The Commons

Groundbreaking

2010-12-23T11:40:00.000-08:00

This morning, in a pouring rain and driving wind, ground was broken for the soon-to-be-erected yurt sponsored by Poetry Gabriola. The site is just south of the Sustainability Centre in a small clearing surrounded by firs. Seen in the photos is PG Artistic Director Hilary Peach (and Flash) who was there to do the honours with a shovel and a smile.

More Fall Fair Photos

2010-09-13T09:28:00.001-07:00

Fall Fair 2010

2010-09-12T21:40:00.000-07:00

Fall Fair was held today at The Commons and despite a steady drizzle, the event was well-attended by a broad cross-section of the community. Lots of fine food, great demonstrations, live music and dance and general good fun was enjoyed by all.

Captions for the photos from top to bottom:

Blue ribbon winner

Naomi's rabbit

Tiny dancer

Shauna sings

Miss Mara's Broadway Babies

New Year, New Plots

2010-01-23T16:33:00.000-08:00

Today, The Otters began the process of adding twenty additional allotment plots to the south field at The Commons. Fencing will be up in a month or less and the new gardeners can move on in.

Flower Power

2009-10-16T08:17:00.000-07:00

Most people probably think of vegetables when they think of The Commons but there are plenty of ornamentals here too.

Otters Grow Their Own

2009-10-15T11:16:00.000-07:00

Fall greens in an Otters' allotment plot

Below is an article recently submitted to The Sounder

OTTERS GROW THEIR OWN

Sustainability seems to be one of this year’s big buzzwords and locally grown produce is likely to come up in just about every conversation centered around that topic. 2009 has seen more Gabriolans growing their own vegetables and business at island garden suppliers is brisk. One group of individuals with an eye to the future and their hands in the soil is The Otters at The Commons. They are 30 or so folks who have signed up for a 400 square foot allotment plot in a large square field at the south end of the property. The beaver pond provides irrigation via strategically placed taps and a fence keeps the deer at bay. Everything’s organic and the variety is astonishing. An intrepid few are experimenting with things like peanuts under glass, and peas in elevated enclosures, while others are growing traditional vegetables with great success. One gardener recently harvested 200 pounds of potatoes and 50 pounds of winter squash from just one half an allotment. In midsummer, the field was breathtaking in its beauty and its bounty. Some gardeners even took to bringing basket dinners complete with wine and cloth napkins for an al fresco evening meal amongst the plants. Sounds nice eh? Interested in a plot of your own? The Commons Farm Management Team is considering enlarging the allotment field, a decision that will likely be based upon community interest. So call Robbie Huston at 247-0242 to get your name on the list of would-be Otters.

Fall Fair 2009

2009-09-20T19:30:00.000-07:00

Captions from top to bottom

This year's banner

Farmer Bob makes his entrance

The bird man's bird

A hot rod squash

The littlest Green Biker

Garden Closeups

2009-07-25T11:22:00.000-07:00

Captions from top to bottom:

1. Garlic

2. Poppies

3. Iris

4. Blue Ethiopian Wheat

5. Beans

More Circus Photos

2009-07-23T10:27:00.000-07:00

Captions from top to bottom:

1. The "hat act" watching the show from the bus

2. Baritone sax

3. Secure footing

4. The flute section

5. Dancing with the circus lady #2

The Circus at The Commons

2009-07-22T14:12:00.000-07:00

The New Old Time Chautauqua Circus played to a full house on the lawn at The Commons last night and a great time was had by all. Big thanks to David Soy and the volunteer team for making this wonderful fundraiser happen.

Captions for the photos from top to bottom:

1. Trapeze artists Shannon and Islando

2. Entrance parade

3. The clown offstage

4. Balloon moment

5. Dancing with the circus lady

The Commons: People Make It Happen

2009-04-20T15:55:00.000-07:00

April 4 Workbee -- Water for Otters

2009-03-31T06:54:00.000-07:00

The calendar says it is spring... so it must be spring, right? And that means summer is on the way... and that means it's time to get irrigation for the Commons summer gardens organized.

