cake.
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