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villagevibe
in this issueTh e Oneness Heart Park Page 3
Feature: Adieu, Roberta Martell Page 4
Gardening with SOUL Page 8
July 2009 : News and views from the heart of Fernwood
>> by Chris howard (Howie)
It’s the morning of Fern Fest, 8 am, and I’m
helping get the boys at the Fernwood Inn ready
to dole out pancakes. Jimmy (the head cook) is
psyched. It’s like he’s getting ready to fl y to Brazil or
something. Th is happy, hyper vibe is exactly what I
need right now, as my energy level dips aft er a week
of plan-o-mania. Sure enough, that set the tone:
everyone had a rockin’ good time.
One of the best things about Fernwood is the
loyalty residents so proudly display. Th is was manifest
in many ways on the big day, but none so much as all
the willing volunteers that stepped forward to give
their time and energy to this year’s event. A HUGE
and heartfelt thank-you goes out to the folks who
made a contribution: you know who you are!
Th e stage was alive with entertainment, from
the uncompromising undulations of the Cerise
Fantasy Belly Dancers to the classic Celtic chords of
Cookeilidh. Other artists included Steve Hignett,
Los Gringos Locos, Great White Shark, Harris
Gilmore and the Mojos and many others!
As always, the hub of the party by late aft ernoon
was the beer garden. A big thanks goes out to Simon
and the guys at Phillip’s Brewing Co. for quenching
thirsts and generously sponsoring our event. Wow,
you guys make a good brew.
Th e stuff happening that day could fi ll this paper,
but if you didn’t get to be there, reading about it is
almost unfair. You’ll just have to come out next year
and see what all the fuss is about.
Fantastic Fernfestivities
To get the Vibe digitally, sign up at
www.villagevibe.ca
Seniors lunch and more
Fernwood NRG and Joanne Gilmour Kyne host a
magnifi cent group of 12-20 seniors every Friday
for lunch, entertainment and exercise! Joanne, host
and a Red Seal cook, enjoys the group immensely, and the
seniors love her food just as much! Beyond the seniors
group, Joanne’s a busy mom to her three children – Eva,
age 11, basketball soccer girl; Wilson, age 13, musician;
and Jack, age 9, baseball player.
Joanne’s helper, Tasha, also loves to bake, and regularly
donates goodies to the seniors lunch. Th e group
appreciates her generosity and relishes her baking. Th ank
you, Tasha!
Th e Fernwood Seniors (age 55+) meet Fridays at
11am for exercise, tea, lunch and activities, and also
host a monthly guest speaker. Lunch is in the Fernwood
Community Centre Multi-Purpose Room, and the fee
is $2.
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We are committed to creating a socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable neighbourhood;
We are committed to ensuring neighbourhood control or ownership of neighbourhood institutions and assets;
We are committed to using our resources prudently and to becoming fi nancially self-reliant;
We are committed to the creation and support of neighbourhood employment;
We are committed to engaging the dreams, resources, and talents of our neighbours and to fostering new links between them;
We are committed to taking action in response to neighbourhood issues, ideas, and initiatives;
We are committed to governing our organization and serving our neighbourhood democratically with a maximum of openness, inclusivity and kindness;
We are committed to developing the skills, capacity, self-worth, and excellence of our neighbours and ourselves;
We are committed to focusing on the future while preserving our neighbourhood’s heritage and diversity;
We are committed to creating neighbourhood places that are vibrant, beautiful, healthy, and alive;
and, most of all,
We are committed to having fun!
declaration of principles and values
I’m writing this from the Chan Centre at
UBC in Vancouver. Th e request to write this editorial
came today and – given the pace of NRG – of course
it’s due today. I’m here to pay tribute to a man who was
formative to everything I know and have become: the late
great Jim Fulton.
Jim was my Executive Director when I was but a
sprout at the David Suzuki Foundation. His boldness
and charisma were exceeded only by his quick witted
brilliance and deeply generous spirit. I was blessed to
learn at the knee of this master at DSF. As I refl ect on my
tenure at the helm of NRG, I can only hope I’ve done my
Jimbo proud.
Together, we’ve created a fundamentally
transformative shift in Fernwood, the neighbourhood we
love. Together, we’ve brought out each other’s greatest
gift s and built one another’s capacity not only to dream
impossible dreams, but to realize them with tenacity and
grace. Together, we can celebrate the quiet victories that
belong to the passionate and battleweary because we
stepped up to the challenges before us, and together we
knocked them outta the park!
Fernwood’s transformation has attracted
international attention as folks want to learn more about
our resident driven urban evolution. I’m honoured to
have spent the past fi ve and a half years working side by
side with staff , board and residents on programs, services
and urban sustainability initiatives.
Th e fi nal missive from my overworked blackberry
is this – I may be leaving but I’ll be checking back. I’m
certain there’s even more social innovation to come from
Fernwood. As you move forward, take care of yourselves,
each other and the earth. Be well, my friends.
editorial : Be well, my friends
Page 2 | News and views from the heart of Fernwood | July 2009 VillageVibe
>> by Sarah Colwill
The Dovetail Foundation and the
Fernwood Inn invite you to join them in the Street
on July 19th for a day of neighbourhood celebration
in support of the Roger Colwill Fund for the
Environment.
In light of Roger Colwill’s involvement with
the Royal Roads University (RRU) Foundation in
their campaign to build the Robert Bateman Art and
Environmental Education Centre, the Foundation
did two things:
Th ey invited Sarah Colwill (part owner
of Fernwood Inn) to volunteer on the Legacy
Campaign Board as head of the Youth Engagement
Committee. Th is committee is now named the
Dovetail Project.
