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December 23, 2016

Lights of the Winter Solstice

The afternoon of the Solstice the skies cleared and the air warmed. Families and friends gathered at the Newton Seniors Centre in a beautiful open event room. Floor to ceiling windows looked out onto the snowy trees.

One end of the room held craft tables. On one of the tables two strands of prayer flags, loving stitched together by a member of the PLOT community, waited for folks to add their prayers and kind intentions.

Another table held beautiful origami cranes and other creatures created by a Newton community member. He was generously teaching people to fold their own origami to take home.

Yet another table was piled with adornments for the Christmas Tree, and the Tree was soon made magic with strings of popcorn, rounds of wood sliced from the trunk from another Christmas tree, seed pods and pine cones covered in peanut butter and bird seed for the winter birds, and shining bright red crab apples that emanated pure joy.

When sunset drew near, the community proceeded to the Medicine Wheel for a candlelight lantern ceremony led by our Cree Elder Grandma Amy, Manchus S’Kwao. Earthworm Woman. Her heart and spirit reached out to all gathered and her teachings gave us much to dream on.

With the closing of the circle folks returned to the warmth of the Seniors Centre for feasting, laughter and conversation. The children played, and connections were made with new folks who had ventured out to see what the PLOT was all about!

Lastly the Christmas tree was ceremoniously paraded down the street to the PLOT, held aloft by two dedicated PLOT volunteers, followed by other PLOT’ers, while another helper with the flame alight in his lantern, led the way.

The Tree looked magnificent tied to the Peace Pole in the centre of the Medicine Wheel, with candles lighting the four directions. The Tree was left to stand through the holidays, to remind us of our connection with nature, and in a very small way, by feeding the birds, to give back a little to the whole.

The prayer flags were hung at the east entrance to the Medicine Wheel to whisper their words of peace, wonder and goodwill into the stillness of the snowy winter night and to greet the return of the light.

December 12, 2016

Snow!

friendsoftheplot seasons

I wandered down to the PLOT today, and saw our beautiful space iridescent with shining snow…at least 6 inches deep. The Medicine Wheel was visible through the shadows cast by the gentle indent of the circle and spokes blanketed in snow. Delightful foot prints of little ones….perhaps rabbits, mice, squirrels…left their unique trails in the snow, as they no doubt searched for food at the various areas of green grass poking through the whiteness. Purple shadows played against the snowy backdrop…and the picnic tables were delightful with their vibrant colours peeking through at the edges of the the thick mantle of snow that covered all. The air smelled so good! And the magic of the land is still there!
-R.S.

November 27, 2016

A Late November Surprise

friendsoftheplot flowers, seeds

These spicy bright and edible Nasturtium blooms were discovered in Alex’s garden at the PLOT. What a wonder to find on a late November day.
The added magic is that this new generation of Nasturtiums grew from seed that had formed on a crop of Nasturtiums that went through their growing cycle earlier this year in the PLOT garden.

November 19, 2016

November Gifts

friendsoftheplot seasons

A neighbour of the PLOT harvests kale, chard and leeks for soup to feed the body, and flowers to cheer the spirit on a cold November day.
Gracious and grand gratitude for the PLOT garden!

October 30, 2016

Thank you Don and Cora!!

friendsoftheplot events

With the active growing season of the 2016 coming to an end, the Friends of the PLOT present Don and Cora a “Bee-G Thank You Book”. The book is filled with gratitude and well wishes in words and illustrations to show the deep appreciation that is felt by those who have been touched by the incredible richness of the PLOT garden and Newton Medicine Wheel Project! Bushels and Bushels of Gratitude Don and Cora!!!!

October 23, 2016

Preparing the PLOT for Winter Sleep

friendsoftheplot seasons

Several “Friends of the PLOT” showed up today to help prepare the PLOT for the coming winter. A mulch of seaweed and leaves was added to the beds to discourage the weeds, and to encourage the earthworms to work their magic.

Vickie Cammack and Al Etmanski, both recipients of the Order of Canada and both supporters of the garden, added their elbow grease to the work party and their lively conversation to the Sunday Picnic.

The spectacular liquidambar leaves that we gathered for mulch, yes, they do look like liquid amber in the fall sunshine, lent a festive feel to a wonderful day.

October 21, 2016

Creative City Summit Visits

friendsoftheplot events, people

The PLOT was a big part of the “Creative City Summit” Newton Tour on Tuesday, October 18. Local and national delegates escorted by Shira Standfield, Surrey’s Civic Beautification Planner/Neighbourhood Team, were welcomed to tour the PLOT Sharing Garden and Newton Medicine Wheel. Following that, Don and Cora Li-Leger, the PLOT garden’s original visionaries, gave a brief slide talk about the project at the Newton Cultural Centre. The enthusiastic response and questions presented by the audience affirmed the inspiring nature of the project. Our hope is that these seeds will be taken home by the attendees and planted with joy and hope within their own cities and communities.

October 17, 2016

Seed Saving

friendsoftheplot seeds

Last week a dozen or so sets of hands began collecting, packaging and labelling seeds grown in the PLOT garden. Collecting seeds from plants you have grown yourself is an indescribable feeling, a kind of mix of exhilaration and empowerment. The joy of collecting seeds in the company of friends and community multiplies this many times. Being the first year for the PLOT, it was gratifying for our volunteers to discover just how many different plants were ready for collecting. To date we have seed from over 25 different types of flowers, herbs and vegetables.