It’s that time of the year again when the public can get a glimpse of how things get done by the organizations in Calgary.
I was so excited and confused in the morning of September 23, Saturday. It was the Doors Open YYC day and I haven’t picked which organization to visit; so many choices, so little time.
With time constraint, I picked the closest place yet equally interesting.
For Doors Open YYC 2017, I went to Calgary Horticultural Society. I’ve been meaning to visit the oldest society in Calgary for a long time.
Gardening Tips from Calgary Horticultural Society
It’s always great to see the #DOYYC hashtag adorning the place as if I’ve found the gold bar as indicated in the X mark of a treasure map. Or simply because I am happy that I didn’t get lose because I don’t have time to wander around.
I sure did get the most out of my short visit in the CHS. The friendly, smart volunteers of the Society didn’t waste time by sharing their gardening tips right away.
CARROT PHOTO
1. How to Store Carrots
While touring the garden at the backyard, I’ve mentioned that I harvested many carrots in the garden and didn’t know how to store all of it. Then Tom shared his tips and I’m excited to try it out.
Chop the carrots into horizontally (like a coin) then blanch the carrots. Lastly, put it in the freezer. Have you tried this trick before? Now all I have to figure out is how to make it all fit inside the freezer.
Finish the ice cream to make more room. Drink a lot of smoothie. Make carrot juice. All ideas are doable and sensible especially with the first one, right?
2. How to Grow Potatoes
It’s only now that I realized how to put into words a gardening instructions. I can picture it in my head. Anyway, I’ll give it a try.
May 10 best time to plant potato in May 10 and cover it all up by May 24.
1st Option: Dig a hole (more or less 12 inches) and cover it every time a sprout comes out of the soil. You get the picture right.
2nd Option: Plant the potatoes in the ground and cover it up whenever the sprout appears. It would look like an anthill minus the critters.
3rd Option: This is what I did this year and was given an OK remark. (It’s more like a trophy for me.) I put a bunch of potatoes in a rice sack and cover it up with soil.
Just between us. I planted the organic potatoes bought in the produce when I had too much mashed potato and didn’t know what else to cook.
Next summer, I’ll have an organic Caribe seed potato in the garden. Caribe is a type of potato that produces high yield and resistant to scab. And great for mashed potato.
Exploring the Garden
I’ll show you around the backyard because who doesn’t want more photos anyway.
You could see up close these wonderful veggies by visiting the Calgary Horticultural Society which is near the CF Chinook Centre. (I always use mall as a landmark.)
How to Get There
The Calgary Horticultural Society is located behind the Chinook Hobby & West, along Macleod Trail SW. You can take Bus 10 (City Hall) at Chinook Station which is the route I chose.
You’ll likely see the parking lot first then the sign. The office looks like a typical house with garden in the front yard.
Contact Information:
Address: 208 – 50 Avenue S.W. Calgary, AB T2S 2S1
Telephone: (403) 287-3469
Fax: (403) 287-6986
E-mail: office@calhort.org
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Do You Want to Learn More?
Aside from a garden tour, I learned the benefits of becoming a member such as getting discount in events from the volunteers and brochures I grabbed before I leave to take more photos.
Member Benefits:
- Eight issues of Calgary Gardening magazine
- Open garden tours
- Spring and fall plant shares
- Discounts at gardening retailers
- Discount on workshops, books, bus tours
- Informative website (members only section and on-line discussion forum)
- Community garden resource network
- Monthly e-news updates
- Special speaker events
- Rewarding volunteer and learning opportunities
- Additional benefits for corporate and affiliate society members
If you’ve been to any events, share your favourite activity. I’m considering the classes about fermentation (sauerkraut, pickles, etc).
Yearly Membership Fees:
Individuals – $45
Family – $55
Students – $25
Corporate – $245
Senior indviduals – $25
Senior Family – $35
Affiliate Societies – $45
On my way out, I grabbed some brochures. I’m enjoying the print copy of Calgary Gardening which will be delivered to the members through email to reduce the cost.
For people like me who prefer flipping pages, the limited print copy is still available at the office of Calgary Horticultural Society.
Till Next Doors Open YYC
It’s about time to wrap things up. This is how I spent my #DoorsOpenYYC 2017.
Although I always have a hard time of choosing where to go, I always end up making the right choice because all DOYYC participants are great.
Can’t wait to see the list next year. If you want to know more of my past trips click here. It’s such a shame that I didn’t write all my trips. (Maybe I could still do it . . . Not really.)
Where have you been this year for DoorsOpenYYC? Which places are you looking forward to visit next time?
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