Since moving to the downtown area of New Westminster over three years ago, I had toyed with the idea of seed bombing one of the many derelict areas near the tracks or guerilla gardening in the unused parking lot across from our condo. The planter at Burger Heaven, however offered an ideal location given its proximity to our apartment and generous size. Motivated by an interest in urban farming projects in cities across North America and a promise to myself to be more action-oriented, I decided to indulge the itch to grow something and go for it. After a few e-mails to the owner of Burger Heaven and a couple of meetings, I began working on the garden.

The Garden Nerd series will look at gardening issues in New Westminster. Suggestions for topics, guest submissions, and questions are all welcome. We’ll try and address it all! You can find other posts, as they are added, by clicking here.
This past week I popped out to my favourite seed store, West Coast Seeds, and picked up 225,000 mixed seeds in a blend called “Pacific Northwest”. It contains a mix of 17 different annuals and perennials, and all of the plants are indigenious to BC and our zone. They are also …

A reliable source informs me that a property owner in the Connaught Heights area would like to see an area of land used as a community garden of sorts. In true Royal City style, this currently anonymous owner is offering the space for interested gardeners, free of charge.
If you are one of the many New Westminsterites out there hankering to till the soil and raise your own veggies, but you don’t have a plot to plant in, contact us and we will pass on the info!
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We’re kicking off a new series here at Tenth to the Fraser. The Garden Nerd series will look at gardening issues in New Westminster. Suggestions for topics, guest submissions, and questions are all welcome. We’ll try and address it all!  You can find other posts, as they are added, by clicking here. Today’s post is written by Ross Arbo, CHT. Ross spent 14 years as a landscaper on Vancouver’s West Side. He also happens to be married to Jen Arbo, a regular contributor, and occasionally authors posts over at the Arbolog.  
That Time of …

New West’s Biggest Little Garden program has attracted attention from the LA Times, which has published an article about the innovative community gardening initiative. The program is the brainchild of Fraserside Living Well Program director Diane Cairns, who had to find a solution to increase local food production in a city where 70% of us live in apartment buildings. She wanted to revive the old ‘Victory Garden’ concept of growing your own fruits and vegetables – and sharing the harvest with your neighbours – but how could it take off …

Plant a Row, Grow a Row, a non-profit agency that organizes the donation of high value garden produce to food banks and low-income families will be teaming up with St. Thomas More High School (Burnaby) for their 2009 programme and to kick things off, the school is hosting a Gardener’s Party on Thursday evening, March 26th featuring presentations and question and answer sessions with the regions top gardening gurus.
Potential guests are asked to bring items for the food bank. More information is listed below.  Claude Ledoux, New Westminster Horticulture …