What is Involved?
Our ideal volunteer is aged 19-79, reasonably mobile, and available once or twice a week for 2 hour ‘work’ sessions.
Experience is always welcome but not necessary, as existing volunteers are happy to share their knowledge. Garden tasks are sometimes physical but can be tailored to abilities.
The garden is located in the back parking lot of the North Delta office at 9097 120th street.
If you are interested in joining us for some natural therapy, please email volunteer@deltassist.com.
The Gardening Cycle
January – This is the time to start planning for the season: decide when and how to engage volunteers, discuss any major changes for the garden program, update seed inventory, start a budget.
February / March – Acquire any needed seeds, tools, gardening equipment, soils and fertilizers. Take care of any late winter pruning and spraying. Start preparing the planting areas – fix planter boxes, top up soil, add amendments, remove any major weeds. Turn over the compost bins. Clean out and organize the shed. Start indoor seeds and set up winter sowing jugs, may also start direct sowing some ‘cool weather’ crops such as peas, radishes, spinach, pac choi. This is a physically demanding time, but also a great time to reconnect with the garden team.
April / May – This is the time that direct sowing really ramps up, seeds are in the ground and sprouting all over. We begin transplanting some of the ‘warm weather’ crops such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash. We also start harvesting some of the early crops, and these are packaged, labelled and taken into the building for distribution to Deltassist clients. We acquire hanging baskets and bedding plants to beautify the flower bed and garden areas. Our mason bees arrive! We have an irrigation system that handles most of the watering, but also do some hand watering as the weather warms up.
June / July / August – Finish transplanting the ‘warm weather’ seedlings. Continue direct sowing seeds for successive and new crops. The harvesting really ramps up at this time. Maintain the flower beds, dead-heading and weeding as needed. Trimmings from the garden are added to the compost bins, which are turned regularly. Continue hand watering, plus feed and fertilize as needed.
September / October – Harvest is ongoing. As beds empty, clean out the plant remnants and mulch or cover the beds. Plant crops that will over winter, such as garlic or flower bulbs. Plant cover crops where needed to improve soil structure and nutrients for spring. Turn compost bins.
November – Harvest last of the season’s crops, mulch or cover remaining beds. Turn compost bins. Update harvest statistics, seed inventory and lessons learned. And take time to celebrate the volunteer team, and the end of a successful year in the garden!