Th ey created the Roger Colwill Fund for the
Environment, which fuels Green Drinks – now in
the Belfry Lobby, second Tuesday of every month
(save July, when it is out at RRU) – as well as the
Legacy Campaign.
Th e Colwill family is aiming to raise suffi cient
funds to name a prominent space in the future
Bateman Centre aft er their Dad. Neighbours for
Change is the fi rst of three event fundraisers by Th e
Dovetail Project. (Shop for Change and Rock for
Change are planned for future dates.)
Gladstone St. in front of the Fernwood Inn
will be closed off for tents and tables where local
produce/craft s will be sold and to allow room for
facepainting and sidewalk chalk – perhaps even a
dunk tank!
Sales from burgers hot off the BBQ and cold
beer on the patio will go toward the Roger Colwill
Fund – as will money raised from the auction in the
art room, with lot items such as a fi shing trip for four
and original local art.
Live music will be provided on the patio by
Mike Hann and Tyler Harvey and others.
Walk or bike to this community-oriented,
family friendly event in the true spirit of Roger, who
loved nothing more than a great street party where
neighbours got to know each other!
Anyone wishing to donate artwork or lot items
for the auction, or vendors wishing to sell local
produce or craft s, can contact Sarah at the Fernwood
Inn. 250.412.2001 ext. 3
Like the work of Fernwood NRG? Go to
CanadaHelps.org and donate
to Fernwood NRG.
I’m Philippe Lucas,
your City Council
representative for
Fernwood, and it’s a real
pleasure to have this
opportunity to introduce
myself. With the
incredible creativity and
energy currently fl owing
out of Fernwood Square
and beyond, I’m very
excited to be your rep during this time of progressive change
in the community.
My background includes childcare and education, and
I’m currently a Graduate Research Fellow with the Centre
for Addictions Research of B.C. and a Master’s Candidate
in UVic’s Studies in Policies and Practice program. Much of
my work and research focuses on substance use, drug policy
and addiction, and medical marijuana, and my volunteer
time is directed towards ending homelessness and poverty,
and increasing food security and local agriculture.
When I’m at home (which is all too rarely these days!)
you can usually fi nd my wife Mary and me enjoying the
company of our 8 month old daughter Sophie, cooking,
or tending to our ever-expanding edible and ornamental
garden.
Th e next few years will potentially see some interesting
new initiatives in Fernwood, including the possibility of a
new all-weather fi eld at Vic High, a new bus corridor on Bay
St., and increased bike parking around Fernwood Square.
Although these changes will benefi t many neighbourhood
residents, I’m aware that they also have the potential to
negatively aff ect others, so I’m committed to ensuring
that the city does its best to minimize the downside of any
of these initiatives. With that in mind, please feel free to
contact me at [email protected] so that we can discuss your
vision for a vibrant Fernwood.
Now back to the garden!
Philippe Lucas
GreetingsFernwood!
Neighboursfor Change
Acknowledgments
Anna Rasmussen would like to acknowledge
www.bc4h.bc.ca for providing much of the information
reported in “4H Club in Fernwood” in the June Vibe.
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VillageVibe July 2009 | www.fernwoodneighbourhood.ca | Page 3
>> by Emily Grav
Calling all creative minds! Emily Grav, the
owner of Th e Paint Box School of Art in the Fernwood
Square, is designing a mural for the wall bordering
Gladstone Ave., next to the Belfry Th eatre. Th e purpose
of the mural is to inspire creativity, to deter “taggers”
from continually marking the wall with their slogans, and
to brighten the square with some art and colour.
To make the mural a community project, she would
like everyone’s creative input, from professional artists
to children. A visual reproduction of the wall will be on
display at the Cornerstone Café with pens and pencil
crayons available for people to add their ideas to the
mural. Th ose ideas will be incorporated into the fi nal
design to create a group design.
Th e deadline for design contributions is July 15th,
so stop by the Cornerstone or Th e Paint Box today and
add your idea! Once the mural application is approved,
students attending Summer Art Camps at the Paint Box
will start work on painting the mural in August.
>> by Fernwood R abbit
I first saw this garden while hopping down
Princess Street with my little bunnies. We were on our
way to play at the playground when we came across this
magical spot which seemed to appear from nowhere on
the side of the street. We felt a bit like Hansel and Gretel
when they saw the old witch’s colourful, abundant and
enchanted house arising from the dark forest. Who could
have made this wondrous collage of colour and texture?
On our way back from the playground, we met the
creator. Th e sun was slanting at that perfect angle before
sunset when all is sheathed in golden rays, and he invited
us to talk with him awhile beside the garden. He sat on
the bench and told us all about bees and debated the
merits of their portrayal in The Bee Movie with the kids.
As we bantered back and forth, I realized that this was
truly one of those precious moments that make living
in Fernwood special. Aft er it started to get cold and
we began to prepare to go on our way, he looked long
and deeply at us and then he went to get something.
A few moments later, he reappeared at the door with a
telescope, which he presented as a gift to my children.
Th ey were thrilled, and they have gotten a great deal of
education and entertainment from it since then! As we
walked away, he called to us that we were welcome any
time to go and sit on that bench and enjoy the garden.
Th e Oneness Heart Park hosts over 70 species of
plants. Th e creator has planned to make it the “most
intensely beautiful place in the world for its size”. And I
think that he’s already accomplished it! For the past two
months, it had a beautiful heart-shaped planting of clear
pink primroses, and currently, it features an uproarious
planting of yellow daff odils. His next plan is to build up
the soil using granite slabs to hold the soil in. He assures
me that the best show is yet to come in mid summer.
I walked there tonight, taking him up on
his invitation to just come and sit. I sat upon the
appropriately wabi sabi bench, next to a gargantuan pot
of daff odils shining brilliantly golden in the setting sun,
contemplating the garden. It was beautiful and peaceful.
