St. John's Safer Soil Joins the 2013 FEASt Fest!

 

On Saturday, April 13, St. John's Safer Soil participated in the 5th Annual FEASt FEST, organized by Food Education Action St. John's (FEASt) at the Foran/Greene room at St. John's City Hall.

 

As always, a great time was had by all!

 

St. John's Safer Soil displayed information on lead safe gardening and landscaping and we all enjoyed the informative presentations given by Matt Middleton, on saving money while gardening; Danilo Gonzales, on how to grow food year round; and Genevieve and Angela, on sprouting!

 

What an amazing community of foodies and gardeners! Well done!

 

 

Oct. 20 - "Putting Your Garden to Bed" and "Lead Safe Yard Planning" Workshop

at St. John's Farmers' Market

 

On Saturday, October 20, St. John’s Safer Soil and Seed to Spoon will extend the FEASt workshop series at the St. John’s Farmers’ Market by hosting a free public workshop , “Putting Your Garden to Bed.” It will take place at 11:00 am in the St. John’s Safer Soil tent, at the Lions’ Club Chalet (Bonaventure Avenue, behind the Remax Centre). No registration is necessary.

 

Now that fall is here and the winter is approaching, learn how to prepare your garden for the winter and for a bountiful 2013!

 

 

The workshop will include:

• soil nutrient testing and soil preparation

• monitoring and adjusting soil acidity

• planting trees and shrubs

• season extension tips

• cool temperature vegetables

• soil lead testing and lead safe yard planning

• landscape planning

• ...and more!

 

Autumn Garden Party and "Year Round Vertical Gardening" Workshop

Sat., Sept. 22, 2012

 

Join Common Ground and St. John’s Safer Soil for an Autumn Garden Party behind the Gathering Place, Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012, from noon to 3pm!

We will begin at noon with a workshop on “Year Round Vertical Gardening,” featuring information on gardening indoors and outdoors for small spaces, easy and simple production techniques and technologies for year round food production, how to prepare the home for this kind of production, what kind of materials are required and best plants to use. The workshop will be led by Luis Reyes, Katherine Meneses and Danilo Gonzalez.

The workshop will be followed at 1:00 pm by a barbecue, lively music and family fun! You can also take in a garden tour including information on lead safe gardening, and see our new greenhouse and new garden layout!

Admission is free. Refreshments by donation. To enter the garden, follow the signs from the north end of the Basilica parking lot.

For more information, contact Lori Heath, Common Ground Executive Director/Safer Soil Project Coordinator at 738-7542, 753-3594 or safersoil@gmail.com, or visit www.safersoil.ning.com

 

Open Garden Day on Sunday September 9, 2012!

 

St. John's Safer Soil will be participating in FEASt’s fourth annual Open Garden Day on Sunday, September 9, 2012  from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm!

Drop by our demonstration garden behind the Gathering Place to see our new garden layout, our brand new greenhouse and new biochar field trial! You can also learn everything you need to know about planning a lead safe garden. (Those who drop by for a brief tour will qualify for a prize!)

From the FEASt website at http://www.feastnl.ca/...
"Open Garden Day is a self-guided tour of some of St. John’s many food gardens. Home gardens, community gardens, demonstration projects and art installations have all featured in past tours."

"Open Garden Day is a great oportunity to share your experiences with beginning gardeners, to learn from more seasoned food growers, and to have some great conversations with fellow food lovers and food security advocates."

For more information, you can also visit the Open Garden Day Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/events/143306722476461/

 

Free Public Workshop - Designing a Lead Safe Yard or Vegetable Garden

with Special Guest Speaker!

ST. JOHN’S - On Saturday, May 12, St. John’s Safer Soil and LeadNL will host a free public workshop on ‘Designing a Lead Safe Yard or Vegetable Garden.’  The workshop will be led by Luisa Oliveira, Boston-based landscape architect, city planner and initiator of the ‘Safer Soil’ Program that began in New England and has been emulated here in St. John’s.  Luisa will speak about her experience and the issue of lead in urban soil, issues related to vegetable gardening in areas with elevated soil lead levels, how to conduct soil tests, and the importance of landscape design for lead safety.  Luisa will also guide participants through the process of designing a plan for their own residential yard or community garden, in order to make it safe for children and for growing food.  The workshop is especially relevant to residents of the downtown area of St. John’s, where elevated soil lead levels have been recorded.

