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Lots of things springing up at Keremeos’ community garden

Local gardener Albert McCormick talks spring gardening and the greenhouse, irrigation going in
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Albert McCormick has been gardening in Keremeos, and donating the excess, for several years. He is now spearheading a new community garden that would be put in place across from the under-construction Ambrosia affordable housing development. (Brennan Phillips - Keremeos Review) [For Print]

With spring underway, Keremeos’ Community Garden is continuing to take shape ahead of the growing season.

The Review caught up with local gardener Albert McCormick to talk about the work currently going into the community garden, and to get some tips for other gardeners looking to green their thumbs.

The first thing that should be done, according to McCormick, is to prepare the soil.

“The gardener should have started last fall putting on all the compost so it has time to leech in, but if they didn’t, then they just have a little less of it if it’s hot compost so they don’t burn anything,” said McCormick.

All of the other supplements should also be added into the soil, whether it is lime, sulfur or fertilizer and then mixed in properly.

“No matter how expensive the seeds are, if the beds aren’t prepared you aren’t going to get what you want,” said McCormick.

When it comes to fertilizer, a balanced mixture is what he recommends, and he also reminds new gardeners to use hydrated or agricultural lime so that it won’t get hot or burn the plants or skin.

Some plants can have their seeds already planted and kept in pots indoors now, while cooler weather crops like spinach or dill can be planted outside.

“For flowers, the lupin seeds, other native flowers I’m going to be going out and planting now, because they can handle a little frost,” said McCormick.

Working the beds is key though, even for the warmer weather plants like melons. Working and preparing the beds gets them warmed up and ready for planting sooner than leaving them for the sun to do on its own.

READ MORE: Fundraiser to give mobility for Keremeos’ community garden

The new community garden itself is taking shape in Keremeos ahead of the planting and growing season with plenty of work still to be done.

After a recent information session at the garden, two of those who attended along with a repeat volunteer worked together to put in place all of the water lines and irrigation.

Soon the work will begin on setting the foundations for the new greenhouse, which needs to be in place by April 17 to be ready for the erectors to get to work.

Right now, garlic that was planted last year is already starting to push up out of the old garden next to McCormick’s residence.

To report a typo, email: editor@pentictonwesternnews.com.

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Brennan Phillips

About the Author: Brennan Phillips

Brennan was raised in the Okanagan and is thankful every day that he gets to live and work in one of the most beautiful places in Canada.
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