Th e creator of this garden has created a landscape of
peace and harmony within a cacophony of colours,
shapes and textures, and he has carved all of this out of
what used to be (according to his neighbour) “nothing,
bare, not even grass — just bare dirt.”
It really is heartening.
Melodious Mural
Th e Oneness Heart Park
>> Interview by Aaron Ellingsen
You might have seen the Bumbling Sisters on a Friday
night at the Cornerstone, or at the family open stage
during Fern Fest 2009. If not, you might just want to get
down to the Cornerstone for A Shot in the Dark, their
open stage/variety show, the third Friday of every month.
Village Vibe Who are the Bumbling Sisters? Why
bumbling?
Bumbling Sisters “Th e Bumbling Sisters are local
sisters, Sarah and Meghan Brady. Sarah is currently taking a
break from social work while she waits to enter grad school
this fall at Uvic, while Meghan works and plays in the
Victoria area. We both love music – performing, listening
and composing – and wanted to create a supportive fun
environment for others to do the same.
“While we have lots of enthusiasm, our talent is
somewhat lacking. We joke that we oft en start the night
off with one of our numbers to help set the bar low, so that
anyone thinking they won’t be good enough will go: ‘Hey,
if they can do it so can we.’ Anyone with a desire to
perform should check out our open mic, even if they’re
not yet ready for the big stage. Aft er all, we’re oft en our
own worst critics.
“We wondered about calling ourselves the ‘Savage
Sisters,’ but when we Googled the Savage Sisters, we
realized that name had been used in a 1970’s B movie
about guns and barely clothed ladies. We considered the
‘Sassy Sisters,’ but Sassy just didn’t seem to fi t. We
decided that with our long history of klutzy humour and
our ability to laugh at those all too embarrassing moments,
Bumbling Sisters fi t.
“We’ve been playing together for years under a range
names, but decided to make it more offi cial for the open
mic. Hence, the Bumbling Sisters were born.”
VV How is what you're doing diff erent from some of the
variety shows that might jump into peoples minds – the
Gong Show, Smothers Brothers, Muppet Show, etc.?
BS “While we have a range of infl uences, like the Muppet
Show and Monty Python, we were actually more
infl uenced by years of attending coff ee houses in our home
town of Hazelton, BC. We defi nitely are not a Gong
Show. Far from it. Th e only thing performers will hear at
our open mic is applause, laughter and support.
“At fi rst we had some pretty big ideas – theme nights,
audience participation, kids entertainment, improv theatre,
and burlesques – but since it’s still new in the community,
we are simply letting our show progress at its own pace,
providing a space in which performers and audience dictate
the tone of the night. For example, some nights you’re
hulahooping in the streets, some you’re laughing out loud,
and others you sip tea while listening to poets. It’s
the night of a thousand surprises.
“Many open mics in Victoria are more geared towards
a particular genre – poetry, bluegrass, music, comedy, etc.
We provide a space where a broad range of local artists can
come together and showcase their talents. We like a range
of performances, and our thought was that other would
enjoy the variety too.
“We’re always looking for local artists to feature at
upcoming open mics. Readers interested in information
on feature opportunities at A Shot in the Dark can contact
Sarah at [email protected].”
VV Who are your musical/comedic infl uences?
BS “For music, fi rst and foremost we would have to
say our father. Our family is quite musical in general and
has been for as long we have been alive. Our father plays
in numerous bands, on drums, tenor guitar,
mandolin, banjo, or singing. Our mother plays piano
and sings, though she resists performing in public.
Our parents are large supporters of live music
and are some of the founders of the Kispiox Valley
Music Festival, an amazing festival where we’ve
performed in a range of capacities with our father, which
takes place the last weekend of July.
“For comedic, you name it, we probably like it. We
love to laugh and love making others laugh, even if that
means making fools of ourselves.”
VV Where did you come from, and what brought you to
the Cornerstone?
BS “We grew up in Kispiox Valley, near Hazelton in
northern BC., an area of the country with a cornucopia of
performing talents, festivals and theatre. While we’re not
Fernwood residents, we love the neighborhood. We have
many Fernwood friends, and our dentist – who was our
original dentist in our hometown – now even works in
Fernwood!
“We fell in love with the Cornerstone aft er attending
a one-time open mic put on by local activist group
Transaction back in November 2008. We thought the
space was great. A few months back we approached Howie,
the Cornerstone’s manager, about hosting an open mic.
Th e rest is history.”
@ the Cornerstone :Song and Dance
Celebrate the Sunshine!The Patio at the Inn
Now open for Summer.
Join us daily from 11:30 1302 Gladstone 412-2001
feature : Farewell, Martell: Roberta’s ReflectionsRoberta Martell, the dynamic woman who has led Fernwood NRG and the revitalization of our neighbourhood for the past six years is leaving. We caught Roberta on her way out the door and asked her to share her reflections on her time in Fernwood.
VV: Why did you come to Fernwood?“I was living on Mudge Island at the time and doing my Masters’ Degree in Leadership and Training. I had driven through this part of Victoria and it looked like it was falling apart a bit. That was the visual of the sense I had. There were fences that were blown over and houses that had great bones but looked like they weren’t being revitalized. There were buildings that were boarded up and the thought stuck in my head like a fork: What’s not going on here and why? Those were just two simple questions.”“I didn’t know it was Fernwood. I actually thought it was Fairfield, so I thought this Fairfield place was just a mess! As a student who’d been unemployed by choice for two years, I was running out of cash. I got on Charity Village and I saw the Fernwood Community Centre was looking for an Executive Director and I thought, ‘Ah, I’ve got to go to Fernwood.’ So it was that weird and that’s what drew me to Fernwood.”
