FRIENDS OF THE CENTRAL EXPERIMENTAL FARM
Farm Notes - March 2018
New Office Hours Extended
Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 9am-2pm


The Friends of the Farm are exploring new hours of operation at Building 72
in the Arboretum of the Central Experimental Farm.  

February was just too short of a month to make a permanent decision about our new office hours, so we will be temporarily extending our trial period into the month of March. 

We will continue to be open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9am to 2pm, from Friday March 2 until Friday March 30. 

Learn more about the Friends' eventsvolunteering and membership opportunities, or check out our assortment of greeting cards and  books by local authors featuring the history of the Farm, Arboretum and Ornamental Gardens.

You can reach us via phone at 613-230-3276, email info@friendsofthefarm.ca
or stop by in person for a visit during office hours. 

Beauty of the Farm by Ramin
Tuesday, March 27 from 7-9pm

 
Join the Friends of the Farm and award-winning Ottawa photographer 
Ramin Izadpanah on Tuesday, March 27 from 7pm to 9pm
for this exclusive Beauty of the Farm by Ramin 
photography lecture. 

Mr. Izadpanah's PowerPoint presentation will include many of his stunning images, sure to amaze and delight, which were captured at the Central Experimental Farm. 
Specializing in landscape and nature photography, he has won the Canadian Geographic's 2015 Landscape Category prize and the 2016 Flora-and-Fauna Category prize. 
He has previously provided a guided photographic tour of the Arboretum.

Lecture takes place at the K.W. Neatby Building, Salons A & B, at 960 Carling Avenue. 
Free admission  but registration is required,  donations gratefully accepted. 
Register online or call (613) 230-3276.

Volunteer Orientation: Gardens and Events
Saturday April 7 at 9:30am

Help us make a difference! It's time to think about the glorious days of spring and getting out into the garden. What better way to enjoy nature, fresh air, exercise, plant life and contribute to the beauty of the Farm than to join one of the Friends' Garden Teams (such as the Macoun Memorial Garden Team in the photo). Go to our Volunteer activities page for more info on garden team days, times and tasks. 

For those interested in volunteering for gardens and events, join us for a free Volunteer Recruitment Orientation  on Saturday April 7 at 9:30am in Bldg 72 on the Arboretum. For those who are unable to attend the orientation, our 2018 enrollment and waiver Volunteer form will soon be available to download .

The Friends are also firing up their 2018 Event schedule. If you have the time and are able to help, we would greatly appreciate any assistance you can give with these event activities. W e are specifically looking for Event Coordinators for our Plant and Used Book Sales.  Please contact us at volunteer@friendsofthefarm.ca for more event information. 

WANTED: Used Book Sale Coordinator
Join our team of volunteers

The Friends of the Farm is seeking an event coordinator for their annual   Used Book Sale
which takes place at the Central Experimental Farm on Saturday, June 16th and Sunday, June 17th, 2018, from 10 am to 4 pm.

The coordinator will be the main point of contact in organizing the two-day event which includes set-up and take down of the event, identifying the tasks and number of volunteers required and wrap-up activities following the sale. The coordinator will work with an experienced group of volunteers (book sorters and team leaders) to assist in organizing the event.

The position requires good communication and organizational skills, and the ability to work well in a group setting.  Previous volunteer work would be an asset.

If you are interested, please send your resume to volunteer@friendsofthefarm.ca 

2018 Annual General Meeting
Wednesday April 18  from 7pm to 9pm
 
This year's Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday April 18 from 7pm to 9pm. The AGM will begin with a short business meeting followed by a guest speaker and refreshments. To view the proposed by-law changes, please see 

The meeting and presentation will take place in the K.W. Neatby Building  at 960 Carling Avenue and Maple Drive on the Central Experimental Farm. Free parking is available in the lot east of the building. Register online now for this free event or call 613-230-3276.
 
Our speaker will be  Dr. Paul Villeneuve, an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Sciences at Carleton University. His topic is "Environmental Impacts of the Farm." Dr. Villeneuve is an environmental epidemiologist, and his research programs include how access to nature and green space impacts human health.

He will describe research activities relevant to the Central Experimental Farm which include a sampling campaign done by his graduate students (see photo)  who mapped concentrations of air pollution, urban noise and temperature both within the CEF and nearby residential neighbourhoods. Other planned projects include impact of Farm vegetation on these concentrations.

Master Gardener Lectures
The tradition continues

Photo by Julianne Labreche
Every year the Friends partner with the Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton to offer timely and informative presentations. This year's Tuesday night lectures include:

 with Rebecca Last

with Judith Cox


with Julianne Labreche

All presentations are from 7pm to 9pm in Building 72 just east of the Prince of Wales roundabout with free parking. Lectures can be purchased individually $12 members and $15 non-members or as a series: $40 Member or $50 Non-Member. 