 

Free Public Workshop

When: Saturday, May 12, 2012, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

 

Where: St. John’s City Hall – Foran/Greene Room

 

Speakers:

Luisa Oliveira, Senior Planner for Landscape Design at the City of Somerville, MA

Dr. Trevor Bell, Professor of Geography, Memorial University and Principal Investigator, LeadNL

Lori Heath, Executive Director, Common Ground and  Project Coordinator, St. John’s Safer Soil

 

Recent studies conducted by Dr. Trevor Bell of Memorial University’s Department of Geography have found elevated lead levels in the soil of St. John’s.  Dr. Bell is co- founder of LeadNL, which conducted a 2011 study of blood lead levels of children in the capital city.  “While the findings of this most recent study were encouraging in that they did not indicate any incidences of blood lead poisoning, the importance of lead safe gardening practices must be reinforced to ensure that children are protected from the harmful effects of soil lead,” says Dr. Bell, who will introduce the session on May12th.

 

Seating is limited and pre-registration is recommended.  Refreshments will be provided.  To register, and for more information on how to participate, please call St. John’s Safer Soil at 738-7542 or safersoil@gmail.com.

 

 If you "Like" our Facebook page  at https://www.facebook.com/SaferSoil by April 10, you could win a prize, to be drawn during the workshop!

 

Co-sponsored by FEASt (Food Education Action St. John’s), The Newfoundland and Labrador Environment Network, The Newfoundland and Labrador Food Security Network and Landscape NL.

###

 

St. John’s Safer Soil conducts education and capacity building activities to promote

lead safe gardening and recreation in urban areas. It is a project of Common Ground, a non-profit organization

which promotes environmentally and economically sustainable agriculture and community development.

Visit www.safersoil.ning.com for more information.

 

This project was undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Federal Department of the Environment, the Home Depot – Evergreen Rebuilding Nature Grant, The Home Depot – Evergreen Green Grant and the Wellness Coalition – Avalon East. The views expressed herein are solely those of Common Ground.

 

Oct 1 St. John’s Safer Soil Workshop - Autumn Lead-Safe Garden Planning

- St. John’s Farmers’ Market

 

On Saturday, October 1st, St. John’s Safer Soil will conduct a free workshop on

Autumn Lead-Safe Garden Planning at the St. John’s Farmers’ Market.

 

Autumn is a great time to plan for a lead safe garden, for early enjoyment of your garden

in the spring!

 

 Workshop topics include soil testing, preparing new soil, building garden beds and containers

and landscape planning for lead safety.

 

The workshop will take place at 11:00 am as part of the FEASt summer workshop series.

The Farmers’ Market is located at the Lion’s Club Chalet on Bonaventure Avenue.

 

###

 

St. John’s Safer Soil is a project of Common Ground, a new non-profit organization which promotes environmentally and economically sustainable agriculture and community development.

 

The project is made possible with funding from Environment Canada’s EcoAction Community Fund, the Home Depot – Evergreen Rebuilding Nature Grant and the Home Depot – Evergreen Green Grant.

 

Autumn Garden Party - September 24th 12-2

Join St. John's Safer Soil, a project of Common Ground, for an Autumn Garden Party!

Saturday, September 24th
12:00-2:00pm, rain or shine

Featuring garden tours, info on lead safe gardening, organic growing and more:
12:00 - Workshop “Putting your garden to bed”
12:45 – A delicious BBQ and lively music!

Admission is free, refreshments by donation

Location: Safer Soil Demonstration Garden
Behind the Gathering Place, at the north side of the Basilica parking lot. Follow the balloons to the rear of the building!

 

2012 - Garden Open 12-2 on Thursdays! Bring your lunch to enjoy outdoors!

 

St. John’s Safer Soil

Lead Safe Gardening and Landscaping

Demonstration Garden Tours at the Gathering Place

 

Are you concerned about lead in city soil? St. John’s Safer Soil promotes safe city gardening and recreation in areas with elevated soil lead levels.

 

During the summer and fall, Safer Soil will conduct garden tours at its demonstration garden, behind the Gathering Place, at the north side of the Basilica parking lot.

 

The garden will be open on Thursdays from 12 to 2 until the end of October. Follow the sign to the garden out back and bring your lunch to enjoy outdoors! Or contact Lori Heath at 738-7542, or safersoil@gmail.com, to arrange a time that is convenient for you.

###

 

Lead Safe Gardening Workshop - Aug. 6, 2011, St. John's Farmers' Market, 11:00 am

 

St. John’s Safer Soil

Lead Safe Gardening Workshop  - FEASt Workshop Series

St. John’s Farmers’ Market

Saturday, August 6, 2011 at 11:00 am

 

On Saturday, August 6, St. John’s Safer Soil will conduct a free workshop on Lead Safe Gardening at the St. John’s Farmers’ Market, located at the Lion’s Club Chalet on Bonaventure Avenue. The workshop will take place at 11:00 am at the FEASt (Food Education Action St. John’s) table, as part of the FEASt summer workshop series.