VV: What do you consider to be some of your greatest achievements since you’ve been here?“One of the biggest things that was pretty amazing was the work that we did with everybody to come together and fight the Recreation Renewal
Page 4 | News and views from the heart of Fernwood | July 2009 VillageVibe
proposal that the city had put forward. The 2002-2003 Recreation Renewal Plan proposed the centralization of recreation and de-mobilization of neighbourhood Recreation Centres, including the Fernwood Community Centre.”“I think it was maybe 2-3 weeks into my time here...so to walk right into that! I think we turned it from a really crappy plan into an amazing opportunity to bring all the community centres together and mobilize them and bring that up at a city-wide level. As they say, ‘a crisis is a terrible thing to waste,’ and we didn’t. We utilized it — not only city-wide in terms of slamming Rec Renewal, but we also used it to raise awareness of how city staff was proceeding in terms of how they dealt with neighbourhoods.”“I think that we really used this challenge to raise awareness of the need for a community centre in Fernwood and to get people involved in that, so we used it as a bit of a leverage point to change the place.”
VV: What about the Cornerstone?“I just think that the courage of the Board of Fernwood NRG was amazing because we jumped and moved really quickly. Nobody starts [fundraising] with their thermometer with no red in it. Well, that’s what we did: ‘Hey, we don’t have a clue, we’ve got no red in the thermometer and we’ve got to get to $700,00 tomorrow!’ But what we’d done is we’d tightened up the ship [at the Fernwood Community Centre] and we’d begun to animate this place. And so we just scrimped and saved and we were working 16-18 hour days for a year and a half.” “The community was amazing. Everybody came out and did what they could, or brought what they could and if they couldn’t work they’d bring watermelon or play accordion and it was just a phenomenal opportunity to do not building by planning or building community by committee or building community by presentation. It was building community by building community.”“It’s really been an honour to win the 2008 CMHC Best Practices in Affordable Housing Award for it and to be able to go across Canada and tell people the story of the Cornerstone. We need to get to the transferable lessons in the Cornerstone experience, which is that Canadian communities by their very design are resilient, if and when the people in them take control of their neighbourhoods and make them what they want them to be.”“In Fernwood, we’ve pointed our direction. We want to talk about urban sustainability, food security, urban land use, community economic development, alternate energy, alternate transportation, family programs, family support, childcare, urban sustainability...this is what we’re looking at. That’s the story of the Cornerstone to me. It’s about residents claiming their own neighbourhood, being really smart and identifying the real problem, not the identified problem.”“The real issue here was about neighbourhood engagement, because the structures didn’t support neighbourhood engagement. It was disinvitational and the buildings also supported neighbourhood disengagement. So how do we clean up little things like that so that people can become engaged and bring their best selves to the neighbourhood and bring the gifts that they have?”“What we’ve done is we’ve been able to double-bounce this neighbourhood
VillageVibe July 2009 | www.fernwoodneighbourhood.ca | Page 5
:970 Blanshard StreetVictoria, BC V8W 2H3
telephone: 363-3600e-mail: [email protected] the web: www.denisesavoie.ca
Denise SavoieMember of Parliament for Victoria
Your voice in OttawaYour voice in Ottawa
from folks who have their little pockets of engagement, to saying we have a neighbourhood living room [the Cornerstone Café], we have a neighbourhood press [the Village Vibe], we have a place where you can come and say this is what I want to do and here are my ideas because we’ve got a tonne of great ideas.”
(We at the Village Vibe think Roberta’s being modest about her accomplishments during her time with us; she was also involved in the construction of Park Place and the Infant & Toddler Daycare, not to mention bringing David Suzuki out to see us!)
VV: Was there anything that you really wanted to do while you were here that you didn’t get done?“I wanted to do a Fernwood Light-Up, which you know is ridiculous, but I thought just in terms of cheer, spirit, lights. Or a Fernwood Fence Project. Because like I said, I got here and these fences were drooping, falling. It was the ‘broken window’ thing. [But] we realized those weren’t the things that needed doing, the large systemic stuff was the stuff that needed doing. As Joanna Massey says ‘not everyone can build a bridge, but someone has to build it so everyone can walk across it.’ And so we had the bridge to build and everyone could walk across it. They could fix up their own house, they could do their own light-up, they could do their own fences and that’s ultimately what happened with the Cornerstone and taking that on and revitalizing it and also addressing other things like community governance. I think we were able to identify what the true tipping points or leverage points were and resolve those.”
VV: What’s left to be done?“I ‘d love to see the Vicipedia site [a current Fernwood NRG project for collaborative online neighbourhood planning and governance].”“We are the neighbourhood. We’re not the hired guns who work at the building that’s downtown. We are the neighbourhood and we’re not just planning but doing, because there are limits to plans. And so we move in a principals-based manner and it’s much more responsive to and adaptive to
the needs of the neighbourhood. At a neighbourhood level, I don’t like that model of the yea or nay, the binary of what exists. I like this emergence that people have something to give. So let’s allow for this emergence. So that’s the Vicipedia site. I’d love to be at the cutting edge of that one.” “And to continue on with the work around urban sustainability. Let’s say ‘what are the values that we want to see in this neighbourhood?’ How can we move forward with urban sustainability, especially where it comes to alternate energy. When we look at the sunset industries or fossil fuel — it’s going away — we do have to re-power and I think that Fernwood could totally be at the leading edge of that. I would love to see Fernwood buck the trend in sewage treatment in Victoria and move to humanure and composting toilets.”“Beyond that, I don’t know. More affordable housing, a little bit more urban densification, more neighbour gardens, mason bee houses. I’d like to see more boulevard gardening, to continue on with the work that Margot and Rainey started with their courageous boulevard gardening. “
VV: Where to from here for you?“I’ll be kind of lost. Because it’s been not only my full time job but my full time vocation or avocation for the last 6 years. I’m going to have to find something to do, take up crocheting or knitting, learn to cook? No. I’m actually going to go to my little house and read and write and I’m looking at trying to capture and disseminate some of the models that are transferable. I want to take this stuff and put it into an eco-modeled language so that we can disseminate this, using the language of sustainability.”“So that’s what I’m hoping to do. Capture some of this write, disseminate. But mostly miss you guys!”
