Make your 100-mile pledge at Veggie Village
September 22, 2010
Sonia Day
SPECIAL TO THE STAR
Getting there
Plant pick
This is yet another story about the joys of growing food in the city.
But don't groan and turn the page, folks.
All the hoopla surrounding the latest gardening craze is admittedly getting tiresome (if I have to read one more word about “carbon footprints,” “sustainability” or those irritating hipsters who call themselves “locavores,” I think I will choke on my globally responsible, homegrown carrots), yet bear with me.
Here's one venture that's worth checking out.
It's the brand new Veggie Village: 100 Mile Produce Gardens at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington. Opened to the public only a couple of weeks ago, this collection of little themed gardens (planted only in July) is both educational and fun.
Unlike much of the stuff emanating from the environmental movement, I think it manages to raise awareness without being — yawn — preachy and boring.
And that's the whole idea, according to the gardens' instigator, Belinda Gallagher, recently appointed head horticultural honcho of the RBG.
“We want to encourage people to enjoy gardening, to get in touch with the soil and to reduce their dependency on imported food,” she explains.
“But ...” her face lights up in a characteristic Gallagher grin, “... we also want them to have fun doing it.”
Thus, visitors can sign a “100-mile Veg. Pledge” (agreeing to use one locally grown ingredient on one meal per week for a year) and the gardens themselves were designed to be entertaining. For instance, for a mythical city dweller called “Emma,” (who occupies a downtown condo) there's a tiny balcony, full of potted offbeat herbs like lemongrass and agastache. A more traditional veggie plot is aimed at a “retired school teacher from Barrie,” while the “grow anywhere” garden may inspire newbie gardeners short of cash, because it recycles rubber boots and old tires as containers.
And for design mavens, Gallagher has herself created an elegant veggie plot that emphasizes great textures combined with knockout colours.
“Aren't these beautiful?” she enthuses, showing off some brilliant scarlet peppers that have an offbeat shape. “People don't realize how beautiful veggies can look.”
And for this old fart, the plentiful signage at Veggie Village, which uses large, easy-to-read type, is a big plus. No need to — ouch — squat down and hunt for tiny plastic tags to find out what some mystery plant is.
Visit soon, though. Most of the RBG's take on the latest gardening fad will dissolve into a shrivelled mess once Jack Frost shows up.
www.soniaday.com
RBG's single ticket admission is $12.50. This covers visiting all the gardens including Veggie Village. But membership at $57 a year is better value. The new veggie display is in Hendrie Park, across from the main building. There's also a Tea House in this park, open until Thanksgiving. Location: Plains Rd., Burlington. For more information: 1-800-694-4769 or www.rbg.ca
Okra Abelmoschus esculentus
Ornery okra. Why won't it grow in my garden? If you've failed too, drop by the University of Guelph's Trial Gardens before frost hits. Back last winter, I talked Roger Tschanz, who runs the gardens, into experimenting with okra himself, because this tropical veggie fascinates me. And — whoo-hoo — he's succeeded this summer where I failed. His other successes are also blooming merrily right now. Check out an amazing black and white petunia called Pinstripe, which will hit garden centres next year. Free admission. Location: Victoria Rd. on the outskirts of Guelph (but watch for road closures due to construction).