 

Recent studies have found elevated lead levels in the soil of St. John’s, particularly in the older parts of the city. St. John’s Safer Soil conducts education and capacity building activities to promote safe gardening and recreation in urban areas, given the questionable soil conditions found in many urban areas. Workshop topics will include how to conduct soil testing for lead, how to grow food safely in urban areas, simple landscaping projects and other tips to prevent lead exposure, and more.

 

During the summer and fall, St. John’s Safer Soil will also conduct garden tours at its demonstration garden behind the Gathering Place, situated at the north side of the Basilica Parking Lot. The demonstration garden promotes safe city gardening and sustainable agriculture.

To arrange a free garden tour for your family, workplace or community group, please contact Lori Heath at 738-7542 or safersoil@gmail.com. Educational materials are also available at our website at www.safersoil.ning.com.

 

St. John’s Safer Soil is a project of Common Ground, a new non-profit organization which promotes environmentally and economically sustainable agriculture and community development.

 

The project is made possible with funding from Environment Canada’s EcoAction Community Fund, the Home Depot – Evergreen Rebuilding Nature Grant and the Home Depot – Evergreen Green Grant.

 

 

###

 

2011 - Safer Soil Garden Tours at the Gathering Place

 

During the Summer and Fall of 2011, St. John’s Safer Soil will conduct free garden tours at the demonstration garden behind the Gathering Place, situated at the north side of the Basilica Parking Lot.

 

The garden promotes simple techniques for safe gardening and recreation in areas with elevated soil lead levels. Learn about safe city gardening, how to test soil for lead, landscaping and other tips to prevent lead exposure, using plants to clean the soil, and more. We also conduct other demonstrations of sustainable urban agricultural practices.

 

To arrange a free garden tour and presentation for your family, workplace or community group, please contact Lori Heath, Safer Soil Project Coordinator at 738-7542 or safersoil@gmail.com.Educational materials are also available at our website at www.safersoil.ning.com.

 

 

"Living with Lead" Safer Soil Community Forum and Workshop

April 12 & 13, 2008 - St. John's, NL

 

On April 12, 2008, the Centre for Long-term Environmental Action in Newfoundland and other local NGOs co-hosted the "Living with Lead" Safer Soil Community Forum at the Lantern, 35 Barnes Rd., in St. John's, Newfoundland. The event was organized to provide city residents with information on the elevated lead levels in the soil of downtown St. John's, health issues related to lead exposure, and simple and safe gardening and landscaping methods to prevent lead exposure.

The Agenda proceeded as follows;
• 10:00 – 10:30 - Dr. Trevor Bell, MUN Geography
Environmental Lead Exposure in St. John's: An Update
• 10:30 – 11:00 - Dr. David Allison – Medical Officer of Health, Eastern Health
Lead and Health: Potential Risks
• 11:00 – 11:15 - Nutrition Break
• 11:15 – 11:45 - Dr. Barbara Roebothan – MUN Associate Professor of Nutrition and Community Health
Healthy Eating with Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
• 11:45 – 12:15 – Costa Kasimos – MUN Botanical Garden
Safe Gardening Practices in High Lead Soil
• 12:15 – 12:30 - Nutrition Break
• 12:30 – 1:30 - Caitlin Dwyer Huppert and Averi Hamilton - Worcester Roots Project/Toxic Soil Busters
Phytoremediation: Using Plants to Clean the Soil, and Landscaping Strategies for a Safe Yard

On the following day, at the Foran/Greene Room at City Hall, we hosted a second, more in-depth session on safe gardening practices and phytoremediation, which uses plants to absorb lead and other contaminants from affected soil. Instruction was provided by Caitlin Dwyer-Huppert and Averi Hamilton of the Worcester Roots Project and the Toxic Soil Busters of Worcester, MA.

The weekend was very informative and well attended, and received much attention from the local media.

Here at www.safersoil.ning.com, we have provided a wealth of information which was covered during the Safer Soil Forum, as well as links to many other valuable resources.

Here you can also find out more about our project partners and sponsors, without whom this event could not have taken place; Bridges to Hope, the Community Garden Alliance, Food Education Action in St. John's (FEASt), the MUN Botanical Garden, MUN Department of Geography, the Newfoundland Food Security Network, the Newfoundland Horticultural Society, the Newfoundland and Labrador Environment Network and the Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter. We are very grateful for their participation and volunteer time!

We would also like to extend our warmest thanks to the Presentation Sisters, who provided funds for the event and use of their amazing facility at the Lantern, and to the NLEN and the Wellness Coalition for providing us with funds for the delicious, healthy food prepared by the Epicurean Kitchen. Thanks also to Pablo Navarro and Malin Enstrom of Zero Gravity for A/V support and documentation of the forum and workshop.

Please be sure to visit our website often, as we post updates and information on future projects to address this important environmental health issue.