As we will miss you, Roberta! We have had some great times and some challenging times. Overall, it has been an amazing ride. From the Village VIBE & all of Fernwood NRG, our heartfelt thanks, our love and all our best for your next adventure!
Page 6 | News and views from the heart of Fernwood | July 2009 VillageVibe
>> by Margaret Hantiuk
In January of this year, the municipality
of Victoria enacted the fi rst law to regulate pesticide
use in the CRD. Pesticides were commonly used to kill
insects, weeds, fungi and other undesirables. Th ey can
be properly identifi ed by the ‘Pest Control Product’
number (‘Reg. No.’) near the list of ingredients. Th is
law applies to all residential properties, except where
an extremely invasive plant is threatening a sensitive
ecosystem. Farms, forestry, commercial, industrial,
institutional sites, transportation corridors and insides of
buildings and hardscaping are exempt. For a gardener to
use a pesticide in their yard, a permit must be applied for
and may not be granted without good cause. Th ose using
pesticides without a permit could be fi ned.
So how can we grow a good-looking lawn without
pesticides? It’s not that diffi cult once you understand
the basics. Don’t try to grow a lawn in shade. Some
light shade for a couple of hours is fi ne, but too much
will invite weeds and moss. I like the moss that grows in
shady spots of my yard because it’s a lovely green. Try a
ground cover that is shade tolerant for these areas if you
don’t like moss, or selectively prune back shrubs and de-
limb some of your trees to increase sunlight.
Water properly: less oft en and more deeply is the
trick. It’s okay for lawns to yellow out a bit in our dry
summers: they go dormant waiting for the fall rain. If
you don’t water your lawn at all throughout our summer
droughts, you risk it actually dying at the root level.
When mowing, leave the clippings on as a light and
fertile mulch. If you haven’t cut your lawn for a while
and it’s very long, it’s better to cut it back a couple of
times in close succession, slowly lowering the mower
blades. Lawns should never be cut less than one inch
high – three inches is better.
Here, with our acidic soils, it’s wise to lime your
lawn at least once a year in spring or fall, as lawns prefer
a ‘sweeter’ (more basic, less acidic) soil. A new product
made from eggshells has less of a carbon footprint than
dolomitic lime and is said to be more easily absorbed.
De-thatching is generally considered unnecessary (if not
harmful) but some people swear by aerating their lawns
once a year. If you do, fi ll in the holes with sand. Th is is
also important if you are pulling out big weeds in your
lawn (dandelions, thistles) or have any holes and bare
spots. Th ey should be fi lled and covered with topsoil
mixed with grass seed, or weeds will fi nd the spot.
Some gardeners like to spread a fi nely sift ed
compost (or sea soil) over their lawns in the spring as a
topdressing fertilizer. Any needed overseeding can be
done at this time as well.
Be careful with chemical fertilizers as they are
powerful and can burn plants – they’re like putting
your lawn on steroids. Chemical fertilizers are polluting
our streambeds and oceans as the runoff promotes
algae blooms due to excessive fertility. If you must use
a fertilizer, consider Gaia’s Green Turf and Lawn, with
organic ingredients or a slow-release type (12-4-8). For
best results, separate the fertilizing and liming by
3 weeks.
It pays to be vigilant with weeds: prevention is key.
One dandelion or buttercup is easily removed, but
once it’s gone to seed or colonized into a patch you’ve
got much more of a job getting rid of it. Th ere are all
kinds of weed pulling and cutting tools available now
to make the job easier and more eff ective by removing
weed roots.
Following these few guidelines should keep
your lawn beautifully healthy for years without toxic
chemicals that kill not only weeds and pests but as well
birds, butterfl ies, benefi cial insects and microbial soil
life, not to mention harming your pets and children.
gleanings : Turf Wars
Ph
oto
: M
arg
aret
Han
tiu
k
>> By Deryk Houston
I was sitting having a coffee at the
Cornerstone Café, watching people walk by with their
dogs, and it struck me how true the old adage is that
dogs oft en match their owners.
It should come as no surprise then that the same
can be said for artists and their work. Certainly this is
the case with local artist Arlene Nesbitt.
Her imagery and ideas emerge slowly. If you
have ever woken up in the early light of a summers
day in a strange land, quietly soaking up the fi rst
sounds and scents of your new surroundings, then
you have some idea of what it is like to experience
Arlene’s creations. Her artwork is dreamy, thoughtful
and with a purpose. It is therapeutic and spiritual.
She understands the healing power of art and the
importance of connections between people in our
community. Like most artists, she uses images instead
of words to explain her world. It has fi lled her life and
her family for seventy three years now.
Her exhibition, “Mind over/with Matter” at the
Collective Works Galley opens July 3rd and runs until
the 17th . Th is body of work shows trails of thought
running through objects, translucent layers of time
and space. Th ink about that. You might need another
sip of your coff ee to wrap your brain around the idea.
“Trails of thought running through objects.”
But it’s true. Let yourself go and enjoy that idea.