On Saturday, April 4, beginning at 10:00 a.m., we will be joining together in a workbee to install irrigation throughout the Otter Allotments -- the gardens in the south part of the Commons. We will be glueing PVC pipes with elbows and T-fittings, and placing them in shallow hand-dug ditches. (We'll be digging the ditches, too.) Standpipes with taps will complete the installation within the garden. We'll begin work at 10, and the bee will officially end at 2.

In between, we'll enjoy the garden-to-be and each others' company, talk about garden plans and get that irrigation happening. We'll stop for soup, too, sometime around noon. Come for all or part of the time -- you'll be welcome and there will be plenty to do.

There will be a sign in the parking lot on North Road directing you to the work area. (I'll be there to give you directions, too, if you arrive between 9:45 and 10:15 or so.) The south part of the Commons is likely to be wet -- gumboots are recommended!

March 21 -- Celebrate and Landscape at the Commons

2009-03-17T19:29:00.001-07:00

This coming Saturday, March 21, there will be an open house and celebration of spring at the Commons. The walkabouts, tours and other events begin at 1:00 p.m.

Before that -- you guessed it! -- we are having a work bee. We're continuing with the work of vole-fencing the gardens. We were fortunate to have the use of a mini-excavator, thanks to Gary Oak Tool Rentals, a couple of weeks back. Much trenching was done around the Plotters area and the orchard. Some recycled metal roofing was inserted around the Plotters garden. We've also got quite a bit of metal mesh -- apparently just the thing to send Voles back to their natural diet of grasses and such! So this weekend, work will continue around the fences, adding the mesh and backfilling.

The time -- 9:00 to 11:30 a.m., giving everyone time to be ready to come back to the Commons in the afternoon (clean!) if they wish.

Workbees at The Commons

2009-03-03T10:19:00.000-08:00

Spring is right around the corner now and The Commons is becoming a beehive of activity on Saturdays with crews of volunteers getting the place in shape for the coming growing season. The photo above is a raptor perch installed by the kitchen garden to attract eagles, hawks and owls to help control the vole explosion. Check here often for updates on what we're doing and how and when you can get involved.

A Gardener's Friend

2008-09-11T09:14:00.000-07:00

Soaking up a little September sunshine in the Plotters gardens

The Donor Wall

2008-09-10T08:04:00.000-07:00

Pollen Heath and his team of volunteers are almost finished building the Donor Wall to honour all who have contributed to The Commons. The cob building technique is durable and inexpensive but very labour-intensive as you can see. Thanks to everyone who participated in this project.

Pond Levels

2008-08-31T08:22:00.000-07:00

On 21 July, a depth gauge was installed in the pond to monitor rainfall and water levels. Here are the figures through 18 August

21 July > 6'8"
04 August > 6'2"
10 August > 6'0"
18 August > 5'10"

Levels are obviously falling but not dramatically and we have had rain recently so things are looking good in the water department. Thanks to Ken Capon for engineering skills and measurements.

Dragon Garden Update

2008-08-31T08:03:00.001-07:00

Thanks to all the volunteers who have worked so hard to make the Dragon Garden happen. The raised beds are in place and planted and our seniors are enjoying them on a daily basis. Pictured here is local artist Rick Cranston who created this beautiful arbor out of driftwood from Gabriola beaches. Assembled with only 25 screws, it makes a nice entrance to the Dragon Garden from the allotment plots and PHC gardens.

The Plotters Rock!

2008-08-31T07:58:00.000-07:00

More photos from the allotment plots

Heide's Carrots

2008-08-31T07:56:00.001-07:00

The allotment gardens are really producing!

Water In The South Field!

2008-07-16T13:32:00.000-07:00

A little piece of Commons history was made today: There is now running water in the south field, home of the Potatoheads and the Squash Co-op. A team of volunteers headed by Chief Engineer Ken Capon along with First Flunky Duncan Fraser and Second Assistant Flunky Victor Anthony (a/k/a Ken's Minions) ran 400 feet of flexible pipe from the beaver pond pump to the field, installed the necessary plumbing gizmos and with considerable glee and giddy merriment turned on the tap for the first time. All deer fled the area when they saw the three humans dancing around like madmen. Seriously, with running water the south field is now truly viable for agriculture and that's a big step forward for The Commons.

Welcome To The Commons

2008-07-15T18:35:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Gabriola Commons where it's all about Community!