The McCauley Community League hosted a seed collection and saving event with Sustainable Food Edmonton (the folks who steward the McCauley Orchard) on September 25th. The hands-on workshop was led by Chelsea Boos of Sinusoid Seeds, who gave guidance on collecting, drying, and storing seeds for next year's planting.

Dustin Bajer of Cultivate McCauley was there to distribute saplings to residents who have signed up to receive and plant trees. Tree planting instructions are included here, courtesy of Dustin.

A harvest share table, which had been suggested at one of the Community Conversations that the League holds at the rink the last Monday of the month, included beet tops, squash, and apples. Several neighbours went home with a few extra groceries, and we enjoyed applesauce a few days later at the September community conversation.

How to Plant a Baby Tree from Cultivate McCauley

• Identify a location for your tree that will give it space to grow.
• To cool your home in summer, consider planting deciduous trees (leaves) to the South or West to provide summer shade.
• To keep your home warmer in winter, consider planting coniferous trees (needles) to the North or West to reduce winter winds.
• Avoid planting tall trees under utility lines
• Using a shovel, cut a 2-foot diameter circle where you want to plant the tree.
• Remove any sod and place it to the side.
• Remove soil to create a hole that is as deep as your tree’s pot.
• Using a shovel, rough up the sides and bottom of the hole to make it easier for tree roots to penetrate.
• Remove the tree’s pot and place the tree in the centre of the hole.
• The base of the tree stem when the tree was in the pot should be at ground level after the tree is planted.
• Hold the base of the stem as you pull loose soil around its roots.
• Gently, but firmly, press soil around the tree to make sure that it is secure
• Break up any sod you had placed to the side and flip it over to form a ring around the hole.
• Mulch the hole with woodchips, lawn clippings, or leaves to help retain water and insulate the tree’s roots.
• The mulch should come up to but not touch the trunk of the tree.
• Reapply mulch every season as needed.
• Water your tree multiple times over the next few days and then every few days until the tree starts to put on new growth (spring) or until the ground is frozen (fall).
• Enjoy your tree for decades to come!

Tree Pruning Workshops

Continuing our collaboration with Sustainable Food Edmonton, there are two tree pruning workshops on October 22nd and 29th. Meet at the rink (entrance at 108th Avenue and 96th Street) at 4:30 p.m. for theory with arborist Alex McCormick, and then we will walk to the Orchard for practical work. The workshops will end around 6 p.m.

Gail Silvius is happily retired and living in McCauley.