Th e atoms and everything, including thoughts, are
somehow all connected. She explains it as “ideas in the
process of manifestation.” Perhaps it is a complicated
or abstract thought in some ways, but when you try to
explain it words are oft en limited.
Th at’s why we have art. Th at’s why we value
Arlene: she takes this bit of a mind twister and allows
you to enter a new world. Th at’s the power of her
work, and it comes out beautifully in this exhibition.
Her work gives us wings.
Mind over/with Matter
Her artwork is dreamy, thoughtful, with purpose
Experience God
at St. BarnabasAnglican Church
Sung Mass at 10:30 a.m.every Sunday.
Low Mass at 9 a.m. on weekdays;7 p.m. on Wednesday
1525 Begbie Street, VictoriaChurch Office: 250-595-4324www3.telus.net/stbarnabas/
what’s on in Fernwood
VillageVibe July 2009 | www.fernwoodneighbourhood.ca | Page 7
Tuesday Evening Markets in the Square are back!
Fernwood’s Tuesday Evening Market in the Square is currently accepting applications for
summer vendors.
Markets are held Tuesdays from May 26–Sept 15, 5:30–8:30pm in Fernwood
Square (Fernwood & Gladstone).
Vendor applications are available at the She Said Gallery.
Arts, Theatre and EntertainmentBelfry Theatre presents:
WINGFIELD LOST AND FOUND.
Written by Dan Needles. Directed
by Doug Beattie, and starring Rod
Beattie. July 21 until August 15. See
website or call for showtimes or
additional info. 1291 Gladstone Ave.
Info: 250.385.6815 or www.belfry.
bc.ca
Bluegrass Wednesdays.
Fernwood NRG and the Fernwood
Bluegrass Association present
Wednesday night bluegrass jams at
the Cornerstone Café. 7:30-10pm.
FREE!
Collective Works Gallery.
MIND OVER/WITH MATTER. Works
by Arlene Nesbitt. Reception 7pm
July 3. Show runs until July 17.
UNDER THE UNDERGARMENTS.
Works by Marnie Müller. Reception:
7pm, July 31. Show runs until Aug 14.
Also at Collective Works: Life drawing
sessions. Facilitators Marnie Müller
and PJ Kelly. First and last Sunday
of the month, 7:30 to 9:30pm. $10
drop-in. Gallery hours>11am-6pm
Tues to Thurs; 11am-8pm Fri+Sat;
11am-6pm Sun; closed Mon. 1311
Gladstone Ave. 250.590.1345. www.
collectiveworks.ca
Live at the Cornerstone – 1301
Gladstone (at Fernwood Ave).
Ongoing Friday events at the
Cornerstone, Fernwood’s living room:
> Third Friday (July 19). “A Shot in the
Dark” open mic night with hosts the
Bumbling Sisters. Bring your poetry,
music, hulahoops, jokes, stories, etc.
Thank you for supporting local
musicians and your neighbourhood!
Live Music at Fernwood Inn.
Open Mic Thursdays. 8:30-11:30pm.
1302 Gladstone Ave. FREE!
Live Music at Logan’s Pub.
1821 Cook St. www.loganspub.com
Ministry of Casual Living.
1442 Haultain St. Info: www.
ministryofcasualliving.ca
Victoria Bluegrass Association
Jam.
Tuesdays 7:30-10pm. Orange Hall.
1620 Fernwood Rd. $2 to play ($3/
non-members). Listen by donation.
Info: www.victoriabluegrass.ca
Victoria Folk Music Society.
Sundays. 7:30pm Open Stage. 9pm
Feature Performer. (July 5>WITHOUT
A NET. July 12>THE CAST. July
19>THE CHLOE HALL TRIO. July
26>ROMNEY GETTY AND CRAIG
SMITH. Aug 2>closed) Norway
House. 1110 Hillside Ave. $5 feature
performer nights/$3 all open stage
night. www.victoriafolkmusic.ca
Kids and Families at the Fernwood Community CentreParent and Babe Playgroup.
For caregivers with children under
36 months. Fernwood’s Parent and
Babe group is a comfortable and
relaxed setting where parents and
caregivers can nurture their babies
through parent discussion, music
and storytelling. Wednesdays 9:30-
11:30am. Fernwood Community
Centre Gym. Coffee, juice and snacks
provided. FREE!
Parent and Tot Playgroup.
Snacks/Crafts/Circle Time. Tuesdays
and Thursdays 9:30-11:30am.
Fernwood Community Centre Gym.
$1 per family.
Youth, Adults and SeniorsNEW!! Fernwoodian 4H Club.
Want to learn new stuff and make
new friends? 4H has lots of great
projects like bicycles, foods, wool
craft and small engines! Families
interested in starting a local 4H club
please contact Anna or Bailey at
250.380.1724 or hhhh.rasmussen@
gmail.com. Start-up meetings will be
Monday nights at 6:30pm.)
Ear Acupuncture.
Back for Summer! Thursdays 2:30
to 4:30pm. Fernwood Community
Centre MPR. Everyone welcome. By
donation.
Fairuza Fridays.
Drop-in Co-ed. Ages 10-14.
Nintendo Wii, big screen movies,
basketball, fl oor hockey, roller
skating, music. Fridays, 7-9:30pm.
Fernwood Community Centre. Info:
250.381.1552 ext.25 FREE!
Falun Gong.
Peaceful meditation practice. All
welcome! Wednesdays, 5-7pm.
Fernwood Community Centre MPR.
FREE!
Fernwood Seniors.
55+. Gentle exercise, lunch and
activities. Monthly special guest
speaker. Fridays, 11am Fernwood
Community Centre MPR. $2 for
lunch.
Floor Hockey.