For more information email  info@friendsofthefarm.ca or  call 613-230-3276

Friends' Plant Sale
Sunday May 13 from 9am to 1pm

Get everything you need for your garden at our spectacular Plant Sale  . New and returning specialty growers and nursery vendors offer hundreds of beautiful plants. Master Gardeners are once again on hand to answer any gardening questions. 

The addition of Garden Accessory vendors and the 'plant coat check' service under the Friends' canopy was very successful. Keep your hands free by dropping off your plants at the canopy and when you're done shopping, our volunteers help carry the new treasures to your vehicle. 

The sale is located in the K.W. Neatby Building  parking lot  at Maple and Carling Ave. Free admission however any donations to Friends of the Farm are kindly accepted. A refreshment table with Bridgehead coffee and delicious baked goods will keep you nourished while shopping.  Don't miss this chance to add an unusual plant to your collection, purchase a stunning hanging basket, discover the perfect garden accessory or find the right perennial for your hard-to-grow area.

If you or someone you know is a plant vendor who would like to participate in this unique event experience, click here for registration form
 
Blooms for your Garden!
 For the Love of Trees Companion Book  

Friends of the Farm presents 'Blooms', a book about the Central Experimental Farm's Ornamental Gardens, introducing these heritage plants, the fascinating stories behind their creation. 

Localize your garden this year with made-in-Ottawa flowers, shrubs. By local author, Richard Hinchcliff, this book makes a great gift all year, and is the perfect read to prepare for spring. Cost is $35 plus GST. Take a peek inside for a preview. 

How do you get a copy? 
Come to the Friends office in Building 72 weekdays Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays from 9am to 2pm and purchase with cash, cheque, or credit and take it home!  Or purchase it online on our website with a credit card and pick up at the Friends' office in Building 72 or have it shipped to a location of your choice  within Canada. 

This set of important works is also available for purchase, $25 each plus GST: For the Love of Trees: A guide to the trees of Ottawa's Central Experimental Farm and also Ottawa's Farm: A history of the Central Experimental Farm.

Questions? Call 613-230-3276 or email  boutique@friendsofthefarm.ca

Volunteer Spotlight  
Over 10,000 hours donated each year
Denise Kennedy

Did you know that Friends' volunteers donate over 10,000 hours every year  to support its mission and activities? Every month a different volunteer is highlighted on the Friends website. We invite you to read the stories of our volunteers such as  Denise Kennedy our Volunteer of the Month

Previous spotlights are also listed.  Each volunteer has an interesting story to tell and a unique connection and commitment to the Farm. Your efforts are greatly appreciated by the entire community! Thank you.

Are You a Member? 
Join our mission to protect and preserve the Farm 

Ornamental Grdn
Join  the Friends of the Farm to influence decision-makers to preserve the integrity of this cherished National Historic Site and its exceptional setting in the heart of Ottawa.

The future of the Farm as we know it is more important than ever. Over the past number of years, there has been continued pressure on research projects and jobs from budgetary constraints. While the core research areas remain, the Farm lands, Dominion Arboretum, Ornamental Gardens and historical buildings still need constant care and protection. If lost, this jewel can never be replaced.

Become a member today and support the Friends' mission  to bring the Arboretum and Ornamental Gardens to their full potential. Membership benefits include  free admission to the  Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, a quarterly newsletter, discounted events, and more

Merivale Shelterbelt
 Last opportunity for plaque inscriptions

Walking path near the Shelterbelt
Thousands of trees once marked the northern and western boundaries of the Central Experimental Farm. The Friends of the Farm have been working diligently on the Merivale Shelterbelt to recreate a boundary forest at the western edge of this National Historic Site. It beautifies the surroundings, provides a recreational path, protects the fields from salt and soil erosion, and helps clean the air at the Farm and neighbourhoods nearby.

The project is almost finished, thanks to a major contribution by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, so this year will be the last opportunity to help complete this important project.

Until July 31, 2018 you can donate to this beautification project in the name of someone or something you care about. An inscription on a plaque will acknowledge your contribution. Plaques are on a commemorative wall in the plaza or rest area on the pathway. The wall acknowledges the official opening of the Shelterbelt and pavilion by the Governor-General of Canada in 2005.

Thanks to many generous donors, the Friends' volunteers have planted new trees and shrubs each year.  We have room for one more year's donations. Help us build this beautiful green space and place a personalized inscription to a loved one or a special cause. Donations must be made by July 31, 2018, to be included in the final annual celebration in September 2018. For more information please visit the Shelterbelt page.