Drop-in Co-ed. Adult (18+). Tuesdays
and Thursdays, 7-9:30pm. Fernwood
Community Centre Gym. $4, or get a
punchcard: $40/11 sessions.**
Flow Yoga.
With certifi ed instructor Jay. Adult.
Fridays 5:30-7pm. $5. Fernwood
Community Centre Gym.
Hatha Yoga.
With certifi ed instructor Elke. Gentle
poses, breathing practice, deep
relaxation and meditation. Tuesdays,
3:30-5pm. Fernwood Community
Centre Gym. $5.
Karate.
Drop in. Adult Co-ed. Instructor
Lucas Trottier. Sundays, 1-2:30pm.
Fernwood Community Centre Gym.
$3.**
Kundalini Yoga.
Mondays, 7-8:30pm. $5 drop-in.
Fernwood Community Centre.
Tai Chi.
Thursdays. 4:30-5:30pm. Fernwood
Community Centre. 1240 Gladstone.
$5 drop-in.
Women’s Soccer.
Drop-in. Sundays 5-6:30pm,
Fernwood Community Centre Gym.
$3.**
**We accept Sports Trader Bucks and
Canadian Tire Money at face value!
Special EventsFernwood Community Market.
Bringing the goods to the ‘hood –
Fernwood’s very own Pocket Market.
Tuesdays. 2-6:30pm. Fernwood
Square.
Victoria Green Drinks.
An inclusive gathering of the
sustainability-minded for
refreshments and conversation.
Tues, July 14 (second Tues monthly).
5-6:45pm. Royal Roads University.
For info www.greendrinksvictoria.ca
Fernwood’s Outrageous
Recycling Day.
Bring your CLEAN plastics, styrofoam
packing and food trays, electronics
and foil-lined coffee/chip bags.
Sat, July 11 (second Sat monthly).
10am-1pm. Across from Fernwood
Community Centre. By donation.
Fernwood’s Outrageous Recycling
Day seeks volunteers! Come help us
make it all happen! For info
contact villagevibe@
fernwoodneighbourhood.ca
Community Wellness Clinic.
Victoria Community Health
Co-operative. Experience
complementary modalities to
support your wellbeing. Clinics by
members for members. Sunday,
July 19 (third Sun monthly), 10am-
4pm, Alembic Healing Arts Centre,
Market Square, Suite #235, 560
Johnson St. Book appointments at
250.483.5503. More info at www.
victoriahealthcooperative.ca
Fernwood Place Making Troupe.
Being eternal optimists, the Place
Making Troupe is adjourning to enjoy
the summer sunshine! Watch for our
return in the fall, and plan to join your
neighbours on Monday, September
21, 7pm at the Cornerstone Cafe
for our usual inspiring and convivial
evening. All Welcome!
Neighbours for Change: Block
Party for the Roger Colwill Fund.
Sunday, July 19. 2 to 5pm. Gladstone
in front of the Fernwood Inn. Join
us for an afternoon of community
celebration and music as we take
to the street in Fernwood. Featuring
music by Mike Hann and Tyler
Harvey, a local market, sidewalk art,
and a 50/50 draw. (see story, p. 2)
Fernwood NRG Food Security
Collective.
All welcome! Tues, July 21
(third Tues monthly). 7-9pm.
Fernwood Community
Centre MPR. foodsecurity@
fernwoodneighbourhood.ca
Second Annual SOUL Organic
Garden Tour.
Saturday, July 25, 2009. Various
urban gardens in Oak Bay and
Fernwood. Tickets ($20; $10 for
SOUL members) available at Dig
This in Oak Bay and Market Square
and The Greater Victoria Compost
Education Centre. For more info:
Tamara Schwartzentruber. tel. 250-
381-3773. sunsonghealing@yahoo.
ca or www.organiclandcare.org (see
story p. 8)
Fernwood Community Kitchen.
Cook nutritious, creative meals
with your neighbours! Info:
Spring Ridge Commons
Workparties!
Come get your hands dirty in
Fernwood’s only public food garden.
Saturdays, 10-12pm at the Commons.
Please bring tools if you’ve got ‘em.
Village Sustainability Workshops.
Ongoing workshops at the Oak
and Fern Centre. Contact Rainey
and Margot for information at
250.383.9171 or hope_of_rain@
islandnet.com
The Fernwood Commons:
A Fernwood Community
Communication Forum.
For info on Fernwood comings
and goings and neighbourhood
news and views, check out The
Fernwood Commons online: http://
thevillagevibe.ning.com/
If you have a workshop or special
event idea for the Fernwood
Community Centre or the
Cornerstone Café email villagevibe@
fernwoodneighbourhood.ca
If you have a Fernwood event you
would like listed in the Village
Vibe calendar please send
an email with the subject line
“vibe calendar” to villagevibe@
fernwoodneighbourhood.ca
>> by Roberta Martell
Just over a year ago, I bumped into Lisa
Matthaus at the Cornerstone Café. She told me she
was heading to India for a while. I thought she meant a
month. In fact, she meant a year!
Head snap! What? A year in India? How? As she’s
just returned, we met at her Fernwood home to learn
more about this amazing woman and her journeys – not
only out in the world, but also toward herself.
An experienced traveler, Lisa had backpacked
extensively in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. She’s
been to over 40 countries and had gone to India for the
fi rst time for a couple of months in 2006. Despite the
initial culture shock, she fell in love with India and aft er
returning to Victoria, spent the next 2 years focused on
getting back.
During this time, she was working at the Sierra
Club, and began assessing how to optimize the length
of any possible trip, as she described it, “to make it
worthwhile for someone to replace me at work – long
enough for someone to housesit my house. I put it out
to the universe for long enough that the universe fi nally
agreed. A year in India was in order.”
So, in March of 2008 Lisa moved her bedroom
furniture into storage, found a replacement for herself at
work, turned the keys to her house over to friends and
headed into the unknown. Th e one thing she knew
was that she was going to keep a blog. “Because I was
alone, I asked myself, ‘How will I capture this? How
can I explain these experiences and share them with
friends?’ My blog helped me manage my photos and
process my experiences.” Her blog, My year of living
draft ily – Opening all the doors and windows in my
life, is a wonderfully emergent collection of thoughts
and photos that is well worth a look: www.livingdraft ily.
typepad.com
Check the August Vibe for in depth coverage of
Lisa’s continued adventures – through India and
ongoing ...
>> by Sonya Bird
One sunny Sunday morning, while you’re
puttering around the house, take a moment to peek into
your garbage bin: what do you see? A few torn pieces
of saran wrap and a polystyrene plate from last night’s
steak, along with the bottle of bbq sauce you used to
spice it up; the last little bits of rice that burnt onto the
pot by accident when your mom called and you forgot
what you were doing in the kitchen; a little wooden
stick from the Fudgsicle you ate when you got home
from work the other day; the milk carton and a few
plastic bags from the bulk isle at Wellburn’s; oh, and
then the coff ee cup – you usually have your travel mug
but one morning last week you had a hot chocolate and
didn’t get around to washing it out; and fi nally a few
cigarette butts from when Aunt Carol popped in.
Now, head to the basement: what else is there
waiting to be thrown out? Th e bottle from when you
changed the oil a couple of months ago, a few fl ower
pots, left -over bits and pieces of PVC pipe from redoing
the plumbing, and three or four bottles of laundry
detergent that you keep meaning to run up to the Soap
Exchange and get them refi lled…
Okay, now make a couple of lists, using your handy-
dandy guide from Pacifi c Mobile Depot, outlining
what all can be recycled at Fernwood’s Outrageous
Recycling Day (second Saturday of every month;
see www.pacifi cmobiledepots.com for details):
Recycling: Saran wrap, Polystyrene plate, Bbq sauce
bottle, Milk carton, Plastic bags, Coff ee cup, Oil bottle
Flower pots, PVC pipe
Compost: rice remnants, Fudgsicle stick
Garbage: 3 cigarette butts
Wow, where did all the garbage go? At this rate
garbage trucks will soon be out of business, and the
Hartland landfi ll will become a nature reserve! YEAH!
Okay, so recycling your saran wrap might require
giving a rinse fi rst. And you may need some extra
storage space to sort your garbage. Trust me, once
you’re in the habit of doing this, it’s easy as a walk in the
park. And you’ll never be able to look at garbage the
same way again…
Fernwood’s Outrageous Recycling Day needs
YOU! If we can provide 8-10 volunteers once a month
for 3 hours, we – via the FNRG – get 20% of the profi t
made. Th at’s no small potatoes! Th ink about it, and
contact www.fernwoodneighbourhood.ca/recycling-
day-volunteer-inquiry for more information.
faces : A Year of Living Draft ily
To Be or Not to Be… Garbage
Gardening withSOULJuly 25 Second Annual SOUL Organic Garden Tour:
Edible, Flower, and Permaculture Gardens
This summer, the Society for Organic Urban
Landcare invites you to celebrate summer with us, as
we explore Edible, Flower, and Permaculture Gardens
in the Victoria area. Th is year’s second annual Organic
Garden Tour features six home-scale gardens, all within
cycling distance in Oak Bay and Fernwood. Th e widely
varied gardens on the tour will range from gentle order
to controlled chaos, showing the fruitlessness of any
attempt to pigeon-hole this rapidly growing movement.
As well as viewing the gardens, tour participants
will have the chance to enjoy live demonstrations of
a variety of organic gardening techniques, ranging
from traditional favourites such as composting and
vermiculture (worm bins), through sustainable, whole-
garden design systems (permaculture), to cutting
edge approaches including bokashi and eff ective
microorganisms, aerated compost tea, and didgeridoo
sound healing. Th e tour will also feature a raffl e for
participants, with a bonus prize for cyclists.
How did SOUL choose this year’s theme? It seems as
though food security is the phrase on everyone’s lips
these days, so when we thought about the directions
urban gardening is taking, featuring some great food
gardens seemed like a valuable and natural way to go.
Many organic food gardeners are increasingly
looking at permaculture – a design system for
sustainable human settlement that imitates nature to
create beautiful, highly productive living environments
sometimes described as “food forests” – as a way to grow
more food in an urban environment with less ongoing
management and work. As international environmental
advocate David Suzuki says, “what permaculturists are
doing is the most important activity that any group is
doing on the planet.” And fl owers? Well, who doesn’t
love fl owers?
Date Saturday, July 25, 2009
Location urban gardens in Oak Bay and Fernwood
Tickets $20, $10 for SOUL members
Available at Dig Th is in Oak Bay and Market Square
Th e Greater Victoria Compost Education Centre
More info Tamara Schwartzentruber 250-381-3773
[email protected], www.organiclandcare.org
1240 Gladstone Street Victoria, BC V8T 1G6
T 250.381.1552 F 250.381.1509
www.villagevibe.ca
Founding Editor: Lisa Helps
Editors: Aaron Ellingsen
Trish Richards, Johanna Henderson
Contributors:
Sonya Bird
Emily Grav
Margaret Hantiuk
Deryk Houston
The views expressed in
the Village Vibe do not
necessarily refl ect the views
of Fernwood NRG.
villagevibe Published by Fernwood NRG (Fernwood Neighbourhood Resource Group)
Chris Howard
Philippe Lucas
Roberta Martell
Fernwood Rabbit
Lenore Rankin
Jo Roueche
